Visa pickup from Vancouver consulate

[Dan and Ali 3]

I just wanted to re-affirm that visa pickup is available from the Vancouver consulate the day after the interview. I'm about to book our flights and I want to make sure we're giving ourselves an extra day for this.

Thanks everyone!

Edited December 20, 2009 by Dan and Ali

[Michael+Tracie 0]

I just wanted to re-affirm that visa pickup is available from the Vancouver consulate the day after the interview. I'm about to book our flights and I want to make sure we're giving ourselves an extra day for this.

Thanks everyone!

Mine was available TWO days after the interview date (For a K1), as was everyone's who had an interview at the same time as mine (Another K1 and a K3). This was back in September, if that makes any difference. I know I was expecting one day as well, based on what I've read of other's accounts, but I was also local, so it didn't matter too much to me.

Good luck with the interview!

[HeatDeath 430]

I just wanted to re-affirm that visa pickup is available from the Vancouver consulate the day after the interview. I'm about to book our flights and I want to make sure we're giving ourselves an extra day for this.

Thanks everyone!

When I got my K-1 on April 30, I was able to pick it up the next day. I don't know if things have changed since then, and it might vary on a case by case basis.

They recommend you bring an Expresspost envelope for them to mail it back. I didn't, because there's a post office right across the street and I figured they'd let me go and bring one back after approval if that was an issue.

In any case, I was glad to have the next morning to wander around Vancouver anyways. It's a very nice city. You can walk along the waterfront for a couple of hours, look at the mountains, etc.

I booked my trip for two days total:

Tuesday night: fly from Winnipeg to Vancouver, arriving at Vancouver just after midnight

Wednesday morning: wake up 5:30, go to medical.

Medical stuff all done by 10ish. Wander around, get lunch.

Interview at 1:30. Approved pending medical. Done by 3ish.

Pick up medical results, deliver to consulate. Just made it, consulate closes at 4.

Approved. Told to pick up visa at 2:15 tomorrow.

Thursday: wake up 10ish. Walk around Vancouver, sightsee until 2.

Pick up visa. Back to hotel.

330ish: bus to airport for 5ish flight.

5:30 almost miss flight, should've taken earlier shuttle bus. Fly home.

Arrive home 1130ish.

Friday: Back to work.

[Dan and Ali 3]

When I got my K-1 on April 30, I was able to pick it up the next day. I don't know if things have changed since then, and it might vary on a case by case basis.

They recommend you bring an Expresspost envelope for them to mail it back. I didn't, because there's a post office right across the street and I figured they'd let me go and bring one back after approval if that was an issue.

In any case, I was glad to have the next morning to wander around Vancouver anyways. It's a very nice city. You can walk along the waterfront for a couple of hours, look at the mountains, etc.

I booked my trip for two days total:

Tuesday night: fly from Winnipeg to Vancouver, arriving at Vancouver just after midnight

Wednesday morning: wake up 5:30, go to medical.

Medical stuff all done by 10ish. Wander around, get lunch.

Interview at 1:30. Approved pending medical. Done by 3ish.

Pick up medical results, deliver to consulate. Just made it, consulate closes at 4.

Approved. Told to pick up visa at 2:15 tomorrow.

Thursday: wake up 10ish. Walk around Vancouver, sightsee until 2.

Pick up visa. Back to hotel.

330ish: bus to airport for 5ish flight.

5:30 almost miss flight, should've taken earlier shuttle bus. Fly home.

Arrive home 1130ish.

Friday: Back to work.

This is great to know -- thanks for posting the timeline of your trip as well! Ours will be quite similar except with the medical on Wednesday, interview on Thursday and leaving Vancouver late Friday afternoon. Hopefully they will have it ready for me the next day as we'll be flying back to Edmonton but I do appreciate the tip from Michael+Tracie about the post office across the street in case.

Edited December 21, 2009 by Dan and Ali

[minnew 4]

I had my K 1 interview in Vancouver in May of this year. I was able to pickup my visa on a Thursday after my interview that same week done on a Tuesday. My medical was Wednesday and after submission of the results same day Wednesday they told me to come back after 2pm on Thursday.

I was back at my cousins workplace downtown Vancouver with my bags and a cab arranged by 3:30 for my 6 pm flight back to Regina!

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Just remember that Vancouver has great rapid transit now, right from the airport to two or three blocks away from the consulate and the Woking Clinic. It's far cheaper than any other option, I assure you!

Lots of stuff to see and do within walking distance of the consulate as well...though Vancouver gets a lot of miserable rainy days during the winter, so check out the forecast first, and bring an umbrella.

[Dan and Ali 3]

Just remember that Vancouver has great rapid transit now, right from the airport to two or three blocks away from the consulate and the Woking Clinic. It's far cheaper than any other option, I assure you!

Lots of stuff to see and do within walking distance of the consulate as well...though Vancouver gets a lot of miserable rainy days during the winter, so check out the forecast first, and bring an umbrella.

Thanks for the heads up about the rapid transport! You're talking about the sky train, right?

I am so stoked to go! My fiance has never been and I haven't been in years so it will be great to check out the sights

I'm also pretty sure that no matter how rainy/miserable it is ... it's likely Edmonton's weather will be worse, lol

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Thanks for the heads up about the rapid transport! You're talking about the sky train, right?

I am so stoked to go! My fiance has never been and I haven't been in years so it will be great to check out the sights

I'm also pretty sure that no matter how rainy/miserable it is ... it's likely Edmonton's weather will be worse, lol

Yeah...the Skytrain line goes right to the airport now. I've mentioned it in other threads, so forgive me if I'm being redundant...but you can catch the Skytrain right from the domestic terminal down to Waterfront Station (which is on the West side of downtown Vancouver). At Waterfront you get off and walk through a terminal and a mall-like area to a separate Skytrain terminal that will take you as far as Surrey, if you want to...but you'll want the Burrard stop for the Consulate.

I like Vancouver a lot, and have been proud to call the area my home for most of my life.

Which isn't to say I'm not looking forward to moving on, of course.

[Carlawarla 1]

Glad you got to pick it up the next day! Congrats on the visa btw. I was interviewd in 2006 - my, has it been that long?? I got it the same day. Visa interviews were only in the morning, and you could pick it up in the afternoon. Let's hope people in Vancouver NEVER have to have it sent in the mail. Matter of fact, maybe in the new year Montreal interviewees can pick theirs up the next day next year! How's that for optimism!