Medical and Interview Day's. (Vancouver)

[Jauque 1]

So a person can have their medical only on a wednesday but I noticed that most interviews were done on Mondays or Tuesdays, does that mean a person gets there medical the wednesday prior to there interview and then gets their interview the following Monday or Tuesday? Or can you book an interview for a Thrusday or Friday.

[minnew 4]

So a person can have their medical only on a wednesday but I noticed that most interviews were done on Mondays or Tuesdays, does that mean a person gets there medical the wednesday prior to there interview and then gets their interview the following Monday or Tuesday? Or can you book an interview for a Thrusday or Friday.

I think they do interviews at the consulate every day of the week, except for 1 wednesday a month the consulate is closed for staff development. You can request a specific day or days of the week, whatever will work for you. I requested Tuesday or Thursday and a range of dates for May. Thursday is quite popular and might take you longer to get, because its the day after the medical if you have to travel to Vancouver for it all in a few days. People have also had an interview on a Wednesday, but it would have to be a 1pm appointment as your medical is in the morning.

[Jauque 1]

So a person can have their medical only on a wednesday but I noticed that most interviews were done on Mondays or Tuesdays, does that mean a person gets there medical the wednesday prior to there interview and then gets their interview the following Monday or Tuesday? Or can you book an interview for a Thrusday or Friday.

I think they do interviews at the consulate every day of the week, except for 1 wednesday a month the consulate is closed for staff development. You can request a specific day or days of the week, whatever will work for you. I requested Tuesday or Thursday and a range of dates for May. Thursday is quite popular and might take you longer to get, because its the day after the medical if you have to travel to Vancouver for it all in a few days. People have also had an interview on a Wednesday, but it would have to be a 1pm appointment as your medical is in the morning.

Thanks for the info. When is the medical over? I've google mapped it and realize they're quite close but I'll have my four year old daughter with me and her legs arn't that long. I don't want to take any chances but getting it all done in one day sounds awesome.

If I were to get a Tuesday interview appointment do you know if the consulate allows you to bring in the results of your medical the following day?

[Jauque 1]

And one other question, I know the interview fee is to be paid in advance in American dollars but what about the medical. Is the medical to be paid in American dollars and if so do they have a debit machine that accepts Canadian debit cards?

[minnew 4]

Thanks for the info. When is the medical over? I've google mapped it and realize they're quite close but I'll have my four year old daughter with me and her legs arn't that long. I don't want to take any chances but getting it all done in one day sounds awesome.

If I were to get a Tuesday interview appointment do you know if the consulate allows you to bring in the results of your medical the following day?

The medical was over for me by 8:30-9 am, sometimes if they are very busy it will take you the entire morning. The key is to get in line early, fill out the paperwork they give you and return it as fast as you can and as accurately as you can, you will then get a number for the order of people to be seen.

The medical clinic is really not too far from the consulate, I would say around 6 blocks or so. You can catch a bus to take you down Burrard, but really its probably quicker to walk.

The consulate give me letter of authorization to return with my medical results. When I picked up my Visa on Thursday, they did not give me a letter of authorization to return the prior day. LOL by that time the guards recognized me...OH and do not stand in the line up for Visa pickup. Those people pick up their Visa's in the lobby, K Visa's have to go through security and up to the 20th floor for pick up.

And one other question, I know the interview fee is to be paid in advance in American dollars but what about the medical. Is the medical to be paid in American dollars and if so do they have a debit machine that accepts Canadian debit cards?

The medical is paid in Canadian funds, they will only accept Cash or Money Order I believe.

Check out www.wokingmedical.com

[Jauque 1]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Information greatly appreciated.

I think I'm going to try for Wednesday then, that way barring any incidents or let downs we can be on the road by Thursday night!

[minnew 4]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Information greatly appreciated.

I think I'm going to try for Wednesday then, that way barring any incidents or let downs we can be on the road by Thursday night!

You are welcome! Any other questions feel free to ask!

Took me too long to edit....grrr!

