|
|
| Vancouver, Canada |  Review on September 13, 2011: |
kathump
Rating:  | Review Topic: General Review
My visit to the Vancouver Consulate was to file a Consular Report of Birth Abroad for my 2-yr old.
Our appointment was for 8:30, we arrived at the consulate around 8:15. There were maybe 30 people in the visa line, but not a single person in the US Citizen services line, so we were called in to security right away. We made sure not to take any electronics or have anything in our pockets. I only had a small bag to carry paperwork and ID and a few books and crayons for my daughter. The first guard went through my paperwork and made me go outside to open up my school transcripts. He then stamped them "Inspected" and handed me my bag and paperwork back. After being wanded, my husband, my daughter and I were directed upstairs where my bag was sent through an x-ray machine, and then to an elevator where another guard immediately took us up to the 20th floor. Once there, we were sent to window 11 to check in and recieve our number. We sat and waited for maybe 10 minutes and then were called to window 7. The man at the counter asked me for our applications (CRBA, Passport and SSN for my daughter) and then the supporting documents. I was shocked (and disappointed!!) to learn that I did not have the acceptable form of our marriage certificate. Seeing my reaction, the man said, "No big deal, we will take everything else and you can mail it in." I was then directed to the cashier's window to pay our fees. I returned to window 7, presented my receipt and he went over some more of the paperwork with me. I was then instructed to take a seat until my number was called again. About 30 minutes later, we were called to window 8. My 2 year old was getting a bit fussy (and noisy) at this point and my husband, who was trying to pick her up, did not hear what the lady behind the counter said. To be honest, I didn't really hear all of it, but I understood that she was saying something like, "By signing these documents, you swear all the information is true...." My husband said, "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" The woman literally SCREAMED out her statement again!! Everyone near us, even her co-workers, all fell silent and just looked at her. I was quite shocked and really have no idea why she reacted that way. She seemed to recover from whatever her problem was and quickly had us sign the papers and then told my husband he could sit down with our daughter. She then returned all of my originals and then gave me a slip of paper stating what I needed to mail in, and instructions for addressing the envelope. She also gave me a sheet of paper that stated where I could obtain my Birth Certificate in Nevada. I wanted to point out that it was my marriage certificate I needed to obtain from Clark County, Nevada but I thought maybe I shouldn't push it. She then pointed out the exit and turned from the window.
I think we got out of there right around 10. Up until the lady at window 8, everyone had been fairly pleasant, if not friendly and the wait time wasn't horrible. I'm glad it's over and I won't have to return to submit our marriage certificate!
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8299