inbriars

Sharing my recent experience with Dr. Gulzar Cheema in Surrey, BC for the medical exam in case anyone may find it helpful. 🙂
 
Medical Exam date: April 9, 2024 at 0700, finished the entire process at 0820
Cost: Paid the cost for my age range, no additional fees required
 
Getting the appointment:
I had to email them at panelphysicianusa@drcheema.ca - I included my appointment confirmation and my vaccination record. I got my packet 4 emailed in the afternoon on March 20, 2024, so their office responded first thing the next morning with availability. They initially offered me April 12, 2024 and beyond but that timeline felt too close with my interview date. I read on the booklet they send you by email that you can ask about earlier dates if you're in the area. So I said I was going to be and asked for April 8 or April 9 - they fit me in April 9. There was some confusion about vaccines for me so I sent them my vaccination records again with my questions and we were able to sort it out by email. Aman and Indu are very kind and helpful throughout the process. Both appear to monitor the email, but it is mostly Aman.
 
Appointment day:
I showed up for my appointment 20 minutes early and ended up walking in at 0645. There was lots of parking available at this time. The door was already open and there was one other person there. They asked for the 5 passport photos, my appointment confirmation, my vaccination record, my passport, and another photo ID. I included my recent bloodwork from September 2023 that showed my immunity for varicella, because I only received one dose as a child and have never had chicken pox (we discovered this by email). They wanted to take my records but asked if I needed it back. I said yes, so they made copies of it.
They book you in ahead of time for the blood work - mine was at 0720. The office began to fill up fast and because of this and my approaching blood work time, Indu asked me if I could go to the lab first, so I did. It was around the corner and isn't the one that's in the booklet. The lab was great but also filling up fast. Indu cut my passport photos further and put one on my lab work requisition. At Life Labs, she gave it back to me and said she didn't need it but I unfortunately cannot use it further because it's been trimmed to be smaller than the 2x2 inch standard. The girl was amazing, she poked me once, took one vial worth of blood and I was on my way, super quick! I did not need to provide a urine test. Then I went back to Dr. Cheema's office and was seen right away. Indu got me to take off my shoes and weigh myself, then she took my height. Then I waited in the exam room for him. He was super kind - talked about the eclipse, asked me all the standard questions they do for physicals - any histories, etc. Then he asked me to cover one eye and read a line on this handheld eye chart. Then he listened to my chest with his stethoscope, took my blood pressure, had me lie down, pressed on my stomach, felt my wrist. I was good to go, it was 5-10 minutes max. He asked if I had any questions. Then he gave me the requisition for x-ray, which is the address given in the booklet. It is walk-in basis only. It is about a 6 minute drive north up the road, parking is in the back with first hour free. I waited here for about 20 minutes. They took one chest x-ray and that was it. It was all a great and very efficient process. I do believe having an earlier time slot helped because all the places can fill up quickly. As others have said to me, the process is much easier than the stress we put ourselves through getting to it.
 
What I learned:
A series of 3 doses received in childhood of Hepatitis B gives you a lifetime immunity Hepatitis A is not required Tdap is required within the last 10 years (I got this beforehand) COVID-19 booster is required within the last 12 months (I got this beforehand) Polio booster is not required Varicella requires two doses, if you do not have both or records of both, you can get your family physician to get bloodwork done to test for immunity. If it is reactive, you are immune. An additional dose if needed at the office would have been $95.00 CAD They provide you with a CD (for border crossing) and vaccination record (for AOS) by mail - they told me this is not required for the interview Once results are sent to the US embassy, you will receive an email stating so

Sharing my recent experience with Dr. Gulzar Cheema in Surrey, BC for the medical exam in case anyone may find it helpful. 🙂
 
Medical Exam date: April 9, 2024 at 0700, finished the entire process at 0820
Cost: Paid the cost for my age range, no additional fees required
 
Getting the appointment:
I had to email them at panelphysicianusa@drcheema.ca - I included my appointment confirmation and my vaccination record. I got my packet 4 emailed in the afternoon on March 20, 2024, so their office responded first thing the next morning with availability. They initially offered me April 12, 2024 and beyond but that timeline felt too close with my interview date. I read on the booklet they send you by email that you can ask about earlier dates if you're in the area. So I said I was going to be and asked for April 8 or April 9 - they fit me in April 9. There was some confusion about vaccines for me so I sent them my vaccination records again with my questions and we were able to sort it out by email. Aman and Indu are very kind and helpful throughout the process. Both appear to monitor the email, but it is mostly Aman.
 
