Vancouver K3 review

[misa 2]

I posted this in the embassy section:

Interview was scheduled for March 19th at 10 a.m.

Got to the consulate at 9:30 a.m. and the entrance is sort of hidden along the side of a building. I was expecting a big U.S. flag but there wasn't any. There was a line up there with visa appointment times so we stood in the 10 a.m. line since there was no security guard outside yet. When she came out she asked if anyone was there for K visas and she fast tracked us.

First security checkpoint they looked at the interview date letter, looked through the accordian folder and then was told to go upstairs. One flight of stairs and there was another security guard who looked at the letter (initialed by the first checkpoint), let us in the elevator and used her security to get us to the 20th floor.

At the 20th floor there was another checkpoint and they went through everything again and then we were led to the "K" section that is to the left of the waiting room. The K section consisted of 4 blue chairs right by a row of windows. We were the first K applicants to get there. Soon 2 others joined us.

The window finally opened at 10 and since I was the first to get there, she dealt with me first. She asked me for my paperwork and asked me a few questions at the same time (e.g., have you or your husband every been married, etc.). When she got to the medical, she opened it and frowned because the doctor forgot to check off some things! She told me she'd need to get them to fax something to her and hopefully it wouldn't delay my processing. She went off to call them and I could hear her leaving them a very terse and long message. Then she told me to go to the cashier and pay my $100 USD and come back.

By the time I got back she had already received the fax from them thankfully and she called up the next person. When the 3rd person was done she told us to go to get our fingerprints done (just 1 index finger on each hand), then we came back and waited.

Then I was instructed to go to the last window for my interview. The CO was extremely nice and pleasant and the questions were phrased more like a conversation even though I know they were asking to find out if we were telling the truth:

- how did you meet

- when did you meet

- what attracted you to each other

- some general questions about the message board we met on

- what do you do for a living (to my husband)

- what do you do in Canada for a living

And then it was over just like that. He said it was a straightforward case and to come back at 2 p.m. to pick up the visa. I asked if I needed any papers and he said no, just come back at 2 p.m. (it was 11 a.m. at that time)

We were relieved but I wasn't going to relax until I got that visa in hand! So we killed a few hours, came back at 2, was given my passport with my visa, an instruction sheet and the sealed white envelope.

And that was it! Yay!

Crossed the border a few days later on March 23, 2007 and that was a breeze too. My POE review is in my timeline.

Edited March 26, 2007 by misa

[EmilyRugBurn 0]

Awesome, misa! Sounds like you had a good interview and POE experience!

Congrats once again!

[raymaga 25]

Congrats and welcome to the U.S.

[knowledge 0]

Congratulations Misa!!!!

[misa 2]

Yup it was a breeze at the interview and the POE but it was still nerve wracking as hell. The only potential snag was the stupid medical. I would have been livid if the Dr.'s office did not fax back the info ASAP. I guess they realised the seriousness of their error so that's why they faxed it back right away. I paid for a copy of my medical. I should call them and make me mail me a COMPLETE one this time.

I hope that my AOS will be as painfree as this. I was going to apply for EAD/AOS right away but I think this week I will take a break from USCIS!

[Melyssa 0]

Yup it was a breeze at the interview and the POE but it was still nerve wracking as hell. The only potential snag was the stupid medical. I would have been livid if the Dr.'s office did not fax back the info ASAP. I guess they realised the seriousness of their error so that's why they faxed it back right away. I paid for a copy of my medical. I should call them and make me mail me a COMPLETE one this time.

I hope that my AOS will be as painfree as this. I was going to apply for EAD/AOS right away but I think this week I will take a break from USCIS!

How much did you pay for a copy of your medical?? Just wondering for my own reference! Can you look at the copy?

[EmilyRugBurn 0]

Yup it was a breeze at the interview and the POE but it was still nerve wracking as hell. The only potential snag was the stupid medical. I would have been livid if the Dr.'s office did not fax back the info ASAP. I guess they realised the seriousness of their error so that's why they faxed it back right away. I paid for a copy of my medical. I should call them and make me mail me a COMPLETE one this time.

I hope that my AOS will be as painfree as this. I was going to apply for EAD/AOS right away but I think this week I will take a break from USCIS!

Oh my gosh, so when they opened the sealed envelope at the POE it was missing some medical docs?! I take it the Dr's office (I went to the same one) faxed the necessary info to the POE office then? Yikes, I would've been royaly pissed!

Hmm, so do we need a second copy of the medical (for AOS)? (Perhaps I should pick one up before I move?)

[misa 2]

A copy cost me $50 and I didn't notice they didn't check everything off until I was sitting at the consulate and they told me. Specifically they missed checking off some (redundant) questions regarding TB. There are 3 parts on the TB page. First they checked off that I have no indication of it. Part B is for smears done but there is a checkbox if it's not applicable which they didn't check.

The doctor's office faxed the sheet to the consulate and the consulate put it in the envelope for the POE.

I'm going to call the Dr.'s office to send me a sheet that's FILLED OUT for my own records as well.

I don't know if it's necessary for AOS but I'm going to submit a copy for mine though I think I'll bite the bullet and get a local civil surgeon to transcribe the vaccination information. People have had problems with submitting the copies from Canada apparently...

ETA: the snag was at the consulate when the person there asked for my medical and opened it, not at the POE. I just re-read what I wrote about that. No problems at POE.

Edited March 26, 2007 by misa

[EmilyRugBurn 0]

ETA: the snag was at the consulate when the person there asked for my medical and opened it, not at the POE. I just re-read what I wrote about that. No problems at POE.

Oh, gotcha! Thanks for the clarification.

[mozplay 28]

Great review and congrats again!

Mo

[misa 2]

Also I forgot to add in the consulate review that the 2 other K applicants were K1 applicants. I don't think they are on VJ since as far as I know, but they must have read it because they both had accordion folders with them. And it was nice to see that they were back at 2 p.m. along with me to pick up their visas.

[cdancer 0]

Hi Misa...glad you got your Visa! now after all the fretting...it was not that bad after all was it?

LOL

I don't blame you for taking a break from USICS ...its alotta work!

[kimmbo 0]

Misa, yes take a break!!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Enjoy the unpacking!!

[misa 2]

No unpacking yet! My cube will probably arrive to the VA depot tonight and I'll call to see if they can drop it off tomorrow. It was estimated transit at 2 business days which doesn't include the day of pickup (Friday).

I checked my tracking and it cleared the border just fine. As of right now:

"YOUR SHIPMENT WAS DISPATCHED FROM BUFFALO, NY TO CARLISLE, PA (WITH AN ETA OF 03/27 AT 09:55) LOADED TO CARLISLE, PA."

I was worried that they'd need a copy of my I-94 since I read some people needed to provide that, but they didn't need it. They do have a photocopy of my K3, passport and birth certificate so I'm assuming if CBP wanted to check when I entered, they could.

Kimmbo, I'll keep you and everyone updated on the cube situation when it arrives. The cube drop off and pickup from Toronto was painless though and everyone at the GTA terminal were super nice on the phone. Even the people at the 1-800 number in the U.S. was nice when I wanted to switch my billing credit card.