ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSept 2008 K1 VSC filers
QUOTE (Kirsten UK @ Jan 30 2009, 01:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It really is the worst time!! I am compulsively checking UCSIS and my email at work all the time and at home, just hoping for a 'touch' or email!! Its terrible, i'm like VisaZilla devil.gif

i am the same way, i get home from work or school, check my USCIS status, then look at IGOR's list then look at the processing dates, check the forums, have a shower, check everything again, make dinner, play WoW with my SO, check again, get ready for bed, check again, wake up and start everything all over again. I must say i dont know what I would do with my spare time once Im approved...
amberLFemaleCanada2009-01-30 13:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSept 2008 K1 VSC filers
QUOTE (KAT&Allie @ Jan 30 2009, 11:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Wisedom come to @ Jan 30 2009, 12:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I think we were the smallest group from the beginning. devil.gif come on VSC - Just get these poor people from August approved - there is like 3 left there..and then US! innocent.gif


rofl.gif


Yay, there are only 72 of us sept fillers left on VJ who havent recived our NOA2's.... which is 3 less then the number of August VSC fillers who havent recieved a NOA2 yet. This is by far the worst time of my whole application process so far, thankfully ive only seen a couple of ppl approved who have filled after me, if I was stuck with everyone around my date approved and not me i'd likely go insane. So I really hope that doesnt happen to any of us! Hurry up VSC!!!

amberLFemaleCanada2009-01-30 13:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSept 2008 K1 VSC filers



I hope you get your NOA2 soon too, and it must feel very good to know that they are finally working on your petition and that its not collecting dust somewhere. Im very happy to hear you got a touch cause it sounds like there might actually be signs of life in VT. At this stage getting a touch is prolly nearly as exciting as getting approved!!
amberLFemaleCanada2009-01-23 13:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSept 2008 K1 VSC filers
QUOTE (Wisedom come to @ Jan 14 2009, 10:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I think I should take a skiing trip to VT, to knock on their doors to see if anyone is actually in there.smile.gif


I agree and maybe we could bake them some cookies and bring them some hot chocolate wink.gif
It seems like the closer you get to your estimated date ( mine often varies by 2 weeks from day to day) the harder it gets, the only thing helping me stay sane is thinking that it has been 111 days since my NOA1, so I should hear something soonish, even a touch would make me smile.gif just to know that they have looked at our application, and here i go again stressing about tiny errors or things i may have done wrong on our application... sad.gif
amberLFemaleCanada2009-01-14 13:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsOctober 08 K1 Filers
QUOTE (Johan & Anne @ Feb 11 2009, 03:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Ugh...has anyone seen any october approvals today... ranting33va.gif
I am so impatient!

there are a lot of aug and sept fillers still waiting who have waited longer and are equally as impatient, ive found its easier to hope for the patience to get thru this then hoping for the approval.
amberLFemaleCanada2009-02-11 15:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsOctober 08 K1 Filers
QUOTE (Matt-and-Annie @ Feb 8 2009, 05:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My fiance and I planned our wedding back in June for January 04, 2009 ... we had no clue we needed to apply for a fiance visa, we just thought that if he got a B1/B2 Visa came over on that and got married... he went to the consulate in late August but they told him he had applied for the wrong Visa.... to make a long story short, due to our ignorance in this whole process we had to cancel that jan 04 date and filed for the K-1 as soon as we got the news we needed it...we also had to wait till I became naturalized which happen the last day of September. Then we finally filed in October... now, we are just basically waiting for this to come through as soon as the L-rd wills to get married. Nothing worse than having your hopes up, setting a wedding date, having everything planned and then it crashes.... in the end it was a good thing, although this process is lengthy it's better doing it the right way then the wrong way IMO.