Appointment day:
I showed up for my appointment 20 minutes early and ended up walking in at 0645. There was lots of parking available at this time. The door was already open and there was one other person there. They asked for the 5 passport photos, my appointment confirmation, my vaccination record, my passport, and another photo ID. I included my recent bloodwork from September 2023 that showed my immunity for varicella, because I only received one dose as a child and have never had chicken pox (we discovered this by email). They wanted to take my records but asked if I needed it back. I said yes, so they made copies of it.
They book you in ahead of time for the blood work - mine was at 0720. The office began to fill up fast and because of this and my approaching blood work time, Indu asked me if I could go to the lab first, so I did. It was around the corner and isn't the one that's in the booklet. The lab was great but also filling up fast. Indu cut my passport photos further and put one on my lab work requisition. At Life Labs, she gave it back to me and said she didn't need it but I unfortunately cannot use it further because it's been trimmed to be smaller than the 2x2 inch standard. The girl was amazing, she poked me once, took one vial worth of blood and I was on my way, super quick! I did not need to provide a urine test. Then I went back to Dr. Cheema's office and was seen right away. Indu got me to take off my shoes and weigh myself, then she took my height. Then I waited in the exam room for him. He was super kind - talked about the eclipse, asked me all the standard questions they do for physicals - any histories, etc. Then he asked me to cover one eye and read a line on this handheld eye chart. Then he listened to my chest with his stethoscope, took my blood pressure, had me lie down, pressed on my stomach, felt my wrist. I was good to go, it was 5-10 minutes max. He asked if I had any questions. Then he gave me the requisition for x-ray, which is the address given in the booklet. It is walk-in basis only. It is about a 6 minute drive north up the road, parking is in the back with first hour free. I waited here for about 20 minutes. They took one chest x-ray and that was it. It was all a great and very efficient process. I do believe having an earlier time slot helped because all the places can fill up quickly. As others have said to me, the process is much easier than the stress we put ourselves through getting to it.
 
What I learned:
A series of 3 doses received in childhood of Hepatitis B gives you a lifetime immunity Hepatitis A is not required Tdap is required within the last 10 years (I got this beforehand) COVID-19 booster is required within the last 12 months (I got this beforehand) Polio booster is not required Varicella requires two doses, if you do not have both or records of both, you can get your family physician to get bloodwork done to test for immunity. If it is reactive, you are immune. An additional dose if needed at the office would have been $95.00 CAD They provide you with a CD (for border crossing) and vaccination record (for AOS) by mail - they told me this is not required for the interview Once results are sent to the US embassy, you will receive an email stating so

I'd like to throw in something that kept us from going the CR1 route. The part of getting married and then stay apart for 2 years. This is not how we wanted to start our lives together and definitely not with an online marriage. we would regret this in 10 years so much therefore we decided to go with the K1 Visa and just wait a few more months. What are a few more months when you spend the rest of you lives together. Yes I have to adjust status. Yes this will take many more months. Yes I cannot travel outside until I have AP. And yes I cannot work. I'm going back to study. I'm going to travel the beautiful country as there are so many places I haven't been to. But it will be worth it to experience all of this together with my husband after we get married. Even if K1 takes longer. Maybe there are some people that feel the same way but I haven't seen anyone here on VJ feeling the same way about marriage and being together, staying together instead of spending the first 2 years married being separated. Everyone is always looking at the logical site and gives logical advice which is fine and makes sense. But maybe that's not for everyone. This is why I wanted to throw in another perspective. 

My question was regarding whether or not the consulate should have been Montreal or Vancouver, not whether or not we should go with K1 or CR1.
Thank you to those that answered, I appreciate it!

My question was regarding whether or not the consulate should have been Montreal or Vancouver, not whether or not we should go with K1 or CR1.
Thank you to those that answered, I appreciate it!

My question was regarding whether or not the consulate should have been Montreal or Vancouver, not whether or not we should go with K1 or CR1.
Thank you to those that answered, I appreciate it!

I do not unfortunately, I have looked into this route. Thank you so much!

I too was wondering this! How many photos is too much, and how many is too little? I read the guides state 2-5 photos but I feel like this is too little?

If you were interviewing in Pakistan, Nigeria, Morocco, or any other country known to have a tough consulate, then yes, 2-5 photos might be too little.  But Canada?  Just a few photos would be fine, as long as you have the other documentary evidence required for the I-129F.  Remember also that passport stamps, boarding passes, and documentation of shared residence are stronger evidence than photos.
 

I agree but I appreciate that people have good intentions and mean to be helpful. The information in this thread has helped me become more educated in the matter. It is unfortunately complex, no matter which route you choose, and it appears no singular option is better than the other - it is based on your personal circumstance. I was going to start a new thread and/or modify this one, as we are getting clearer in our goal (as previously suggested to know). It is very obvious we have to choose what our priorities are because we cannot have it all. We are prepared for me not to work if necessary, though obviously not ideal. Our main goal is to be able to be together, physically, sooner.
 
