So, I wanted to share my experience with everyone as I didn't see many comments about what it's like to interview for permanent residency at the Montreal, QC consulate..
My interview was for this past Monday. I got to the consulate about 10 min before my interview time and stood in line waiting to get in outside.. A security guard came out and looked at my letter, asked if I had my passport and then escorted me to the appropriate line.. There are two lines, one for US Citizens/Immigrant Visas and a second for non-immigrant visas. The non-immigrant visa line is much longer so they tend to take more people from that to go through screening. I made the mistake of bringing my laptop bag, and even though I removed everything from it, they still wouldn't let me in with it. So i took all the papers out and my wife who didn't need to go with me took the bag back to the hotel.
A little history, i'm a Canadian Citizen who married a US Citizen about 4 years ago and we've both been living in Canada for the past 3 years..
So finally get through security which is much tighter than an airport and get told to go up the escalator to the 19th floor and go to window 14. You get in the elevator and you only have a choice of 2 floors.. I thought this was kinda funny and actually made a joke about it to the other guy in the elevator with me..
I got upstairs and showed the booth my letter and passport.. They issued me a number and was told to wait till that number was called. THIS TOOK FOREVER!! After a couple hours I finally got called, and I can tell you right now, the most annoying thing about waiting those two or so hours is the kids that are brought with parents. WHY (unless necessary) do you feel the need to bring your children to an immigration interview.. This was very frustrating and after a while the lady who was there monitoring the room finally got up and told people to control their kids as people weren't even able to hear their names being called.
So i finally got called and went up to a different window.. Got asked for all my paperwork.. I had it all in order as instructed and I think she appreciated that.. She asked me how I met my wife, I just got a new passport and forgot to sign it, so she asked me to sign it.. and then instructed me to go ahead and sit down again and I would be called up to take fingerprints soon.
Another 30 min or so I got called back up and the same lady took instructed me to go back to booth 14 and pay the immigrant visa processing fee of $400.00 and come right back.. I brought a money order but you can pay with VISA as well. not sure about interact I would check into that but I believe you can use that as well.
Got back to the other booth and showed the lady my receipt and then got finger printed.. She asked me who's address I had put on my application in the US. As both my wife and I are in Canada I used my mother-in-laws address. I was told afterwards however that if you don't have a residence to put down you can simply put to be determined and your permanent address can be given when you actually land in the US.
After that I went back and sat down.. The day was winding down and most people had already left.. I finally got called to the interview room.. There are two interview rooms.. I opened the door and the only description I can really give on what it's like is imagine a toll booth.. It's about that size and you are separated by a plexiglass window between you and the officer. The individual I got was very friendly and had me sign the application in front of him and then verify my finger prints and get sworn in. He asked how I met my wife.. If I had ever been arrested (no) and if I ever had been denied access to the US in the past (no). He then handed me back my original birth certificate and a couple other originals and congradulated me on qualifying for a immigrant visa and that it would be sent to me within a week. You can either purchase xpresspost envelope before (what I did), or you can purchase on there.
I was bouncing off the walls at this point.. I couldn't believe how well it went and all the worrying I had was really for nothing.. It was less stressful going to this interview than most of the times I had been through the border.. I would assume this because all the information that is normally asked when entering the US is already on paper in front of the officer..
A couple of points about going there.. I already mentioned, if you don't need to bring your kids, PLEASE don't. Secondly, I wore a suite, very few people even had dress shirts on and i don't think anyone else even had a tie. This is a VERY important day.. I think it's very important that you look as professional as you would say if you were going for a job interview etc.. you wouldn't wear jeans and a t-shirt to a job interview (that is if you want the job anyway) so why would you wear that to a immigration interview??? Let many of the people there did. And finally.. RELAX! take deep breaths before going in.. look everyone in the eye that you speak with and answer was sir or ma`am when spoken to.. Not just the immigration officer but the workers and security guards.. It's good practice for when you get to the big moment.
I just received the xpresspost envelope in the mail on Friday.. In there is the infamous "Mysterious Brown Envelope" BIG writing DO NOT OPEN.. I won't be opening that.. My passport with page opened to VISA (very pretty looks like money), instructions on how to get a SSN and finally a pamphlet "Welcome to the United States" The visa is good for 6 months.. and will serve as a green card for one year or until you get the GC in the mail.. So you can work right away after immigrating.. Oh yah there is a one pager with my picture on it and a spot to put an "admission stamp"
I'm just waiting on my house to sell now and we're off.. Very excited and want to thank everyone from the forums here for help!