Hope we see more petitions for October this week! Praying to G-d it happens wink.gif


As an end of Sept filler, im just checking in on this thread, they are moving really fast with sept ppl so far, but there are still quite a few of us left. I hope they are done with sept soon and will move on to Oct asap smile.gif
amberLFemaleCanada2009-02-08 17:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports6+ months waiting Club
I'm at the waiting for an interview stage, but just wanted to share a vent at how stupid the whole process is. Estadia, I am completely shocked that you are still in security checks, especially since when I called DoS today to see if I had an interview date, I was asked my case number and NOTHING ELSE to confirm who I am before information about my case was released! And this is the second time this has happened. How can they justify holding you up on security checks when they release information about your file over the phone without asking who is calling or asking for more information such as petitioner/beneficiary names/ DOB???


amberLFemaleCanada2009-05-22 16:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow accurate is the processing time frame from Visa Journey.
QUOTE (zuluforzen @ Dec 12 2008, 01:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
igors listhttp://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/igor/vjdata/vsc.aspx i looked and march filers are still waiting for k3 no2


yea i noticed this too but soemthing to keep in mind is that there are a few ppl on igor's list who have not updated their profiles for months and there may be duplicate profiles on there too. to get an idea of the dates beign processed i look at http://www.visajourn...ist...7,28&cfl=
and sort by NOA2 date or whatever parameter.
amberLFemaleCanada2008-12-12 13:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPlease help deciding between K1 or K3 visa
i would definitely say do the K1 route instead of the get married and spend a 6 weke honeymoon together plan. It looks like the k3 currently takes long which is something to consider, as well I'm pretty sure it will emotionally be much more difficult to have to come back to the US without your spouse after having spent over 6 weeks with them.
amberLFemaleCanada2009-01-09 13:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVSC????
QUOTE (amandagharam @ Jan 13 2009, 02:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (? Zain ? Fariha b @ Jan 13 2009, 02:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Kirsten UK @ Jan 13 2009, 01:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I doubt there is anything we can do to speed things up, however, I would dearly love to know why they are apparently approving so few at the moment, what could possibly cause such a decline in NOA2's?? The backlog would only delay things, but that in itself doesn't explain why so few are being approved right now from VSC (at least it would appear that way based on the data from VJ'ers).

We got ours in 5 mos so yours should not be long from now! To speed it up pray to God!



Where do I find this "Igor's List"???

Thanks!

Amanda

look under immigration timelines its near the top of the page or
http://www.visajourn...filers.php?cfl=


amberLFemaleCanada2009-01-13 14:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresUSCIS representative
QUOTE (HelloWorld08 @ Jan 12 2009, 02:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
call (800) 375 – 5283 then push 1,2,3

just wondering, not planning to call anytime soon but anyone know the number for VSC?
amberLFemaleCanada2009-01-13 14:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow much does the K-1 Visa cost in Manila?
QUOTE (payxibka @ Jan 22 2009, 03:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Beverly+David @ Jan 22 2009, 01:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Does it cost $400 or $131, does anyone know?

Each intending immigrant, regardless of age, requires a separate visa and must pay U.S. $400 to cover the application and processing fees. Applicants for non-immigrant visas (K and V visas), on the other hand, pay a U.S. $131 visa processing fee. These fees are not refundable. The fees for immigrant visas may be paid either in cash, travelers check or U.S. Postal Order at the Embassy’s Consular Cashier if these have not been paid to the National Visa Center. The visa processing f01/20/2009advance at designated branches of the Banco De Oro and Citibank. All fees may be in Philippine pesos equivalent to the prevailing exchange rate determined by the Embassy.


Answered it yourself


http://www.uscis.gov...ents/G-1055.pdf

amberLFemaleCanada2009-01-22 17:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTouched
QUOTE (anishbedi @ Jan 23 2009, 01:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
What is the meaning of "Touched" that I keep seeing in some people's timelines? When I check my case online all it says is that they issued NOA1 on July 28, 2008. Could there be something wrong with my application (I-129F)? It's been almost 6 months since I received NOA1. Is it normal for me not to have heard from them since then?


there are a lot of people who havent seen a touch yet that are in the same timeframe, since it is taking on average 6.5 months to process cases and there are quite a few july and many early august fillers not approved so I wouldnt be too worried about it yet.
amberLFemaleCanada2009-01-23 13:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresUpdate Case status Online, Why are they so mean?