Anyways as far as Wednesday goes, the clinic will not release your medical results until after 2:15 pm, even if your interview is at 1 pm. Depending on how much time you have after your interview you could go to pick up the results then and submit the results to the consulate the same day. I have no idea what the hours are for the clinic or the consulate. There was only 3 people being interviewed on a Tuesday, for 1 pm appt, ALOT of time was spent waiting!! I probably didn't have my interview until almost 2:45 and didn't leave the consulate until after 3 pm, I was the second person to be interviewed.

[TimandJoyce 1]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Information greatly appreciated.

I think I'm going to try for Wednesday then, that way barring any incidents or let downs we can be on the road by Thursday night!

If you schedule your interview for a Wednesday, and have your daughter with you, keep in mind, you should be at the medical center before 6:00 in the morning as your medical is at 6:30 and they take you in the order you arrive. There will probably be quite a few there that morning. You should be done by 8:00 or so.

The interview will be at 1:00 and will take a couple hours. The med results are ready by 2:00 so you can get them after the interview and bring them back to the consulate that day. You are probably going to need to find the bus schedule to save time from lots of walking. ( I estimate 10 to 15 minutes from the medical office to the consulate) The visa will be issued the next day.

I had my interview on Tues., the med on Wed., took my results back after 2:00 and left my passport with an xpress post envelope, (the large one) and left to go home that night. By doing so I only spent one night in Vancouver, instead of 2 or 3. And I had my visa by Friday.

[TimandJoyce 1]

I probably didn't have my interview until almost 2:45 and didn't leave the consulate until after 3 pm, I was the second person to be interviewed.

Wow, I was the third one in, two other ladies before me, and was there total time an hour and a half!

Also, didn't look like the other two came away from the window very happy. I'm guess maybe didn't have enough info?? The one girl was flushed, and she even left through the "not an exit" door! I was real nervous! But mine was a piece of cake, and she said approved pending medical!

[Jauque 1]

Also, didn't look like the other two came away from the window very happy. I'm guess maybe didn't have enough info?? The one girl was flushed, and she even left through the "not an exit" door! I was real nervous! But mine was a piece of cake, and she said approved pending medical!

Did you tell the embassy beforehand that it was your intention to have the interview before the medical or does the embassy just assume that some people will do this?

This is a bit of a silly question but I've spent my whole life in a very small town where nothing ever happens. Downtown Vancouver at 5/6 am, anybody run into any unsavoury circumstances or is it a fairly safe area.

[minnew 4]

Also, didn't look like the other two came away from the window very happy. I'm guess maybe didn't have enough info?? The one girl was flushed, and she even left through the "not an exit" door! I was real nervous! But mine was a piece of cake, and she said approved pending medical!

Did you tell the embassy beforehand that it was your intention to have the interview before the medical or does the embassy just assume that some people will do this?

This is a bit of a silly question but I've spent my whole life in a very small town where nothing ever happens. Downtown Vancouver at 5/6 am, anybody run into any unsavoury circumstances or is it a fairly safe area.

I just told them at the interview that I will complete it Wednesday and they were fine with that, gave me a letter of authorization to return.

Downtown Vancouver 5/6 am isn't too bad, but again just be careful, it is the big city, the clinic isn't far from the Hospital. My cousin who lives in Burnaby took me down W Hastings St in Chinatown, he called it the worst corner in North America, and let me tell you its something you see in the movies, you would think you were in LA, cop cars parked on either side of the side walk, people all over the place, prostitutes walking down the street, extremely run down businesses. My cousin works on W Hastings a block away from the cruise ship terminal, I would go and drop off my cell phone in his office and walk back to the consulate. Every time I walked past his office there was these 2 street kids, probably 12 or 13 sleeping in front of a little opening in front of the building.

Other than that Vancouver is a beautiful city, just be aware of your surroundings at all times.

[TimandJoyce 1]

Also, didn't look like the other two came away from the window very happy. I'm guess maybe didn't have enough info?? The one girl was flushed, and she even left through the "not an exit" door! I was real nervous! But mine was a piece of cake, and she said approved pending medical!

Did you tell the embassy beforehand that it was your intention to have the interview before the medical or does the embassy just assume that some people will do this?

