Interview In Vancouver Questions

[Jimmy the American 0]

I know Alot about interviews in Montreal, but not about Vancouver.. and since I'm going to Vancouver now.. I need help!!!

What time do I need to go?

Do they Issue the same day, my interview is on a Friday, can I fly home Friday afternoon?

Is there anything I need to bring other than what was listed in my package 3?

Thank you for your help

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I know Alot about interviews in Montreal, but not about Vancouver.. and since I'm going to Vancouver now.. I need help!!!

What time do I need to go?

Do they Issue the same day, my interview is on a Friday, can I fly home Friday afternoon?

Is there anything I need to bring other than what was listed in my package 3?

Thank you for your help

I have no idea whatsoever (going through MTL), but wanted to wish you the best of luck in your interview!!!! Will be waiting for updates!!!!

[riblet 0]

Have you checked the Embassy/USCIS Reviews? I'm pretty sure they had some helpful information in them when I looked - it's on the top toolbar or whatever the thingy is called

[girl 37 7]

I know Alot about interviews in Montreal, but not about Vancouver.. and since I'm going to Vancouver now.. I need help!!!

What time do I need to go?

Do they Issue the same day, my interview is on a Friday, can I fly home Friday afternoon?

Is there anything I need to bring other than what was listed in my package 3?

Thank you for your help

There's no point in getting there too early. Maybe get there 15-20 minutes before the scheduled time.

Visas are issued the same day, at 2 pm.

I don't think so, but I was there for a K-3, not K-1.

Good luck!

[Waiting in Vancouver 6]

Here is the review that I posted from my interview in Vancouver on June 9, 2006. I hope this helps ...

Review Topic: K1 Visa

As promised here are the details of my interview in Vancouver. I would like to apologize now for how long this posted ended up being. My fiancée tells me I can ramble on at times well I think this is one of those times.

First off I like to say that the whole experience going through Vancouver was excellent.

I left early from my house, as I wasn’t sure how bad traffic would be. It turned out that traffic was just fine so I ended up arriving 45 minutes early for my 10:00am appointment. I wandered around for about 15 minutes and decided to pop my head in the door of the consulate at about 9:30am. The security officer told me to come back in 15 minutes.

I returned at 9:45am and they told me to come in. At the first security check (yes first as there is another one on the 20th floor) I had to give them my passport and interview letter. They went through my folder with all of my paperwork in great detail to make sure I didn’t have anything dangerous. I suggest that people don’t do what I did and have all your evidence for on going relationship in individual zip lock bags as they opened up many of mine. When I was done with security, the one security officer took my passport and put it back in my folder. I asked if she could put it at the front compartment but I guess she didn’t hear me and tossed it in one of the middle ones. I was kind of ticked as I was trying to keep my folder very organized. Anyways I rubbed it off and proceeded up the stairs.

Once you go up the flight of stairs you go through the door and the next security officer asks you what type of Visa you are there for. I told him I was here for a K-1 Visa and he said for me to follow him. We got on the elevator and went up to 20th floor. Once you step out of the elevator you have to go through another security check. The officer asked me for my passport and interview letter so of course now I am fumbling through my folder to see where the other security officer put my passport and letter. I eventually find it (of course muttering to my self the whole time) and hand it to the officer. Once again they search through all of my zip lock bags again (did I mention that zip lock bags weren’t such a great idea ). They then brought me into a room and led down to the little section on the left side of the room where they put the K-1ers.

By this time it is about 10:10am. In total there were 3 of us for K-1 Visas. The first lady was called up at about 10:30am. I was called up at about 10:40am. The officer at the booth asked me for all of my paperwork. It really does help to be organized as she asks for each piece of paper. Once she is finished she hands me some papers and tells me to walk down the hall and at the end to pay the cashier my $100.00 US processing fee and to return to her with my receipt. The last couple was called up at about 10:50am. We were all completed this stage by 11:00am. We sat around talking and what not for the next 45 minutes.

The room they sit you in was very warm and jammed with people. At least the K-1ers get a little section off to the side. If possible I suggest that you dress light with a jacket that you can take off as all of us found it uncomfortably warm.

The first lady was called up at about 11:45am and she was finished with in 5 minutes. She came back with a smile on her face and said it was very simple and that she was approved. I was called up right after her and my interview was very short as well. The officer started with a little chit-chat then started with the interview. The questions were as follows:

1) How did the two of you meet

2) When was the first time you met in person.

3) How often do you visit each other

4) What made you two decided for you to move to the US rather your fiancée to move to Canada

5) How old are her kids

6) What do you do for a living

7) Do you have any pictures of the two of you

That was basically it for the interrogation. After some more chit-chat he said everything looks good and congratulations. He told me that I could return at 2:00pm to pick up my Visa. It was now 11:55am.