This process is difficult and we haven't even started yet. I was thinking we could file the K1 in April or May, or the CR-1 this summer or fall. Maybe by then the COVID-19 backlog will have caught up a bit? I have been travelling back and forth, staying in the US with him for 6-10 weeks at a time. If this process is going to be lengthy, then I would prefer to be able to maintain these visits the best I can to maintain my mental health and I currently do not know which one, if either, will allow me to do so. I recognize I would face lots of scrutiny at the border given the duration of stay but I was prepared either way to attempt to visit and provide documentation of work, paystubs, and bank account information to use as proof of ties in Canada.
 
At this point we are thinking of reaching out to a lawyer to discuss our situation. I am personally losing hope because there is no quick way and that's just the reality of it.

I would keep an eye on processing times for K1s out of Canada. 
https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?op6=All&op66=All&op7=Canada&op1=5&op2=&op3=1&op4=1&op5=5%2C6%2C8%2C10%2C11%2C13%2C14%2C15%2C16%2C17%2C18%2C20%2C21%2C22%2C25%2C26%2C27%2C28%2C108%2C110%2C111%2C208%2C210%2C211&cfl=0
Here are NOA1-NOA2 timelines (to see how many people are waiting to interview)
 
Here are timelines based on interviews for K1
https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?op6=All&op66=All&op7=Canada&op1=3&op2=&op3=1&op4=1&op5=5%2C6%2C8%2C10%2C11%2C13%2C14%2C15%2C16%2C17%2C18%2C20%2C21%2C22%2C25%2C26%2C27%2C28%2C108%2C110%2C111%2C208%2C210%2C211&cfl=0
filing to interview on first page ranges from 402 - 631 days.
 
Timelines for CR1/IR1 from filing to interview 
https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?op6=All&op66=All&op7=Canada&op1=3&op2=&dfile=No&op3=5&op4=1&op5=5%2C6%2C8%2C10%2C11%2C13%2C14%2C15%2C16%2C17%2C18%2C20%2C21%2C22%2C25%2C26%2C27%2C28%2C108%2C110%2C111%2C208%2C210%2C211&cfl=0
 filing to interview on the first page ranges from 284 - 645 days.
 
Good luck on making this decision. 
Keep an eye out on the numbers. Worst case scenario this  can take 600+ days before you receive either visa. 
 
 
 
 
 

A lawyer can only provide information, as can be found on here, it is up to you to make the call as to what is best for your situation.

I agree but I appreciate that people have good intentions and mean to be helpful. The information in this thread has helped me become more educated in the matter. It is unfortunately complex, no matter which route you choose, and it appears no singular option is better than the other - it is based on your personal circumstance. I was going to start a new thread and/or modify this one, as we are getting clearer in our goal (as previously suggested to know). It is very obvious we have to choose what our priorities are because we cannot have it all. We are prepared for me not to work if necessary, though obviously not ideal. Our main goal is to be able to be together, physically, sooner.
 
This process is difficult and we haven't even started yet. I was thinking we could file the K1 in April or May, or the CR-1 this summer or fall. Maybe by then the COVID-19 backlog will have caught up a bit? I have been travelling back and forth, staying in the US with him for 6-10 weeks at a time. If this process is going to be lengthy, then I would prefer to be able to maintain these visits the best I can to maintain my mental health and I currently do not know which one, if either, will allow me to do so. I recognize I would face lots of scrutiny at the border given the duration of stay but I was prepared either way to attempt to visit and provide documentation of work, paystubs, and bank account information to use as proof of ties in Canada.
 
At this point we are thinking of reaching out to a lawyer to discuss our situation. I am personally losing hope because there is no quick way and that's just the reality of it.

Our single goal would be to be together the quickest way. Based on your statement, it sounds like we cannot have all three goals. I am starting to see that people recommend the CR1 vs K1 due to the fact that they can work when they arrive, vs. K1 has a 6-9 month wait time while adjustment of status processes?
From what I read, we wouldn't be eligible for the IR until after we have been married for 2 years.

LOL! A poster in the tourist visa forum just received a B1/B2 visa and has a I-130 on file (or at least it looks like he will get it). So, I wouldn't worry too much about visiting. Just don't spend more time in the US than time in Canada. 
 

Haha no I am definitely not because that's illegal but I do appreciate you double checking. I am fortunate to have a job that allows me the flexibility to have time off but I am very much employed here in Canada. I stayed last summer and in the winter because I wanted to spend as much time together as possible, and also, winter here is the worst.

Thank you for moving the post to the proper area and for your help.
 
Do you know if it is possible to get married in the US, but come back to Canada while the CR-1 processes (and visit in between)?