my K3 interview review @ vancouver consulate :)

[coldwatersurf 5]

my appointment today was at 1pm. I arrived at 12:45pm @ 1095 W. Pender Street. I look at the board that shows which floor is the consulate. It says that I have to enter from the Enterance @ 1075 W. Pender street. The doors are on the side of 1075 W. Pender Street.

I presented my appointment letter and they check my name off their list. There were 3 other ppl for K visa appointments. I go through the first security and metal detector check. I had to give them all my documents and present my passport w/ the appointment letter. I had to take my belt off, my pen, and wallet. everything was good and they told me to go up the stairs. I was putting my belt back on before the next door. lol. then the lady on the other side of the door told me to come in. Turns out the check is not over yet. haha. The lady had to clear the security card for me for the elevators and I go up to the 20th floor. Once I got out of the elevator, there is another security and metal detector. So i had to take my belt off again and give the security all my other stuff. The second security guy was kind of grumpy. took everything out of my envelope and left it for me to put it back together. good thing i stapled everything and made sure they werent as easy to tear apart and mix it up (another girl from my medical exam warned me about this as she had to rearrange her papers after going through the security check). Then they let me through the non immigrant visa room.

Once I walk in, there were numbers being called. I didnt know where to get a number ?? I asked one of the girls with the number sheet where she got her number. Of course.. she was mumbling so i had to ask another girl. She happens to be there for her K1 visa. So ... you do not need a number. They will call your name.

THIS IS STEP 1:

Once my name was called, you have to go to counter B. It's just a counter window just like when you get your tickets @ the movie theatre. They will collect all the documents that was listed on your checklist and make sure everything is complete. So I gave them:

* passport

* 2 pictures 2"x2"

* 2 prints of DS 156

* 1 print of DS230

* Sealed medical exam results

* Long form birth certificate - I was born in Philippines and the guy said he has never seen the form of my birth certificate before. It might be new. He said the ones he has seen is an ugly paper old looking paper. LOL. Mine was printed nicely and clean looking but had complete information. LMAO. I started getting worried.

* 1 orig copy of Police Certificate - NOTE: I received my police certificate from RCMP with my married name. The consulate said they want your police record from ALL your names. You are suppose to tell the RCMP about this. Since RCMP does not do finger print check, you have to tell them other names to give you a full report of your background. The consulate said it should read something like - Jane Do aka Jane Do Johnson aka whatever other name you've used. I didnt know this and I was sh*tting my pants hoping i dont have to get another one - but they accepted my police report at the end. But thought you guys should know as he said it is a common mistake.

* 1 copy of Scotia Bank Receipt - This was one of my biggest boo boo. I thought the other copy was for me. I overlooked the checklist and I HAVE to give them 2 "original" prints NOT copies - but it all works out at the end as they said I can come back and give it to them and they will still process my application.

They will give your folder or envelope your forms are in. They also gave me back my checklist.

So they told us to wait for 30 minutes. Which felt really long and its really warm in the room so it was making me feel tired.

STEP 2:

They call your name up again and you approach Counter A. they take your finger prints and tell you to take a seat. So I wait for about 20 more minutes.

STEP 3: the interview

It didnt even feel like an interview. They have all your files in front of them and they just want to confirm a couple of things.

* How, where and when did we meet

* when did I get engaged

* where and when did I get married

* What does my husband do for living

* What company he works for

* how much he makes - the lady could barely hear me so I just gave her my husband's employment letter which states everything she was asking me.

* What do I do for living

* How much I make

* asked for an evidence for bona fide marriage - I showed her the pictures which she flips through within 10 seconds

* Asked if I have ever been arrested

And finally she tells me that the only thing missing is the one copy of Receipt from Scotia Bank. by this time, its 2:50pm. I volunteered to run home and give her the receipt but they close at 4pm so it was too close to closing time. she said to bring it on Tuesday and she will trade the receipt for my visa. she reminds me that they do not process AOS and EAD and I cannot work when I arrive in US. Otherwise, at the end, I ask her "so I am good to go and approved?". she said yes and to come back on Tuesday at 2pm to pick up my visa. yay. then she said to have a seat for a couple more minutes until our name is called.

