We stayed at The Hotel Omni. VERY nice hotel and for a bit more money than others but worth it if you are OK with spending a little extra. Only about a 10 min walk to the Consulate. We arrived at the Consulate around 7:15am. There were already a couple of people lined up so we were 3rd in line. We waited for about a half hour (after I went to the Tim Hortons just up the street to get some coffee. Go to the end of the street, turn right and go up a block and its right there on the corner). We were let in one at a time into the door. There is a woman to the immediate left that asks for your appointment letter and loomis confirmation and passport. The guard asked me if I was the petitioner and I told him I was and he asked me for ID. I brought my US passport just in case so I just recommend doing that. You then go through the security checkpoint much like the airport. Go through another door to the left once cleared and down a set of stairs. Got to the back left corner of the elevator after a short wait. The guard came into this room and opened the elevator and gave some instruction about where to go first (window 14). Once up on the correct floor, we exited the elevator out the back door as it opened and immediately turned left. The window there is labelled "14a/14b" and that is where you go. Got the C1 ticket and went off to the right to sit at the other area. Waited there for about 10 minutes. Other numbers had been called before us but I am pretty sure they were for a different type of Visa (we were there for I-130 and we know that a few were there for K1). We got to the window and the woman there made sure we had all of the paperwork in order. We had hired a lawyer to do all of this and it was one of the better things we did. Our situation was not complicated at all but it was great to be 100% that everything we needed was already there at the consulate and there was very little we needed to bring with us to the interview. Everything checked out and we were told to wait again in the same area. We waited there for about another 10 mins and then were called up to another window further in the back (signs are posted so it is easy to find). I (the sponsor) had to sit just behind and to the left of the window where my wife was going through the questioning for the interview. I could still hear what was being asked and everything so that was kind of nice but couldn't stand right there with her understandably enough. Some basic questions about what I do for a living and where she plans to live once in the US. Very casual conversation but still probing so it wasn't too stressful at all. She said that she was approving her Visa and gave her some further instruction and we left. Follow Saylins advise and maps etc for guides on exactly where to stand and what to do they were incredibly helpful. Best of luck to everyone!
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #12746
Review on September 11, 2013:
