In your Montreal Interview, were you asked about visits to the US?

[rexalite 0]

I consulted with a lawyer today about my upcoming Montreal interview, and the lawyer advised me that although I don't have an overstay problem, it might appear that way to the CO, and I should be prepared to back up all my travel to/from the US with affidavits from myself, anyone I travelled with, and sundry third parties who could verify when I travelled. I am curious to know if that is something that happens often, and if it will be worth it to go through the hassle and expense of getting all these affidavits.

Another question I had, my first immigration lawyer said he would attend the visa interview with me to make sure everything went smoothly. The second lawyer I consulted said lawyers aren't allowed to attend the visa interviews in Montreal. Anyone know which is it?? I am becoming suspicious of immigration lawyers!

[trailmix 77]

My Husband was not asked about his previous visits to the U.S. during his interview.

Did your lawyer give you any reasons why it might 'appear' that way?

The second lawyer is correct - no lawyers allowed at the interview.

Please note the following persons may accompany a visa applicant during Consular-related visits:

Interpreter: Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English well enough to participate in an interview.

Special Needs Visitors: Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or if the applicant is a minor child applying for a visa.

Attorney: Attorneys will NOT be permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or at their interviews.

U.S. Citizens: One American citizen may accompany an applicant. Montreal Consulate

Edited April 14, 2009 by trailmix

[The_Dude 1,142]

Mel was sort of asked..... in a roundabout way. He was looking at our file the whole time and said something to the effect of "sooooo i guess you have been to the U.S. a few times". I know it's a rhetorical question, but she was still asked technically

[Hugglebuggles 60]

My Husband was not asked about his previous visits to the U.S. during his interview.

Did your lawyer give you any reasons why it might 'appear' that way?

The second lawyer is correct - no lawyers allowed at the interview.

Please note the following persons may accompany a visa applicant during Consular-related visits:

Interpreter: Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English well enough to participate in an interview.

Special Needs Visitors: Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or if the applicant is a minor child applying for a visa.

Attorney: Attorneys will NOT be permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or at their interviews.

U.S. Citizens: One American citizen may accompany an applicant. Montreal Consulate

That's strange... In my packet 4 from Montreal it says this:

"Accompanying Persons

The following persons may accompany a visa applicant during his or her visit to the consulate:

Interpreters: An applicant by bring one interpreter if he does not speak English well enough to participate unassisted in the visa interview.

Special Needs Visitors: applicants may being one person to help if they are elderly, disables, or if the applicant is a minor child applying for a visa.

Attorneys: An applicant may be accompanied by his or her attorney(s).

US Citizens: An applicant may be accompanied by a US citizen."

So one of these 2 sources is outdated. I just got the packet 2 weeks ago, so if its the packet 4's they are giving out they should really fix that! Its an important piece of information.

I haven't had my interview yet, but I've been reading interview reviews from Montreal and it doesn't seem like they've given anyone a hard time in regards to visits. We're Canadians, we cross the border a lot!

[Sprailenes 47]

My Husband was not asked about his previous visits to the U.S. during his interview.

Did your lawyer give you any reasons why it might 'appear' that way?

The second lawyer is correct - no lawyers allowed at the interview.

Please note the following persons may accompany a visa applicant during Consular-related visits:

Interpreter: Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English well enough to participate in an interview.

Special Needs Visitors: Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or if the applicant is a minor child applying for a visa.

Attorney: Attorneys will NOT be permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or at their interviews.

U.S. Citizens: One American citizen may accompany an applicant. Montreal Consulate

Whoa!

I always thought you were the Canadian Tmix!

That's a total head trip!

It's almost like when I thought flames was a chick for the longest time...

Anyways back to the topic.

[Emancipation 2]

My Husband was not asked about his previous visits to the U.S. during his interview.

Did your lawyer give you any reasons why it might 'appear' that way?

The second lawyer is correct - no lawyers allowed at the interview.

Please note the following persons may accompany a visa applicant during Consular-related visits:

Interpreter: Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English well enough to participate in an interview.

Special Needs Visitors: Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or if the applicant is a minor child applying for a visa.

Attorney: Attorneys will NOT be permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or at their interviews.

U.S. Citizens: One American citizen may accompany an applicant. Montreal Consulate

Whoa!

I always thought you were the Canadian Tmix!

That's a total head trip!

ME TOO!! I totally was like

[Flames9_RN 359]

I was aksed, and i sated I travelled to DC monthly, wasnt a big deal. No need for a lawyer at the interview, for 99.99999% of people it is a very easy interview with very few questions asked.

[trailmix 77]

Whoa!

I always thought you were the Canadian Tmix!

That's a total head trip!

It's almost like when I thought flames was a chick for the longest time...

Anyways back to the topic.

I am the Canadian

My Husband is actually Australian.

I have U.S. citizenship by descent - never lived here before we moved to Florida last year

Edited April 15, 2009 by trailmix

[rexalite 0]

Trailmix - the reason it may appear that way is because I have been in the US for 1.5 years after entering as a tourist. I had married in the US but had been travelling back and forth to visit my husband. On one of my visits I had a complication with my pregnancy and was put on bedrest for 6 months, which resulted in my initial overstay. The attorney I consulted confirmed that it is technically not an overstay because Canadians who entered with inspection but without getting their passport stamped or being issued an I-94 have not been accruing unlawful presence, therefore aren't subject to the overstay bans. However, he said that sometimes Montreal Consulate officers aren't totally informed about this policy, and it can take 6+ months of administrative wrangling to get things sorted. Attorney said that they can question my intent when I came to visit, because I had an openended ticket with no set return date, even though I still had my condo in Canada, my job to return to, etc etc. I was planning on returning in December, which would have been a 3 month stay, but my OB dr. advised me that travelling could risk losing my baby. Attorney advised doing an adjustment of status, saying that if they took issue with my entry, that at least I would be in the US with my husband while we appealed. I don't know what I should do. From all the interview reviews on here, it seems like the question of stays rarely comes up. I would never lie if it did come up, but I hate to think of restarting this whole process to avoid being trapped in an administrative boondoggle if they aren't even going to ask me the question.

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

[Reba 2]

Just take evidence of your forced bed rest, like a letter from the OB, that should suffice.

I was asked about my previous visits to the US at my interview, I used to travel A LOT for work, and I had previously been denied entry, plus denied an L1B visa, so that was on my record, as well as all my visits. I did not have to go into detail, they just asked me why I went so often IIRC.