Consulate Review: Vancouver, Canada
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
April 1, 2012 |
| Embassy Review : |
Arrived Vancouver afternoon Tuesday March 20th, 2012. Horrific drive from Kelowna to Vancouver. Took the Connector and Coquihalla - high mountain passes. Severe winter weather ground traffic to a complete stop for 2 hours while highways sorted out plows and graders. Stayed at the Burrard Inn - 1/2 block from Woking Medical and 15 minute walk to US Consulate. Smaller boutique style hotel. Our room was recently renovated. Clean, quiet, very helpful staff, on site parking. Elevator broken and we were on 3rd floor. Long day.
btw I booked appointment on-line for US Consulate. At first I booked for February as my Fiance was in town and we thought it would be good to go together, but I had sent my passports (for my daughter and myself) away to be renewed. I was worried about having "at least 6 months validity" and they were expiring in October. Anyways, passports didn't make it back in time. Rescheduled for March appointment. Paid the US Consulate fees on-line as well. btw booked 2 appointments, paid 2 fees for my daughter (16) and myself.
I just wanted to say that the Vancouver consulate ROCKS ! After booking my appointment, I had some quick questions, which I emailed to them, and they always answered the same day, sometimes within a couple of hours. For instance, when my passports arrived, we had NEW passport numbers. I didn't anticipate that. I thought they would be the same numbers but different issue and expiry dates. My worry was that USCIS had old passport numbers AND US consulate had the old passport numbers because I gave them the OLD numbers. I emailed them and they said "no worries" bring new passports to interview. I brought old and new, but there really was no worries !! They are PROS !
Woking Medical: Wednesday March21st. Arrived at concrete ramp with metal gate at 6:00am. One family of four, and one single lady in front of my daughter and myself. By 6:20 there were approx 24 people in line. Two ladies arrived to unlock gate and lead us in to building foyer. They asked us to stay in same order as we were outside. The group took two separate elevators to get up to 2nd floor. Ladies came out again within 10 minutes to give general group instructions. Everyone lined up same order and picked up plastic number (one for each family member), signed in (attendance) and were given papers to sign/fill in. Handed in appointment letter, proof of vaccines, passports (keep photocopy of passports X2), photos and sat in large central waiting room. We each had to fill in separate forms - one set for me, one set for daughter. When done go to desk to hand in. Proceed to blood lab - down hall and two sets of doors. Nobody at lab yet - doors locked. Lab tech arrives and open doors. Each person take paper number and sit in second waiting room. Some budding occurs here but doesn't matter at this stage and karma always gets budders ! Wait until number called. Hand in one photocopy as ID for blood work. Blood taken. Done. Go back thru two doors to central waiting area. Waiting for xray - not open yet. When they open they called alphabetical I think. When name called hand in second photocopy for xray and follow tech to change room. Daughter and I in one room. Strip above waist and put thin gown on. We left clothes in room but took any valuables - we did not wear any necklaces, earrings ok. Wait in hallway - guys and gals. Gals a little uncomfortable as gowns are thin. Xray tech calls you in. You face a flat screen, chest touching glass, arms on hips, elbows reaching forward, draw in large breath and freeze while he snaps pic. All done. Go get changed.
Back to central waiting area to wait for Doctor exam. They give you back your original passport and vaccine record. Once called in, strip to panties (under 30 ok keep bra on), wait on exam table with paper sheet to cover. Female doc checks eyes, ears, throat, arms, front of neck, back of neck, back, listen to heart and breathing, breast exam, abdominal exam, legs, feet, stand up, walk to corner, bend to touch toes, blood pressure. I have hypo thyroid and took note from my doctor saying what prescription and stable. Done. Get dressed. In hall lady meets you to record your height and weight and eye exam - stand on line, cover one eye and read tiny letters on wall poster. Then pay with money order - one for both of us ($700) is ok. Started at 6:30 - done by 8:30. Breakfast in small diner and nap time. Instructed to return to the second floor by 1:15 to pick up results. They seemed oddly disorganized for some reason. No explanation, just observation. Results apparently weren't ready and we had to wait until at least 2:15. We were handed SEALED envelope -DO NOT OPEN - this is for your US Consulate appt. and a separate unsealed envelope for our records (containing our xray disk). Overall 4 out of 5.
