Consulate Review: Vancouver, Canada
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
May 13, 2014 |
| Embassy Review : |
Since it seems that reviews of the Vancouver consolate are few and far between, I figured I'd add a verbose description of our experience.
First, the timing here... our interview was at 10am. I had read that you can line up about a half hour before, so our goal was to be in line by 9:30. As our hotel was about a half hour drive away under good conditions, we had a goal of leaving the hotel by 8am, to give us plenty of time to make it there, find a parking spot, and hopefully have some time to kill. We actually ended up getting out a bit after 8, and arrived in time to park, find a restroom, and get in line perfectly at the right time.
A couple of notes: We visited the area a couple of days earlier. This is recommended as the door into the consolate is kinda in a weird spot, and parking downtown can be challenging. This helped us greatly as we had a game plan and was familiar with the area before showing up.
The other note to be aware of is that they are pretty picky about what they let in. There's a list on the consolate site. Cell phones are a big no-no, and pretty much anything electronic including battery powered watches and key fobs are on the not permitted list. They do appear to have lockers to store a limited number of these in a little room, but it also seemed like they were turning people away with certain items. We had to laugh about the people showing up with backpacks and being told to take them back to the car.
Which brings us to the lineup process. We got in line, and a person came by to ask for the printout of the online visa application confirmation. They added a mark that they had reviewed it and indicated that we could stay in line. People with later interviews were asked to get out of line until it was their turn. We then went through two separate security checks before getting in the building, each with a line. We had a bit of a snag at the second check because the person who had marked the application had for whatever reason had not put a +1 mark on the application, to indicate that I, as the US citizen was accompanying my fiance - so we had to quickly get that person to mark the +1 which wasn't a problem, although they did let us know at that point that the interviewer might ask me to leave since it varied from officer to officer. (More about this later).
The security was *very* throurough. Before getting in the building, we had all of our papers gone through page by page twice, and the electronic car key got a very thourough going over. Since I'm self employed we brought a lot of extra paperwork just in case (which they ended up not needing), so it took a bit of time.
After the two outdoor security checks, we were sent inside in small groups. You basically go in a door, up some stairs, through a metal detector, and all of your stuff is inspected again. Think airport security on steroids. Really, if you don't absolutely need it with you, don't bring it. We went through with no problems. Others had issues just because they brought stuff they didn't really need - trust me you can survive without the cell phone for a while.
After the security, you queue up to get in the elevator to go up to the floor where the interviews are. There's a restroom there BEFORE you get on the elevator. If you think you might want one in the next hour or so, USE IT. Once you go up the elevator a restroom break is not an option.
After both of us spent some time in the restroom, we were escorted upstairs via elevator. Up until this point, we didn't realize that most of the people were there for other types of visas. When we got upstairs most everyone else was directed to the waiting room until their number was called. We were reminded that we had been given a card which told us to go to an assigned window, flip a switch and wait. A minute or so later a nice lady came and told us that we were her first K-1 applicants for the day. She obtained my Fiance's file, and then went through a checklisk and asked for everything that was missing from the file. This was most, but not all, of the things on the Packet 3 checklist. I think the only thing she didn't take was the copy of my (the US Citizen's) divorce decree, and some of the original forms from INS. She did take both of our letters of intent and it seems there's some confusion whether you need one or both of them. Just bring both and be done with it, as they seem to want both. After she had everything she wanted she had us sit down in the waiting room for a few minutes while she was entering all of the data. Once she was done, she gave us a number (just like everyone outside had gotten), and then we had to wait until our number was called.
A couple of notes here: First, while we were waiting, another K-visa applicant came in and went to the window. She was not nearly as prepared. She was missing translations of her birth certificate, and it apparently wasn't really a birth certificate at all, but instead a certified copy of a family record with her and all her siblings on it. Sounded like there were other issues with her application as well. All things which could have been avoided. My advice: read read read and read some more. Make sure you're over prepared with everything you think they might want. If there's two interpretations to something, bring both. We brought a lot of stuff we didn't need, but we sure didn't have any problems as a result. We also roughly organized the items in the order as they appeared on the checklist. In the end she was given a number too, but told that it would be up to the interviewer whether or not they would accept the paperwork which she provided. Don't know whether she got approved or not as we weren't there that long.
The other note was that there was a LOT of tourist/visitor visas being processed. And they seem to go pretty quickly, so even a dozen or more people in line ahead of you won't make you wait all that long, although of course it's always longer than you want. After a bit of a wait it was our turn as our number was called.
Being prepared for the interviewer not wanting me there I sort of sheepishly accompanied my fiance to the window. When we got there, my fiance handed in her number and at the same time I said, I was the US citizen and asked if it was ok if I was there. The interviewer said that for these visas they actually like to see the US citizen as well. He then pulled the file and started going through it. He did a very thorough read of the file, and started asking questions. Basically to verify the items in the file - probably to catch people who were trying to enter on a forged identity. None of the questions were hard. Things like birthdate and place (although I'm not sure that was specifically asked). In essence, nothing that is going to be a problem or trip you up if you're not attempting to fraudulently obtain a visa. Throughout this process he checked the copies we had provided and handed our originals back.
After he had looked at the file, he grabbed an envelope which contained the photos that we had submitted with the original visa application back in november. He looked at those, and then asked us some questions about our relationship. How we had met. Where we both live. How far of a drive it is (since we had indicated that we had been visiting each other regularly). What we like about each other, and so on. They never asked for any additional proof of a relationship beyond what we had provided earlier, even though we had that with us. I got the distinct feeling that the reason they like the US citizen being there is that it's pretty easy to tell whether there's an ongoing relationship when there is one... But I also wouldn't completely worry if the US citizen can't attend the interview, as I got the distinct impression that they really want to approve these for genuine applicants. Never did we get grilled, or 'interrogated' or the like. If you think about it more like a conversation with someone who really wants to approve you if he can, then you'll get the picture of how our interview went. If you're being honest in your application and make sure you're complete and throughough in the process you shouldn't have any problem.
After he had completed the interview was apparently satisfied with the entire application, he gave us the good news - K1 visa approved. He spent some time letting us know that it would take 2-3 days to get us the visa, and let us know that my fiance *could* enter the US without using the K1 visa, but she needed to be VERY verbose at the port of entry that she was just entering as a visitor, and NOT using her K1, and a few other items. He then sent us back to the original window where the same very nice lady repeated the good news about her still being able to cross as a visitor before using the K1, and a few other things such as more details about the courier delivery and the like.
Once we had all of our questions answered, we were able to leave and go celebrate. Since it was around lunchtime, we found a nice spot to eat, and then wandered around the area and enjoyed the fact that phase one was over.
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| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0