Interview at Canadian Embassy

[James Dalton 0]

First time on and doing this for my US Fiancee. The question is mine here in Canada. WE have filed the K1 Fiancee visa and NOA1 received on Jan 27th so they are about 30 days from reviewing. I will have no issue with approval, as I have seen my fiancee 8 times in the last 12 months and am ready to move from Canada to USA. I still have my home to sell and a few investments to tidy up. MY QUESTION : If anyone knows... when I go for my interview in June or July, will they take my canadian passport and not return? Reason is that since you must cross the border using the Packet 3 and marry within 90 days, my hopes was to still make a few more visits to Boston area over August and Sept and then in Nov cross and arrange the marriage in 90 days.

I can always delay the medical and stuff that might be needed. Does anyone know?

[Penny Lane 8,159]

First time on and doing this for my US Fiancee. The question is mine here in Canada. WE have filed the K1 Fiancee visa and NOA1 received on Jan 27th so they are about 30 days from reviewing. I will have no issue with approval, as I have seen my fiancee 8 times in the last 12 months and am ready to move from Canada to USA. I still have my home to sell and a few investments to tidy up. MY QUESTION : If anyone knows... when I go for my interview in June or July, will they take my canadian passport and not return? Reason is that since you must cross the border using the Packet 3 and marry within 90 days, my hopes was to still make a few more visits to Boston area over August and Sept and then in Nov cross and arrange the marriage in 90 days.

I can always delay the medical and stuff that might be needed. Does anyone know?

They will take the Canadian passport to put the visa in it. Once it's returned to you (or once you go pick it up, actually) .. you can try to go to the US and not activate it, but I don't recommend taking that risk. People have been able to in the past, but the K1 visa is a ONE TIME ENTRY only and again, I wouldn't risk it.

I'm not sure what you mean by "you must cross the border using the Packet 3" ... Packet 3 is something the embassy sends you that tells you what documents are needed to be sent in or brought with the beneficiary to the interview. It's nothing you 'cross the border with'..

[Inky 1,110]

Why on earth would they take the passport and not return it?

The visa is glued inside the passport. After your interview you get the passport back in about 1-2 weeks with the visa in it.

It is highly unlikely you will be able to enter and not activate the K-1 visa especially with your idea of entering a few times. Its very very rare to even be allowed to enter 1 time and not activate the visa. Even for Canadians.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Why on earth would they take the passport and not return it?

I am pretty sure they meant 'not return it immediately' .. not 'not return it EVER'.

[at long last 58]

At the time of interview they keep the passport so your visa and I-94 can be put in. As for your medical it is good for a year. If you want to stall then just schedule your interview later in august or september as we schedule our own interview dates.Once you have interviewed you can still wait (I think!!!) for up to 4-6 months) better check that time frame to cross the border. So in reality you can delay your POE for awhile.

Hope some of this helps

Terri

[Inky 1,110]

At the time of interview they keep the passport so your visa and I-94 can be put in. As for your medical it is good for a year. If you want to stall then just schedule your interview later in august or september as we schedule our own interview dates.Once you have interviewed you can still wait (I think!!!) for up to 4-6 months) better check that time frame to cross the border. So in reality you can delay your POE for awhile.

Hope some of this helps

Terri

The I-94 is not attached to the passport until successful entry to the USA. Its not put in at the interview.

If crossing by land its a 6$ USD fee for the I-94, if crossing by air its included in the price of the airline stuff.

[CAdreamer 14]

If you are interviewing in Montreal and haven't even got your NOA2 yet, I really don't think you need to worry about interviewing in June or July. You still have a ways to go in the process. NOA2 to interview, in Montreal, seems to average about 4 months. (If you're interviewing in Vancouver, feel free to ignore all of my answer above).

If you NEED to travel back in forth in August/September without activating the K1, you should probably just consider stalling on booking your interview until October, so you are ready to go in November.

[SapphireDreams 71]

If you are interviewing in Montreal and haven't even got your NOA2 yet, I really don't think you need to worry about interviewing in June or July. You still have a ways to go in the process. NOA2 to interview, in Montreal, seems to average about 4 months. (If you're interviewing in Vancouver, feel free to ignore all of my answer above).

If you NEED to travel back in forth in August/September without activating the K1, you should probably just consider stalling on booking your interview until October, so you are ready to go in November.

This would be my suggestion too. Once you get your NOA2, you'll have a better idea of when you can book an interview. I would just wait to book an interview until October so you can travel back and forth with ease and not worry about getting a customs officer that insists you must use your visa.

