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| Montreal, Canada |  Review on May 11, 2012: |
keysjangle
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
I arrived at the Consulate a little later than I had wanted to - around 6:50AM. There were a few people there already, maybe 5 groups. Get there early! I spotted a woman with a huge purse and a man with a laptop bag ahead in the line. "They'll get turned away and I'll move up in the queue!" I thought to myself, and which was correct.
Security showed up at 7:30AM to let us in. The two people I had spotted were baffled by being turned away - oopsie daisy! The guard let the first few of us in after checking our interview letters then closed the door. Have ready: passport, DHL/Loomis confirmation and interview letter. A man inside the door checks your Loomis document, and attaches a sticker with your booking reference number to the back of your passport. You then wait to be called up through security. Remove your belt, jacket, everything in your pockets, etc. Typical baggage x-ray and walk through metal detector procedure after - same deal as TSA without the groping. Once complete you go down the stairs and find a seat nearest to the elevator in the waiting room. We waited down there for maybe 15 minutes when a guard showed up, removed the barrier from in front of the elevator door and told us to head up to the 19th floor. As he removed the barrier people had already crowded behind him - so yes, get as close to those doors as you can. I got in right by the back left behind another couple (they had their baby, didn't want to smush them!) We got upstairs and exited to be greeted by a lady asking to see our interview letters. Once she checks it she gives you your number. I got C2
Some time passed until I was called to Window 2. There, I handed over my original birth certificate, original police certificate, original birth certificate, passport photos and my I-864EZ with originals. She also took my fingerprints and went over some info from my DS-260 (she didn't ask to see a hard copy.) When that's finished you go and have a seat again and wait to be called up for your interview. I went back to my seat at 8:20. Around 8:45 I got called up for my interview at window 7.
I was greeted by a nice guy, Lawrence. He asked me a couple of housekeeping questions, had me do a quick fingerprint check and then swore me in. He asked me a few basic questions:
- When did you get married?
- How did you meet? + follow up questions
- What does your husband do?
- What is his rank?
- What are your plans after getting your visa?
Those are the main ones I can remember, the whole thing was a blur! While he was asking questions he was stamping paperwork, writing on it and typing on the computer. He then passed back my marriage and birth certificates and told me with a smile he was approving my visa as he handed me my welcome letter! He reminded me about removing conditions and I thanked him again and stumbled out at 9AM. It was hard to remain composed! You exit the consulate the same way you come in. There were a ton of people in the waiting room and more waiting to come in outside. So I'll remind you again: Get there early!!!
All in all, a very smooth experience. Keep your eyes and ears peeled so that you're not scrambling to hand paperwork over. I overheard a lot of people
who weren't answering questions clearly/properly or just seemed to have no idea what was going on. Don't be one of them!
Good luck! Bon chance!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #9656