Filing I-129F - which Canadian consulate to put down?

[cjdj 0]

I'm trying to work out if my fiance's K-1 visa can get processed at the Consulate in Vancouver, or if it has to be Montreal. Our preference is Vancouver if possible, since it would make it easier for me to attend the interview with her plus of course Vancouver is likely to be faster than Montreal.

She is living in Manitoba.

She is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. She is in Canada on a working visa, but her job is considered a permanent position and she will be authorized to remain in Canada for more than enough time to complete her K-1 visa processing.

The wiki says that Manitoba goes to Vancouver: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Canada

The Vancouver consulate says that Manitoba goes to Vancouver but only if the fiance is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident: http://vancouver.usconsulate.gov/content/c...document=fiance

Other websites say that if the fiance is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident then Vancouver will consider them on a case-by-case basis: http://www.visapro.com/Immigration-Articles/?a=463&z=36

Can anyone clarify what the reality is? Have any non-citizens/non-permanent residents had their K-1 processed in Vancouver recently?

[pushbrk 12,884]

I'm trying to work out if my fiance's K-1 visa can get processed at the Consulate in Vancouver, or if it has to be Montreal. Our preference is Vancouver if possible, since it would make it easier for me to attend the interview with her plus of course Vancouver is likely to be faster than Montreal.

She is living in Manitoba.

She is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. She is in Canada on a working visa, but her job is considered a permanent position and she will be authorized to remain in Canada for more than enough time to complete her K-1 visa processing.

The wiki says that Manitoba goes to Vancouver: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Canada

The Vancouver consulate says that Manitoba goes to Vancouver but only if the fiance is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident: http://vancouver.usconsulate.gov/content/c...document=fiance

Other websites say that if the fiance is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident then Vancouver will consider them on a case-by-case basis: http://www.visapro.com/Immigration-Articles/?a=463&z=36

Can anyone clarify what the reality is? Have any non-citizens/non-permanent residents had their K-1 processed in Vancouver recently?

Write Vancouver where asked.

[cjdj 0]

Write Vancouver where asked.

Thanks very much for your reply.

Are you sure?

I'm just paranoid about what might happen if it turns out Vancouver won't process the visa - if it could cause any big delays, or my worst nightmare is that she goes to Vancouver for her interview then during the interview they realize she isn't a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and they reject her.

[JlovesA 109]

Thanks very much for your reply.

Are you sure?

I'm just paranoid about what might happen if it turns out Vancouver won't process the visa - if it could cause any big delays, or my worst nightmare is that she goes to Vancouver for her interview then during the interview they realize she isn't a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and they reject her.

Someone will probably come along with an example to back this up, but from what I've heard/read, USCIS will send it to the correct embassy even if you put the incorrect one. I think somebody had put Toronto even though Toronto doesn't process visas. Not a big deal; USCIS knows what they're doing.

[HeatDeath 430]

Vancouver will process it as long as she lives west of the Manitoba/Ontario border, and has legal presence in Canada (which they may want to see at the interview, and which might not be a bad idea to include with the I-129F petition, BTW). Her country of citizenship should not matter if she has legal presence in Canada. If she were in Canada illegally (which wouldn't really affect her US visa application, except in this regard) she would have to return to her home country to be interviewed there, but since she is in Canada legally, interviewing at a Canadian consulate should be no problem, and since she is going for a K-1 in Western Canada, it'll be Vancouver.

Edited March 8, 2010 by HeatDeath

[pushbrk 12,884]

Someone will probably come along with an example to back this up, but from what I've heard/read, USCIS will send it to the correct embassy even if you put the incorrect one. I think somebody had put Toronto even though Toronto doesn't process visas. Not a big deal; USCIS knows what they're doing.

Actually, it's NVC that will send it to the correct Consulate but help them out and write Vancouver anyway.

[cjdj 0]

Thanks guys, this is really helpful.

[HeatDeath 430]

Thanks very much for your reply.

Are you sure?

I'm just paranoid about what might happen if it turns out Vancouver won't process the visa - if it could cause any big delays, or my worst nightmare is that she goes to Vancouver for her interview then during the interview they realize she isn't a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and they reject her.

If you're still worried, wait until you get your petition approval notice and letter from NVC indicating that the case has been transferred to Vancouver, and then email Vancouver at VancouverK@state.gov. They'll get back to you in a day or two with an authoritative answer. I emailed Vancouver several times with questions during my visa application process. They're quite terse but very good about answering questions promptly. Being able to email them made that part of my process much easier - so much so that I barely needed VJ at all for that part of the process! [Ain't it terrible when government offices actually have half-decent customer service? ]