GLo

I agree with Inky.

Get your titre test done ahead of time so you can figure what you are missing at your family doctor.

I brought my immunization records (recorded in a booklet since I was born in Montreal) and my titre test (which was performed at my work place since I work in a hospital in Ontario) for my medical. I had a tetanus shot (which was free of charge) before my medical.

...you should be able to register DHL now without having or scheduling an interview. If it doesn't let you I assume that there is no harm in waiting until you do have an interview.

Yes, you can select your DHL location before you schedule an interview. Even if you do not select a DHL location, the consulate will remind you to do it after your interview.

Also schedule your interview when you are instructed to do so. And no worries...Your P3 is probably sitting in their mail room, transer. Unfortunately, the Montreal consulate is well known for their delays.

Good luck with your visa journey!

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express - Centreville (not the tacky one in Chinatown). The front desk staff was extremely friendly and bilingual. And most importantly the hotel was clean. I paid in advance for my room ($109 not including tax) and it came with a little kitchen (which I didn't asked for but it was nice to have a fridge). Like most Holiday Inn, free breakfast was served

It was approx. 15-20 mins. walk to the US embassy. Best of luck at your interview!

So I made the big move on April 30th. That in itself is a sorrid tale. Let me highly recommend if you plan to enter the US through Toronto Pearson, leave A LOT of time between flights.

Thanks for the heads up! I'm actually doing my POE through Pearson as well in June. Out of curiosity, which terminal did you leave from? I think I've encountered this US customs officer over the years when I was visiting my fiancee.

Yes, I had seen that about musical greeting cards. I immediately checked the cards I had and none of them were musical, just the plain ones.

Thanks!

Awesome! One my cards played the Chicken Dance song and I remember one of the security guards kept opening and closing it, then humming the song. It was kinda nice to see that they have a sense of humor.

Now to wait and hit refresh atleast once an hour to check whether the DHL tracking number is there or not

I was doing the exact thing last week.

DHL will also call you. They called my home while I was at work, but I rushed to my DHL pick up location once I saw a waybill number. If it's being picked up, take a screen shot of the info. My DHL guy seem extremely happy that I had it. It made his job easier.

Also make sure you don't have any musical greeting cards. I had to surrender mine temporarily when I went through security. I was able to pick them up on my way out. Reusable grocery bags are perfectly fine. Just no backpacks!

Best of luck with your interview!

I am ready....probably more than ready. I think I have overkill with the paperwork I am taking but better to have too much than not enough, right? Of course this week I am starting to get that cold/flu that has been going around. Grrrrrr. I have been popping Cold FX since Monday night when I first felt the sore throat coming on. I really don't want to be sick at my interview!!! I know it won't matter but just not pleasant. This time next week my interview will be all over....Or at least I would hope it will be...I plan on being the first person in the line up. I wonder if they got the elevator fixed at the consulate yet? I had everything down pat until I heard that news and how it frigs up the order.....I guess I will find out when I get there.

Better to have an overkill of paperwork than worry that you might have missed something. I brought way too much for my interview but I felt more secure that I did. Not sure if that made any sense. I hope you feel better for your interview! I'm pretty sure the elevator would be fixed by now. It's been a week. Then again, it's the Montreal Consulate.

Good luck!

I don't want to come off as abrupt - but everyone just has to go through the process and abide by their rules. May as well learn that now since you're going to be running by USCIS rules for the next 3-5 yrs or so.

We all would have loved to go through Vancouver, but trying to circumvent the existing rules isn't going to help.

I agree. Trying to bend the existing rules can lead to nothing but trouble. To be honest, you have to be realistic and extremely patient to get through this process. Otherwise you'll be disappointed as stated by Udella&Wiz.

Wishing you the best of luck with your visa process,

GLo

That's somewhat odd since they are very prompt at returning calls (within 24 hours or so). The number listed on the Panel Physician website is correct.

Another option (which I acutally did since I was tired of playing phone tag) is to e-mail them directly. Include your name, contact info, the date of your interview, and indicate you want to book an appointment at their Toronto location.