Every single person on here wants to be with their SO and wants the process to go as fast as possible. No one is trying to be mean. However we are supposed to be served by a first come first served basis so I could justify calling if most of your filling month had been approved and you hadnt even had a touch, but us September fillers must sit tight and wait, there are over 100 registered VJers who filled in August alone ahead of us. I totally agree that their customer service is very cery crappy and I think we should get more customer service considering the fees we all paid but one peson complaining isnt going to make any difference. And I really dont think that it is an issue of the representatives you speak with on the phone being mean, they have a crappy job to do and field complaint calls all day long. They likely are not withholding info from you because they likely dont know anything more then what you can find out online by yourself. You have already waited like 4 months since you recieved your NOA1 and should be proud/glad you have managed to maintain your sanity so far, and as my SO tells me nearly every night it will all be over soon enough and you do have the rest of your life together to look forward to. And be glad the VJ exists and you are not here alone.


amberLFemaleCanada2009-01-23 14:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresexpedite denied
QUOTE (jab1976 @ Jan 28 2009, 10:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
today i got a response letter back from the vermont service center, expedite request denied cause we are under security checks. wow, i wonder how long we are going to be under security checks, this is so unfair, when i first started this process i thought i would only take 6 motnhs to a year, if i had known that i would be stuck in security checks this long i would of never have gone thru this process.


I dont mean to be judgemental but that is a horrible outlook. Its my understanding that both the K1/K3 routes have the same security checks no? So really if you want to be married to your SO , as much as the whole process sucks for everyone you have no choice but to wait. If you would have know it was going to take so long would you have just not fallen in love with your SO?...
amberLFemaleCanada2009-01-28 22:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresat what point will my fiance not be able to enter on a visitor's visa?
QUOTE (ealachan @ Jan 30 2009, 11:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have heard that at a certain point in the I-129F / K-1 visa process, my fiance will no longer be allowed to enter the USA on a visitor visa because USCIS doesn't want people to cheat and get married here without the visa being approved. Has anybody had any experience with this, and can you tell me about how far into the process they'll stop letting him in? He's coming in 2 weeks for a visit, but we're hesitant to plan more visits if he's just going to get turned around in Boston when he lands!! sad.gif


I have been to see my SO 3 times sice we filled for the K1. Each time I went thru the Buffalo NY POE it has gone something like this
Where are You From?
Where are You going?
How long will you be there?
Where did you meet?
What do you do?
When do you expect to return?
What are you bringing in the country?
When was the last time you were here?

Because I am from Canada I dont need a vistor visa to enter the USA but I am sure if you can provide sufficient evidence that you are planning to return to your home country there is nothing to worry about. I usually bring a copy of my flight itinerary and a copy of my school schedule and they have only ever asked to see my itinerary, nothing else, Well the last time the boarder guard guy did make fun of me when I said I met my SO in World of warcraft, I loled at him because he didnt know what WoW was and said " girls play video games too" .
amberLFemaleCanada2009-01-30 13:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDeclaration of how we met in person
QUOTE (bora bora @ Feb 3 2009, 06:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Leave out the lovey-dovey stuff.


hearing this makes me smile.gif i wrote the declaration of how we met in person and my SO was telling me that it wasnt very mushy or romatic at all. I didnt think it needed to be a love story, I just outlined the details of when we met, how often we talk, when we have visited etc..
amberLFemaleCanada2009-02-03 18:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresIs this 'passport picture' adequite?
Yea dont trust the employees at the Photo place, I went to Black's in canada, paid $20 for the US size passport photo and they made me the Canadian size. Good thing I checked when I got home and also found a cheaper place and got my $ back.
amberLFemaleCanada2009-02-02 23:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHelp with Cancellation

Sorry to hear that you are not going to be needing your visa anymore, but better to find out sooner then later, however...even though you did get approved and arent planning on continuing the process any further can you update your profile so the rest of us sept fillers can get a more accurate estimated adjudication date?
amberLFemaleCanada2009-01-30 23:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK1 - Time in States
QUOTE (haleywynne @ Feb 11 2009, 02:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (bladeskink @ Feb 11 2009, 10:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi there,

I'm just wondering if time spent in the USA can affect your K1 application in any way? I've had a K1 pending since October and I've just returned to the USA a week after staying 86 days and am probably going to stay for a similar period as my financial situation allows it. Can this affect anything?

