iampatricias

You can by choosing "Permanently Immigrate (Ready to Schedule)" - it'll skip the DHL and payment options.

I have seen a few other people who booked today... are you choosing "Permanently Immigrate (K1/K2)"?

May you get your visa quickly!

Hear hear!!

Nice! Let's hope these openings keep coming!

I just posted my much too detailed review of Montreal in the Reviews section! I hope it helps calm your nerves and get you ready!

Just a friendly bump for folks who've had their interviews in the last few weeks - how long did it take to get your passport back?

Iampatricias, I hope your interview went well. There were so many people being "herded" from one room to another that it was impossible to figure out who you were in person.

"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.

AHHH I just booked an appointment for May 18th ahhhhhhhh YAY!

Nice work!!

I also went to a walk-in with my immunization record and a print-off of the required vaccines, and the doctor I saw gave me all the shots I needed (either updates or all new ones) for free. I did that about 2 weeks before the medical and it was really reassuring to know that there wouldn't be any problems. I also had him write a little note about my prescriptions (from the same clinic).

We'll help you get through this!

Jeannie's got it right - I submitted a DS160 and did not do a DS157 (approved yesterday!).

I followed the same procedure as you've got listed there. Remember that the updated Letter of Intent to Marry should be dated within one month of the interview.

Good luck and great plan to stay on top of things by calling the NVC and DoS!

I printed off this website and took the list to my local walk-in clinic though you should really use your family doctor if at all possible. That very afternoon, I got 3 shots in the arm (MMR, DTP, flu) and am glad they were all up to date for the medical.

My medical in Toronto went just as the OP described (minus the husband by my side ) and I drove back in to pick the results up on Monday as well. The huge x-ray is kind of annoying (it'd be SO much easier to just tuck a disc into the envelope!) and I brought it to the interview, taking care not to bend or fold it while on the train and everything, and as mentioned earlier, no one asked to see it, or the piece of paper inside. A gentleman sitting beside me had a moment of panic because he realized most of the people in our group had their x-rays but he thought it was just for our own personal records, and the interviewers couldn't read them anyway, so he hadn't brought it. At the window where they collect the medical envelope and the one where they take other originals, they didn't ask him for it so he was quite relieved.

The waiting and the nerves for the medical and the interview were the worst part of the whole experience for me!

It was just fine Predictably long and nerve-wracking, but I got approved so that was a huge relief!! I hope to post a review tomorrow afternoon!

Hey JeannieL - paperclips and binder clips are acceptable. Non-electronic keys are also fine. And the big x-ray is not needed

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!

The DoS number is 202.663.1225 - hit 1 then 0 - they open at 8:30am EST - call early for no wait times!

Your timeline is for a K-1 theirs is for a spousal visa, this is different and the wait times are longer due to the fact that Montreal is the only consul in Canada that processes spousal visas.

Oh yes... I did not take that into consideration...

I think DoS is exaggerating when they say it can take up to 4 months for Montreal to get to mail from their mail room (see my timeline)... still, it seems all but impossible to get a hold of someone for straight answers on long delays

I think it'd be real unfair of the USCIS to say you may not move after filing your petition, or after receiving your K1

But yes, follow Darnell's advice!

Hello, I don't believe he needs to get any police records from the States because they do background checks on all the applicants. The police check he gets should be no older than a year by the time he brings it to the interview.

In many cases, the doctors who do examinations for visas require you to bring Packet 3 to the examination to confirm you are eligible. I'd say wait until you have that confirmed before you book the medical.

So you've sent them an email letting them know you submitted Packet 3 paperwork which was received in Montreal February 24th? I would send it again, track it again, and give it another 2 weeks - they're obviously not THAT behind if others are getting through in 3 or 4 weeks... What a rip... I feel terrible for you

** sorry, as an additional thought, your NOA2 date is from September 2010? It's possible, maybe, that you left the Packet 3 too long, and your case has expired... The NOA2 usually has an expiry date on it four months from the date of issue - so that would have meant if you hadn't had any communication with the consulate by January, they might have thought your petition was dead and you didn't wish to pursue it... Maybe this is something to ask the DoS about?

I made a poll a little while ago (I am also anxious about the wait time!) and I also can't believe how much the time varies! Please do let us know when your visa arrives! Apparently the DoS can tell you if your visa has been printed - if it has, it's hopefully on its way. If it hasn't, Montreal is having problems!

It really does depend on how efficient your particular consulate is going to be in the months your case is there. Montreal is notoriously slow but they suddenly opened up a whole bunch of interviews in April. When I was first allowed to book, I was scheduled to go in July.

In any case, I would plan for about 3 months and then do what you can to get the paperwork turned around as fast as possible!

Our lawyer wrote: I intend to furnish room and board and all other contributions a reasonable person would provide for their fiancee and soon to be wife.

When I first talked to my (Anglican) priest about marrying my fiance and I in a non-legal ceremony in Canada and then later marrying legally in the States, he had some concerns about the integrity of claiming we were not married when we crossed the border later... in the eyes of the state, we wouldn't be, but whatever. What he suggested was doing a sort of blessing of the marriage mass afterwards, or something like a vow renewal ceremony at the church at a later date.

In terms of Christian rites, there are a few options available though I would make sure to explain the situation fully so the mass or whatever can be adapted to your needs and preferences

My fiance and I are planning to get a marriage license the morning of my entry with the K1. In NY, we have to wait 24hrs before we can use it, so the next day, we're going to get a Justice of the Peace to marry us and fortunately for us, my priest (who can't legally marry us in NY) has agreed to come across the border with us to do a Christian wedding mass for us with our friends and family later on in the afternoon.

Good luck!

I sure will!! It turns out ViaRail now offers free internet... you guys, I am on a train! And also on the internet! I didn't think Via would ever get so generous.

Anyway! I'm going home Thursday afternoon so I will have a good block of time to let you know how it turned out. My biggest fear is that my Dutch police certificate hasn't been requested and is not in Montreal - NVC or the consulate must request it from the Amsterdam consulate, and though we've been after the consulate a few times (and NVC too) to make sure they're taking care of that, we haven't heard anything back. I had almost forgotten about it, to be honest, until my ride to the train station mentioned it... 24 hours to go!

I have all my originals and copies separated with plastic coated paperclips. Are paperclips allowed??? Just wondering because of the metal detector and security.

A friend of mine had her interview a few weeks ago. She took 1 expanding file folder and a binder, and a photo album and she was allowed in with all of it. They did keep her car key for her to pick up on the way out.

Oh dear... I didn't think of that... I am also using lots of paperclips and small binder clips... though I guess if they scan them, they'll see they're really just paperclips? Can they be used as weapons?