US Consulate Vancouver - Thursday March 22 - 10:00 appt. Walked. Arrived at 9:30. Line up of 50+ people. There seemed to be two lines with a greeter near the door on the right side of building. Approached greeter to advise her we were in the line and had appt for K1/K2 Visa. At first she snapped at me to get to the back of the line. Based on what I read on Visa Journey I persisted to ensure she heard that I had K1 Visa appt. She snapped that I was on the wrong side of the line queue. I persisted gently and said I just wanted the right dept to know that I was there and I would return to line. She agreed to look on her "appointment list". She has a tiny podium type table with her list, her phone, all her supplies were falling everywhere. She called upstairs and put my daughter and I in a separate holding area, still outside building in front of the other glaring 50+ people. We waited 10-15 min to get called thru security screening. Take off jackets, belts, he asked about watches. Everyone asks about electronics - DON'T TAKE ANY !! Our paper were in folders inside plastic bags. Everything went thru scanner and we walked thru body scanner. I took everything out of pockets - money, change, keys, sunglasses, ID, and put in trays. We left our hotel room electronic keys at the hotel front desk. No trouble. Picked up out belongings and proceeded up the stairs to an elevator lobby. Guard meets you and puts you on elevator. When elevator opens you are greeted by another guard who unlocks a door and directs you either left or right depending on your application. We went left and went to window B. Light switch needs to be switched and then admin staff come to the window. She asks you for your docs and your photocopies. Follow the Visa guides. In my case I had worried about documentation for my 16yr old daughter. I had Divorce Certificate, original divorce order and separation agreement detailing that I had sold custody and residency of my kids for the past 10 years. She read the applicable paragraphs and that was it. No worries. She worked off a checklist and opened the Woking envelopes in front of us. Interesting. She looked very quickly thru docs for specific check marks indicating no health issues. I had everything I needed. She was very fast and efficient and friendly and professional. The only thing I didn't have was a statement that my 20 year old son was not accompanying me and not following me into the US. She gave me a piece of paper and told me what to write. Gave us a number and we sat in waiting area. Next, we were called for fingerprints. Done. Sit in waiting area. Number called and went to opposite side for interview. Blonde man, late 30, early 40. Swears you in after asking you if swearing an oath is OK with you. Done. Asked general questions "explain to me how you go from meeting on-line to getting engaged", where does your Fiance live. how do you get there, where does he work, any wedding plans, daughter: what grade you in, what school you attend now, what school will you attend to finish high school....He asked, he typed our answers, he said "looks good, and will approve" I thought there was more and so he said I was approved again and congratulations on wedding. He told us to sit again and we would be called by name to window B for final instructions. Admin lady told us we must enter within 6 months. Must marry within 90 days of enter. Must not leave OR ELSE. If we wish to visit only, we must advise border we do not want to activate Visa as we are planning to return to Canada after our visit. Only when we are entering permanently should we activate Visa. All personal belongings are allowed except for normal restrictions on plants, food, etc. Pets - you must follow State and Fed guidelines. Passports are held at the consulate and couriered via DHL / Loomis (you tell them which pick up location when you originally booked your consulate appt). You paid on-line so you don't pay anything when you are there in person. She advised that once in the US you may NOT leave unless you have document IN HAND - after Adjustment of Status or applying for Advance Parole. Follow the exit signs and peace out. Hug your daughter (or whoever) and breathe !! You did it !! Congrats.
I repeat the Vancouver US Consulate R O C K S !!!javascript:emoticon(' ')
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| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0