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| Vancouver, Canada |  Review on September 25, 2011: |
Aur0ra
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
The VJ website has been so helpful to read during my process - I thought I would contribute my experience and post my detailed review here. I hope this review helps many VJ’ers in the future!
As a side note - I live in Saskatchewan and my application was initially sent to Montreal by NVC. After many emails to both Consulates, about 3 weeks later my application arrived at Vancouver Consulate (they service K1s west of Manitoba). So for those of you K1s who want to t/f to Van - there is definitely a way if you live in the western provinces.
Within about 4 days of Vancouver receiving my application, I had scheduled the interview and done everything via email and online. They will email you all of the documents if you request this. My interview was scheduled within 2 weeks of receiving packet 4 via email. I was a little concerned that my medical was after my interview, but I did not want to wait until the end of October (which were the next openings), so I took the first available spot and scheduled my medical with Woking the same week.
Visa Interview - Mon Sept 19/11:
My appt was for 10am. I arrived at the consulate at 9:20am. There were already 40 people in line ahead of me. I went directly up to the officer to be registered and I was directed towards a few women in civilian clothing who were checking people’s names off on a list. I approached one of them with my name and passport and told her I was there for a K-1. She put me at the back of the line. Another man and his fiancee did the same; the woman organizing people shuffled us back and forth to different lines for about 15-20 minutes or so. It was somewhat disorganized.
After about 20 mins they moved us K1s to the “American Citizen” line and we were allowed to go through the door one by one. Once inside no electronics. I didn’t bring any more than my wallet and hotel room key (and my paperwork), so it was fine. My purse was completely checked, envelopes were opened, and so on. I passed through the first of 2 metal detectors. Once upstairs I waited to be escorted on a secure elevator with a security guard. There is very tight security in there, but you definitely don’t lose your way as there is always a security officer to direct you. They were very polite.
Once upstairs there is a waiting room with two sets of teller booths on either side of the waiting room. THey give you fairly clear instructions on which booth to stand in. They also hand you a paper asking you to present your documents in a specific order. Everything listed is the same (approx) as on the VJ Vancouver Consulate Info website. They definitely wanted both a letter from my fiance’s employer and the affidavit of support, so I was glad I had those ready. I had everything they needed except the medical. I was very quick to tell anyone who asked that my medical was on Wed and I would bring the results immediately over to the Consulate asap. This seemed to be acceptable to the officer.
I was sent back to the waiting room until my number was called again and I went up to a different consular officer who took my fingerprints and swore me in. He said I had everything in order; we discussed Santa Fe, NM a bit (casual conversation was great!) and he said everything looked fine and congratulations pending medical. He asked me to go back to the same window I was at previously and speak with a third officer.
The third officer rechecked my documents again and gave me a letter asking me return to the consulate Wed Sept 21 at 2pm. He stated that they have a staff training day that day so no interviews, but said I could still return. I needed to bring that letter, my passport, and my medical with me. He said if they gave me any trouble downstairs that all I needed to do was to tell them to contact them upstairs.
I was out of the Consulate by 10:30am.
Medical - Wed Sept 21/11:
I was glad I had a day in between my interview and medical to get some documents prepared. I had all of my immunizations but had forgotten a couple of things, which I tended to the previous day. Here is a list of documents that I brought for Woking(also on their website):
-passport
-photocopied ID page of passport
-any letter from U.S consulate with my name and case number
-immunization records (again check website for detailed, specific info...I needed to prove MMR, Tdap)
-bank draft for $350 CDN
I arrived at Woking at 5:45am and was the first one in line. People started to quickly file up behind me; I passed the time by chatting with a fellow K1 applicant and her family. At 6:15 the staff came to unlock the door and we all went inside to take the elevator upstairs. Once inside the waiting room area she unlocked reception and asked us to take a number. I got number 1 which was great since I was first in line downstairs. One of the family members of a fellow K1 took charge of the group and told everyone to get in their order they were in downstairs, so no one tried to sneak ahead of anyone else - that was great!
Next was filling out paperwork, syphilis blood test, chest xray, then physical examination. I was called last for my chest xray because they called us by our last name, not number. They called the first two numbers to go for exam while I was still having my chest xray. Instead of being the first one for exam I was number 2. This annoyed me slightly, but I did not completely lose my place in line, so I let it go. At least it meant no more waiting! I went straight from chest xray to exam room.
The physical exam was very quick. The female physician did do a breast exam but no pelvic. I got dressed to do ht, wt, and vision outside of the exam room. I paid by bank draft at the end of the medical and they told me to return between 1:15-1:30 for results. No red flags on the medical.
I was out of Woking by 8:06am.
Returning to Consulate:
My medical was ready at 1:30pm, although they started handing out completed medicals once the xray results started coming in at about 1pm. I quickly went to the Consulate and after seeing my letter to return at 2pm that day, they let me in immediately. The consular officer took everything and approved my application, we discussed the DHL process and that was it!
Done by 2:30pm. Flew back to SK that evening at 6:15pm.
Vancouver Lodging & Sights:
I had looked at the Days Inn and the Quality Inn, but both of those were booked. I found a deal on the Sandman Inn & Suites on Davie, so I used travel points to book the flight and hotel. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone - free wifi, full kitchen suite, and great location. Travel to the hotel was great - I took the skytrain directly from the airport to Vancouver City Center station. From there I took a cab to the hotel - I could have walked easily but I had luggage so a taxi was easiest. Taxi fare was only 7.50 and the skytrain ticket was the same. It was great for the return trip as well - a quick taxi ride and then back on the skytrain directly to the airport.
Overall great location - no car needed! I walked to the Consulate (15 mins) and Woking (5 mins); close to Stanley Park and great downtown Van restaurants. I walked from the Vancouver Aquarium to the hotel and it took me about an hour. Vancouver Aquarium and Stanley Park were highlights and the food in downtown Van is wonderful.
Time for Visa to Arrive:
I was notified by email that DHL had picked up my passport 2 business days after my interview. They said it would take about 1-2 days via courier.
I hope this review is helpful to everyone - I wish folks all the best in this process!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8389