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| Montreal, Canada |  Review on October 2, 2015: |
CherRy143
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Our appointment was on 09/29 at 7:40 a.m. My fiancee is from a small town in BC. We had to apply for interview at Montreal consulate because that is the only place that will handle citizens from other country that are in Canada.
We arrived at 6:00 am. We were trying to look for parking but there's a lot of constructions going on around the consulate that there was no street parking nearby. So, we parked at the parking lot paying $17 CAD for the whole day just in case it may take longer like other people said. Of course we paid the parking at 7:00 am. and walked to consulate which is just outside the parking lot.
When we got there, there was only two people at the door. One on left side and one on right side. We lined up behind a girl who was in the left side. Then people started showing up and lined up on each side. At 7:30, a really nice girl came out and told everyone to only keep one line on the left side. She was very nice and smiling the whole time. Anyways, we became number 2 in line. She started asking for reason why we are here and asked for the appointment print out for proof. The girl in front of us had her appointment at 8:00 am. So she was sent away and told to come back later which made us first in line.
We went in and security people were just joking around with each other which was funny for us as well. There's a sign on the wall of what you cannot bring inside. So, I took everything out and put it in the tray. Even my belt and asked if I need to take off my shoes. They said I don't have to. It's ok. Went through the security and they scanned us using wand too. Then they told me to go down the stairs and wait for the elevator. They were all very nice. They told me to check our phones and keys there and gave me a ticket (which I left in the tray and kind of had a funny moment when we came back out lol). We were the only two there. They didn't let others in yet.
We went downstairs, waited for about 10 minutes just the two of us. Then a few people showed up. After 5 more minutes of waiting, one of the security officer came and told us to go to floor 19 with the elevator. Since we went in last, I had to press the button on the elevator....
When we got out of the elevator, we were greeted by a man who was also very nice and helpful, told us to sit at the chairs if we are here for immigrant visa and line up if we are here on non-immigrant visa. Within a minute, they started calling numbers. Started from #5 for some reason. But #5 didn't show up. So, they went to #3 and #1 one after another. #3 was called to go to windows 4 and we were called to go to windows 1.
At the window 1, the lady behind the glass asked for my fiancee's passport, police records, appointment letters, medical records, and original and copy of birth certificate. And then, she asked her to confirm her address and phone number. Then, she asked me to confirm my address and phone number on the file. After that, she asked both of us for proof of financial support (didn't ask by the form name I-134). We gave her the I-134 package we prepared with my bank statement, pay stubs, 2-14 tax return, W-2, life insurance papers, job offer letter from my company. She confirmed those papers with me. We asked if she needed my fiancee's financial papers and she said mine will do just fine.
Then, she asked for proof of domicile. We gave her a package of papers we put together including lease agreement for the apartment, and utility bills. This whole time, this lady only talked to me. Not to my fiancee. She was smiling and very nice. After that, she gave her the pamphlet about domestic violence and rights and wrote #1 on top and told us to go back and sit down at the chairs and wait to be called again.
After 2 minutes later, we were called to go to window 6. We got there and we were greeted by a young man who's about my age. He asked me if I'm the partitioner and asked me for my passport. He then asked her to read the oath that was posted on the wall next to the window. Then he asked her to raise her hand and swear that everything she says are truth. He asked both of us just 3 questions very nicely and in friendly manner:
How did you guys meet?
If she has ever been to any other countries beside Canada.
If she has committed any crimes.
When he asked if she has been to any other countries, and she said no, he even added jokingly "not even to Hong Kong?" Seems like most people from Philippines have been to Hong Kong. I pitched in and said the flight from Philippines to Canada was her very first flying experience and he was surprised and smiled.
When he asked if she has committed any crimes, and she said no, he made a joke saying, "so you just never got caught huh?". She got a little nervous but she said "yea right" and he laughed. After that, he said congratulation, welcome to the United States and handed her the welcome paper. He then checked the courier service and saw that we set it to pick up in Montreal and he asked if we made a mistake. We told him that we are staying here until we receive it and fly straight to US. He said that's nice, enjoy the stay and that we will receive it by the end of the week or beginning of next week.
After that, we came out and didn't know how to get back downstairs so we asked the guy who was organizing people and he told us to just take the elevator and then go up the stairs back to securities. When we got to the securities, I couldn't find my checked in ticket. Security guy was in straight face and told me, if you don't have it, you can't have your stuff. I told him I can describe them in details and I did. He was like, I was just kidding. You left your ticket in the tray and smiled. Gave us our phones and the car key.
When we got out, we checked the time and it was 8:30 a.m. So, it only took us an hour total for everything. (What a waste of parking fee huh?)
I would just like to say that we went there dressing up like we are going to a job interview (suit, tie, etc). And they took us very seriously and professionally. They appreciated it because of that. There were people who wore jeans and T-shirt to these things. I think it went very easy and smooth because we showed them that we were serious about this and we also showed them how much we respect this process.
P.S. There's a clock right in front of the chairs where we sat. So, you can tell the time easily.
(updated on October 2, 2015)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #17933