Questions about the Vancouver Consulate.

[Articgirl 3]

Hi there... It seems based on current CSC processing that we might see an N0A2 in the not too distant future. I have a few questions:

1) How long did it take (recently) for Vancouver to receive your papers after you received notice that your N0A2 had been granted?

2) I've been told on the forum scheduling of the interview is quite fast in Vancouver.. one poster said 3 days. Does anybody else have thoughts on this?

3) In Vancouver how long does it generally take from your interview to receiving your visa, assuming all goes well?

4) I can't get my vaccination records. They don't exist in the Alberta system. How is this dealt with?

5) Does my 17 year old daughter need a criminal background check?? (I have her vaccination records.)

6) What is the "general" total time between N0A2 and receiving your Visa if Vancouver is your consulate?

My daughter has an athletic scholarship waiting for her if I can get my visa approved by August. When we applied in November that seemed likely. Not it seems really stressful.

Thank you for your help. Sorry for all the questions.

[VeeNDee 44]

#1 - Took them 10 days from NOA2 to Consulate receive for me (if you look at my timeline you can see it in more detail)

#2 - I think it varies and you won't really know until you can book one unless you run into someone who's done it recently. It is definitely a LOT faster than Montreal so hooray!

#3 - It took me 10 days to get my visa, BUT it was ready before that but no one let me know coz the tracking status kept saying 'undeliverable' - I made a post about that awhile ago. I think it's probably ready in just a few days after the interview. If it takes longer you could phone the location to ask if it's available or the service number with your tracking information to explain what is happening.

#4 - I couldn't get my vaccination records from BC since they didn't save them past a certain year (I think it was maybe 10 or 15 years and then they burned them - go figure). What you need to do is make sure you have the needed vaccinations before you go to the medical. You can find out what vaccinations you need from the doctor's website. If you go through the doctor in BC, his website is: http://www.drcheema.ca/

Click on the 'USA immigration medical exam' link at the top and scroll down till you find the age category you fit in and what is required. Some of the vaccinations you can check if you have had through blood tests called 'titers' and others you may need to get. I needed to get a new shot of Tdap (Tetanus, diptheria, pertussis) because when I went it had to be taken within the previous year or two or something like that, even though I'd had it as a child.

#5 - Can't answer that one for you

#6 - Faster than Montreal... I can't say exactly since I tried to make mine take a bit longer due to timing of moving. For example we put together "Packet 3" after we got the information instead of mailing it back the same day to extend it a week or so. We didn't pick the first interview date available either. Perhaps someone else can be of more help

[Articgirl 3]

#1 - Took them 10 days from NOA2 to Consulate receive for me (if you look at my timeline you can see it in more detail)

#2 - I think it varies and you won't really know until you can book one unless you run into someone who's done it recently. It is definitely a LOT faster than Montreal so hooray!

#3 - It took me 10 days to get my visa, BUT it was ready before that but no one let me know coz the tracking status kept saying 'undeliverable' - I made a post about that awhile ago. I think it's probably ready in just a few days after the interview. If it takes longer you could phone the location to ask if it's available or the service number with your tracking information to explain what is happening.

#4 - I couldn't get my vaccination records from BC since they didn't save them past a certain year (I think it was maybe 10 or 15 years and then they burned them - go figure). What you need to do is make sure you have the needed vaccinations before you go to the medical. You can find out what vaccinations you need from the doctor's website. If you go through the doctor in BC, his website is: http://www.drcheema.ca/

Click on the 'USA immigration medical exam' link at the top and scroll down till you find the age category you fit in and what is required. Some of the vaccinations you can check if you have had through blood tests called 'titers' and others you may need to get. I needed to get a new shot of Tdap (Tetanus, diptheria, pertussis) because when I went it had to be taken within the previous year or two or something like that, even though I'd had it as a child.

#5 - Can't answer that one for you

#6 - Faster than Montreal... I can't say exactly since I tried to make mine take a bit longer due to timing of moving. For example we put together "Packet 3" after we got the information instead of mailing it back the same day to extend it a week or so. We didn't pick the first interview date available either. Perhaps someone else can be of more help

THANK YOU! This is very helpful. One more question... did you stay in Vancouver to get your Visa or did they mail it to you? I live about 12 hours away and am in the sam boat as you. The vaccination stuff has me worried. I will get some blood work done to see what can be proven from that. You are wonderful! THANK YOU! It seems like it might not be 3 months to finish after NOA2 if I'm ready. I hope not. THANK YOU!

[VeeNDee 44]

THANK YOU! This is very helpful. One more question... did you stay in Vancouver to get your Visa or did they mail it to you? I live about 12 hours away and am in the sam boat as you. The vaccination stuff has me worried. I will get some blood work done to see what can be proven from that. You are wonderful! THANK YOU! It seems like it might not be 3 months to finish after NOA2 if I'm ready. I hope not. THANK YOU!

I live near Vancouver so I didn't have to leave but I had a choice of which location to pick up my visa from. You pick the delivery location when you are on the visa site scheduling your interview. I know I could pick between Richmond and Burnaby and at least one other place by Vancouver. I am not sure what the other options were since I wasn't thinking about that at the time-sorry

[hikergirl 277]

Your 17 year will need a Police Check.

My 18 year old ended up needed another Meningitis vaccination because the one she got in AB only had C and the one from BC had only A&C. The Dr’s website said it had to cover all 4 strains. Got it done at a AB Health travel clinic for $120 or so.

I had to get a Dtap and that was free. I took the list from the Dr’s website to the travel clinic and she verified from my vaccination records (I started keeping records of my booster when my daughter was little so I have all my adult records at home) what was needed for me and my kid.

They did my blood test for chicken pox immunity there as well, so I think you should be able to get your blood titres from them.

Edited April 30, 2013 by hikergirl

[helloagain007 2]

The waiting time for a K1 interview in Vancouver is 2 days. Most of the other visa appointments were 2 days as well. I booked mine last week.

You can have your Visa stamped passport couriered to you if you don't want to pick it up.