STEP 4:

Finally, my name was called again and the guy just wanted to repeat everything the lady said and that my police certificate and birth certificate are accepted. He said I just have to promise to bring the original receipt from Scotia Bank and they will print my visa for Tuesday. He kept asking me and making sure that I actually have the receipt. LOL. or else he jokingly said he will make me pay another fee for printing a visa.

so i am basically approved

The Vancouver consulate is very casual and friendly. You do not have to dress up. You are not in a small 4 wall room for the interview. You just talk through the glass window. It is warm in the waiting room. It is a small room. They didnt ask me about I-134 which some of you know I was freaking out about the day before. I talked to 2 other K visa applicants and learned a lot about their visa journey. Both girls didnt know about VJ. (i was surprised.lol) One girl hired a lawyer. the other lady did it herself but i felt sad for her b/c somewhere down the line, her spouse and she read that they cannot see each other until the whole visa process is done. so she hasnt seen her fiance in a year. I told them to go to VJ if they need answers or assistance in the future.

I was in at 12:45pm and out at 3:05pm

[minnew 4]

my appointment today was at 1pm. I arrived at 12:45pm @ 1095 W. Pender Street. I look at the board that shows which floor is the consulate. It says that I have to enter from the Enterance @ 1075 W. Pender street. The doors are on the side of 1075 W. Pender Street.

I presented my appointment letter and they check my name off their list. There were 3 other ppl for K visa appointments. I go through the first security and metal detector check. I had to give them all my documents and present my passport w/ the appointment letter. I had to take my belt off, my pen, and wallet. everything was good and they told me to go up the stairs. I was putting my belt back on before the next door. lol. then the lady on the other side of the door told me to come in. Turns out the check is not over yet. haha. The lady had to clear the security card for me for the elevators and I go up to the 20th floor. Once I got out of the elevator, there is another security and metal detector. So i had to take my belt off again and give the security all my other stuff. The second security guy was kind of grumpy. took everything out of my envelope and left it for me to put it back together. good thing i stapled everything and made sure they werent as easy to tear apart and mix it up (another girl from my medical exam warned me about this as she had to rearrange her papers after going through the security check). Then they let me through the non immigrant visa room.

Once I walk in, there were numbers being called. I didnt know where to get a number ?? I asked one of the girls with the number sheet where she got her number. Of course.. she was mumbling so i had to ask another girl. She happens to be there for her K1 visa. So ... you do not need a number. They will call your name.

THIS IS STEP 1:

Once my name was called, you have to go to counter B. It's just a counter window just like when you get your tickets @ the movie theatre. They will collect all the documents that was listed on your checklist and make sure everything is complete. So I gave them:

* passport

* 2 pictures 2"x2"

* 2 prints of DS 156

* 1 print of DS230

* Sealed medical exam results

* Long form birth certificate - I was born in Philippines and the guy said he has never seen the form of my birth certificate before. It might be new. He said the ones he has seen is an ugly paper old looking paper. LOL. Mine was printed nicely and clean looking but had complete information. LMAO. I started getting worried.

* 1 orig copy of Police Certificate - NOTE: I received my police certificate from RCMP with my married name. The consulate said they want your police record from ALL your names. You are suppose to tell the RCMP about this. Since RCMP does not do finger print check, you have to tell them other names to give you a full report of your background. The consulate said it should read something like - Jane Do aka Jane Do Johnson aka whatever other name you've used. I didnt know this and I was sh*tting my pants hoping i dont have to get another one - but they accepted my police report at the end. But thought you guys should know as he said it is a common mistake.

* 1 copy of Scotia Bank Receipt - This was one of my biggest boo boo. I thought the other copy was for me. I overlooked the checklist and I HAVE to give them 2 "original" prints NOT copies - but it all works out at the end as they said I can come back and give it to them and they will still process my application.

They will give your folder or envelope your forms are in. They also gave me back my checklist.

So they told us to wait for 30 minutes. Which felt really long and its really warm in the room so it was making me feel tired.

STEP 2:

They call your name up again and you approach Counter A. they take your finger prints and tell you to take a seat. So I wait for about 20 more minutes.

STEP 3: the interview

It didnt even feel like an interview. They have all your files in front of them and they just want to confirm a couple of things.

* How, where and when did we meet

* when did I get engaged

* where and when did I get married

* What does my husband do for living

* What company he works for

* how much he makes - the lady could barely hear me so I just gave her my husband's employment letter which states everything she was asking me.