Their e-mail address is panel.physicians@panelphysicians.com

Just logged on the CSC Visa info site and my visa is available for pick up at my selected DHL location

Debating if I should use the home delivery option. I think I'm paranoid, but I'm afraid it might get lost.

Hmm...I live in North York as well. There's a pick up location in Markham (30 Micro Ct, Markham, ON L3R 5N1) This might be closer for her.

Ugh I just realized it should be 95 Micro Ct for Markham location. Sorry my brain isn't working today.

Thanks. Fortunately for us, the DHL pickup location is only about 30km from where my wife lives.. She lives in North York and pick-up is in Brampton.

Hmm...I live in North York as well. There's a pick up location in Markham (30 Micro Ct, Markham, ON L3R 5N1) This might be closer for her.

Phew. Thanks

Now I can relax.. till I find something else to worry about

Better said then done.

Just an FYI, if the DHL pick up location is not convenient for you then you have an option to have DHL deliver it directly to your address (within Canada) for a cost (ofcourse). The information can be found here or after your interview (on a badly photocopied page).

OHHHH wow thank you i thought i had to pay that fee twice. I e-mailed them about it but they haven't responded to me at all lately

One more thing...If you're paying online, please remember to print out a copy (or two) of the payment confirmation page. They asked for it at my interview.

As noted by some of the replies, you can send Packet 3 using other delivery options besides DHL. I used Xpresspost (using the old address since it was not updated) and it was forwarded to the appropriate address. Whatever you use, always have a copy of your documents and always use some sort of tracking. That way you won't create even more stress.

Your medical results should be available within 48 hours. I had mine done in Toronto, but the procedure/policy should be the same at both Toronto and Montreal offices. I had mine done on a Monday and it was available for pick up on Wednesday by noon.

For more info, please visit the Panel Physician site.

Aahh, you got a ticket number in the high teens, yes? At Notre Dame, I said to my friend "that girl was at the interview too... ... I think..." Well, hello! And congratulations!!

That's hilarious. I said the same thing to my sister at Notre Dame. I was in the high tens. Congrats as well! Now we play the waiting game for our Visas to arrive.

For those who are considering taking VIA. They are having a promotion until April 19...50% off fares.

Again, I took VIA from Toronto to Montreal. One way is approx. 5 hours long, but the seats were extremely comfortable and they offer WI-FI. It's on time and you don't have to deal with traffic.

Yeah go to a clinic. If you do you medical in Toronto they don't actually do any immunizations there.

I needed my MMR again (for a stupid reason) but they couldnt do it there.

I had to go to a walk in clinic and fax the results back to the office.

I remember seeing an "Accepting new patient" sign at Dr. Seiden's office. Medicals for Visa are done on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings, but they're are a regular doctor's office afterwards.

It's rare to find a doctor who is accepting new patients in Toronto. Heck I actually work in a hospital and none of the family physicians here are accepting new patients without a referral. I would recommend checking the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario “Doctor Search" and Health Care Connect. Again, a walk-in clinic would work too.

Awww soounds good...congrats! I would be dancing in the rain! lol

I am going with my hubby to his interview...is it okay that I just show my passport and go in with him? Or the guard will create a problem.

I was too tired from a lack of sleep to dance. Plus I brought more than I needed for the interview so I was hauling around 10 lbs of paper. Unfortunately I don't have my P4 letter with me at work, but there is a section (near the end of the letter) about who is allowed to accompany you at your interview. A passport is accepted as ID.

"herding" is the right word for it! It was a bit of a gong show... I was wearing a blue rain coat, but I was trying really hard to not lose it so I didn't really chat with anyone.

Baaaaaaaa!

I think I did see you. Did you go to the Notre Dame after the interview? I think I saw you there as well. I was the short Asian girl with a grey wool sweater and purple scarf.

Glad to hear that you can book appointments again. I've posted my review on the April Interview thread in case you're interested.

Oh nice, that's a really smart way to do that! *adds it to list*

I unfortunately lack a family doctor and have for quite some time (since moving for school) so I've not got my vaccination records and was just going to have to pay to have it done at the medical. But otherwise, I've got everything in order

No family doctor? This is a common problem (particularly in Toronto). Have you tried going to a walk-in clinic to get an antibody titre test done? I would highly recommend doing that since it will be extremely costly if you get it done at the medical.

