Canada Immigration and K1 Guide for Vancouver

[Weston3220 4]

If you're waiting for packet 3, that means you haven't done the online form (DS-160, I believe). Once you do that, you then forward the confirmation over to the embassy. Then they will release packet 4 to you and the online link where you can then schedule your interview. When I scheduled mine in March, my first interview date was in June. I checked every day until I was able to bump it up to the end of April. My interview is next week. My POE will be in June/July as well.

If NVC just notified you that they have sent over your info to the embassy, you could email Vancouver to see if they received it and hope they send you the packet 3 instructions via email.

Ok thanks I will email them, I need to get the confirmation code from NOA2 ? fiancee is mailing me the package from that now

How does that work with medical if you get bumped up? its good to know I can bump it up, i assume there is a place on the website to check looking forward to moving this along faster!

[Lights 56]

Ok thanks I will email them, I need to get the confirmation code from NOA2 ? fiancee is mailing me the package from that now

How does that work with medical if you get bumped up? its good to know I can bump it up, i assume there is a place on the website to check looking forward to moving this along faster!

There is a separate website, I don't have the link on the top my head but if you scroll back a page or few, it's on here somewhere. You can login and check. For me, I was able to bump my appointment up by a month and a bit. My first appointment was beginning of June. When I emailed Dr. Cheema for an interview, I requested one in April because I wanted to get it out of the way and I was told that Dr. Cheema would be away for 2 weeks in May. I was already planning on getting an earlier interview, should one popped up. The medical office was very easy to work with and nice and they obliged with my request and gave me an medical date in April (I did mine about a 10 days ago). The day after I confirmed my medical, an earlier interview opened up. Instead of June, my interview was now end of April. So I was only 2ish weeks apart for interview and medical.

Although it's preferred, it's not necessary to have your medical and interview days apart. It is definitely ideal. But with Dr. Cheema being away and my interview being that day without option to get it even closer, it's the best I could do. Your visa will be valid 6 months from your medical date, not your interview date, so I see why it's preferred. When I bumped my interview date up, I wasn't sure if I needed to notify the medical office... but I did anyways. It didn't make a difference.

[Weston3220 4]

There is a separate website, I don't have the link on the top my head but if you scroll back a page or few, it's on here somewhere. You can login and check. For me, I was able to bump my appointment up by a month and a bit. My first appointment was beginning of June. When I emailed Dr. Cheema for an interview, I requested one in April because I wanted to get it out of the way and I was told that Dr. Cheema would be away for 2 weeks in May. I was already planning on getting an earlier interview, should one popped up. The medical office was very easy to work with and nice and they obliged with my request and gave me an medical date in April (I did mine about a 10 days ago). The day after I confirmed my medical, an earlier interview opened up. Instead of June, my interview was now end of April. So I was only 2ish weeks apart for interview and medical.

Although it's preferred, it's not necessary to have your medical and interview days apart. It is definitely ideal. But with Dr. Cheema being away and my interview being that day without option to get it even closer, it's the best I could do. Your visa will be valid 6 months from your medical date, not your interview date, so I see why it's preferred. When I bumped my interview date up, I wasn't sure if I needed to notify the medical office... but I did anyways. It didn't make a difference.

Yeah I know i read somewhere the Medical is valid for 6motnhs just like the passport photos, but I know I emailed Dr Cheema and they wouldnt let me book an appointment until I had interview date, so I dunno seems contradicting to me, Why can't i get it done now as I know ill my interview is less then 6 motnhs away

Well I look forward to my correspondence with the embassy

[Lights 56]

Yeah I know i read somewhere the Medical is valid for 6motnhs just like the passport photos, but I know I emailed Dr Cheema and they wouldnt let me book an appointment until I had interview date, so I dunno seems contradicting to me, Why can't i get it done now as I know ill my interview is less then 6 motnhs away

Well I look forward to my correspondence with the embassy

You will have to forward them the interview confirmation first. I'm guessing they're trying to just follow the process and not do too many medicals too ahead of time.

