Hey guys,
I'm back in Canada. So here's what happened to me:
Firstly, never travel with PIA. They had cancelled my return flight and moved me up to May 26th return. Called me a night before at 11pm to say your flight is cancelled and we moved you to May 26th. I freaked out naturally since I had to go back to work on Tuesday. Anyways, after an hour of argument, they told me to travel to Islamabad from Lahore to make the flight. So we drove 4.5 hours at 1 am and made it to the airport on time for the flight. Islamabad airport was a disaster. There was a lineup at the gate of almost 2 hours just to get into the airport. Once inside there was another line up for 3 hours to get your boarding pass. Luckily, there was someone there who helped me get in the first class line up and made the process easier. I will never travel out of Islamabad airport or take PIA ever again. That's for sure!
Now, the interview.
So, our interview was at 11:30 am. We were advised to reach two hours prior. We stayed in a hotel the night before so that we were ready to go in the morning. I couldn't sleep all night since I was so nervous and anxious. I kept on praying and calling my parents all night to help me get through this. In the morning we ate breakfast and checked out at 8:30 am since the hotel was 5 mins away from the embassy.
We got ourselves a private car (1000 rupees/passenger, or a shuttle bus which was 500 rupees/person). Our cell phones were also checked in at the 'lounge' were we parked our car and got the private car. We were at the embassy at 9 am and stood outside the embassy as they took our passports inside to cross check if we were on the list. Once they confirmed that we were supposed to be there, they called myself and my daughter in for scanning. The security lady checked us both then went through my purse only to find medicines which I kept for myself in case of a migraine and for my daughter in case she needed it, along with wipes, hand sanitizer, gum, candy, Kate spade wallet and said she wanted to keep it for herself as she had a flu and had never seen a wallet like that. I was so anxious that I agreed. They then let us inside into a waiting room. 5 mins later my husband was allowed in as well. Luckily nothing was taken from him.
Now the waiting game started.
We sat and fought few mosquitoes who only wanted to feast on my Canadian blood. We had few other couples there and made friends really quickly. There was one couple who had 3 boxes full of proof which included 10 photo albums, 12 binded copies of whatsapp chats, and many many binders which were full of paper. They had interview at 11:30 as well yet they got called in at 10:30 am. First they called both people in, then the applicant was interviewed alone then the spouse and then both together to hear the result. That couple was granted the visa right on spot.
Next was our turn. We were called into room number 6. Never go to room number 6! The other couple was in room 8 and they told us that the officer was very friendly and laughed and joked.
Before going in, the reception takes your documents/proofs so that it can be delivered to the officer. We walked into the room and sat behind a glass window with the officer on the other side. He told us that he need to be honest with him and if we lied, he will refuse our case. We understood and agreed. He asked my kid and I to step outside and he interviewed my husband. It took 45 mins and he barely asked him about our relationship. He asked him why he travels so much for work and why he can't do it via skype. He asked him about our refused trv and grilled him on that. Then he looked at our proof. He told him to bring me in and not to waste a minute.
I walked in and my kid and husband were asked to wait outside. As soon as I closed the door behind me, the officer said he is concerned about our refused trv. So I explained everything. It seemed like he wasn't buying it. He never once asked about our relationship. He never once looked at me. He never made eye contact. The vibe was like he already has his mind made up to refuse us. He only kept me in for 10 mins. He did ask me how much time I spend in Pakistan. So I said that I try to visit every 6 months and I only stay for 2 weeks since I have 3 week vacation from work and I save one week for my kid for the summer. Then he told me to call my husband in so that he can address his concern and slipped our passports in the slot.
When we all were there he asked just one question to my hubby about the trv and then said he wants to see if there are any forms we need to submit. To which I said that we already did our remed and police clearance. What else is missing? He said he just needs to review which will take a month or so. We thanked him for his time and left.
I was so bummed. I literally busted into tears as soon as I stepped outside the embassy. That is not what I thought would happen. He literally treated us like a criminal or a fraud. Everything we said was wrong in his books and he just wanted us there so that he can use that against us and refuse us.
Now That I'm back, I'll order my GCM notes by Friday to see what he jotted down. But seriously that was the worst experience of my life.
