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| Montreal, Canada |  Review on March 16, 2020: |
Jaret&Rachael
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Here is a detailed review of my experience at the US Consulate:
My appointment time was at 9:30 am. I went around 9:25 am and was turned away by the security guard. The line was completely full.
I came back at 9:30 am and was permitted entry. The security guard let another lady in after me, she was turned away twice already and her appointment time was at 9:30am as well. We waited in line for around an hour.
The security guards were definitely off of their game. They were gossiping about other people who were present (there was an incident where a lady raised her voice because of the wait, they were gossiping about her.) Another lady went through the metal detector and the officer asked if she had a belt on, as she set it off. She said no, but she’s wearing an underwire bra. He rolled her eyes and scoffed- as if it was wrong of her to do so. She said sternly: “SORRY MY BOOBS ARE BIG.†I chuckled at that. They were also bickering about COVID19 conspiracies and comparing them to other influenzas... for such a serious environment, they were acting incredibly unprofessional. I understand times are tough, but they should really have their stuff in order. They are the face of the consulate and are representing not one, but two countries.
The capacity at the Consulate upstairs is 25 people maximum. I’m not sure if that’s extra precaution because of COVlD19, or that’s how it always is. That’s why it took incredibly long today.
Once things got moving, I was prepared. I gave a lady my passport, she was very kind. She put a sticker on the back of it. She also gave me two paper receipts, with the same numbers on them. She explained that the screen upstairs will call me up to a window via the code on the sheets.
I had no metal items, no electronics or forbidden items. The consulate does not advertise this in their windows, which I believe they should. Don’t bring electronics: chargers, headphones, phones, etc. If at all possible... just don’t.
I waited by the elevators until it was my turn to go up. The consulate is now on the first floor.
The chairs were mainly empty. I originally sat down at the first available seat. The security officer moved me because they were trying to spread more people out, I believe that was for precautionary measures with COVID19. It was just like a passport office.
After 20 minutes of waiting, I went to the 5th window. She took my finger prints, and verbally confirmed my name, my address, and phone number. Then she verbally confirmed my husband’s name, address, and phone number. She did not ask me, she simply recited them. (I’m not good with phone numbers, I was a little nervous.) She then took my medical envelope and chest X-Ray CD.
She then asked for:
1) My original birth certificate
2) My original marriage certificate
3) My police records - I had three, one of them being correct, two of them being incorrect, she took all three.
4) My husband’s 1-864, but then she back tracked, and decided she didn’t want it. She wanted his 2019 W-2 instead!! Bring updated 2019 W-2’s! I was very lucky to have that on me.
My husband does not meet the minimum income requirements to issue a visa, so we had a joint sponsor. They did not ask for anything in relation to our joint-sponsor’s financial documents.
She instructed me to sit back down until my number gets called up again. She was very kind and professional.
After 45 minutes of waiting again, I was called up to window one. Again, this lady seemed very kind and professional.
She explained that this the interview portion, and provided a brief outline of how it goes.
She made me take an oath with my right hand up. Then, fingerprints again with the left hand.
She asked the following questions:
1) Where does your husband live?
2) What does your husband do for work?
3) Where do you intend to live in the USA?
4) Have you ever been married before? Has your husband?
5) How did you meet your husband?
6) When did you first start dating your husband? How long between dating and getting married?
7) I see you have joint sponsor, what’s his name? How do you know him?
8 )Have you ever overstayed in the USA?
9) Have you travelled internationally in the past 30 days?
10) When was the last time you saw your husband?
She then said she will be approving my visa. She gave me instructions about green card processing, as well as POE information. She handed my chest X-Ray CD and explained that I could use this for a family doctor upon my arrival. She gave me my “Welcome to the United States of America†letter and I was on my way.
The whole process took 2.5 hours. The most stressful part was waiting in line. I overheard a lady asking a guard if they will be shutting down the US Consulate, he responded “it’s a day by day process.â€
They did not ask me any information about the public charge rule, or the DS5540. I did have it prepared with me.
If you are interested, I have YouTube channel where I will be posting my entire experience, including what I brought with me, on there. Look up “Far Out No Doubt†and it should pop up.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #28194