Vancouver Embassy Review (Sept 2nd)

[A & L 2]

We had our interview on Sept 2nd at 10am. Got there around 9:20 and asked about the 10am line and the lady out front said she was allowed to send people in early if there were no lines and asked me if I was the American fiance, then told me it was good that I was there and I was allowed to go in. There was practically nobody there, so we went straight up to the door.

The guards outside were all super friendly and having a good time, especially the guard who escorted us inside. He was pretty jolly and even took a fun jab at me when he found my fiancee's makeup compact in my sweater pocket I had missed, asking if it was really mine and that it looked like my color. Then he told us to head on through and the guard manning the metal detector had to quickly correct us not to yet. She was all business, had stayed silent pretty much the entire time and had us go through the detector one at a time, holding our sweaters. Then we got what few things we brought with us back and headed upstairs.

Upstairs the guards were again all very friendly as they put my fiancee's sealed package through the x-ray machine. We were the only K visa there, the other few people were just there for traveler's visas so they sent us right in to the waiting room while the other people were sent off elsewhere first. We were directed to go to window B and were met by a very, very friendly man there. He kept things very easy and casual, asked her for the required documents one at a time, asked me for my financial support info. I gave him my I-134 and three years worth of tax transcripts, then he immediately asked if I had a letter from my employer which I gave him. I tried to give him some pay stubs as well but he said no need, the transcripts, letter from employer and I-134 were all he needed. After this we were directed to sit back down and wait to get called up for a number.

The wait wasn't long, probably 15 minutes tops. The room had started to fill up with people who were all getting called up before us, mostly traveler's visas. Once we had our number the wait again wasn't very long and we headed to the window. There were chairs lined all down the wall opposite the interview windows and the officer at our window told me to just take a seat there. So although I wasn't part of the actual interview process, I was sitting directly behind my fiancee. He asked her some of the more basic questions, how did you meet, when did you meet, has he met your family, have you met his, what I did for work, he wanted her to explain to him how we stayed in touch all this time (though our relationship started in 2009, we originally met and became friends in 1997, which seemed to surprise him). Nothing really tricky, he didn't repeat questions that were just rephrased to try and see if she'd give a different answer, or try to give her any wrong info to see if she'd correct him. We had compiled a fairly sizable folder of relationship proof, and he didn't ask to see any proof at all. Not sure if that's because I was there, or if we were just convincing enough already with our properly organized paperwork and initial proof. I even had an updated intent to marry letter that they didn't take or ask for. The interview itself took 10 minutes tops, including the oath and we were told to sit back down and we'd be called up again.

Back in the waiting area, it had started to fill up quite a bit and sits were scarce. We were called back up to window B after a few minutes, where the super friendly man was waiting for us again. He gave us a basic rundown on what happens next, congratulated us and sent us on our way. Before we left I asked him if the holiday on Monday would affect the time frame of getting the visa and he said no. Our total time spent there was just under an hour, so I do recommend early appointments if available, and try showing up a little early even if they're not available, never hurts to try! Outside a pretty decent line had formed so I'm very thankful we got there early.

The following Tuesday, the 6th, my fiancee received an email that her visa had been picked up by DHL. The next day they called and told her it was ready for pickup so we ran over there and grabbed it before my flight home.

All in all a very painless experience. We had all our documents well organized, weren't missing anything, and brought the bare minimum to the embassy. The staff were all very friendly and efficient, as most people have said about Vancouver, and we got the visa back in less than a week. I give Vanc 6 stars out of 5!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Congratulations! Great review .

[OBX 51]

Congratulations.

[BruceC 0]

Sorry for the ignorance, but I have just gotten back into researching the IR-1 process, and Montreal used to be the only place an interview was done. Are they now doing interviews in vancouver for us westerners?

I see the Vancouver Consulate no longer accepts the DCF (I-130 petition)

Thanks

Edited September 14, 2011 by BruceC