|
|
| Montreal, Canada |  Review on September 22, 2016: |
mikeandkristina
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Before I write an entire review, please know that this part of the process is the EASIEST and there's no reason to stress over it. As long as you have all the required documentation, you're absolutely good to go.
My fiancée and I arrived at the consulate at 715 AM for my 745 AM interview. There was around 20 people in line, but it doesn't matter where you are in line because you'll most likely end up upstairs with everybody eventually at the same time. A man started walking along the lineup checking if we had our DS 160 and passport handy around 730 AM. A few people did not have their physical DS 160 with them, so the consulate worker advised them to go get it printed. At one point, a few people were let inside one by one. Once you get inside, a small line is formed directly to the left of the door where a lady took my passport and DS 160. She did some work on her iPad and then said we were good to go. She handed me a laminated form that had my number on it and a list of things that I needed to put in order for once we got upstairs for the interview. We then had to walk up a few steps to a door that opened to the security checkpoint. It's very TSA-style. We did not bring our phones, so it's advised that you don't bother bringing it unless you need it. Once we went through the metal detector, we collected our belongings and were sent through a set of doors to the left of the security checkpoint and down to the basement by stairs. This is where you sit down and start putting together all the things on the laminated piece of paper. It's advised that you try to move quickly while doing this so that once the elevator is ready to go to the 19th floor (where the interviews take place) you can hop on it and be in your way. We took a few minutes to get the listed things in order and missed one elevator ride, but it didnt matter because the elevator was back within a minute or two. Please be advised to bring a PHOTOCOPY of your birth certificate. From what my fiancée and I understood from the packet 3 checklist and visa journey, we figured that I needed a long form certified copy of the birth certificate. That is wrong. Bring your original birth certificate and a photocopy of the original birth certificate. Another big one to bring is a copy of the biographic page of your passport. We took that next elevator to the 19th floor and had to sit in the middle section. Here you can make sure everything from the laminated paper is ready to go. NOTE: BRING THE PROOF OF PAYMENT FROM THE $265 DS 160 PAYMENT. You get an email of it along with the letter from the consulate. I was #6 and it took around 20 minutes to be called. I was called up to booth #12 and a very friendly lady greeted me and immediately noticed how nervous I was. She kept telling me that everything is going to be okay (ITS TRUE!). She asked for all the things on the laminated paper, but not in the order that they were on the paper. I did not have the photocopy of my birth certificate, but it was not a big deal. I also had to get my fingerprints taken. I was given a pamphlet with my #6 on it that talked about domestic violence and how I can get help. It was basically information on my legal rights as an immigrant. This part at booth #12 took around 10 minutes. I was sent back to my seat with my fiancée and waited until I was finally called to booth #8 for the interview. I was greeted by a really cheerful young man who took my pamphlet. Make sure you bring all your visa-related things to the booth in case he asks you specific questions that aren't routine. Like the lady at booth #12, the man told me that everything is going to be a breeze. It really was. The interview literally took 3 or 4 minutes. I took an oath stating that everything I say and provide is true and then he asked me to take my left hand fingerprints. Then, he asked me where my fiancée and I met and when we met in person. He asked what we've done in terms of traveling to see each other, what our wedding plans are, what I plan to do in terms of work in the USA, and that's basically it. He seemed happy to know that my fiancée was there waiting for me. He took a quick peek through the paperwork I provided at #12 and that was it. He said, "Well that was simple. Welcome to the United States." This is where the shock really kicks in. The interview was so quick and painless. He gave me a few sheets about immigrating and told me about how it'll take about a week to two weeks to deliver my passport with the visa. That's it! The interview day is the simplest part of the entire process without a doubt. My fiancée and I left the consulate at around 915 or so.
I hope everyone feels a little less stressed after reading this!
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #20480