Thanks

Wow! You didn't have any trouble at immigration? I was told by an immigration lawyer that they can see that you have filed the petition know you're engaged which makes them really sketchy about letting you in, especially for more than a week.


I wouldnt be too worried about it and I think that your immigration lawyer is just trying to scare you. I dont know if it is different because I dont need a visa to visit my SO but no one has ever questioned me in great detail about my SO and the K1 process, so I am not sure that they even know about pending K1 visas. As long as you can provide a copy of your itinerary and show that you have ties to your home country you should be fine IMO. I visited my SO for 2.5 weeks over the Christmas holiday and there was no problem at my POE, well the border guard guy did make fun of me for meeting my hunnie on WoW but that was it. I would try and schedule your stay for a lesser amount of time because essentially they want to see that you are spending more time in your home country then theirs.
amberLFemaleCanada2009-02-11 14:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresJust started the whole process...looking for advice
get a hobby to keep your mind off of things. and post on the forums lots, it helps to talk to others in similar situations.
amberLFemaleCanada2009-02-12 17:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresi made a BIG mistake
QUOTE (AG83 @ Feb 22 2009, 04:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
i need advice guys sad.gif


All you can do is wait for the RFE to come, it will prolly take several months before they work on your petition and notice it. I dont think mailing them a corrected form will help either because based on the pictures of the filling centers the likely hood of your corrected forms actually being placed with your original submission are slim to nil. I went through the same thing when i filled, i went over the petition with a magnifying glass and realized i forgot to enclose a copy of a birth certificate, and just waited patiently and prepared myself for being delayed by an RFE. It sucks but... all that you can do is prepare yourself for it.

amberLFemaleCanada2009-02-22 16:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresRisk of denial into U.S. after repeated trips on non-immigrant tourist visa
QUOTE (rockyourd @ Feb 22 2009, 05:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Basically, here's the situation:

My girlfriend is in the Czech Republic, and I am in Los Angeles. She has a ten-year tourist visa which allows her to come and go 6 months at a time (I realize, not a guarantee). She has been here (Boston, actually) once already in November for a month, and is coming in two weeks to LA, for three weeks. She then plans on coming again in June, and we plan on getting married a couple of months into her being here, and then apply for an Adjustment of Status. I have consulted an attorney and I know that my option is either this or a K1 visa, which I cannot begin to imagine having to wait for. My question is simply this:
What is the likelihood that she will get denied entry upon her third trip to the States? She will say she is visiting a friend since she recently finished school and will not start working until September, and she will have a return plane ticket home.

So, has anyone here been denied entry based on coming too frequently/too many times?

Many thanks,
I


if she is coming to LA in 2 weeks why not begin to file for the K1 then? you will have to wait longer then you had initially planned to get married but not by much if you started the K1 /K3 procedure after June. And I guess you really have to ask yourself if you are willing to have a 3 year ban :S seems like waiting for the K1 like many other people are currently doing is a lot less stressful than a 3 year ban, anyways VJ is really supportive and if its meant to be you can get through the K1 wait. Prolly makes yoiu stronger as a couple but thats just my opinion...
amberLFemaleCanada2009-02-22 23:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPOE can check if you have roundtrip ticket?
im under the vwp and they have asked to see my itinerary and checked that i had a return ticket on the itinerary and asked me questions about when i was returning every single time i have gone to see my SO. So i think its best to play it safe and have the return ticket so they dont give you a hard time.
amberLFemaleCanada2009-02-23 18:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresBackground Checks, How Long?
Wow no estimate? that sucks! My dad has the same last name as me and has a bit of a criminal record but nothing in the last 23 years... we are estranged... I really hope i dont get held up because we have the same last name.
amberLFemaleCanada2009-02-03 18:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMore than 1 RFE before NOA2
QUOTE (KAT&Allie @ Feb 10 2009, 03:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (*julez* @ Feb 9 2009, 11:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have definitely read posts from couples on VJ where they have recieved and RFE and then a subsequent RFE. It seems that the service center issues an RFE as soon as they find a deficiency in the petition and do not continue with the file until the initial RFE has been addressed, therefore leaving open the door for a second RFE.