Without your packet 3 and without completing the online form, you're still a few steps away from actually being able to book the interview. Once you get packet 3 and fill out that DS form, they'll release packet 4. Packet 4 essentially just tells you how to book the interview... I knew packet 4 was on the way, but I didn't wait for it. Once I emailed the confirmation from the online form and the Vancouver Embassy confirmed receipt, I just went onto the usvisa-info.com website, registered and paid my fee's and secured my interview date. I got packet 4 about 2 or 3 days after I had my interview date.

[Crumulent 7]

Review of Dr Cheema. K1 Medical exam in Vancouver

(technically Surrey)

Short Version: Very good experience. Friendly and Easy. Now the long version;

Getting there:

I stayed in a hotel downtown, near the consulate. On the day of the medical I took the Skytrain (Expo line) to Scott Rd Stn, and then the 319 bus to the Scottsdale terminal, which is a block north of Dr Cheema's office.

This was an easy route, (get a transit day-pass) and the place for the blood test & x-Ray is along the route, so it was easy to get to on the way back.

Vancouver's transit is fairly easy to use. The only downside was this wasn't a quick trip. A little over an hour and a half each way (and 20min more than Google estimated). When I went back the next day for my results, it was a big chunk of my day.

The Doctor is in:

I arrived a few minutes early, the staff were very friendly and helpful. They took my paperwork and photocopied what they needed. She mentioned I was very organized and said a lot of people forget the passport photo! (Don't be one of them). The fee was $280, cash or debit. There is no extra fee for the lab-work.

Dr Cheema was next, he was very friendly, and very easy going. I went in with more documentation than was strictly necessary. For the most part, he wasn't interested in it. He said "This is a very specific exam with very specific questions" and that was all he was concerned with. It was very routine, I didn't feel like I had to prove anything, it was mostly a formality to make sure everything was in order.

He asked some routine medical history questions "Ever do drugs, ever have tuberculosis, etc", gave me the once over (Blood pressure, vision, throat, stomach). He also had to take a quick look to see if my man-bits were in the proper place, and was apologetic about needing to do that.

That was it for the Doctor, I was out of there in 23 minutes.

The Lab Work:

Then they sent me to get the bloodwork, they gave me detailed directions although it's easy to find (It's on the same street, and I'd passed it on the way there).

The lab was fairly busy when I went. I was there for about 90 minutes. Everyone there was friendly and knew that I was there for Visa medical work, and how to process that. I did my X-Ray first, and then the blood test. They were very good about explaining what I needed to do and where to go at each step.

Getting the Results:

That was it. Dr Cheema's office told me to come back between 4-6pm the next day for the results. I ended up getting there ~3:30 and they had just finished preparing it. They gave me the sealed packet for the Consulate interview, and a second packet that's for my records, which I will need in the future.

Edited May 3, 2014 by Crumulent

[Crumulent 7]

Review of K1 Interview at Vancouver Consulate

Getting in the Building

I arrived 20 minutes early and there was a fairly long line when I got there. But they were telling people to leave and come back later if their app't was more than half an hour away. The place to line-up was easy to find (Outdoors on the East side).

A lot of the process involves moving from one line to another line. That's kind of good because it breaks up the tedium of waiting. First they check if you have your DS-160, passport, and medical packet. They give you a card with the floor and window you'll have to go to. K Visas have a different process than the work and travel visas that most people there are getting. So you're not always going to have the same people in front of you.

Then you get in another line for the building entrance, security looks you over to make sure you don't have anything that won't be allowed inside. Then you go through the metal detector check, and then another line for the elevator.

Before I continue, there are two pieces of advice;

Dress for the weather. You'll likely be spending the first 15-30 minutes standing outside. There is an awning but that won't help much if it's cold or windy. I asked one of the security personnel if they move the operation inside during bad weather and he said they're out there every day, no matter the weather.

Don't bring anything that isn't essential to the process. No cellphones, no electronics, no food/drink, and no medium to large handbags. They had a small box for bags and if it doesn't fit, you don't take it. I'm told Quizno's across the street holds things for people but I only had my wallet and a binder of my papers so it wasn't an issue for me.

After the metal detector, they escort you to your floor in groups.

Pre-Interview Processing
Go to the assigned window, flip the light switch (up or down, but not up/down). They take your DS-160 and passport. Then wait.