This is a bit of a silly question but I've spent my whole life in a very small town where nothing ever happens. Downtown Vancouver at 5/6 am, anybody run into any unsavoury circumstances or is it a fairly safe area.

For myself, I had sent back the "check list" and waited to see the date they gave me, so I could make my medical. It turned out to be June 23rd, so I did email and ask what they preferred I do, and they said they were flexible, and to have the medical the next day was fine. Because the interview wasn't until 1:00, and I live on Vancouver Island, I was able to fly over in the morning, to the interview; stay over night, medical the next day, take results back after 2:00 and fly home that night. There are lots of places on Burrard and surrounding areas close to the Consulate and Medical. I stayed at the Hyatt Regency, but had got a GREAT deal from Travelzoo.

When you get there, get yourself a map. If you don't have anything else to do after your medical, walk down to Gastown. It's not that far, may 15-20 minutes. It's just a neat area for some shopping but they also have the spaghetti factory there, yum yum.

Also, as you are not allowed to bring bags, purses, electronic equipment, there is a little store directly across the street. It will have a Lotto and Passport sign in the window. They have bags to store your items, and price will go according to bag. I had a small purse type wallet and it was only $3 for them to keep it. The Starbucks won't because it's all part of the same building.

[minnew 4]

Also, didn't look like the other two came away from the window very happy. I'm guess maybe didn't have enough info?? The one girl was flushed, and she even left through the "not an exit" door! I was real nervous! But mine was a piece of cake, and she said approved pending medical!

Did you tell the embassy beforehand that it was your intention to have the interview before the medical or does the embassy just assume that some people will do this?

This is a bit of a silly question but I've spent my whole life in a very small town where nothing ever happens. Downtown Vancouver at 5/6 am, anybody run into any unsavoury circumstances or is it a fairly safe area.

For myself, I had sent back the "check list" and waited to see the date they gave me, so I could make my medical. It turned out to be June 23rd, so I did email and ask what they preferred I do, and they said they were flexible, and to have the medical the next day was fine. Because the interview wasn't until 1:00, and I live on Vancouver Island, I was able to fly over in the morning, to the interview; stay over night, medical the next day, take results back after 2:00 and fly home that night. There are lots of places on Burrard and surrounding areas close to the Consulate and Medical. I stayed at the Hyatt Regency, but had got a GREAT deal from Travelzoo.

When you get there, get yourself a map. If you don't have anything else to do after your medical, walk down to Gastown. It's not that far, may 15-20 minutes. It's just a neat area for some shopping but they also have the spaghetti factory there, yum yum.

Also, as you are not allowed to bring bags, purses, electronic equipment, there is a little store directly across the street. It will have a Lotto and Passport sign in the window. They have bags to store your items, and price will go according to bag. I had a small purse type wallet and it was only $3 for them to keep it. The Starbucks won't because it's all part of the same building.

Oh yes Gastown is neat to check out! After the medical I went down the street to a coffee shop and then walked down to False Creek took about 5 minutes or so and got on the Aquabus that cost $6 roundtrip and it took me over to Granville Island. There is some really neat shops and they do have somewhat of a Food Court as well, which is in the same building as their public market.

[Jauque 1]

Thanks for the great answers.

I have a cousin who lives on the island but I think the ferries are a good hour drive away from downtown so I won't be staying with her at least not the night before my medical or interview. I've been trying to find a good deal in the area on a hotel, checking orbitz every day but so far not so good. Honestly at this point though spending 200 on a hotel for the night is really just a drop in the bucket so I'll probablly jsut suck it up.

Thanks again you guys.

[Carlawarla 1]

Thanks for the great answers.

I have a cousin who lives on the island but I think the ferries are a good hour drive away from downtown so I won't be staying with her at least not the night before my medical or interview. I've been trying to find a good deal in the area on a hotel, checking orbitz every day but so far not so good. Honestly at this point though spending 200 on a hotel for the night is really just a drop in the bucket so I'll probablly jsut suck it up.

Thanks again you guys.

A lot of people here who travel to Vancouver go to priceline or is it hotwire? and seem to get great deals on hotels. You might want to check this out.