Approved!

[nycheryl 0]

Hi, all!!

First off, thank you SO much for your help throughout this process! We're so excited to almost be to the K-1 finish line. I've been a giddy woman all morning!

I'm the USC, so I will make sure my fiance gets a full review put together later. I wanted to tell you what he told me, since I know a few of you have interviews next week!

His medical was at Medisys last Tuesday, and he picked up his results on Friday. They gave him the Vaccination Worksheet, too, for AOS purposes. The medical was easy, especially since we spent so much time prior to his trip ensuring he had the right shots. (He didn't need to get any when he was in Montreal.)

He arrived at the consulate at 6:30am this morning. He said another man showed up around 7, but was turned away because he had a briefcase. (Joel only had his extremely heavy, highly organized black plastic accordion folder that I gave him ) A family of three also came by around 7:10, but heard they weren't opening the doors until 7:30, so they left. The security guard made fun of him for being the only one waiting in the cold for an hour!!

His experience after that was very similar to pocheros (THANK YOU!! That review was SO helpful!). He was given the number C1 and was called to the first window around 8:05. He was asked for his passport, affidavit of support, and appointment letter. They took his fingerprints and he sat back down.

He was called up to the next window and was surprised that this person started asking him questions (he figured that'd happen at the third window, but he never ended up going to a third window). He was asked the basics:

-How did you meet

-What do you do

-What does your fiancee do

-Where will you live

He also asked for the remaining paperwork (I'm still waiting to hear what this was). They did not ask for supporting evidence, but he did bring cards/envelopes/pictures/boarding passes. He said he had something like 38 pictures. Haha

The man at the window apparently gave him a funny look when Joel said we met through the Dave Matthews Band fanclub... then asked, "Dave's from Seattle, right? I've been to a few of his concerts." LOL!

He reached under the desk and told him he was approving the visa. Joel literally ran back to the hotel to call me - he was panting on the phone He was back to his hotel and calling me at 8:45 (his appointment was at 8am). I was so surprised - super quick! He said there were about 20 people there when he left.

My biggest tips for new K1ers:

-Start everything early! I began gathering the bank letter/work letter in October, just so it was ready to go. Same with Joel's police record and his car importation sheets.

-Triple check your vaccines at least a month prior to the interview. Joel had to get a bunch of shots he didn't plan on ($$) because he wasn't immune from childhood, but it probably saved him money at the medical.

-Remember to get tax transcripts! I didn't have mine (just my tax returns) and had to go to the tax office last week. He brought both to the interview, and they kept the transcripts. You can order them online (they take 5-10 business days; they're free), but I was able to have them printed for me immediately at my local IRS office.

-As has been said before, it's better to be WAY over-prepared.

-Get the lay of the land before the day of your interview. Joel made sure to walk to the consulate a couple days in advance so he knew exactly where to go the morning of. It was very helpful to read Saylin's blog and see the pics of the building:

http://journeythroughimmigration.blogspot.com/2011/04/us-consulate-in-montreal.html

Thanks again, everyone!!! A big thanks to pocheros and Saylin for their very detailed posts! We reviewed them both multiple times to ensure we were good to go!

So now we just have our fingers crossed that the visa comes quickly! Our planned POE is on May 5th, more than likely at Sarnia. We've been long distance for three years, and we cannot wait to finally be together with no more looming goodbyes!

I promise to keep everyone posted on the rest of the process, as all of this has been so helpful to us so far!

Bonne chance to everyone with interviews coming up or still waiting on Montreal to open up times.

Edited March 5, 2012 by nycheryl

[alizon 77]

Congrats! We're planning on doing our POE at Sarnia around the same time, maybe the end of April.

[TimeTravel 78]

Congratulations!

[dukeandduchess 141]

congratulations!!

[SF2007 48]

Great news, congrats!

[jbel 3]

Congrats! I'm so happy for you guys! Hopefully we'll be in the same boat, soon! Except not at the same POE.

[nycheryl 0]

Congrats! We're planning on doing our POE at Sarnia around the same time, maybe the end of April.

Awesome!! Congrats and good luck to you guys

Congrats! I'm so happy for you guys! Hopefully we'll be in the same boat, soon! Except not at the same POE.

Thank you so much!!! I wish you the best

Thanks, everyone!

[pocheros 101]

Congratulations!!! Finally the long wait is over, eh? Make sure to have a bottle of champagne ready on POE day! Hehe.

[nycheryl 0]

Congratulations!!! Finally the long wait is over, eh? Make sure to have a bottle of champagne ready on POE day! Hehe.

Yes!! Maybe we'll pour out a cup of Tim Horton's coffee when we get over the border It was totally worth it, but I've been a stress ball since last year

Your posts have been so incredibly helpful - a million thank yous again! I plan to stick around and pay it forward.

[pocheros 101]

Yes!! Maybe we'll pour out a cup of Tim Horton's coffee when we get over the border It was totally worth it, but I've been a stress ball since last year

Your posts have been so incredibly helpful - a million thank yous again! I plan to stick around and pay it forward.

You're welcome I'm glad to help! I wouldn't have made it without visa journey

[CAdreamer 14]

Congratulations! I'm glad the interview was so smooth.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Congrats! Its crazy that he was out before 9!

[hikergirl 277]

Congratulations!

[KTandTommy 31]

Congratulations! That's so exciting!!

[jkelly07 120]

congratulations,