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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

My wife Sarah has asked me to submit a review. Since she's down in SanFrancisco and I'm just waiting for the Visa to arrive in the mail, I really couldn't say no...

Prior to my trip (Victoria-Montreal) I did read some other interview posts, so I somewhat had an idea of what to expect. I booked a hotel through hotwire.com for downtown, as they all seemed to be relatively close to the consulate. I ended up with Holiday Inn on 420 Sherbrooke W. It was an easy walk, but the walls were paper thin so the sleep was disturbed to say the least.

Anways I walked to the consulate the night before just to make sure I had it down. It only took 5-7 mins. I had read that some people got there at 6.30 but it was so cold and I didn't have anything else to do that next day, so I decided to to get there at 7.15. Personally I'd rather wait an extra 45 mins inside than outside.

As it turned out I was the second person there. Within the next 15 mins there were about 15 people who showed up. At 7.30 they open up the front doors, and I was through security quickly and given a 2" plastic letter A. I got through quickly and before the other guy, b/c I had nothing in my pockets, no cell phone etc.. Leave everything you don't need at the hotel. Including bags. (I brought my xray and papers in a small white plastic garbage bag incase of rain.) DON'T FORGET TO BRING A PEN. You might need it, and the ones they had at the counters didn't write well.

After security, you go down to a waiting area, and then the gaurd takes you up to the 19th floor. Where you wait some more until your letter is called. This was maybe about 30 mins in my case. (about 15-30 mins later for letters B-E) There really aren't that many people waiting for interviews. 5 people on my day. All the other people are waiting in another area for other visa's and don't use the same customer service people.

When my number was called a nice lady just went through the paperwork we had submitted and asked if everything was still the same. (no, I had to change our address. no big deal) She then went through her checklist of items. I can't remember the exact order. The 2 photo's, the I-864, etc... I didn't give her the proof of domicile, b/c she didn't ask so I was just patient. In my experience you get yourself into trouble when you offer border officials information. I was just going to wait. So then she gave me the bill I had to pay, and you go back to the common area, and line up to pay with all the other people.

I brought canadian dollars, because I read you can use it, but the exchange rate is terrible. On my day it was 1.15 which was about 10% more than on the street. If I had known that I would have exchanged it the night before. I mean it's an extra $40 or so for no real reason, so I'd advise using US cash.

Once I paid, I went back to the lady and had my finger prints taken on a scanner. (for some reason I thought it would be ink. I've never had it done before, and my mind conjoured up movies where they use ink) But the have a scanner, and they also had hand sanitizer for afterwards. No swine flu for me.

Then she is done. and asks me to wait some more in the common area until my name is called. About 20mins go by. They call another person before me. Who knows why, maybe my paperwork was messy? Anyways I go into the interview room, and it's basically the same as the booth. Glass infront of the lady, and I am standing. So my idea of sitting next to a person at a table was unjustified. She asked me to raise my right hand put me under oath.

She was nice and I answered the few questions she had, but I felt that she was hesitant. So I informed her I had another stack of paperwork in my bag if she had more questions. I indicated that I had 2 months worth of emails from my wife setting up a domicile with a realestate company down there. I also had the rental contract from leasing our own house. Her eyes lit up as she decided that it was barely enough. She said that she was considering denying me. So I don't know if I was lucky that she was a nice person, or that I happened to have enough evidence.

The interview was less than 10 mins, and she was really nice. I'd definately recommend bringing as much paperwork as you can. I probably had about twice as much as I needed in terms of evidence of networth and domicile etc.. so anything they had a problem with I could back up two different ways.

I was back in my hotel sleeping by 9.30 (6.30 pacific time) so the whole experience was quick, painless, and very pleasant.

The 3 pieces of advice I'd give.

Don't forget a pen.

Bring USD.

Domicile is a big deal. If you can sign a lease, or if your spouse can move there ahead of you it will be easier. The lady said they like to reunify a family, so if your spouse is already down there (permanantly) then it is easier.

I did stay in Montreal the next day in case I could pick it up in person, but I was told it would be in the mail in the next 2 weeks (hinting that it usually never takes that long). So I spend the next 2 days as a tourist, and I loved it. Montreal is great.

I'm just waiting for the passport to arrive anyday. Hopefully I'll be down in San Francisco by Saturday. There is a wedding of some friends I'd like to attend.

I hope this helps, good luck to everyone else in this process.

-Ben

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted
She was nice and I answered the few questions she had, but I felt that she was hesitant. So I informed her I had another stack of paperwork in my bag if she had more questions. I indicated that I had 2 months worth of emails from my wife setting up a domicile with a realestate company down there. I also had the rental contract from leasing our own house. Her eyes lit up as she decided that it was barely enough. She said that she was considering denying me. So I don't know if I was lucky that she was a nice person, or that I happened to have enough evidence.

Domicile is a big deal. If you can sign a lease, or if your spouse can move there ahead of you it will be easier. The lady said they like to reunify a family, so if your spouse is already down there (permanantly) then it is easier.

Hey Ben, just thinking about this here, can you elaborate on the whole proof of reestablishing domicile portion of your interview?

When you said she looked hesitant and you mentioned you had additional documents - did she then specifically ask if you had more proof of that - or did you just realize that was the case?

Aside from the real estate emails and the rental contract for your house, did you have anything else?

Thanks!

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted
When you said she looked hesitant and you mentioned you had additional documents - did she then specifically ask if you had more proof of that - or did you just realize that was the case?

I'm pretty sure I offered to share more information, and then she asked specifically for the information regarding the domicile.

Aside from the real estate emails and the rental contract for your house, did you have anything else?

Oh yes I did have something else. I forget to mention it.

Whenever my wife travels we go to the notary and I sign a statutory declaration for my daughter to travel. This time there was no return date and it specifically mentioned immigration.

Now it's coming back to me. It was the last page I showed her and then she got excited and said she'd approve me. It all happened so fast (literally 45secs for all three documents) and I think she was going to approve me anyways, but when she saw the Stat/Dec, it was a sealed deal.

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted
When you said she looked hesitant and you mentioned you had additional documents - did she then specifically ask if you had more proof of that - or did you just realize that was the case?

I'm pretty sure I offered to share more information, and then she asked specifically for the information regarding the domicile.

Aside from the real estate emails and the rental contract for your house, did you have anything else?

Oh yes I did have something else. I forget to mention it.

Whenever my wife travels we go to the notary and I sign a statutory declaration for my daughter to travel. This time there was no return date and it specifically mentioned immigration.

Now it's coming back to me. It was the last page I showed her and then she got excited and said she'd approve me. It all happened so fast (literally 45secs for all three documents) and I think she was going to approve me anyways, but when she saw the Stat/Dec, it was a sealed deal.

Thanks :thumbs:

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

Congrats!

USCIS
August 12, 2008 - petition sent
August 16, 2008 - NOA-1
February 10, 2009 - NOA-2
178 DAYS FROM NOA-1


NVC
February 13, 2009 - NVC case number assigned
March 12, 2009 - Case Complete
25 DAY TRIP THROUGH NVC


Medical
May 4, 2009


Interview
May, 26, 2009


POE - June 20, 2009 Toronto - Atlanta, GA

Removal of Conditions
Filed - April 14, 2011
Biometrics - June 2, 2011 (early)
Approval - November 9, 2011
209 DAY TRIP TO REMOVE CONDITIONS

Citizenship

April 29, 2013 - NOA1 for petition received

September 10, 2013 Interview - decision could not be made.

April 15, 2014 APPROVED. Wait for oath ceremony

Waited...

September 29, 2015 - sent letter to senator.

October 16, 2015 - US Citizen

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

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