I would check into how long NOA1--> NOA2 is taking right now. Usually it's not that quick, around 4-5 months. Then from NOA2, you'll have to get packet 3 and then comes the interview. You're looking at 9-10 months easy for Montreal (again this is different for Vancouver).

[James Dalton 0]

At the time of interview they keep the passport so your visa and I-94 can be put in. As for your medical it is good for a year. If you want to stall then just schedule your interview later in august or september as we schedule our own interview dates.Once you have interviewed you can still wait (I think!!!) for up to 4-6 months) better check that time frame to cross the border. So in reality you can delay your POE for awhile.

Hope some of this helps

Terri

Thanks Terri... I think this is my plan. I am a retired Canadian banker and with selling my home and getting things done....I am visiting again in June to Boston, and so if i dont have the interview for a few months... ( delay it as you say ), I still have my passport to continue to travel and then once we are set to move I finish up the interview and use POE at Buffalo and away we go. Thanks for the reply.

At the time of interview they keep the passport so your visa and I-94 can be put in. As for your medical it is good for a year. If you want to stall then just schedule your interview later in august or september as we schedule our own interview dates.Once you have interviewed you can still wait (I think!!!) for up to 4-6 months) better check that time frame to cross the border. So in reality you can delay your POE for awhile.

Hope some of this helps

Terri

[James Dalton 0]

If you are interviewing in Montreal and haven't even got your NOA2 yet, I really don't think you need to worry about interviewing in June or July. You still have a ways to go in the process. NOA2 to interview, in Montreal, seems to average about 4 months. (If you're interviewing in Vancouver, feel free to ignore all of my answer above).

If you NEED to travel back in forth in August/September without activating the K1, you should probably just consider stalling on booking your interview until October, so you are ready to go in November.

Thank you... I am a winnipeg boy. I agree and was not aware that the interview was at my descretion on booking. I have a few family events in Boston Area in Sept and early October so being able to still travel down for a few day or week is important. I have a dated NOA1 Jan 28th and they are currently reviewing Dec31st. So all in all it should work out. Just thankful for all the replies and help on this matter. A banker for 31 years and this is more stressful.

thanks again

[Flames9_RN 358]

Thank you... I am a winnipeg boy. I agree and was not aware that the interview was at my descretion on booking. I have a few family events in Boston Area in Sept and early October so being able to still travel down for a few day or week is important. I have a dated NOA1 Jan 28th and they are currently reviewing Dec31st. So all in all it should work out. Just thankful for all the replies and help on this matter. A banker for 31 years and this is more stressful.

thanks again

If ur in Winterpeg, ur k1 interview should be in Vancouver, which is normally much faster than Mtl!

[at long last 58]

First time on and doing this for my US Fiancee. The question is mine here in Canada. WE have filed the K1 Fiancee visa and NOA1 received on Jan 27th so they are about 30 days from reviewing. I will have no issue with approval, as I have seen my fiancee 8 times in the last 12 months and am ready to move from Canada to USA. I still have my home to sell and a few investments to tidy up. MY QUESTION : If anyone knows... when I go for my interview in June or July, will they take my canadian passport and not return? Reason is that since you must cross the border using the Packet 3 and marry within 90 days, my hopes was to still make a few more visits to Boston area over August and Sept and then in Nov cross and arrange the marriage in 90 days.

I can always delay the medical and stuff that might be needed. Does anyone know?

Hope you get to maybe take in a baseball game at Fenway (if you like baseball) we are down in West Haven CT, 2 hours away from Boston. What a pretty place Boston is. We went last summer and I had my sign ( hand made) which states I was Canadian but the sign police said it went against copyright so I was only allowed to show it between innings. ...... But they photographed it for their website.

Even going through Vancouver you can delay things by just taking your time.

Terri

[James Dalton 0]

Hope you get to maybe take in a baseball game at Fenway (if you like baseball) we are down in West Haven CT, 2 hours away from Boston. What a pretty place Boston is. We went last summer and I had my sign ( hand made) which states I was Canadian but the sign police said it went against copyright so I was only allowed to show it between innings. ...... But they photographed it for their website.

Even going through Vancouver you can delay things by just taking your time.

Terri

Hi Terri... I say Boston as I have been there, But my fiancee is in Westfield Ma about 18 miles north of Hartford. That is where I fly into always. Actually coming down in less than 4 weeks. You are in a great place. We checked out wedding venues at Waters Edge Resort and Spa. Beach wedding we hope. Again thanks. I just felt Montreal was easier to get to as my mom lives in London Ont and its a quick drive to Montreal from there. If you think of anything I will need let me know but as things roll on I might try getting some advise again. Thank you Cannuck.