Vancouver Consulate to Answer Q's from VisaJourney.com

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

The Vancouver Consulate has agreed to take a list of questions from us regarding Family Based issues at their post (or in general). I am compiling a list of them to ask. If you have any I would love to add them. I need to send the list out by this Sunday so they have it Monday. I would like to limit it to possibly 7-8 solid questions, with about half coming from member feedback in this thread and the other half generated by VisaJourney.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

bump...

[trailmix 77]

bump...

I'll post a link to this post in the Canada forum, might have some questions there.

[childress_london 3]

Well, my case is unique I think. My husband is from Iran and is in Canada on a student visa and we got married there. I'm just wondering how difficult this will be for us since he is a citizen of another country, especially Iran? He has already been denied a visitor visa and a student visa to the U.S. supposedly based on insufficient proof that he would return to Canada or Iran. Will that effect the decision made on the K-3?

Thanks!

[TBoneTX 45,303]

"Under what conditions is it acceptable for a consulate to refuse to accept evidence brought to a K-1 interview, ORDER the U.S. fiance to appear in person for a 'joint' interview, and submit the couple to a Stokes interview instead of the stated 'joint' interview?"

[angie007 0]

Well, my case is unique I think. My husband is from Iran and is in Canada on a student visa and we got married there. I'm just wondering how difficult this will be for us since he is a citizen of another country, especially Iran? He has already been denied a visitor visa and a student visa to the U.S. supposedly based on insufficient proof that he would return to Canada or Iran. Will that effect the decision made on the K-3?

Thanks!

if he is a student,as long a he has a student permit for at least 6 months prior to moving to States he should be fine....I read that somewhere before I am still looking for the link ..I can't remember...

Edited February 1, 2009 by angie007

[childress_london 3]

Well, my case is unique I think. My husband is from Iran and is in Canada on a student visa and we got married there. I'm just wondering how difficult this will be for us since he is a citizen of another country, especially Iran? He has already been denied a visitor visa and a student visa to the U.S. supposedly based on insufficient proof that he would return to Canada or Iran. Will that effect the decision made on the K-3?

Thanks!

if he is a student,as long a he has a student permit for at least 6 months prior to moving to States he should be fine....I read that somewhere before I am still looking for the link ..I can't remember...

Yes his student visa is good for another year or two and he just got a work permit, so no worries there. I'm just wondering how the consulate will look at him being Iranian and not Canadian. He's already been discriminated against.

[trailmix 77]

I would like to know if there if there are any plans for the Vancouver consulate to start having interviews for CR1 and IR1 applicants in Canada, instead of only interviewing K1 and K3 applicants.

Also, are there any plans to add more panel physicians in Canada. There were around 10 prior to October of last year and that number is now 4 for the entire country.

Can someone explain how interviews are set. Is any priority given to a CR1/IR1 applicant over say a K1 or K3 applicant or vice versa?

With regard to scheduling a CR1/IR1 interview, when the file has been completed at NVC - what determines the order people are scheduled - is it purely based on who finishes the process at NVC first?

Thanks!

[trailmix 77]

I think this one might be a good question too, with regard to the DS-160 (taken from the Canada K1 interview thread) - hope the original poster doesn't mind me using their post

I'm in the middle of helping my fiance do the DS160, and we aren't sure what to put in the question about travel. It asks how long he plans to stay in the US.....there is no forever option, lol. What did you all put down???

So I guess the question is, what should they enter here?

Edited February 1, 2009 by trailmix

[vanee 13]

I had my K-1 interview at the Vancouver consulate. Some questions I've seen asked and answered about them:

• Can I bring my fiance with me?
• Where can I leave my cell phone or camera? (I think the coffee shop across the street will hold them for a fee.)
• What is the minimum time after I receive my packet 4 (or whatever they call it) until my interview date?
• What days are interviews held? (E.g., Tuesdays and Fridays, only on Wednesdays, every business day)
• Is it possible to change the interview date if necessary?
• Can I pick up my visa on the same day as the interview if I'm from out of town?
• What times are interviews and visa pickup times? (for people planning transportation to/from the interview)
• Do I need to bring my chest X-ray? (The answer is no, but someone brought theirs on the day I was interviewed.)

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Sent to the consulate representative we have been speaking to:

-What are the most common mistakes / deficiencies in petitions that lead to

delays or increase the difficulty in processing the case by the consulate?

-What is the proper way to petition a decision by the Consulate if a case

is denied?

-Are there are any plans for the Vancouver consulate to start having

interviews for CR1 and IR1 Visa applicants (instead of only interviewing K1

and K3 Visa Applicants)?

-Are there any plans to add more panel physicians in Canada? There were

around 10 prior to October of 2008 and that number is now as low as four.

-Under what conditions is it acceptable for a consulate to refuse to accept

evidence brought to a K-1 interview, order the U.S. fiancé to appear in

person for a 'joint' interview, and submit the couple to a Stokes interview

instead of the stated 'joint' interview?

-With regard to scheduling a CR1/IR1 Visa interview, when the file has been

completed at the NVC what determines the order people are scheduled? Is the

interview order purely based on the order cases are processed at the NVC or

are there potential delays at the consulate that may affect some cases and

not others?

-Are there procedures in place to allow "same day" issuance of visas (as

the interview) if approved? If so what circumstances would merit this

expedited processing?

-How has the deployment of the "electronic DS-160" gone thus far in terms

of streamlining processing and reducing entry errors by petitioners? Are

there any tips that you would like to give regarding common errors in

completing the form? When do you believe that the DS-160 will become

common place at consulates elsewhere around the globe?

-What is the best way (and when) for petitioners to request "original

documents" back that were submitted as evidence?

-Are there any tips that you may have for petitioners at your consulate

that you would like us to distribute?

[TBoneTX 45,303]

Sent to the consulate representative we have been speaking to: [clip]

Excellent, Admiral -- thanks, si man! How & where do you plan to post the answers, and when is the consular rep supposed to reply? Also, what percentage of reliance will we be able to place on the answers?

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

I will let you know those answers once I get a response. The person I was dealing with is in the press relations and is sending the information to the consulate officer(s).

[trailmix 77]

I will let you know those answers once I get a response. The person I was dealing with is in the press relations and is sending the information to the consulate officer(s).

I know the consulates are slow, but