|
|
| Montreal, Canada |  Review on November 1, 2011: |
cananner
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I'm going to start off with a few tips, then summarize my visit.
-If you get there between 6 and 7, you are likely to be one of the first people in line. I arrived at 7 and was 4th. By 7:15 there are more people but it's not the end of the world (depending on the day). 7:30 is when the doors open and that's when the line is noticeably long.
-Read the 'forbidden to bring into the embassy' item list in Packet 4 carefully. You can't have any big bags, food, cell phone, mp3 player. They will take them away at security. If you have any kind of luggage bags they won't even let you in til you figure out what to do with it.
-Some of the people I talked to while waiting for my interview didn't know that their cell phones were going to be left at security. They were all worrying about the family (or whoever had come with them to Montreal) trying to call and not understanding why the interview was taking so long. Tell people they will not be able to reach you.
-There are pay phones you can use, but they're on the 1st floor, and you'll be waiting upstairs on the 19th floor for the interview. You can go down to make a call anytime, but if you're worried your number might get called, you probably won't want to. So, again: let people know you might not be able to reach them.
-Be thankful you found this site!!! Seriously. The people I talked to while waiting didn't know about it, and seemed amazed when I told them it provides you with example forms and guides and forums. We are so lucky!
I got the embassy at 7, was 4th in line, and was able to sit near the elevator. That didn't matter, unfortunately, because when the security guard opened it and started letting people on while checking their appointment letters, he made me and a few other people (one of whom I noticed was also going for a K1) stand aside and wait for the next elevator. That didn't hold us back too much, though, because the line upstairs where you get your number moved fairly quickly.
What screwed up my whole day was what happened when I got to the window to get my number. I put down my appointment confirmation and passport as the woman asked for my letter and DS-160. A woman behind her held up what looked like an example of the confirmation page of the 160. So I took that out and gave it in. She gave me number A4. When I sat down in the waiting area marked 'Immigrant Visas' I noticed that the people around me had C numbers. When I was called to A4, the woman at the window looked confused and said 'this is wrong, they sent you to the section for non-immigrant visas. Go back to the first window for a new number.' What had happened was that when the first lady said 'letter', I had just put down my appointment confirmation without thinking and then hurried to find my 160. What made me angry was that she hadn't bothered to even ASK me what kind of visa I was applying for, or look down at my appointment confirmation which SAYS K1. 'Letter' meant 'Packet 4'. So my new number was C24, which basically cancelled out the fact that I'd been at the consulate early.
I was at the consulate for 8 hours, since around 11:30 everything slows down considerably, as though there is only half the staff left for the rest of the day. The afternoon literally crawls by. My interview (the 3rd time they call you up) was around 2. The woman asked me basic questions (how did you meet, what are your wedding plans, etc) while typing and glancing over at me from time to time. She was calm but serious, didn't smile, but I've been going to the US my whole life and that's how most border guards are so I know that all you can do is answer honestly and not stress out. She didn't ask me for any evidence of relationship.
If it weren't for that mix-up at the beginning, I would probably have been C10 and out of the embassy before 11. The people who were with me til the afternoon had gotten to there at 7:45 or later, presumably because they didn't have VJ telling them to get there before the doors open.
I wish everyone else quick and easy interviews!
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8624