Consulate Review: Montreal, Canada
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
March 12, 2013 |
| Embassy Review : |
Ron & I traveled to Montreal on 3/1. Our plan: Medical on Monday 3/4. Interview on Monday 3/11. Plan worked great & was a nice vacation for us too.
HOTEL & CITY:
We stayed at Le Square Phillips which is one street over from the consulate. Room and hotel were great, staff were wonderful. Rooms have a full kitchen in them. We thought we might use it a night or two, but after our first evening in Montreal with 2 burgers, 2 poutines, 2 beers and a slice of pecan pie hitting $76.00, we hit the grocery the next day. There is an IGA Grocery four easy blocks from the hotel. We cooked most meals there after that and enjoyed their continental breakfast each morning. We ate for the remainder of our trip for about $200 for two (that's 8 nights). I would highly recommend paying a bit more for this hotel room to have that convenience, especially if you are going to be staying more than a night or so.
MEDICAL:
Medical was at Medisys in the Loto Quebec (Lotto Quebec) building 2.5 blocks from the hotel. Appointment was at 10:00. Checked in, waited. Ron went to meet the doctor, came back and waited. Was called for his xray, came back and waited. Was called for his blood draw. Came back and we were given the OK to pay. His immunizations were up to date as required (thanks to info from VJ, we got those taken care of by his regular doctor for no charge). Medical was $238.00. We were told to call back on Thursday to confirm results were ready. When we called, they explained they had mis-printed one of the reports and were re-doing it so paperwork would be ready after 3:00 pm. When we got there, indeed the package was ready to go. The receptionist explained that the form would state immunizations incomplete only because he did not have every immunization available. He was up to date on all required by US. Packets were clearly marked DO NOT OPEN and stapled together and included a disc of the xray and the medical results packet. All in all, we were pleased with the Medisys experience and its close proximity to the hotel.
INTERVIEW:
Interview on Monday 3/11. We arrived at 7:00 after a stop by the Tim Hortons on the way from our hotel to consulate. When we got there, there were two interviewees ahead of us. Both VJ'rs. The next couple to arrive were also VJ'rs.  We chatted about situations and such and several more people arrived by were not in a chatting range.
The guard opened the doors at 7:30 (ish) and allowed one interviewee (or couple) in at a time. The sweet newlyweds in front of us didn't have their courier information and were turned away. I suspect they went to an internet cafe to get that taken care of. We went in next and showed the female guard our passports and Ron's confirmation letter. She checked him off the list, put the sticker on the back of the passport, wrote the courier reference ID on it and sent us ahead.
Basic security screening, everything loose into the tray, go through metal detector, get dressed. We were then directed down the stairs and then to the right to wait at the elevator.
When you go through that doorway, you're faced with a room full of chairs, but the elevator is across the room. We joined the first person who was in line by the elevator and waited. Several more people came in, and at 8:00, the guard from the screening area came in, removed the rope in front of the elevator, unlocked and called the elevator. He then told us to load up when it arrived and to go to window 14 when we got off the elevator. We weren't packed, but we were at the back.
When the doors opened on the 19th floor, again we were faced with a room full of chairs, but nothing other than our knowledge to go to the left and wait at window 14. We were C2. We moved over to the chairs closest to the four windows with numbers on red signs reading 1-4 and waited. Soon C1, C2, C3 and C4 were called to the windows 1-4 respectively.
Our person at window 2 was the person I believe others of recent interviews have described as the "new guy". He was still getting his workstation setup (It appears they rotate around through roles on any given day, so he was getting things set for himself. He had a steno pad "cheat sheet" on what he was supposed to be asking for at each point. He was very intent on each step, giving me the impression he wasn't as confident as he would like, but fairly sure. He double checked each thing against a master checklist and his "cheat sheet"
After he asked for Ron's passport and confirmation letter / courier info to confirm he had paid fees (I had receipt too in the clipped together paperwork we handed over)and had pulled up the files on his computer, he left the window to retrieve our paper file. [Let me tell everyone here that I was very meticulous with all the paperwork sent through the steps, and I *HEAVILY* front loaded the process with items in my petition. Our folder was about 3" thick. javascript:emoticon(' ')]
He called for the other items as required on the last checklist and had to keep lifting up this 3" thick stack of paper to slide things behind the other documentation. When he asked for affidavit of support, he did not want all the backup I had with me which included a letter from my employer, bank statements as well as tax returns for 2011 and 2012 (yes, I've already done mine and gotten the refund). I asked if he wanted those other item and he said whoever the interviewer is, he or she may ask for them.
Then came biometrics. It was pretty straight forward left hand, right hand both thumbs. And we were sent back to wait.
Window 5 is an interview window facing the waiting area very much like a bank teller window at a drive thru banking lane. When the shade is lifted as the person is opening the window, you can see into the office area behind the first four windows. I saw a man hoist up the monster folder and carry it off on his shoulder. A minute or so later, we were called to Window 10. [Windows 6-12 are little closet size rooms with the same teller-window type transaction area, but much more private than window 5. They are down a little hallway around the corner from window 5. Window 5 is easy to find, 6-12 aren't] He greeted us with a smile and a chuckle at the zipped up binder I set down on the counter edge. [It weight 12 lbs. I know because I had to take it out of our suitcase to get the bag checked on the train. Had to get the bag under 50 lbs]. He started by explaining he needed to give us both an oath ... and the to affirm that he had agreed to the oath, one more set of fingerprints (just four fingers from on of your hand) was done to confirm you were the same person. We then started with the usual suspect questions: How did you meet? {online} which online format? {Second Life} A little smile and chuckle from him.. I've played that before. Then questions about what we each do... what our wedding plans were... about any border crossing troubles Ron had encountered... and then just a couple more general questions. All-in-all, he was very friendly, made great eye contact and knew that this was all important, but that we were probably nervous. He then turned toward the window, said he was approving our visa application and handed thru the "Welcome to the United States" letter. He said our visa was already in the processing queue so they would probably get the package to the courier that evening. I asked if it was time to say "Yay" and he said sure! I've been telling them to put in a disco ball and confetti dispenser for years, but they just don't listen.
Very good experience.
We were out of the consulate at 8:50 am. |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
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