My interview was for this past Monday. I got to the consulate about 10 min before my interview time and stood in line waiting to get in outside.. A security guard came out and looked at my letter, asked if I had my passport and then escorted me to the appropriate line.. There are two lines, one for US Citizens/Immigrant Visas and a second for non-immigrant visas. The non-immigrant visa line is much longer so they tend to take more people from that to go through screening. I made the mistake of bringing my laptop bag, and even though I removed everything from it, they still wouldn't let me in with it. So i took all the papers out and my wife who didn't need to go with me took the bag back to the hotel.
A little history, i'm a Canadian Citizen who married a US Citizen about 4 years ago and we've both been living in Canada for the past 3 years..
So finally get through security which is much tighter than an airport and get told to go up the escalator to the 19th floor and go to window 14. You get in the elevator and you only have a choice of 2 floors.. I thought this was kinda funny and actually made a joke about it to the other guy in the elevator with me..
I got upstairs and showed the booth my letter and passport.. They issued me a number and was told to wait till that number was called. THIS TOOK FOREVER!! After a couple hours I finally got called, and I can tell you right now, the most annoying thing about waiting those two or so hours is the kids that are brought with parents. WHY (unless necessary) do you feel the need to bring your children to an immigration interview.. This was very frustrating and after a while the lady who was there monitoring the room finally got up and told people to control their kids as people weren't even able to hear their names being called.
So i finally got called and went up to a different window.. Got asked for all my paperwork.. I had it all in order as instructed and I think she appreciated that.. She asked me how I met my wife, I just got a new passport and forgot to sign it, so she asked me to sign it.. and then instructed me to go ahead and sit down again and I would be called up to take fingerprints soon.
Another 30 min or so I got called back up and the same lady took instructed me to go back to booth 14 and pay the immigrant visa processing fee of $400.00 and come right back.. I brought a money order but you can pay with VISA as well. not sure about interact I would check into that but I believe you can use that as well.
Got back to the other booth and showed the lady my receipt and then got finger printed.. She asked me who's address I had put on my application in the US. As both my wife and I are in Canada I used my mother-in-laws address. I was told afterwards however that if you don't have a residence to put down you can simply put to be determined and your permanent address can be given when you actually land in the US.
After that I went back and sat down.. The day was winding down and most people had already left.. I finally got called to the interview room.. There are two interview rooms.. I opened the door and the only description I can really give on what it's like is imagine a toll booth.. It's about that size and you are separated by a plexiglass window between you and the officer. The individual I got was very friendly and had me sign the application in front of him and then verify my finger prints and get sworn in. He asked how I met my wife.. If I had ever been arrested (no) and if I ever had been denied access to the US in the past (no). He then handed me back my original birth certificate and a couple other originals and congradulated me on qualifying for a immigrant visa and that it would be sent to me within a week. You can either purchase xpresspost envelope before (what I did), or you can purchase on there.
I was bouncing off the walls at this point.. I couldn't believe how well it went and all the worrying I had was really for nothing.. It was less stressful going to this interview than most of the times I had been through the border.. I would assume this because all the information that is normally asked when entering the US is already on paper in front of the officer..
A couple of points about going there.. I already mentioned, if you don't need to bring your kids, PLEASE don't. Secondly, I wore a suite, very few people even had dress shirts on and i don't think anyone else even had a tie. This is a VERY important day.. I think it's very important that you look as professional as you would say if you were going for a job interview etc.. you wouldn't wear jeans and a t-shirt to a job interview (that is if you want the job anyway) so why would you wear that to a immigration interview??? Let many of the people there did. And finally.. RELAX! take deep breaths before going in.. look everyone in the eye that you speak with and answer was sir or ma`am when spoken to.. Not just the immigration officer but the workers and security guards.. It's good practice for when you get to the big moment.
I just received the xpresspost envelope in the mail on Friday.. In there is the infamous "Mysterious Brown Envelope" BIG writing DO NOT OPEN.. I won't be opening that..
My passport with page opened to VISA (very pretty looks like money), instructions on how to get a SSN and finally a pamphlet "Welcome to the United States" The visa is good for 6 months.. and will serve as a green card for one year or until you get the GC in the mail.. So you can work right away after immigrating.. Oh yah there is a one pager with my picture on it and a spot to put an "admission stamp"I'm just waiting on my house to sell now and we're off.. Very excited and want to thank everyone from the forums here for help!
