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| Montreal, Canada |  Review on December 8, 2016: |
coffeeelady
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Hi there, I just had my k1 visa interview yesterday in Montreal and we got approved! This has been such a long journey and I just want to share my experience and give some advice to any Canadians trying to marry a US citizen.
We booked a hotel in downtown Montreal so we would be close to the Embassy. My interview was at 10am, we took a cab to the embassy (about a 8 minute drive) and arrived around 8:30 am. There was a small line out the door. You wait until the immigration officer opens the door for you. When you enter the embassy lobby you are immediately asked for your passport and D-160, make sure you have it ready. The women gave us a laminated sheet with the order they want all of your documents. They tell you to wait in a line to enter the security section. I recommend just bringing a binder of all of your documents. Leave backpacks and large bags at home. They will not let you take them inside. No lighters or any gadgets or electronics of any kind. Reading advice on VJ we were told to not bring any cellphones inside the embassy, however, the immigration officer kept shouting "Turn off your cellphones". They let you bring them in as long as they aren't on. I would just recommend leaving them at the hotel if you can. Only bring the documents needed to save you hassle going through security. You are then sent upstairs where there are booths with numbers. My fiance and I sat on the US immigrant side ( all of the k1 visa applicants ) We were anxiously waiting for our number to be called. Felt like the longest wait of my life. Your fiance can come with you to the embassy but they wouldn't let him come to the window with me, he just sat in the waiting room. The first window you're called to is an embassy worker who asks you very basic questions and for all of the necessary documents in the order that they give you. This is important: photocopy everything at least once. They ask for original and copy of everything!!! I didn't have a copy of my passport and luckily she said it was okay ( I was freaking out inside ) She took my finger prints and told me to sit back down and wait to be called for the actual interview. I sat back down with my fiance and watched each person in front of me go in and come out... I was so nervous. Finally my number is called. I walk up to the window where I'm greeted by a very nice man. He asks me right away where I am from and how my fiance and I met. I told him Twitter and he seemed very intrigued and asked me how that happened. I explained and we had a few laughs. He then asked me if I had ever been previously married and if my fiance had been married before. I replied no and he then asked when we were going to get married/ what our wedding plans were. He then asked if I had ever stayed in the US for more than 6 months. Then he looked over all of my documents that the previous lady at the window had collected from me. He asked what my fiance did for a living and where he was living/where we would be living when I move. Then he took my finger prints again and gave me a big smile. He said he had good news and that everything looked in order. He handed me the document that welcomed me to the United States. He said that I just have to return to my Canadian address and that my passport with my visa inside would me sent to me within a week or so. I WAS SO HAPPY. I told him he made my day and he smiled and laughed. My advise is be organized, make sure you have every document. Take everything. Even if you take things that they may not ask for.. just in case take it all. If you are still at the start of this process, make sure you make copies of everything you previously submitted because it will save you a lot of time later on. This was my experience and I hope it gives you some perspective as to what to expect in Montreal. Dress nice for the interview. I wore black jeans and a blazer just to keep it looking professional. Even though our interview was at 10am we got there an hour and half early and left the embassy around 10:15 am. Go early. Good luck to everyone!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #21015