Jump to content

Canada US Consulate Reviews

The Reviews below are actual experiences by members of the VisaJourney community and provide insight into the many immigration related offices around the world. If you are a member and would like to submit a review please follow one of the links below. To find reviews on a consulate or CIS office please make a selection from one of the pull down tabs and click "Find Entries".


Submit New Consulate Review     Submit New Local CIS Office Review     Statistics: Country || Local CIS Office
Consulate:    Local Office:    Rating:    Topic:   

Canada US Consulate Reviews
Average Rating: 4.2 / 5
1649 Review(s)
Montreal, Canada
Review #571 on May 15, 2006:

linyang_ca

Linyang_ca


Rating:

Click here if you found this review helpful
Review Topic: K1 Visa

it was so cold in montreal in febuary, but the interview was super easy. the officer just asked me how i met my fiance.

Register or log in to message user
Top
Vancouver, Canada
Review #570 on May 13, 2006:

SENKA




Rating:

Click here if you found this review helpful
Review Topic: K1 Visa

I had my interview on Tuesday, May 09 in Vancouver. It was great, much easier than expected. I worried much more than I should have. We arrived there about 9:45 and the appointment was for 10 o'clock. There was a large line, but thanks to VJ info, I knew that we don't have to wait in that line, so we went up to security guard and showed him our letter, and they took us to the elevator. Security is pretty extensive, so it's best to bring only necessary things, and no electronics of any kind. The office is on the 20th floor, where we had to go through security again. It was good that I knew there is no washroom there, so it's best not to drink to much prior to your interview. There were three of us for K1 visa and a lady for K3. After few minutes I was called up to the window and asked to present documents in the following order:
Passport and photos, birth certificate, medical, police certificates, affidavit of support, OF167 (which I didn't have, but it is required, and it was a good thing my fiance was there, so he signed it there) . Once the lady looked through it, she sent me to cashier to pay $100.00 (they only take cash). We waited some more after that and talked to people waiting for their interview. None of them knew about VJ and I told them it's a very helpful place to get info. After a while, I was called up to the window. My fiance joined me. I was asked to raise my right hand and to swear that I will tell the truth. A very nice gentleman put us at ease, and asked a few simple questions: how we met, how many times we visited, what other places we went together, what my fiance does for living, if I tried to get him to come and live in Canada. He looked at original file, asked a few things on where the pictures were taken. Didn't ask for any additional evidence of relationship, which I was a bit dissapointed about since I had a scrap book and an album with over 200 photos.
Then he said it all looked good and to come back at 2 PM to pick up my visa. We were so happy, I couldn't believe it went so smoothly.
Now, I just have to quit my job, sell my things and move to get married, yay
If anyone has a question about this particular consulate, feel free to contact me. Good luck to everyone

Register or log in to message user
Top
Montreal, Canada
Review #565 on May 12, 2006:

babytiger

Babytiger


Rating:

Click here if you found this review helpful
Review Topic: K1 Visa

Denied

Register or log in to message user
Top
Montreal, Canada
Review #563 on May 11, 2006:

andru

Andru


Rating:

Click here if you found this review helpful
Review Topic: K1 Visa

Well we did it!

My visa was approved on April 19th in Montreal. I thought I would share my experience.

The consulate itself is located on the corner of Rue St-Alexandre and Blvd. Rene Levesque. The actual entrance is on Rue St-Alexandre (for the consular office only). I have attached photos at the bottom of this post to help so you can recognize the building and know exactly where to go =).

If you chose to stay at the Hotel La-Tour (I would highly recommend staying here - at least for the first night), you only have to walk outside the front door and across the street to reach the consulate. Cab rides from the airport to the city centre are capped at $35 minus tip (Hotel La-Tour is located in the city centre). Also - two blocks up the street (Blvd. Rene Levesque) is a Tim Hortens, so you can easily get a decent cup of coffee and a bagel before the interview.

The Consulate has its own entrance to the building, directly inside this first entrance is security. It resembles that of a small airport - x-ray machine, metal detector, and numerous guards. No guns that I could see - and not very intimidating at all. Make sure you bring your letter requesting an interview and present it to the guards. The first set of doors open at 7:30 am. However, after clearing security you must wait in an area in the lower part of the building with an elevator. The guards will not take you to the 19th floor where all the action is until 8:00am. Make sure you have your letter requesting an interview as well as your passport ready to present to the guards.

I decided to wait until 7:50 and it worked out well. I was the only one clearing security at that time and was able to get a seat at the FRONT of the waiting room. This is important as you want to be the FIRST person on the large elevator. It opens from the back, and therefore you will be the first person out. Many people wait for you to enter presuming the doors will open from the front.

A few notes about the initial waiting room:
-There is no bathroom.
-There is a photo booth in case you don't have passport pictures ($4 in change).
-Remember to wait at the FRONT of the waiting room, and when the guard says you may enter the elevator, get near the back doors (it is a very large elevator).

