Quick Review of Montreal IR-1 interview

[Rustbelt 0]

Steve's wife here for this quick review (we're both sleepwalking and poor hubby had all of 1 hour sleep last night).

First off - many thanks to everyone here for their reviews and answering all our questions. It was invaluable!

We stayed at La Square Phillip hotel. Very expensive. Quite lovely. Got there too late to appreciate it.

It's a one block walk from the consulate, which is why we picked it Well, one reason anyway.

We were up at 5am (at least I was - hubby was up earlier). Left hotel at 6:45 and got to the consulate at 6:50. There was one other couple in front of us (!!!) - also VJ'ers, sorry I don't know who (but hi if you're reading this!)

Others have posted details of getting up to the waiting room, so I'll just focus on our specifics.

We were called at around 8:25 (we had the letter "B"). Very nice woman at the counter - fairly new I think because my former SSN caused consternation (I USED to be a green card holder - don't recommend going through it twice like I did - long story to that). Anyway, it was quickly sorted out and she checked everything on the form with me. Had fun and games as usual getting my fingerprints to "take". I think I must have half-erased prints or something because this always happens to me. She took my sealed medical envelope off me, never asked for the X-Rays (which I wasn't sure I needed, but hey - too much is better than too little). Handed back my immunization chart. One oddity - I have only used my maiden name but this is my second marriage. She INSISTED on putting my ex's and Steve's last name down on the form in "other names used". I've never used either of those names and never will - not after 8 years of marriage! But they have their own mysterious ways, I guess, so - whatever.

After fingerprinting we went & sat back down in the large waiting room.

Soon after we get called back up to one of the rooms (as opposed to the counter where part one was done) and he goes through all the paperwork again. Nice guy. Shortish, slightly reddish hair. Slight build. A few basic questions about how we met, what I did for a living, what Steve does, where we'd been living. Nothing problematic at all. He had more difficulty with my fingerprints (they have to do them twice - not sure why!) but they eventually "took". He wanted to see the paperwork from when I gave up my greencard a few years back (fortunately I'd had the foresight to bring that along). Checked all my originals (which we'd already sent to the NVC) and that was that.

We then had a prolonged discussion about how once I cross the border I can't return to Canada until I have the physical green card in my hand. Now, I was sure that you got a stamp in your passport when you crossed so you could go back & forth at will, so my question to the community here is a) is anyone certain that this is the case and b ) if not, or perhaps regardless, who do I direct this question to? NVC? USCIS? Local border (Peace Bridge)? I can cross prepared to do it all in one day, but as I am right on the border and moving just the other side I had envisioned moving my stuff in "batches".

Any thoughts on that?

Anyway, he was quite certain that this was the law and how it was and I know better than to argue with an immigration official.

But after all that lengthy discussion he confirmed that I was approved, welcome to the US, and here is your welcome letter.

So now I just need to get packing. Anyone want to come to a packing party?

One last thing - there was a woman there who did a DCF apparently and whose husband has already moved back to the US. She had brought no proof of his domicile, so was sent away with instructions to bring back proof of domicile.

Moral of story: if you're doing DCF be SURE that you bring LOTS of proof of domicile. She was told to send a lease and proof of his job.

Oh, and one other story - there was someone there being sponsored by his sister. He hadn't brought updated police reports, I864 documents or ANYTHING. So if your visa interview takes a while to come up, be prepared to take updated supporting documentation and/or redone forms. He was being given a really hard time (not surprisingly). He didn't even have his envelope!!!

Good luck to all the upcoming interviews. Hope it helps!!

Edited October 26, 2009 by Steve Treible

[Rhiannercakes 14]

Congratulations on your approval!

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Steve's wife here for this quick review (we're both sleepwalking and poor hubby had all of 1 hour sleep last night).

First off - many thanks to everyone here for their reviews and answering all our questions. It was invaluable!

We stayed at La Square Phillip hotel. Very expensive. Quite lovely. Got there too late to appreciate it.

It's a one block walk from the consulate, which is why we picked it Well, one reason anyway.

We were up at 5am (at least I was - hubby was up earlier). Left hotel at 6:45 and got to the consulate at 6:50. There was one other couple in front of us (!!!) - also VJ'ers, sorry I don't know who (but hi if you're reading this!)

Others have posted details of getting up to the waiting room, so I'll just focus on our specifics.

We were called at around 8:25 (we had the letter "B"). Very nice woman at the counter - fairly new I think because my former SSN caused consternation (I USED to be a green card holder - don't recommend going through it twice like I did - long story to that). Anyway, it was quickly sorted out and she checked everything on the form with me. Had fun and games as usual getting my fingerprints to "take". I think I must have half-erased prints or something because this always happens to me. She took my sealed medical envelope off me, never asked for the X-Rays (which I wasn't sure I needed, but hey - too much is better than too little). Handed back my immunization chart. One oddity - I have only used my maiden name but this is my second marriage. She INSISTED on putting my ex's and Steve's last name down on the form in "other names used". I've never used either of those names and never will - not after 8 years of marriage! But they have their own mysterious ways, I guess, so - whatever.