Here's a review/recap of my interview yesterday.

- Arrived at the entrance and lined up along with other people at 7:45am. Make sure to have your appointment confirmation letter/e-mail and passport ready for the guard at the door. Make sure to read what is not allowed in the embassy (e.g. backpacks, large purses, nail file, etc.) and leave all prohibited items in your hotel room. The guard turned away several people who had backpacks.

- Secondary security screening. Again, have your appointment confirmation letter/e-mail and passport ready for the next guard (who checks your name off from a list). Essentially, you will experience the same security screening done at airports (minus removing your shoes). Take all your loose change out of your pocket and remove your belt, etc. and place them in a tray. Walk through the metal detector. My shopping bag was flagged because I had 3 Valentine cards that plays music. I had to surrender them to the security and they gave me a ticket so I can pick them up on my way out. I also noticed that others had to surrender their automatic/electronic car keys. Paperclips, 3 ring binders, and alligator clamps are allowed and they were not flagged.

- Going down a set of stairs and waiting in a basement room until another guard escorts you to an elevator to the 18th floor. In case you forget to bring your 2 passport photos, there is a self-serve photo booth in the basement room. I think the cost is $10.00. Sorry I can’t remember because I was somewhat anxious throughout this whole process.

- Once you’ve reached the 18th floor, a greeter checks your appointment letter and crosses your name off a list. You are asked to line up at the end of the room and you are giving a number.

- Once you’ve receive a number you wait until it is called (as indicated by a switchboard/screen) to a specific booth (which ranges from 1 to 12). You will be asked to go to a booth 3 times. Expect to be sitting and waiting a lot. The 1st time to give them your passport, confirm that you’ve paid your fees (print your receipt of payment if you paid online), and fingerprinting. The 2nd time to provide the following:

- 2 passport size photos

- a photocopy of your passport

- your birth certificate (original and a photocopy)

- your medical exam results (sealed in an envelope)

- a copy of letter of intent to marry (by your fiancée/petitioner dated within 30 days of your interview)

- I-134 - Evidence of Support (along with supporting documents – I submitted my fiancée’s income tax for 2010, 2009, and 2008 and copy of his pay slip

- The 3rd visit to the booth will be your actual interview. I was interviewed by an extremely friendly and nice young woman. She asked where and when I met my fiancée, if I had any criminal records, if I had been denied entry to US, where is my fiancée currently living and are we planning to move. I was expecting to be asked to show pictures, letters, cards, e-mails (all chronologically organized and labelled in a huge binder and a huge file folder) but she never asked for it. They also never asked for my X-ray (which I was hauling around from Toronto to Montreal and back). The next thing I remember is providing a signature on one of the documents and being congratulated. She gave me 2 sheets of paper: one on FAQs regarding fiancée visas and another on DHL instructions.

- After completing my interview, I had to inform the greeter that I was leaving and I had to wait (along with others) to be escorted by a guard back down. Yes…More waiting! I picked up my Valentine cards and left the building back to my hotel to call my fiancée with the good news. It was raining when I was walking but I was too happy to notice it.

Good luck to everyone (who are doing their interview)!

GLo

P.S. I almost forgot to mention this, but entire process took approx. 2 hours. Again expect a lot of waiting. The view from the 18th floor is nice but again I was too anxious to notice it. There's also a play area for children and a TV which was playing "Jimmy Neutron", the movie.

So I had my interview today and the worst part was that the basement elevator wasn't working so wandering through the building toward another elevator, our order was so mixed up couple #2 got #11 by the time we sat down. That was the worst part.

The best part: I was APPROVED! Woohoo! I'll write a review for y'all tomorrow, but it was really quite like all the other reviews (except for the broken elevator). For now, sweet, sweet sleep!

Well that explains why it took awhile for the guard to move us from the basement to the elevator. He said absolutely nothing about the broken elevator to us. I agree, the waiting was the worst part. I wish I brought a book. But I think I would have been too nervous to read.

Grats on approval! I got approved as well!