That's just great! blush.gif At this rate we'll keep them busy for a while then. crying.gif And my SO will go spare if I make him overnight every single RFE we get... he's already moaning about the costs smile.gif

Thanks for the replies guys.


Hugs. I really hope that they didnt find more discrepancies in our applications KAT and Allie, I was going to ask if you did overnight your RFE, we didnt send it to be overnighted and it has been 5 days and still nothing. I really wish we had overnighted it now... Hopefully your RFE was for something at the end of the application. Now I am just wondering about ours.... It was for the birth certificate and well I hope they looked over everything to be more efficient and only send one RFE... i have seen people post that they had a single RFE with a couple of issues that needed to be corrected/addressed... Im just stressing and venting anyways... Last week I was really happy to hear that we got an RFE, to me it meant that they were working on things but now... Im stressed again sad.gif
amberLFemaleCanada2009-02-26 18:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshi there everyone
I read the first few posts and the last few posts and nothing in between. You disgust me. You are wasting resources that could be used on people in actual relationships. If you dont want to be in your current country and want to move to the USA find some other way to do it i.e. a work visa. And I feel very sorry for the guys who you are playing.
amberLFemaleCanada2009-02-13 15:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresThe RFE Master List
anyone posting here ever seen anyone get 2 rfe's ? like more then one RFE for the initial submission ? im just curious i have heard of it happening just havent found a post...
amberLFemaleCanada2009-02-26 18:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresThe RFE Master List
Once upon a time last fall I read this entire post and got worried that I might get an RFE. Well I did get one today via email, no hard copy yet... but I am feeling pretty positive about it. Just wondering if there is a difference between initial / additional evidence. (my rfe said initial)
amberLFemaleCanada2009-02-13 15:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresThe RFE Master List
Sigh.. its really re-assuring to hear people say im stressing out over little errors...
I just really dont understand the last line

"If you were going through a higher fraud post it might be more fuel for the fire at the Embassy stage of the process."

Umm what does this mean? I dont think an innocent typo is fraud since i sent in my boarding passes with the correct dates...
amberLFemaleCanada2008-11-21 16:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresThe RFE Master List
QUOTE (amberL @ Nov 20 2008, 05:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
omg i should never have read this forum... now i had to go thru my entire stack of stuff we sent in with our I-129F to make sure we didnt forget anything! well at least it appears that an RFE doesnt delay an application by too much...



and then i noticed on the declaration of how we met in person... that i wrote the 4th instead of the 24th as one of the dates i arrived for a visit, i flew down to SC and included my boarding passes with our I-129F submission.... Now i guess i have to wait for an RFE.. altho im not really too sure how that will work other then possibly initialing a change because I sent the evidence in withthe application.... can anyone offer any insight?
amberLFemaleCanada2008-11-20 17:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresThe RFE Master List
omg i should never have read this forum... now i had to go thru my entire stack of stuff we sent in with our I-129F to make sure we didnt forget anything! well at least it appears that an RFE doesnt delay an application by too much...
amberLFemaleCanada2008-11-20 17:19:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
I haven't been able to track mine either, but my interviewer said they were mailing them that day or today at the latest.
amberLFemaleCanada2009-07-09 20:20:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
QUOTE (JillA @ Jul 9 2009, 01:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Amber: What a bloody b1tch!! I hate people like that. Don't take your miserable mood and attitude on others. GRRRR well at least you were approved smile.gif


Lol i know eh, I think it was window 10 and not 9 now too.
amberLFemaleCanada2009-07-09 14:25:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
QUOTE (Toronto Guy @ Jul 9 2009, 10:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My review (from the perspective of someone on the receiving end)