* What do I do for living

* How much I make

* asked for an evidence for bona fide marriage - I showed her the pictures which she flips through within 10 seconds

* Asked if I have ever been arrested

And finally she tells me that the only thing missing is the one copy of Receipt from Scotia Bank. by this time, its 2:50pm. I volunteered to run home and give her the receipt but they close at 4pm so it was too close to closing time. she said to bring it on Tuesday and she will trade the receipt for my visa. she reminds me that they do not process AOS and EAD and I cannot work when I arrive in US. Otherwise, at the end, I ask her "so I am good to go and approved?". she said yes and to come back on Tuesday at 2pm to pick up my visa. yay. then she said to have a seat for a couple more minutes until our name is called.

STEP 4:

Finally, my name was called again and the guy just wanted to repeat everything the lady said and that my police certificate and birth certificate are accepted. He said I just have to promise to bring the original receipt from Scotia Bank and they will print my visa for Tuesday. He kept asking me and making sure that I actually have the receipt. LOL. or else he jokingly said he will make me pay another fee for printing a visa.

so i am basically approved

The Vancouver consulate is very casual and friendly. You do not have to dress up. You are not in a small 4 wall room for the interview. You just talk through the glass window. It is warm in the waiting room. It is a small room. They didnt ask me about I-134 which some of you know I was freaking out about the day before. I talked to 2 other K visa applicants and learned a lot about their visa journey. Both girls didnt know about VJ. (i was surprised.lol) One girl hired a lawyer. the other lady did it herself but i felt sad for her b/c somewhere down the line, her spouse and she read that they cannot see each other until the whole visa process is done. so she hasnt seen her fiance in a year. I told them to go to VJ if they need answers or assistance in the future.

I was in at 12:45pm and out at 3:05pm

Congratulations!! Now the long wait over the long weekend for your visa!! The hard part is over!!

Do you get your long form birth certificate returned to you at the end of the interview?

[coldwatersurf 5]

nope they kept mine.

[coldwatersurf 5]

oh yeah..... they gave me my orig. marriage certificate.

Edited April 10, 2009 by borderdriver

[Carlawarla 1]

Congratulations! Thanks for the detailed report. You should link it to your signature for others to see. The RCMP item you mentioned..that's mentioned all the time here. If you missed it, I'm sorry.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

Congratulations on your successsful interview!

[coldwatersurf 5]

^Thanks

Congratulations! Thanks for the detailed report. You should link it to your signature for others to see. The RCMP item you mentioned..that's mentioned all the time here. If you missed it, I'm sorry.

I never read about it i wish i did more research. but I'm good and done now. All I read about is to go to the RCMP @ heather instead of the Police Station. When I went to Police Station, they need a document from Consulate that you need the Police certificate and there was 12 days waiting time for the processing. It is also a finger print check and its about $60 or so. I guess you dont need to worry about the different names w/ Police station. RCMP only charged me $30 and its a name check. Which I didnt know. But at the same time I told RCMP my maiden name and married name and they didnt include my middle name on the police report. I guess you have to tell RCMP how and what you'd like to see on your report

Edit: I love how you remind everyone about their signatures and timelines Its really helpful. I notice it all the time in the forums. I am learning.

Edited April 10, 2009 by borderdriver

[childress_london 3]

Congratulations!

I'm confused about the police report though. Do you need the fingerprint check or is just the name check OK?

[JillA 2]

Congratulations!

I'm confused about the police report though. Do you need the fingerprint check or is just the name check OK?

Apparently, you only need a fingerprint check if you have a criminal record. If not, name check is good!

[Tankgurl38 0]

Congratulations on your approval!

[coldwatersurf 5]

The consulate said name check is fine as long as all your names are listed on the report so it brings all the background of your history (if you have any). oh and it has to have all the names you have on your passport.

[Flames9_RN 358]

congrats

[Texanadian 10]

Yeah, the interview is always a nervous thing for people who haven't done it. But it's about as ordinary as opening a bank account at a bank. Who are you, where do you work, OK.

The Scotia Bank thing must be new. Used to be that you paid the consulate when you were there. Cash only.

[defunct 0]

Congrats and thanks for all of the info!

[childress_london 3]

The consulate said name check is fine as long as all your names are listed on the report so it brings all the background of your history (if you have any). oh and it has to have all the names you have on your passport.

Great! Thanks for the information.