Nonmart

This is scary, I am from Winnipeg but it is still Canada Post that we have to rely on. I just got approved two days ago and will be expecting to receive my passport next week.. Hopefully!!

Hello Guys! We had our interview today and got approved. I would like to thank everyone here for the help and I wish all of you F2A2016 Filers best of luck with your own interviews.
 

Background
I am Canadian. My husband is American. My interview appointment was on Dec 18, 2018 at 8am. Before arriving, I made a binder with plastic sleeves and tabs of what is included in the pre-interview checklist. This was not as necessary for the officer as much it just helped me stay organized. My husband took me to Montreal and we drove up and made a trip out of it. I recommend driving up to the embassy the day before the interview to see where to park the day of and where to stand.
 
The Appointment Day
My appointment was at 8 am. We arrived at 7:04 am. We parked in parked in lot across building for $15/day early bird price. After 8am it is $18 for the whole day. It was hard to find parking if you have an appointment before 9:30 am because the streets need to be cleared from 8am-9:30am for city cleaning.
One family arrived right when we did.  Stood in line till 7:45 am. VJ bloggers said to stand on the side with the yellow columns but that didn't matter because the building security guard asked us to line up across the right side of the building.
 
Once we were allowed in we were asked to go to the back of the line since we didn't have a 7:30am appmt and they wanted to prioritize the early ones. So we told everyone in line, if you have a 7:30am appmt move up. And then everyone was kind enough to let us stand in front of the 8am group since we were there early.
When we went in, there was a lady who greeted us and asked us for our appointment time and our passports. She handed us a laminated document that indicated our call number and what we need to have ready for the officer.  She asked out of the two who was the beneficiary and the petitioner. Then we went to security.
The security guy asked us to place our items in the bin like at the airport. Did not have to take shoes off. You hand in ur phone and keys to the officer and get a ballot to pick it up when you leave the building. We went downstairs and waited like everyone else. Then an officer came and told us we r going up to floor 19 and when we arrive we will sit and wait for our number to be called. Our waiting began, it was 8am.
 
When my number was called the lady just asked for all my documents to verify them and passport photos. Confirmed my Canadian address, phone number and then asked me the petitioners phone number and address. She took my finger prints. And then told me I am good to go and to sit and wait again and the officer will call my number for the interview.
 
The lady officer called my number and I went up. She made me take an oath of honesty on the finger print scanner.  She said you were born in Pakistan I said yes. Questions she asked me:
How did you two meet? Who is the petitioner? What does your husband /petitioner do for work? Where does he live? How often do you get to see each other? What is your highest level of education? Have you ever been convicted of a crime? Does your husband cook or do you cook? (meant to be a trick question) Have you ever been denied entry to the US? How long have you ever stayed in the US? Have you ever stayed in the US longer than 6 months?  
Then all of a sudden she pulled out two sheets and said welcome to the US and that our immigration packet is now electronic so we don't take anything to the border. If you have travel plans and are worried about getting your passport back in time, do mention it to the officer. By 8:50 am, we were done.
 
Side Notes:
- Items I brought but;
They did not even ask for the photocopies of the the original documents. 
They did not ask for a printed interview appointment letter.
They did not ask for CEAC print outs.
They did not ask to see petitioners photocopy.
They DID ask to photocopy his W-2.
They did not ask to see relationship evidence.

Let us just hope we get early Feb dates...

Feb 1st is Friday. I wonder if we will get a Feb 1st date? 

If @LLabout, congratulations, got a January 31st interview date, then most probably the CC dates which follows will have the interview date in February.

It does suck big time. You never know though...there are 2 ppl on the forum that got interview dates at the 11th week and only had 2 weeks to prepare. Someone with a i129 visa just posted they just got an interview for middle of the month 2 days ago. ?? No rhyme or reason to the system. 

Hi everyone,
 
Here is how i got my passport back without making a trip to Montreal.
 
I had already seen my status changed to issued online. I emailed montreal embassy and they sent me the generic email.
 
I contacted a messenger company in Montreal (the one i used was called messageries speedo though i am pretty sure there are other courier companies as well).
 
I emailed them the pickup email as well as a signed authorization letter (not notarized though) to pick up my passport on my behalf from the embassy.
 
Their messenger went out on tuesday and the embassy gave them my passport. they sent it to me same day through UPS and i received it today in Halifax in the afternoon.
 
This whole process was less than 2 days and cost me a total of 55 dollars.
 
Hope this helps some of you

Hi All: I just called NVC and they said that they are still scheduling interviews for December (he couldn't specify if they are for Montreal, he said for the world)....but good news I think.

Thank you! It was very informative.. 

Count me in please Oct 17th documents qualified, thank you 

Count me in please Oct 17th documents qualified, thank you