It's been said again and again that the interview is the easiest part of the visa journey and after being through the experience yesterday, I can attest to the truth of that statement; there's really nothing to worry about as long as you do as your told and perform like a robot. I saw some other folks (not from VJ) on the verge of a nervous breakdown and I completely understand how the mind can put a person there - most of you know how helpless I felt a month ago thinking about every horrible scenario that could happen. Strangely enough, after 8 months of paranoia and worrying, I was the calmest I've ever been throughout the whole process. We had done everything we were supposed to do - there was nothing left to do but go through the motions of the interview.... Kristin mentioned here that she was nervous, however, I think it was due to the fact that she wanted to leave the x-rays back at the hotel since most VJ'ers say they don't need it for the interview. When we got to the elevator with our little check-list, it read "separate your x-ray report from your x-ray", which implied that they would ask for it. Well, that document was inside the brown envelope back at the hotel!!! Nonetheless, they never asked for it at the booth nor did they want the x-ray. However, I would still suggest you bring your x-rays regardless what other VJer say. DON'T TAKE CHANCES! Should you have any medical history worth questioning or further investigation, it is the consuls right to ask for the x-ray. The doctor wouldn't have given it to you if there wasn't a remote chance you'd have to submit it for whatever arbitrary reason.

As long as your paper work is perfect order and you answer their questions like a robot (bleep, bloop, bloop) you will not have a problem. From my perspective, I don't think my interviewer was nice, rather, he was neutral. He barely talked to me as he conversed with Kristin the whole time. His tone of voice was different with me then her; to her, he was like an old comrade - to me, he was direct, straight, and to the point. It made me feel "less than" but don't forget what they say, "having a K1 visa is a privilege - not a right" - that was a perfect demonstration of that concept. The lady who did my paper filing was fairly decent; she greeted me with a smile. All she did was fire off commands and paper ID forms and I shot them back through the booth at her quick and fast. The guards at the door were straight up typical security officers: no smiles, commanding, linear, "do this - do that" etc... All in all, nothing was warm and friendly about the interview, it was a cold and bureaucratic environment. I don't think being a warm fuzzy care-bear is part of their mandate so my suggestion is not to expect that. Just do as your told and you'll be fine.

On my way out, I made sure to smile and thank the guard to remind him that even security guards can show their humanity. I think he cracked a smile too...

I'd like to hear AmberL's story in more detail as it sounds like she had more of a bad experience with someone there.

