VANCOUVER CONSULATE QUESTIONS

[onourway 0]

Hello all,

I have some questions about the Vancouver BC consulate.

Thankfully, we've finally received our NOA2 and Vancouver has sent us Packet 3. I'm hoping those of you that have gone ahead of us will have some advice to share.

I am trying to coordinate my medical and interview date. I'm not in BC so I will be traveling to Vancouver for both the medical and interview. Ideally, I would like to schedule them the same day, and I understand this is possible, pending availability. I also know that you can only schedule medical exams on Wednesday and I'm not sure how likely it is to get an interview on a Wednesday. I'm wondering if trying to schedule them on the same day will significantly delay the process. I would much rather travel to Vancouver twice if that means getting the visa at a much earlier date.

For those of you that have recently scheduled your interview/medical, how far out are they scheduling them? How soon were you able to get your interview and schedule your medical? Will it take much longer to try and get them on the same Wednesday? Any thoughts?

I've scanned the timelines and tried to research it, but can't seem to get any consistent idea of what to expect.

Secondly, I am confused about when I actually receive the visa and can immigrate. I've heard the visa is ready for pick-up the same day and I've also heard that they will mail your visa and passport a few days later. When is the earliest conceivable time after your interview that you can cross the border and activate the visa? Same day? Day after? Few days later?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[canadian_wife 1,823]

We were part of the Montreal crowd so I can't answer your question

but perhaps posting this in the canada forum will get you the answers you are looking for

good luck

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/93-canada/

[MeggyMo 4]

Hello all,

I have some questions about the Vancouver BC consulate.

Thankfully, we've finally received our NOA2 and Vancouver has sent us Packet 3. I'm hoping those of you that have gone ahead of us will have some advice to share.

I am trying to coordinate my medical and interview date. I'm not in BC so I will be traveling to Vancouver for both the medical and interview. Ideally, I would like to schedule them the same day, and I understand this is possible, pending availability. I also know that you can only schedule medical exams on Wednesday and I'm not sure how likely it is to get an interview on a Wednesday. I'm wondering if trying to schedule them on the same day will significantly delay the process. I would much rather travel to Vancouver twice if that means getting the visa at a much earlier date.

For those of you that have recently scheduled your interview/medical, how far out are they scheduling them? How soon were you able to get your interview and schedule your medical? Will it take much longer to try and get them on the same Wednesday? Any thoughts?

I've scanned the timelines and tried to research it, but can't seem to get any consistent idea of what to expect.

Secondly, I am confused about when I actually receive the visa and can immigrate. I've heard the visa is ready for pick-up the same day and I've also heard that they will mail your visa and passport a few days later. When is the earliest conceivable time after your interview that you can cross the border and activate the visa? Same day? Day after? Few days later?

Thanks in advance for your help.

First congrats!

Luckily for you the Vancouver consulate is not nearly as busy as the Montreal embassy!

Many people have done this and schedueled both on the same day. To be honest I think it is better if you did the medical on Wednesday and then had the interview the next day!

This is what I did. The medical really takes awhile and then you have to wait a few hours for the results. It would make it easier on you to do this.

When I sent packet 3 to the embassy I then emailed them and they just asked what day I would like my interview. I told them a Thursday and they set it up! Take care of this as soon as you can. Once you have your interview email the clinic and tell them your interview date and input the date you want the medical (the Wednesday before) they send you a confirmation quite quickly.

As for the visa you could stay the couple days it takes for it to be made then go pick it up at the consulate or you can bring a prepaid xpress post envelope which is what I did. Bring the biggest one you can since they will be sending not just your passport with the visa in it but the envelope which you DO NOT OPEN inside of the xpress post envelope. I recieved everything a week after I believe and then once you have it you are free to use it! Just bring the visa and the DO NOT OPEN envelope with you to the airport!

Good luck and don't worry everyone who works at the embassy is great

[onourway 0]

Thanks for your help MeggyMo. That is very helpful.

And good suggestion canadian_wife. I've reposted in Canada forum - hopefully I didn't break any major forum rules.