|
|
| Montreal, Canada |  Review on July 13, 2018: |
NikkiFromCanada
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I arrived at the Consulate at 6:50am for my 7:30am interview. I waited outside, and chatted with a group of ladies until they opened the door at 7:30. I realized immediately that your interview time means nothing. It's all about the order you are lined up outside. They let one person at a time into the building and you're given a number. That number is the order you're called in for everything. My interview was for 7:30, but there was a girl standing in front of me and her interview was for 8:30 so she got to go in first. I was number 6.
Once inside, you give them your Passport and your proof of fee payment email printout. You're given a laminated sheet with a number on it, and instructions for which order to arrange your paperwork. You put all your belongings into a container on a conveyor belt, and you walk through a scanner (just like at the airport.) No backpacks allowed inside. They completely went through my purse and took out my keys, cell phone, work badge and I had to take off my apple watch. They let me keep my purse and small briefcase with my documents in it. After screening, you go downstairs to a large waiting room where you're given a few minutes to put your documents in order.
Next, the whole group was taken on an elevator up to the 19th floor. The elevator opens on the opposite side of where we got on.
Once upstairs, it's a very large waiting room and they started calling numbers 2 at a time after about 10 minutes. When your number is called, you go stand side by side, between dividers, at a window where someone is behind the glass. They ask you for all your documents one by one. The lady was basically making a file with everything I gave her, and checking off a checklist. She asked me a few brief questions (confirming addresses and phone numbers.) Once you have given all your documents, they fingerprint you. After that's finished, you go back and sit down and wait for your number to be called for your interview.
Once my number was called, I walked to a cubicle -like little cubby. Again, the person is behind glass. You remain standing for the interview. I gave an oath with my right hand up and she started asking questions. She was very friendly. Questions I was asked: "When/how did you meet your fiance? Who visited who first? How often do you see each other? What was the longest you've ever stayed in the USA? Have you ever had trouble crossing the border? What does your fiance do for a living? Where have you traveled internationally in the last five years? What are your wedding plans?"
The feeling I got is the amount of questions you're asked depends on how much info she needs to put into the computer. She was filling something out the whole time she was asking me questions because she was looking at paperwork and typing the whole time. Once she was finished typing, she stopped asking questions and she reached for that bright pink piece of paper and said "Welcome to the United States of America!" Best feeling ever! I cried immediately. It was such an emotional moment after waiting so long! To date, I've never had a bigger moment of relief in my whole life! I was finished, and out of the Consulate by 9am!
It seems, in Canada, the most important part of this whole process is having all your paperwork! The interview questions (in my opinion) are to make sure you're of sound mind and you can communicate clearly and there are no red flags with your behavior. I don't think they really doubt the relationship when it's Canada/USA. The lifestyle is too similar for the to be a lot of marriage fraud. They mostly just want to make sure your petitioner can financially support you, and you're not bringing any communicable diseases to the country. They did not ask me for proof of relationship.
Things to note:
*My fiance filled out I-134 online, signed it with pen, then scanned & emailed it to me and that was totally fine.
*One girl didn't have the proper police check but they still approved her pending she sends the correct one in right away.
*The process is very professional and friendly. Sometimes on this forum, you get the feeling that they're harsh and that they're just looking for reasons to deny people, and if you make one mistake, that's it...but that does not seem to be the case at all.
The only thing that seemed a bit odd is that your interview time plays absolutely no part in the process at all. Someone with an 8:30 interview time was ahead of me with my 7:30 interview time.
Overall a great experience and the interview day is definitely the easiest part of this whole process (aside from being nervous.)
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #24216