TheATeam
Apr 9 2008, 06:15 PM
Well, it seems that I'll be doing the process a little bit backwards. I am going to have my interview on April 22nd, and my medical on April 23rd. The reason I'm wondering how close the medical office is to the consulate is that I'm going to be picking up my results the same day that I have the medical and then taking them to the consulate so that they can issue the visa. I'm wondering if I'm going to be able to make it back there in time to hand in the results the same day. It would be awesome if we could get the visa the day of the medical but I'm not sure that's possible.
So thanks for your knowledge in advance! I really appreciate it!
Now I've really gotta work on getting everything in order! I can't believe I have an interview in less than 2 weeks! We thought they'd reschedule us some time into May! Here's to doing it backwards!
Team J and B
Apr 9 2008, 09:48 PM
It's great the Consulate is ok with you doing the medical the next day and have your visa pending the results.
Medicals are ready for pick up after 2ish PM the same day. If Woking Medical is closed or you want to pick it up another day, you can go next door to the X-ray lab to pick it up, just make sure you let the receptionist at Woking know your deal.
Everywhere in downtown Vancouver is within walking distance. 1144 Burrard to 1095 W Pender is 1.3 kms acc to Googlemaps. That's a 3 minute drive. Walking will take you around 20 minutes at a leisurely pace (not speedwalking!).
So you could pick up your medical and give it to the Consulate by 2.45 on the 23rd, and pick up your visa at 2 PM on the 24th. That's only a one-day delay.
Sounds totally doable to me!
TheATeam
Apr 10 2008, 12:22 AM
Thank you SO much! That was exactly what I wanted to know! I was wondering if they'd issue the visa the same day, but I'm guessing that will be a no. One can always hope though! Full of hope lately, that's what I am!
It was unexpected that the Consulate would be okay with getting the medical results the next day, but it's good! I almost cancelled it all by accident. My fiance and I had a great miscommunication where I thought he was said to reschedule it for a later date. So I emailed the consulate to tell them that. Then when we were talking about it later it turned out he had completely misunderstood the situation and I had to send the consulate a frantic email with PLEASE DON'T RESCHEDULE in the subject line! ~giggles~ What a day!
SonoranSongbird
Apr 10 2008, 10:48 AM
I'm glad it worked out!
I don't know how hard it is to find parking in the area. If it is like most large US cities, you are probably better off walking from the medical office to the consulate so you don't have to waste time looking for parking, but maybe someone more familiar with Vancouver will correct me on this. I mention it only because my fiance says that parking in downtown Edmonton is never an issue and was taken by surprise when we could not find an on-street parking space in downtown Minneapolis.
Anyway---April 22 is SOON!! Good luck at the interview and have a wonderful few days in Vancouver with your fiance!!!
TheATeam
Apr 10 2008, 11:36 AM
Thank you so much SonoranSongbird! I'm realizing just how close April 22nd is as I run around my house trying to figure everything out.
Team J and B
Apr 10 2008, 11:51 AM
Parking is $3/half hour at the Consulate building and around that price at Woking. Parking is easy to find (lots). Street meter parking is harder to find, in my experience.
I paid $12 at Woking for the whole day. I paid $12 at the Consulate on the day of my interview, and $3 the next day to pick up the visa.
Fyi.
SonoranSongbird
Apr 10 2008, 11:59 AM
Thanks, J&B. That's good to know for us too. Neither of us is familiar with the area.
TheATeam
Apr 10 2008, 02:44 PM
Thanks so much! That's great info!
Texanadian
Apr 13 2008, 01:09 PM
I'd strongly recommend taking some reading material to the medical exam. You'll be there from 6AM to around 11AM in the waiting room. And then you'll be free to wonder around, get some lunch, whatever. Be back around 2PM to pick up the results.
I don't know when you're going to Vancouver, but if you have the option of taking a seaplane to downtown Vancouver, they land literally 1 block from the US Consulate. EXTREMELY handy compared to taking cabs, buses, trying to coordinate when and what area to go to.
The US Consulate typically does interviews all morning and then the place is quiet as a pin drop during the afternoons. They process and do up all the visas during the afternoon. If you've already gotten in touch with them to drop your stuff off or just show them the paperwork in the afternoon, I'm sure you could do it.
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