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| Montreal, Canada |  Review on April 5, 2018: |
Gillian90
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Overall, the interview was probably the easiest part of the whole process. My appointment time was 7:30am. I got there at about 7:05am and parked almost directly across the street in a pay parking lot. It was a bit pricey ($14) but I didn't have to worry about time running out, parking tickets, being towed, etc.
When I got to the Consulate, there were about 6 other people waiting by the door. We all just waited around, not in a line or anything and then right at 7:30am a security guard came and opened the door and told everyone to line up, single file down the sidewalk along the wall. If you aren't the first one there and able to stand right at the door, I would suggest standing on the south side of the door (if you're looking at the doors, to the right) and anticipate the line will go toward Boul Rene-Levesque. Once the doors are open, they allow each person in individually (unless your fiance is with you, in which case you can enter at the same time). I handed my passport and email confirming my appointment to the lady who checked my name on a list, and put a sticker on it. She returned my passport and email and gave me a laminated page with a big number at the top and a list indicating the order they wanted your documents. (I was #10, and that's the order they call you up to hand in documents and interview) Then I lined up again as people went through security. Cell phones are not allowed in and they will hold them and give you a ticket to reclaim in on your way out. (There is a large sign at the entrance listing everything that's not allowed in - large purses, key fobs, electronics of any kind, etc). Security also held my keys as the fob and key is combined.
Once through security, you go down a set of stairs into another room with a bunch of chairs. There is also a photo booth where you can get passport photos taken if you forgot. You might have time to arrange documents in the correct order there but if not, there should be time once you get upstairs. The security guard then had a bunch of us get in the elevator and sent us up to the 19th floor. Once you get off at the 19th floor, there is lots of seating, bathrooms, and a drink and a snack vending machine. There are 3 or 4 windows that face the seating area and then maybe 5 more down a little hallway that also has the ladies' bathroom. It was a little more waiting and then they begin to call people up based on numbers on the laminated sheet from the entrance. If I remember correctly, the list of documents has the following (not in this order, sorry I can't remember the actual order):
-Proof of payment (I just printed the email)
-Passport and colour photocopy of passport
-2 passport photos
-Police clearance
-Long-form birth certificate (note: the list doesn't say photocopy of birth certificate but I was asked to submit it)
-I-134
-Petitioner's income tax return from last year
-Medical exam packet
-Statement of intent to marry from petitioner
First, I was called to window #2 and handed in my passport. The lady asked me my address and what my US address will be. She asked me who the petitioner is and if I or my fiance had ever been married before. She asked for all my documents (although not in the order on the laminated page which I found funny after all that) and kept my passport and birth certificate. She gave me a brochure about domestic violence and immigration rights and I waited to be called to #7, which is in the hallway toward the ladies' bathroom. I went into that little room and again there's a window with the interviewer on the other side. The interviewer was super friendly! She asked if I had ever had trouble with the police anywhere and how my fiance and I met. A lot of others that were coming out had been asked the question "What do you like most about your fiance?" but I wasn't asked that. She asked about our wedding plans and that was about it. She gave me back my birth certificate, a pink paper that said "Welcome to the United States" and another sheet with info for tracking my visa and wished me a good day. I was out of there before 9am!
This morning (two days later) I got an email saying my passport and visa had been shipped and I checked the tracking number - visa is set to be delivered tomorrow! So overall, very easy and quick!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #23586