My appointment was for 9:30 but thought I would go early just in case.
I got to the consulate at 8:30 and there was an area sectioned off
with ropes for us to wait in line. The line was very short for me.
As I got to the door the security guard asked me if this was an
immigrant or non immigrant visa... I ALWAYS mix that up. I'm an
immigrant visa. I asked the security guard if I could bring my phone
in and he says yes. I was shocked for all I had read and heard said
NO cell phones allowed. I then encountered a lady right inside the
door that asked to see my LOOMIS LETTER. I showed that to her and
proceeded to the end of the short lobby to the next set of doors where
the security guards are. I showed them my phone and they proceeded to
tell me no phones were allowed... WTH? So they took my phone... Put a
sticker on it... Gave me a ticket to reclaim it after and I was told
to go to floor 19.
I go thru the door they said and there is a long staircase down. You
come around the corner to see a little waiting area and a photo booth
for passport pictures as well as the elevator. I pressed the button
and the light didn't work! Just in case it didn't feel my first push
I pushed it a few more times lol. The elevator was painfully slow
getting there. Here I was all worried that I would forget floor 19
but when looked at the options all I could pick was 19 and 22 and 22
was for authorized personnel only LOL.
When the elevator door opens you see a counter and the lady there is
friendly. It's s big open room with two different areas to sit and
two different sections of wickets. I told her what my appointment was
for and she gave me a laminated ticket that had the number 7 on it and
the following:
Please have below documents ready to be submitted IMMEDIATELY to
consular clerk who will call you by the above number:
1. Passport
2. Appointment Letter
3. 2 passport size pictures
4. medical report envelope
I was then told to sit in the section behind me and wait for my number
to be announced. In front of you are some wickets number 14 and up.
Those aren't your wickets... People make payments there I gathered.
Finally my number is called... It's around 9:30 by this time. I
proceed to wicket #1 on the far side. She is very friendly and asks
me for the following:
1. Passport
2. Birth Certificate
3. Marriage Certificate
4. Divorce Certificates
5. I864's
6. Confirm both Paul's and My addresses
She notices that the date on her sheet says something different than
the police cert I handed her. I told her the date she had there was of
a previous one for it expired last week and I needed to get a new one.
She smiled and made the correction on her sheet. She then checked my
police certificate to see if ALL my previous names were on it (I have
been married a few times before) I had to go back to the RCMP office
before coming to my appointment because I had noticed when I got the
new cert that they didn't list all my names. Am I glad I did!!! The
RCMP officer was a little reluctant to do that for he said it wasn't
necessary... I told him it was better to be safe than sorry and it WAS
necessary!!
She then takes my fingerprints and I'm told to wait till I'm called
for my interview. I wanted for like an hour before I heard my number.
I was getting worried for there seemed no rhyme or reason to the
numbers they called so I thought I missed it!!
I finally hear my number and go to wicket 7.
Now the picture I had in my mind was a little office where you sit
across the table from someone... More of a formal setting. I had
produced a booklet where I had a chronological listing of pictures of
our relationship, copies of our PayPal transfers back and forth and a
section for our emails. We had a few... Almost 800 pages but I shrank
then to 4 pages to a page so there was only 100 lol.
Because it was only a wicket it COMPLETELY threw me off: She asks my
name and scans my fingertips for my fingerprint. She then asks me the
following questions:
1. When did you two meet? I answered the wrong month and corrected myself lol
2. Where did you meet? I told her and then elaborated that I had
written off relationships... thus the workshop. She then said... If
it's right then... and I agreed.
3. How many time was Paul married? I told her... 3 before me... just
like me... thus his reason for the workshop lol. She laughed.
4. Where does Paul work? I told her and then told her I made a
friend at his work.
Still it didn't click in I WAS IN MY INTERVIEW lol
She then proceeded to tell me my visa was coming in a maximum of 10
days and handed me my "Welcome to the United States" letter.
I was incredulous!!! That's IT?? All that stress and worry and it took
under 5 minutes!!! I asked her.... I'm done??? she smiled and said
yes you are!
I said thank you, turned around and burst into tears. The rest is history
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #15581
Review on November 12, 2014:
