Interview Preperation And Other Thoughts

Ever since I got the interview date, alot of things have run through my mind.

Mostly money related issues.

An awful lot of things comes with getting an interview date, especially if some of them havn't been done already.

Here's a list + approximate costs:

• Medical - $275 + $50 for it to be mailed
  
• Getting a police certificate - Approx $40
  
• Getting required vaccinations - $130 for first Gardasil shot
  
• Getting required paperwork from USC fiance - Free, he's bringing it to me, unless you count about $600 for his plane ticket
  
• Booking a car rental to get to Montreal - Approx $100 + Gas + Food
  
• Booking a hotel in Montreal - Approx $100 + Approx $20 for parking
  
• Having the money for the interview - $131
• Envelope for visa to be mailed - Approx $10
• 5 US Style passport photos - Approx $25
  
• Booking a plane ticket - Free, I think. I have one from March I can still use
• Travel Insurance, since I wont be marrying right away - Approx $130
  
• APPROX TOTAL = More than $900 dollars. I'm sure it'll hit $1000
  

I don't even think that's everything! But that's basically what's on my plate right now.

We were going to take the train, but it's 400 for us both to and from where we're going. No thanks. Car's 100 + gas. Not to mention, the food in restaurants is bound to be cheaper than on the train. It's such a rip off.

I'm going to have no money when I leave Canada, well... I'll have 90 American unless I need that for the interview. I'm not sure if they need the money in Canadian or American. I have no clue how I'm going to pay off my credit card.

My Gardasil appointment is for October 29th, my medical is November 2nd.

That's alot of money gone in such a short time.

Man, it's such a bummer but at least this will get me into the US to be with my fiance for good, finally.

Steps of a K-1 Visa:

• US Petitioner and Foreign Beneficiary Collect Needed Documents
• I-129F Package Sent
• Notice Of Action 1 Received by US Petitioner
• Notice Of Action 2 Received by US Petitioner
• Case Forwarded to the National Visa Center
• Case Forwarded to the Foreign Beneficiary's US Consulate
• Case Received by Foreign Beneficiary's Local US Consulate
• Forms and Checklist Sent to Foreign Beneficiary
• Foreign Beneficiary Compiles Needed Forms
• Foreign Beneficiary Sends Completed Forms to US Consulate
• US Consulate Issues Interview Date
• Interview Conducted at the US Consulate
• Visa Recieved in the Mail
• US Entry via Pearson Toronto Airport (Hopefully November 20th)
  

Legend: Strikethrough + Blue show past steps, Bolded + Red shows current step

Oh My God, Interview!

This is insane.

I woke up and looked at the Visa Journey Forums to find that like 6 people got interview dates. Some of them were even near my date of sending the paperwork back.

So I thought, heck, I'll call.

Well what do you know, I have an interview for November 13th! It's amazing that it landed on the time my fiance's visiting me! I was just totally blown away, totally.

I haven't been that happy in the longest time, I seriously haven't. I can't believe I'll be in the US for my Birthday, for US Thanksgiving, for Christmas! Seriously!

So we're prolly getting married in February. Not Valentine's Day though, that's tacky.

I ordered my wedding dress yesterday. They told me it'd take 14 weeks. WELL NOT ANYMORE.

They called and said they have my size in the colour combo I want IN STOCK!

I'll be getting it in two weeks, so I get to try it on and get alterations before I leave!

It's like everything's falling into place.

Now I just need to deal with my crummy job until the 9th of November, haha.

Steps of a K-1 Visa:

• US Petitioner and Foreign Beneficiary Collect Needed Documents
• I-129F Package Sent
• Notice Of Action 1 Received by US Petitioner
• Notice Of Action 2 Received by US Petitioner
• Case Forwarded to the National Visa Center
• Case Forwarded to the Foreign Beneficiary's US Consulate
• Case Received by Foreign Beneficiary's Local US Consulate
• Forms and Checklist Sent to Foreign Beneficiary
• Foreign Beneficiary Compiles Needed Forms
• Foreign Beneficiary Sends Completed Forms to US Consulate
• US Consulate Issues Interview Date
• Interview Conducted at the US Consulate

Legend: Strikethrough + Blue show past steps, Bolded + Red shows current step

Depression and More Wedding Stuff

Well, now that I have to sit here and just wait, my depression just seems to be getting worse.

