Consulate Review: Montreal, Canada
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
June 9, 2015 |
| Embassy Review : |
So… I can't believe that part is done. It has been a couple of weeks since the interview on May 22, but I will try to recall as much as I can.
So another lovely VJer and I lined up early. I stayed at the Marriott Courtyard and it was 3 minutes walk (exactly, I timed it) to the consulate door. I was there around 7:00 and there were a couple of people lined up. The doors opened around 8:30ish, and those of us with interviews after 9 a.m. were turned away and told to come back about 15 minutes before the time. They were pretty strict about that. As some others have pointed out, the numbers and a small card with the documents you need to present right away were given to us outside, before we even went through security. So I went and waited at the Tim Horton's down the road, and came back about 9:30 for my 10 a.m. interview. The lady who was managing the line asked all of us if we had our Loomis papers, but no one ever checked for them. I was let in, went through security and down the stairs. There was barely anyone near the elevator. We went up and went into the big room with the sections for immigrant, non-immigrant and whatever other section they have.
I am not sure what I can describe that's new. We waited a REALLY long time. There were a ton of people in the immigrant section. All the numbers were, as usual, called out of order, so please do not be upset if 34 gets called before 20, or if after 34 you think you are next with 35, but they call 39 and go down. It's just the way it is.
I can't complain. People around me were mostly nice, and my fellow VJer kept me company. When I saw people come out crying that was the hardest thing it also made me a wee bit nauseous. That said, I cannot complain about the actual process. The first window was where I dropped off documents - the lady was pleasant, professional and quick. I gave up fingerprints, gave her my docs (all of the originals, she wanted none of the copies) and my passport. Then went to sit again, waited about an hour and a half I think, and was finally called to the second window. Honestly, it was the nicest CO, asked me all only a few questions, what my husband does, what I do, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary or something that a person in a normal relationship would not be able to answer. He actually chatted with me for a few moments, and I was done. He said I was approved, gave me the welcome to the U.S. letter and that was that. I think it was about 5 minutes.
Of course I burst into tears and people thought it was bad, but I cry when I am happy lol.
The hardest part was AFTER the interview. When they say this can take time, they mean it. My CO told me a week and a half, the fellow VJer was told two weeks, and I think two weeks is a fair time to wait before checking in. People often seem to get "issued" within hours of the interview and their visa in hand in days. I didn't. My status stayed on ready for about 6 business days, then it changed to "issued" on the 7th. My visa actually arrived at Loomis two days later, and I picked it up a couple of days after that (it was just before the weekend that Loomis got it). So it was all ok, but it was hard waiting while people were getting their visas lightning fast.
Anyways, it's done!!!! Looking forward to the POE and my amazing husband traveling with me. Thank you to all the amazing VJers who have helped through these difficult months of waiting. |
| Rating : |
Good |
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