IMO the only thing that anyone has to worry about is that they do not get called to window 9.
Srsly I am /cowering just thinking about it.
amberLFemaleCanada2009-07-09 12:51:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
Ok so I was 4th in line and called up to window #9. I smilled and was very polite to the "lady" who never identified herself by name and who wasn't wearing a nametag. She was short, maybe 5 feet tall, slim, had long dark hair which was kinda wavy. Right away she told me to put all my documents that were listed on the checklist that they gave us when we came in through the window so I did. She yelled at me because I put the expresspost envelope through the window at the same time as the rest of the documents. So I removed the envelope from the pile and pushed the pile into the slot. Then she yelled some more because I didn't give her the envelope. GRRR I was thinking to myself.. umm ok. So then she asked for the affidavit of support and the supporting documents, so I handed her:
1) 2008 tax return
2) Letter from employer
3) letters from his banks
4) 2 different paystubs from his job and from the National Guard.
She made a snotty scrunched up face and made some comment about it being so much papers. But the questions I had e-mailed to the embassy were never really answered, my only reply was " Documents will be evaluated at the interview, goodbye" So I wanted to be safe. Then she asked for a copy of my passport. I had stapled my copies all in order so that the front of the book was on the front. Well of course that was wrong. She said " your biographic form needs to be on the front!" So I ripped off the front cover and put it at the end of my passport copies. Well apparently " your biographic form needs to be on the front!" means to fold over the front page because she had a fit because I ripped off the front page. it's not like I tore it up in her face or anything, I just tore if off in the corner by which it was stapled. So then she says "Why would you rip it??? I dont know why you would rip it????" and is muttering under her breath. Then I didn't have the 156 supplement form. So she gave me one of those to fill out, and a dead pen. I asked her if she had another pen because this one is dead and she snapped " THERE ARE ALWAYS 2 PENS!!!" I said well both the pens, the one you gave me and the one on the string are dead, So she gave me another dirty look and threw a pen through the window. After she had everything she told me to go pay, come back in this room "sit infront of her window, face forward, do not approach the window until she calls me even if there is no one at the window and she is standing there and to not talk to anyone." So after I waited for her to come back with a coffee and stand there for 5 mins before calling me , then went out to the waiting room as instructed and waited and waited to get fingerprinted. After nearly an hour, muffintop went to go and look for her because no one had been called to her window for nearly an hour and the people ahead of me were fingerprinted soon after providing their reciept. I was way too scared to go and look for her, and assumed she was likely in another room back there eating babies, because she already had a coffee. So the second time muffintop went to look, she came back and asked me if she was wearing a yellow shirt, I said no because when I had seen the mean lady she was wearing a brown button up shirt. I guess she changed because right after muffintop sat down, I was called to Window 9 for Fingerprinting. Well she was just as miserable while doing the fingerprinting as she was before. First she reviewed my and Charles' contact info and yelled at me because she couldn't hear me, but it wasn't my fault there was a girl in a green shirt sitting by her window who apparently didn't get the dont talk to anyone lecture because she was very loud. The mean lady was all like "OH YOU HAVE TO TALK LOUDER , THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT STUFF AND YOU WANT US TO HAVE THE CORRECT INFO." Then she turned up the volume on her side. She asked me for Charles's phone number and I was like "... I have him saved as a contact in my phone, I think I have had to actually physically dial his number all of twice." Of course this resulted in another disapproving look. So then the fingerprinting was done, she instructed me to read the instructions and when she tells me "when I say go, put your hand down right away like in the picture and press down." Well stupidly I expected her to say "go" because she said she would say go... instead she just said "left" and yelled " I don't see antyhing on the screen." Finally I was finished with her and called to interview room 7. The interviewer I had was about 65, wearing a black suit, yellow shirt and yellow tie. He was very very nice. When I walked in he asked me if I was alone or if my fiance was with me, I said something like unfortunately I am all alone sad.gif After a little bit of chit chat, he looked at the employment letter and said," Oh your fiance works for the government." and that was it. Never asked me what he does, and I'm glad because I have a rough idea but I don't really know because of the security clearances. I was asked how we met and how many times I have been there, and he asked me to tell him something about the first time we met, so I told him about going to the South Carolina Aquarium and seeing a fish species named " Slippery ####### " and how that resulted in many laughs the entire visit, and how it became our own inside joke and how it was quite possibly the worst fish species name ever. Then he asked what I did for work and if I had any potential job leads, I told him I recently graduated and have a volunteer position lined up at the aquarium and that was it. I think my interview lasted a bit longer than most, but only because I went off on the slippery ####### tangent. Then when I got out of the interview room, I was like did I really tell him about the fish, but it was ok because he was laughing. The lady who I handed my documents was just so nasty, I really hope that not that many other people have to deal with her, or maybe she was just having a bad day, or they ran out of babies for her to eat... She made it seem like I was disorganized, but I had everything lined up together and knew exactly where everything was and no way had 4 copies of this mystery form. And interestingly when she came back from her hour whatever she was doing, she had a stack of 10 files and there was no way that she had seen 10 people, only about 5 people had been processed from what I could tell at that point.


amberLFemaleCanada2009-07-09 12:46:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal

yea , I had the southeast asian kinda looking woman who was in the middle, not the blonde one, but then i had the guy in the yellow tie for the interview and he was super nice.
amberLFemaleCanada2009-07-09 09:13:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
QUOTE (KristinL @ Jul 8 2009, 06:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Hugglebuggles @ Jul 8 2009, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (KristinL @ Jul 8 2009, 02:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (JillA @ Jul 8 2009, 04:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Congrats Kristin! That's wonderful news! Small world it is. I was suprised too to see the interviewer in regular clothes, but like Krikit said, it is just a normal office! Then once you get through the POE, you won't be able to relax until TOGUY gets his Green Card laughing.gif


Thanks Jill! Maybe I'll relax when the conditions are removed... or he becomes a citizen... guess it will be a loooong 12 years... laughing.gif

I guess it is just a normal office... but it sure is an imposing building down there in downtown Montreal.


