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| Montreal, Canada |  Review on September 13, 2019: |
Buster & Hitch
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Also had an 8:30 appointment on September 11th. I was expecting a crowd but it looked like more appointments had been scheduled for 7:30am. I got there at about 7:50am, there is still construction around the building. I walked there from the YWCA hotel about 15-20 minutes away (great option if you're looking for something cheaper downtown). I arrived a day early and checked out the embassy location the day before, which I definitely recommend just to remove that extra stress of getting lost the morning of the interview!
When you enter they immediately ask for your passport and appointment confirmation so have them ready (I handed the one I had printed from the website). I brought nothing but a 5-star zip binder, newspaper, and iphone. I was given a sheet with #10 on it and list of documents to have ready. Metal detector isn't super intimidating, like going to a courthouse or legislative building. I told them I had my phone and they directed me to the person to store it away (he gave me a ticket to retrieve it at the end).
From there they direct you to an elevator in the basement. This was a large empty space when I entered so I chose to take the time here to organize my documents, though I could have done it upstairs, there's just not as much space. I had definitely over-prepared with documents, but I still think it's better to come with everything you have just in case they ask for additional evidence on something! Note - as of this visit they asked for the petitioner's most recent tax returns as the only evidence for the affidavit of support.
Once upstairs, you just wait until your number is called, then you go up to the window and they request your documents (not in the order that's on the sheet, of course lol). As mentioned in other reviews, make sure you have photocopies of any original documents you're bringing, as they want to keep the photocopies. I had read some reviews that the person here was very stern, I got a guy that just seemed like his job was to ask for papers all day and was over the niceties portion of it. I kept my communications with him short and handed him only what he asked for (I gave him 3 years of tax returns and he handed me everything but 2018 back).
Then it's back to waiting until they call your number for the interview window. I was super nervous and just brought a newspaper with me to scan through and do the crossword. I didn't see any interesting magazines and was too distracted to try to engage in conversation with people! There were security guards watching us the whole time. I think my wait time here was almost one hour. When they call your number to the interview window, it's in a small room, but definitely not private. For an 8:30 appointment time, this happened at about 9:30ish. I had watched a lot of people walk out with pink acceptance slips which for some reason was even more nerve-wracking for me!
The interviewer asked open-ended questions and gave long pauses, so if you're a nervous rambler like I am, it's good to practice short and concise answers.
She asked:
- when/how we met (Las Vegas 4 years ago, I elaborated here saying my fiancee was living in Nevada at the time, as she seemed a little confused about how the meeting happened)
- have I been married before (no)
- I see a divorce here, that was your fiance? (yes, in 2015)
- what was your longest visit to the US? (10.5 weeks, I elaborated that it was supposed to be 4 weeks but I broke my kneecap and had to extend the stay, she commented that she had noticed it was a long visit so that clarified it)
- do you have wedding plans? (yes, in November)
- is your family going (yes, I added my sisters are bridesmaids)
- I see you've had trouble had the border before can you explain?
This was the source of my nervousness! It happened last December and I never signed any official denial or withdrawal papers so I'm not even sure if it's flagged on my passport. I noted it in my DS-160 regardless, which I think is where she got the info. I explained that I had been moving from the west coast to the east coast and wanted to drive through the US and they didn't want to let my car through without further proof that I was planning on returning to Canada (rookie mistake, never drive through a border with lots of luggage without that proof!!). She entered that info and then seemed surprised, saying my visa was approved right away even though she expected a delay with that border flag!
I got the infamous pink slip of paper, and I asked her if I'd get any tracking info on my passport being returned (no, they don't provide tracking). Then I hightailed it out of there! Got back to the hotel by 10am. Interview was on Wednesday and CEAC says "Issued" by end of day Thursday. HUGE thank you to everyone who has taken the time to write reviews on here. I was able to navigate the whole thing with at least a little more confidence because of it!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #27058