I love going to the Visa Journey forums and talking to fellow Canadians, but the other country sections are depressing.

They bitch and complain about how they have to wait a WHOLE 14 to 30 days for their interview and shit. Boo hoo. I'd trade with them any day. ANY DAY.

I'd LOVE to see how they'd react to having to wait 90+ days to even be assigned a date, then waiting another month or so on TOP OF THAT. Seriously?

My fiance's congressman or senator is going to get a very nice nasty letter about me having to wait for such a long time for an interview when I get down to the US.

I'm Canadian. We have great relations with the US, we're connected to them by landmass, we speak English, we're not known for visa fraud... and yet we get into the US at the slowest rate compared to a country who has crappy relations with the US, is on the other side of the world, has a high potential to commit visa fraud and may not even speak a word of English? Seriously, what the fuck is that. And here I thought I was LUCKY to live in Canada. Seriously. It's revolting.

And it turns out that Montreal has lost a lot of their staff over the summer. They either weren't showing up or just quit. I read this on the visa forums. Here's hoping they open another consulate for us so they can start moving people to other consulates and unclogging Montreal.

On the wedding note, well nothing really.

For now I'm giving up on my May 15th date. Who knows what even going to happen anymore, seeing as I might not even have my interview till late February/early March. I really do hope they fix the lack of employees at Montreal somehow.

I don't want to move back home.

Steps of a K-1 Visa:

• US Petitioner and Foreign Beneficiary Collect Needed Documents
• I-129F Package Sent
• Notice Of Action 1 Received by US Petitioner
• Notice Of Action 2 Received by US Petitioner
• Case Forwarded to the National Visa Center
• Case Forwarded to the Foreign Beneficiary's US Consulate
• Case Received by Foreign Beneficiary's Local US Consulate
• Forms and Checklist Sent to Foreign Beneficiary
• Foreign Beneficiary Compiles Needed Forms
• Foreign Beneficiary Sends Completed Forms to US Consulate
• WAITINGGGGGGGGGGG.
  
• US Consulate Issues Interview Date
• Interview Conducted at the US Consulate

Legend: Strikethrough + Blue show past steps, Bolded + Red shows current step

The Tenth Step - Foreign Beneficiary Sends Completed Forms to US Consulate

This actually took place yesterday, but I was too tired to blog about it.

Nothing much happened.

I got to work, punched in and just went right back out the door.

No one covers my job and I have to stay until it's done, so I can pretty much take my break whenever.

I went to the Seven Eleven because they had a postal outlet there. Person in front of me took 10 MINUTES. Sheesh.

It cost about 22 bucks to send it one day and 8 for two day.

I didn't really feel the need to rush, so I sent it 2 days + 1.50 for a signature confirmation. I'd like to know that it actually got there.

Next Friday I'm going to call Department of Services to see if my Package 3 of forms was logged into their system. If it hasn't I'll probably call back the next Wednesday.

NOW WE WAIT 90+ DAYS FOR AN INTERVIEW.

Fun fun.

Steps of a K-1 Visa:

• US Petitioner and Foreign Beneficiary Collect Needed Documents
• I-129F Package Sent
• Notice Of Action 1 Received by US Petitioner
• Notice Of Action 2 Received by US Petitioner
• Case Forwarded to the National Visa Center
• Case Forwarded to the Foreign Beneficiary's US Consulate
• Case Received by Foreign Beneficiary's Local US Consulate
• Forms and Checklist Sent to Foreign Beneficiary
• Foreign Beneficiary Compiles Needed Forms
• Foreign Beneficiary Sends Completed Forms to US Consulate
• WAITINGGGGGGGGGGG.
  
• US Consulate Issues Interview Date
• Interview Conducted at the US Consulate

Legend: Strikethrough + Blue show past steps, Bolded + Red shows current step