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| Vancouver, Canada |  Review on June 4, 2010: |
Erin and Mike
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I don't live in Vancouver so I had booked my medical exam the same day as my interview. My medical was scheduled for 6:30am June 2 and my interview was at 1pm. Apparently this particular medical centre only schedules immigration exams on Wednesdays. So I lucked out with my interview being on the same day.
I arrived at the medical centre at 6:15am and the doors were locked, someone had to come open them for me. There is alot of waiting around at throughout the day, so this is only the beginning. You have to go up to the second floor, but make sure you try to be at the front of the elevator doors so you can get a good number. I was number 22 and this number I was stuck with the rest of the medical exam. Firstly you have to fill out some papers, next you go for your blood test. Of course you have to wait until your number is called so there's more waiting. The blood test was probably the worst part. You're sitting next to everyone else that's getting their blood test done and it's not very pleasant. Next you go for your x-rays. This is very simple, change into a little medical shirt and wait in like to get x-rayed. Simple. Next is the physical exam. This part took the longest. You're waiting hours for your number to be called (if you're number is a big number like mine, 22). The physical exam is very easy, you strip down to your underwear and a physician checks you out. There is no internal exam. After the medical exam you can return after 2 to pick up your results. For the medical exam you need to bring: your passport, letter from the consulate, copy of your identity page from you passport, immunization records (make sure to get your shots).
My interview was at 1pm so I arrived at 12:45 and I was third in line. You go through security, make sure you have your passport and letter from the consulate to show the security guards. Don't bring any electronics or else they won't let you in. If you do forget (like my fiance) you can leave your electronics across the street where they take passport photos. It costs $5 to leave you stuff there, but worth it. Next you get escorted to the 20th floor into a waiting room. You wait to be called to a window and this is where you give them all the documents from the checklist from packet 3. It doesn't say on the checklist to bring a copy of your birth certificate, but you need one. So bring a copy. This person was very nice and it was easy. Next was the finger printing. You simply wait until your name is called to go to another window to get your finger prints done. After the finger printing you wait for a long time again. This is when I zipped over to the medical centre to pick up my medical results. I had to take a taxi as I wasn't from Vancouver so it might be difficult to find a taxi. I lucked out after about 10 mins of looking for one. I had him wait for me to run in and out. Once I arrived back at the interview I had to go through security again. Make sure you have a second piece of photo ID on you because you've already given your passport to the officer at the first window. And you need ID to go though security along with your letter again. Once you're escorted back up to the 20th floor you can wait until you're called for the interview. Once I was called my fiance and I went up to another window where a very nice man was waiting for me with a very nice welcoming smile. The interview was the easiest part. The interviewer was very kind and very understanding. I've been refused entry into America in the past and was worried that might affect my approval. He did ask me about it and I told him the truth. I simply didn't know about the fiance visa and I was spending too much time in America without the proper paperwork. The interviewer made a little joke about how could I not be spending alot of time in America when my finace is there. He was very personable and asked very simple questions about my relationship and he spoke a little about himself. He approved me within 5 mins and told me to go wait in the waiting room again. I was called back to the first window and that's when I was told how I would receive my visa. If you are not from Vancouver and wish to have your visa sent to you, you need to bring an extra larger prepaid Xpresspost envelope with you. They send you a very large package with your visa, so be sure it's not the letter size envelope, bring the extra large one. After that it's done!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #6165