help! how does a k1 arrive?

[gobbles82 0]

Hi guys,

Our I-129F petition just went through the National Visa Center and is on its way to Vancouver. After the interview, roughly how long does it take until you have your K1 visa in hand, and how does it get to you? Does it come in the mail or can you go down to the Consulate and pick it up? The reason I ask is because from everything that I've read online, it looks like the visa is issued anywhere between the day of the interview to a couple days after. And based on this info, the plan I've brewed in my head is flying from Edmonton (where I live) to Vancouver, doing the interview, getting the visa while in Vancouver (if we're approved), and just driving down to California, which is the final destination. Is this a realistic plan or does the visa arrive by mail to my address in Edmonton? Your advice can really help me figure out my plans and my plane tickets! Thanks so much:)

[Inky 1,110]

It arrives by mail, you will get instructions to bring a regional prepaid mailer with signature required and they send you it after you have been approved.

[Colleens 40]

I thought that I had read somewhere that in Vancouver you may get your visa that day or you can go and pick it up the next day? There are some recent threads in the Canada forum regarding this, so you may want to check them out. And the Vancouver Consulate seems to be a lot quicker at scheduling interviews then montreal. It seems that people get their interviews within a month or 2 of Vancouver receiving the case file. Mind you with US Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, there could potenitally be a slowdown.

[SapphireDreams 71]

Yeah Vancouver is different from Montreal... I'm pretty sure you can pick it up there... but hopefully someone can clarify

[Carlawarla 1]

Vancouver gives you the visa in hand the following day.They'll tell you when you can come to pick it up the following day. You'll need an extra night's accomodation. Best of luck!

Edited November 16, 2009 by Carlawarla