When you get off the elevator on the 19th floor, turn left around the corner and look for WINDOW 14. When I went through, the majority of those on the elevator ran towards a back window. In the panic, I got a bit confused and almost followed but then the officer came out and clarified. People wishing to obtain travel visas are to wait at another window around the corner, so just wait at window 14 and don’t get panicked that others are lining up in front of another window.

The blind will remain down on window 14 for a little while, they start processing the travel visas first. When it opens, you will be asked for your letter requesting an interview. After inspecting the letter, you will be issued a number. Mine was C1. The people getting travel visas were issued numbers starting with A (i.e. A1, A2...). After getting your number, go and wait in the waiting area in front of the screen hanging from the ceiling. The numbers will appear here.

If you have to use the bathroom, you probably have about 10-20 minutes before they will start calling the "C" numbers. When they call your number there will also be a window number which you are to go to. You will have to go to the opposite side of the building from window 14. It’s down a small hallway. When you arrive there they will begin requesting paperwork.

I bought a small, plastic file-folder to organize all of the paperwork. Bring copies of everything. They requested my DS156 and DS156K forms, Affidavit of support, letter from my fiancé saying she was still willing to marry me (signed) – to this I stapled pictures of us together as well as receipts from the engagement ring and our wedding rings (as proof of engagement), passport, medical envelope, and birth certificate. I was fairly nervous at this point because there were complications getting my long form birth certificate (I just had the short form). I brought along a baptismal certificate and my parents wedding certificate just in case, but the guy said it shouldn’t be a problem as my application was very well put together and everything else was in order. He also saw that I had a Canada Post X-Press envelope and requested it.

After taking all of my paperwork, I was given a slip of paper and told to run back to window 14 and pay my 100$ visa issuance fee, and then return with the receipt and leave it in the window slot. I paid and returned and left the receipt and went back to the waiting room. About 5-10 minutes later I was called again into the “interview room”. You’re still separated by glass and speak through speakers, however it is closed door.

The officer took my fingerprints, and as they were being scanned I immediately noticed a yellow post-it note marking a page in my application. I was a bit worried at first, but when he turned to it I saw it was just the pictures I had provided as “evidence of engagement”. The picture he had marked was one of my fiancé and I at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville NC. He said it looked really familiar and he and a co-worker wanted to know the name. We had a brief chat about the Southern States, and I cracked a few jokes. He was very good natured. The only other question he asked me was how we met. He seemed very interested in my story and was always smiling. It felt more like a conversation that an interview! Then he got me to sign my DS150 forms, asked if I had any questions and thanked me for my patience and for having a well organized application. He said that he would try to get my visa printed later that afternoon and mailed out in the morning.

I was out within an hour and a half and spent the rest of the day exploring Old Montreal and the downtown core. =)


I hope this guide helps some of you!

Best of luck,
-Andrew & Cammie



Register or log in to message user
Top
Montreal, Canada
Review #559 on May 10, 2006:

MarieAnastasia




Rating:

Click here if you found this review helpful
Review Topic: K1 Visa

I flew into Montreal April 4, Bruce drove from Maine and picked me up at the Airport. We went by the directions given on the La Tour Centreville Hotel and were lost for almost 3 hours. Beware...It says to take the 2-20..........it should read 720!!! The Hotel was fine.....but we almost lost the top of the truck because it was underground parking and the hotel clerk said our truck would fit fine.....He misunderstood the make of it. Bruce got out and surveyed the situation and said there was no way the truck would fit under there.. (if I had been driving I would have just driven on through:-)
The next morning we were at the Consulate by 7:45 am (my appointment was at 9:30)...........went through security without a hitch. Went to the 19th floor (thanks, I was prepared for the elevator opening from the back..lol) We stood in line, got number C3, got called in, Bruce went and paid the $100 while I gave the lady all the necessary paperwork. We sat down and got called in for the actual Interview and he asked us ONE question.............How did we meet?????.............that was it.....Painless!!! He took my 2 index fingerprints and said pending the results I could come back tomorrow at 2:30 and pick up my VISA!! (I knew I was fine there!) That was it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!We were out of there before 9:30!!
The next day we went over to the Consulate but I was the only one allowed in. So I went up in the elevator to the 19th floor all by myself (I told Bruce that right then and there proved how much I loved him.........I'm terrified of elevators!!!! lol) I was out of there within 10 minutes with K1 VISA in hand...YAHOO!!!!
We drove back to Newfoundland and Labrador, spent time with family and drove back to the USA April 18 with the U-Haul and truck filled to the brim!! Not a problem at the border either...........All that silly worrying for nothing....thank God! But those of you who are still going through this.....I understand totally!!
We're getting married May 16 in Las Vegas, then we start the next stage........
AOS...........Oh No........More worrying .........LOL....(((((HUGS)))))

Register or log in to message user
Top
Now Showing Records 1596 to 1600 (of 1649 total)

Pages: First 318 319 320 321 322 Last  





Review Statistics:




×
×
  • Create New...