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| Montreal, Canada |  Review on November 13, 2014: |
Soapies
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
So I had my interview yesterday morning! After 16hrs (total round trip) in the car, the interview itself took less than 5 minutes!!!
My dad and I drove up the day before and stayed in the Holiday Inn hotel in china town. It's a nice 10 minute walk to the consulate from the hotel. It was dark when we got to the city, so we didn't do much sight seeing or anything... And I was a little on edge with all of my paperwork - I didn't want to leave it anywhere for very long. It was a lovely hotel though and the people working there for very lovely.
But anyway, the consulate review!
I arrived at 7am in the pouring rain. My dad and I sat in the car for 15 mins before I got out and stood in the rain. I had no cell phone with me, no bags, no purse, nothing but my two folders full of papers. There isn't really anywhere to stand if it's raining but I was pressed right up against the windows by the doors.
5 minutes after having stood there a few other people started showing up. I was sort of in the little nook at the doors so I couldn't see the side of the building unless I stepped out and looked , but because of the weather I didn't. Everyone who showed up was pretty confused because the window says "Open at 8:30" and everyones appointment time was for 7:40.
When 8:00am came around they opened the doors but the security guy... pretty grumpy.. told us all to move back and away from the doors. He didn't seem to be having a very good day, and wouldn't make eye contact with anybody. So when the small group of us huddled at the doors moved back, that's when I saw that the line up went all the way down the side of the building!!!
Was it worth getting there so early? Maybe not. Once you get through security and sit in the basement area by the elevator... you still have 30 minutes before they will open the elevator. It was nice to not stand outside in the cold and rain, so it was worth it for me to get there early. They only allow a few people in the building at a time because the security area is TINY.
When I first walked into the consulate there was a lady there who wanted to see my loomis information. From this she got my name and crossed me off of a list.
After security like I said, I was directed down the stairs to the room full of chairs with an elevator. And like others have said on this website... they have a machine there that will take passport photos for you for $10. It's like those cheesy photo booths you see at the mall. And surprisingly a lot of people were using it ...
At 8:30 the grumpy security guy came down and removed the rope from infront of the elevator. He pressed the up button then mumbled something and walked off. NO idea what he said, but EVERYONE stood up.
We piled onto the elevator. And by the way this is the longest elevator ride I have ever been on, and it's quiet, and awkward and there are tons of people jammed inside of there.
Right when you get off the elevator (from the rear door!) there is a giant sign that says "VISA RECEPTIONIST". You walked up to her and she'll ask to see your confirmation page and your passport. Then she'll hand you a card with your number on it. I got number 1!!!!
So I sat down and not even 2 minutes later I was called up to window 1. I didn't even have my documents ready!
At the first window (which is kind of confusing, you don't see "1" anywhere and it looks like all the windows start at #2 and onward... but 1 is actually hidden around behind window 2... so head towards window 2 and just keep going!) The lady working there was LOVELY! Here she asked for my confirmation page, which she handed back to me. She turned around and retrieved a pink folder from a bin and came back to the desk. When she opened it up it was all of my original I129F documents that I had sent with the original packet!!! It was kinda cool to see. 
She then asked me for ... my passport, my birth certificate, my police check, my two photos and a copy of my passport.
She wanted the copies of all of these too. But handed back the copy I had made of the police check.
She said to me "so this is both of your first marriages?" And I said no... because while it's MY first my fiance has been married before. So she shuffled through my original K1 packet and then asked me for a certified divorce decree. Which I had, and handed to her along with a photocopy.
She then asked me for the affidavit of support and supporting documents. I handed her everything I had and she went through it all and handed back a few things that I guess she didn't need.
Then she took my finger prints and that was it. She told me to take a seat and I will be called by the same number to another window.
Not even 10 minutes passes this time and I was called to window 7. Which is down a hallway and in a private room. The lady working at this window was also very nice. She asked me to read the oath that was taped to the window (I read it to myself, I was expecting to read something outloud but I didn't.) She also took my finger prints to match them to the previous ones I guess. She handed back my original birth certificate and my fiances divorce decree. Then she started asking me the questions ...
How long have you known him, how did you meet, what does he do for a living, what are your weddings plans, when did you first meet in person and was that when you started dating. And lastly she asked me how often I see him and how do we keep in contact between visits. Then she handed me the paper that said welcome to the USA!!! It wasn't even 5 minutes talking with her!!!
She didn't ask to see any of the evidence I brought. She didn't ask to see any pictures. She didn't ask me really anything!!!! I guess because my original packet was SO detailed and thorough she didn't need to see much more!!! I was so ecstatic!!
So I started shaking and as I was putting the paper into my folder she told me to log onto the website listed to check for the loomis information and I should be able to pick up my visa in the next week or two from the branch I selected. And that was it. She never asked me if I had any problems crossing the border or anything!!!
Then on my way out of the consulate the same security guard who was SUPER grumpy that morning told me to have a great day, smiled, and opened the door for me!!! I don't know maybe I Was just oozing so much positive energy!!!! lol!!!!
I walked back to the hotel and was there before 9AM!!!!
Just... incredible. I was prepared for ANYTHING and I definitely have NO regrets with all of the stuff I brought. At any point they could have asked me anything and I would have been ready!!!!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #15595