You exit out back in the direction that you went to pay the processing fee. Once you go through the door the security officers tell you to take the elevator down to the ground floor. Once I got down to the lobby I went down to the parking level to my car to get my cell phone so that I could call my fiancée at work and tell her the good news. Of course she was very happy and told her co-workers that I got the visa.

I walked down to Gastown to buy my fiancée a Vancouver Canada sweatshirt she had seen on her visit here in May. I walked back to the Consulate and had lunch and watched some of the soccer (football) game at the restaurant across from the Consulate. I returned to the Consulate at 2:00pm and went back through the two security checks and back up to the 20th floor to get my Visa. I was there for only 5 minutes and was called up to the window. The officer explained the details of the Visa (which I already knew because of the wonderful people here on VJ) and handed my passport back to me with the new Visa in it. He also handed me a brown envelope that I am to give to the officer when I enter the US at my POE.

It really was a breeze and I stressed way more about it then I should have. We are very relieved that this part of the process is over. It is now time to start sorting out what has to be done before I leave Canada. At least I still have about 6 weeks to deal with all of that.

We would both like to really thank all of the people of VJ because without all of your advice and information this part of the process would have been very hard. I know we will be seeking more help in the future as we approach the next stages. THANK YOU

[Jimmy the American 0]

Thank you! I didn't realize the reviews where there, should have figured!

Thanks everyone!!!

[Cristy 4]

Good luck! The only thing they wanted aside from what was on the checklist was photos.

And here is the review I posted.....

Well since I am going to be computerless for several days I thought I would do my interview post now.

I got to Vancouver 5:30 on Tuesday. Checked into my hotel. A couple of things about the Days Inn on W Pender. The restaurant is only open until 3 so if you are checking in late there is no food to be had. There is a pub next door with decent food though. The room was so small....seriously the size of a bedroom. But it was clean and comfortable.

I took a walk to the embassy to see where it was and then back to the hotel and crashed.

The next morning I left my bag with the front desk at 9:30 and walked to the embassy. It is less than 2 blocks away. Got there about 9:40. There were signs indicating times and small line ups. I saw a security guard standing outside and before I even got the words "I am here for a K visa interview" he was escorting me inside.

Everyone was really really friendly. They checked everything I had and I went through the metal detector. They wanted to see my passport and interview letter. Then headed up the stairs. The security guard at the top of the stairs sent me up the elevator to the 20th floor. He was the one exception to the friendly people....he snapped at one lady who stepped right and not left as the sign said.

Once upstairs there is another security check, same as down stairs. Then I was led into a room, the section where K visas wait is separate. I was told to go to window 2. Nobody was at window 2 so I waited. Another couple was brought in and the security guard asked if anyone was at window 2, I said no and he told me to sit and wait lol.

I got called up about 10:20

The lady at the window was really nice. We were joking how my one son was in love with Caseys daughter, when she got to his pic she said she bet it was him lol.

She asked for my stuff first, DS156 and 156K, birth cert original and copy, passport, medical and pictures.

Then she asked for each of my boys separately.

Just an FYI if you don't' have copies of things she will make them for you. I thought I lost one copy but I found it.

Here is the cool part..... my custody documents were the only thing I was worried about and they caused no problem at all. My oldest son shows supervised access, the twins don't have any access. And in between there was some criminal charges my ex faced, the conditions of release were no contact with any of us. So I brought those documents. No court order changing access, no letter from the father (don't know where he is).

After that I went down the hall to pay and brought her back my stamped papers and receipt.

The next people were called up once I was done. They were done by 10:45.

Then there was a delay. Computer issues....took forever! I felt so badly for the couple waiting for their K3, their little guy was so bored!

Finally about 11:30 they called her up for her interview.

I got called up about 11:45. The interview is at window 5, not in a room just at a window.

Now here is the part about all the evidence.....I needed almost none of it.

I did not need Caseys divorce papers, birth certificate (not copies or originals), I did not need the emails, cards, letters, phone records....none of it. He laughed at our affidavit of support and said an employer letter and tax return were more than enough.

He asked:

how we met

when we saw each other

why US not Canada

what he is like

if my kids are excited about having a NHL team and if I knew who Wayne Gretzky was lol (I told him the boys and Casey are all sports nuts and I just don't care so he had to see if I knew the Great One lol)

then he asked a bit about their father, and apologized for making me go through the information about him

The only thing he wanted to see was pictures of us together. That was it.

Was told to come back at 2 and get the visa. Simple as that. Was out by 12.

I went to the Marriott for lunch and made my phone calls.

When I went back at 2 I went through security but did not need to show any id. I was up and out in about 5 minutes.

It was all very painless and as I mentioned everyone there was really great.

So now I am finishing up around here and getting ready to leave this weekend!!!!

Special thanks to Waiting in Vancouver....I printed your review and took it with me for support lol.

Edited November 16, 2006 by whatchatalkinboutwillis