Preparing to book flight for med/interview in Vancouver, quick question

[garnet80 1]

My fiance's K1 interview is April 29. We had originally thought that we would need to have the passport mailed back to him, but now we can afford an extra night at the motel. So my question is, the visa/passport, they are ready the day following the interview? Friday the 30th in our case? I thought I had read this, but of course I can't find it now.

Thank you!

[Dan and Ali 3]

My fiance's K1 interview is April 29. We had originally thought that we would need to have the passport mailed back to him, but now we can afford an extra night at the motel. So my question is, the visa/passport, they are ready the day following the interview? Friday the 30th in our case? I thought I had read this, but of course I can't find it now.

Thank you!

They can - and it seems generally are - ready the day after the successful interview, yes, but the consulate website does specifically say they recommend the envelope.

Everyone who interviewed on the same day I did (Thursday, January 28th) was able to pick them up at 2 pm the following day (Friday, January 29th) with no problems.

[garnet80 1]

Okay, thank you. He does have the envelope already purchased in case it's needed.

One other question... we just sent the request for the medical. Couldn't really do it without an interview date... is it pretty safe that we'll get it? >.< I don't think I've read any cases of interviews having to be rescheduled because the medical couldn't happen...

[arya 22]

I got mine done in September of last year and I had my visa the day after the interview.

[Inky 1,110]

Generally you dont move the interview cus of the medical. You just end up delaying your visa because you get the medical after the interview then give them the medical after, which takes a few days longer to issue the visa.

[garnet80 1]

Ah I see. My fiance can only miss the one week of work, so that isn't good to hear!

[arya 22]

I think you should be ok, because when I was setting my medical, they only required 2 weeks notice.

[arya 22]

Oh, one more thing, they only do medicals on Wednesday and your interview is on a Thursday. Just checking that you're aware of that?

[garnet80 1]

Yes... that was kind of the goal. Is there a problem with it?

[arya 22]

No problem, that's perfect. I had my interview and medical on the same day, and they are very good with setting it up that way, so you don't have to stay there for 3 or 4 nights, just in case people can't afford to do that.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Wow, Vancouver is so much more accommodating than Montreal!

Good luck on your interview!

[HeatDeath 430]

My interview was at the end of April last year. [Almost a year ago now... wow...] Anyways, both my medical and interview were on a Wednesday, and I was able to pick up my visa on the day following the interview, in the early afternoon. Apparently sometimes they can do this, and sometimes they can't, depending on how busy they are and if all of their background check computer systems are working properly.

When people have the medical done the same day as the interview, which is very common for Vancouver, the medical results are never available prior to the beginning of the interview. You go do your interview, then you go and pick up the medical results and bring them back, and then they finish the interview. Sometimes they will tell you that you are approved pending the medical results before you go to pick them up. So having the medical after the interview is a fairly common practice for them. That shouldn't be a problem, if it comes to that.

But it probably won't. The medicals are very much an assembly-line process. Unless they are ridiculously overbooked on that particular day, they can virtually always squeeze one more person into the lineup, even at fairly short notice. It sounds like you should be fine.

Edited April 7, 2010 by HeatDeath

[TimandJoyce 1]

Wow, Vancouver is so much more accommodating than Montreal!

It is! My interview was actually the day before my medical, as I could only afford one night in Vancouver. So I just gave them my envelope to them on Wed afternoon, and flew home that evening. My visa arrived in the mail on that Friday

Just remember too, that the medical is early!! I strongly suggest to be there before 6:00 am. Between 5:30 - 5:45 would be ideal! They'll start seeing the patients at 6:30 and generally in the order you arrive there.

[HeatDeath 430]

I've told garnet about this in another thread, but for the benefit of future readers I'll repeat: There is a cheap hotel called the Burrard Inn, which has budget rooms for 60-70 per night, which is located right next door to the medical clinic, on the very same block. VERY convenient for getting to the medical before 6 am. You'll want to request a room in the back, away from the main street. A bunch of older reviews online claim that it isn't clean, but it's been renovated, and may be under new ownership, and it was totally totally fine when I was there. But even for all that, the location simply CANNOT be beat.

[garnet80 1]

And thanks to HeatDeath, that is exactly where we are going to book his stay at. We were going to do all the booking tonight, but I guess we better wait until the medical is confirmed first. >.<

We are really grateful to have learned of this place, anywhere else would have just broken our budget totally.

So TYVM!