12 years?! Wow, you guys must move slow! laughing.gif

Congrats on the approval!! Doesn't it feel great? Where are you guys crossing? We used the Peace Bridge and everything went great! good.gif


Thanks!!
laughing.gif However long the process takes to citizenship... Isn't it 10 years after removal of conditions? wacko.gif

We are crossing at Peace Bridge as well. I have no idea what time we are leaving Toronto...


I'll write my review when I get back to Ontario, OMG I have a lot to say about the mean lady that prolly was gone for an hour eating babies.. since she ALREADY had a coffee. My interviewer was in a suit and tie, so maybe they just have a really lax dress code. I spent a lot of the afternoon trecking around with my dad and I also went to see the Under the Sea IMAX movie, it was in French but still worth it! But srsly I feel pity to everyone else who had the document check lady that I had. She was most positively the meanest person I encountered along the process. My favourite was when she told me to come back with my reciept, sit down facing her. look straight ahead , don't talk to anyone and don't approach the window until she calls me back to the window! Anyways the interviewer that I had was super nice and almost made up for the nasty lady, he even laughed at my slippery ####### story. And he told me that they will most likely mail everything tonite, or tmrwm biggrin.gif

amberLFemaleCanada2009-07-08 18:39:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
QUOTE (KristinL @ Jun 30 2009, 09:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hello all you VJers!

Toronto Guy & I have been enjoying our long visit together, and have been busy dealing with all types of real life. Its funny, now that we don't have an internet-based relationship, I am not on the computer as much in the evening ;-)

Last night we were up til 1230 booking hotels and planning out route... I'm the only driver and it looks like a long road. He has promised to entertain me and Fiona (my 4 y/o)... we're looking at a trip to Atlanta (from Asheville, NC) to get my dad's truck, and then back to Asheville to sleep, and then from Asheville to Montreal - via the Adirondacks ;-) I'm glad that the truck has satellite radio!! laughing.gif

We are arriving in Montreal Monday afternoon/evening/night and will be staying right downtown ($48 a night, found through Kayak.com). Tuesday will be working/touring/finding the consulate and mapping our route, including potty breaks and 4 y/o 6 AM meltdown preparations laughing.gif Wednesday is the big day (guess the 4 couples will be racing to see who gets there first? :lol) and then we are staying til checkout on Friday - then on to Toronto, where we are staying in N. York at a really nice hotel ($34USD/night THANK YOU Hotwire). Hopefully we'll have the visa by the next week and will be on our way.

Papers are almost together, just need to finish assembling/copying my I-134. We're starting to pack and sweat ;-) Assembling some evidence, just in case my presence is not convincing enough rofl.gif

We can't believe our interview is next week!!!!! But we are so glad to have spent so much time together while waiting, it's been truly amazing and rewarding. kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif

So, refresh the memory - who all has an interview on the 8th? blush.gif

Best of luck to everyone who has an interview next week!!! kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif


I am staying with a friend that lives pretty close to the consulate, which works out so well, I will be able to walk there in the morning. I am already soo excited tho, I will prolly be there waiting while its still dark! I have all my evidence and papers ready too, but I made the mistake of copying everything at the post office, I thought I might as well since I am there to get the envelope but ... 20 cents a page!! AHHH thats my little rant for today!!! And wow you found some really cheap hotels O.O
amberLFemaleCanada2009-07-03 19:28:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
Call DoS or e-mail them, con firm that the documents did get there, most people dont get p4 after a month only a luck few do, some people have to wait about 3 months.
amberLFemaleCanada2009-06-19 12:15:00