Then they call you back, and take all of your documents from the packet 3 list. They took everything I had for my fiancee's proof of income, but did not need her divorce decree (they had it from the I-134 packet) or any additional proof of relationship. (I'm not saying don't bring it, just that in my case they didn't end up needing it)

They did ask for a new Letter of Intent from both my fiancee and myself, even though Packet 3 just says from the petitioner. Luckily I had made one for myself anyway (and I could have written one right then and there if need be.)

Then you wait again while they go over your documents and put them into the system. This is probably the longest individual wait. I can see this part really dragging out if there are other K Visa applicants ahead of you. I think the woman getting a K1 after me spent quite a bit more time waiting than I did.

Once your paperwork is done with, they give you a new number and it's back to waiting. For me this was the second longest wait.

Finally, the actual interview!

My process here got delayed a bit due to computer issues but it was simple. They asked if I had anything additional and I pulled out my added proof of relationship but they never actually looked it over.

They fingerprinted me, I swore an oath that everything was truthful, they asked me some VERY basic questions. (When did we meet, where does she live, where do her parents live, have I met them, has she met mine, that kind of stuff.) And that was pretty much it. It was not a quiz. At no time did I feel like I was being tested, doubted, or questioned. Everyone was friendly and helpful throughout the entire process.

I did overhear a couple of other peoples interviews during the aforementioned computer problems. Those people weren't getting K Visas, but they were getting questioned more thoroughly than I was, so your experience may vary. VJ was a huge help in me having all of my paperwork in order which I'm sure helped immensely.

Post-Interview
They send you back to the previous window where they go over the Courier process for sending you the Visa, the rules of entry, and next steps.

Then you're done, and you can leave, go get your cellphone and tell your future spouse! I was there less than 2 hours. But I can see it easily taking longer.

[Weston3220 4]

Just approved woot but talk about busy consulate I asked they see 400 people a day crazy!

Nice thing about K1 get to pass some steps woot for me was about 1hr 30mins

[pro_star 52]

Yeah I know i read somewhere the Medical is valid for 6motnhs just like the passport photos, but I know I emailed Dr Cheema and they wouldnt let me book an appointment until I had interview date, so I dunno seems contradicting to me, Why can't i get it done now as I know ill my interview is less then 6 motnhs away

Well I look forward to my correspondence with the embassy

Thing is too, your visa validity is from your date of your medical...not your interview...so that's the other reason they want to keep it close. Example, my medical was May 5th, interview May 7th.

My visa expires November 5.

[dukeandduchess 141]

Great updates and congratulations!

[lyndsayjo 2]

Hi, I just want to be sure I've got this right

I have the embassy confirming they received my DS-160. Do I need to wait for them to confirm receipt of all of packet 3 as well before I can book my interview, or can I go ahead and do that now?

[Lights 56]

Update: Finally did my POE almost 2 weeks ago and am now married! Just sent in our AOS today.

[US Canadian Desi 0]

We had our interview and they let us know the visa was approved, but we will have administrative processing. How long for Vancouver consulate to issue it?

[pro_star 52]

It takes as long as it takes.

It's government.

[Sweetmelissa 82]

FYI for anyone who had interviews recently (regarding issuance delays):

There was a delay in the processing of your K-1 visa because late last week there was a severe worldwide computer issue and our systems were down. Once the system came back up on Monday, it basically took time to catch up on all the cases that were affected by this computer problem. We have since issued your visa, your package is being shipped to Loomis this afternoon. Please wait for Loomis to contact you by email to advise you when to pick up your package at the Loomis location you selected.

[mdamph 0]

Hey guys! Just wanted to double check a few things.

I just received a letter in the mail from the United States Consulate in Vancouver, and it says:

"We do not process applications for fiancee visas unless you are a Canadian citizen, a landed immigrant in Canada, on employment authorization or are pursuing a full-time academic program of at least a year's duration. If you are in one of these categories, please provide evidence from a Canadian authority."

I've been reading these forums quite frequently, and I haven't read anything about a letter like this, so I just wanted to know if this is normal? Their e-mail/fax information is listed along with my case number at the bottom of the letter. So does this mean I just need to provide some sort of Canadian citizen documents to them, then continue from there? I guess I was just expecting them to send over packet 3, and then I'd just follow the instructions from there on.