After fingerprinting we went & sat back down in the large waiting room.

Soon after we get called back up to one of the rooms (as opposed to the counter where part one was done) and he goes through all the paperwork again. Nice guy. Shortish, slightly reddish hair. Slight build. A few basic questions about how we met, what I did for a living, what Steve does, where we'd been living. Nothing problematic at all. He had more difficulty with my fingerprints (they have to do them twice - not sure why!) but they eventually "took". He wanted to see the paperwork from when I gave up my greencard a few years back (fortunately I'd had the foresight to bring that along). Checked all my originals (which we'd already sent to the NVC) and that was that.

We then had a prolonged discussion about how once I cross the border I can't return to Canada until I have the physical green card in my hand. Now, I was sure that you got a stamp in your passport when you crossed so you could go back & forth at will, so my question to the community here is a) is anyone certain that this is the case and b ) if not, or perhaps regardless, who do I direct this question to? NVC? USCIS? Local border (Peace Bridge)? I can cross prepared to do it all in one day, but as I am right on the border and moving just the other side I had envisioned moving my stuff in "batches".

Any thoughts on that?

Anyway, he was quite certain that this was the law and how it was and I know better than to argue with an immigration official.

But after all that lengthy discussion he confirmed that I was approved, welcome to the US, and here is your welcome letter.

So now I just need to get packing. Anyone want to come to a packing party?

One last thing - there was a woman there who did a DCF apparently and whose husband has already moved back to the US. She had brought no proof of his domicile, so was sent away with instructions to bring back proof of domicile.

Moral of story: if you're doing DCF be SURE that you bring LOTS of proof of domicile. She was told to send a lease and proof of his job.

Oh, and one other story - there was someone there being sponsored by his sister. He hadn't brought updated police reports, I864 documents or ANYTHING. So if your visa interview takes a while to come up, be prepared to take updated supporting documentation and/or redone forms. He was being given a really hard time (not surprisingly). He didn't even have his envelope!!!

Good luck to all the upcoming interviews. Hope it helps!!

At the border they could you give you a hassle about crossing without a greencard but I've heard of a few folks crossing without any issues. You can move assets in batches.

Here's the contact info for WNY Crossings: Lewiston Bridge Complex

(716) 282-1500

Peace Bridge

(716) 881-4447

Rainbow Bridge

(716) 284-5174

Whirlpool Bridge

(716) 278-0200

All are open 24/7, except for the Whirlpool Bridge which is open 7AM-11PM

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Thanks for this, Steve's wife!

Would you mind updating your timeline when you get a chance?

[Flames9_RN 358]

Congrats!! There have been quite a few that have traveled back and forth with just the stamp in thier passport. Some have crossed and then immediately turned back (just wanted to get the paperwork rolling)

Keep in mind if you checked off the box on the DS 230 to get ur SSN card, it may NOT arrive via that method. Wait 10-14 business days then head to ur local SSN office and inquire about it, if its not in the system, then apply for a new one. if your on the ball, you can download the form from ssn.gov and fil it out before hand to speed up the process. Take ur passport for ID and proof of residency. congrats

[mikey78 6]

Congratulations!

Hope you sleep really good tonight!

I am headed to MTL on Wednesday....all worked up already....

[lgg 2]

Woohoo! Good job you guys and thanks for the run down...

best of luck with everything and happy moving!

LGG

[Blitz 3]

Congratulations! That's awesome! I bet it's a huge relief, eh?! How long did you have to wait from the time your case closed at NVC did you have your interview?

[mikey78 6]

Btw, did they tell you when you can expect your passport back?

[OBX 51]

Congratulations.

Great review.

I returned to Canada one week after my POE at the Peace Bridge and had no problem returning to the US with only the stamp in my passport. Not sure if things have changed since June but I understood that the stamp was equivalent to a temporary green card. Good luck with your packing.

[Carlawarla 1]

Congratulations! I too have heard that with just a stamp there is no problem crossing.

[Rustbelt 0]

Thanks everyone, and thanks for confirming the stamp thing. I think the interviewer was repeating the letter of the law rather than the practical application of it. But I'll call the folks at the PB (hey, we're almost on first name terms anyway for all the crossing I do!) and confirm it.

He said my passport should be back by the end of the week (or perhaps early next week) but I won't hold my breath, LOL!!

My timeline is actually in the Montreal CR1/IR1 thread, but a quick recap is here:

Filed I130 - May 2008

NOA2 - December 2008

DS230 sent off early April 2009

NVC asks for more stuff in May 2009

Done at NVC June 4th

Appointment letter received via email September 21 (IIRC)

Appointment & approval October 26th

[sdw 10]

Congrats

[trailmix 77]

Congratulations to you both!

[SomberCat 0]

Congrats you two!

Edited October 27, 2009 by SomberCat