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| Vancouver, Canada |  Review on January 13, 2016: |
TiffanyJennifer
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Medical Exam:
I arrived a few minutes ahead of time for my appointment and was told to have a seat. I was then called up and asked for 4 photos, my receipt with the appointment of my interview at the consulate, my vaccination records and they made a copy of my passport. I filled out a single piece of paper with my address, my fiance's address and my email address. I took a seat for maybe 10 minutes, then was taken in for my weight and height. Next I had a quick eye chart test, blood pressure and some weird stomach presses. This was it for the "physical exam" due to the fact I said no to all the questions about my health history the doctor required. Next, you are sent down the road to have x-rays and blood work. I first went up and the blood work line was CRAZY! I then went back and had my x-rays done. If you have long hair remember to bring a hair tie, I almost didn't have one and the technologists or doctor or whatever was just sort of standing there looking at me disappointed for not having something to put my hair up with. Luckily, I've found something that works. The wait for blood work was approximately 35-45 minutes with 23 people (numbers) ahead of me. It is loud and warm inside the room and then I went and sat in the hallway (they have the numbers showing in the hall as well). I didn't see how much blood they took from me because i'm not good with needles, but I was only in the chair for about 4 minutes, start to finish so not very much I'm assuming.
Picking up Results:
You pick up your results, then next business day between 4-6pm. I didn't have very much to do that day so I simply sat at the tiny mall across from the office till 3:45 then headed over. The lady told me to select a seat, then got my results and sealed them up for my within 6 minutes.
Getting to the Interview:
My interview was at 8am and I drove in from Burnaby just before 7. I parked across the street in the pakade and it ended up costing me $22 for 2.5 hours. I arrived at 8:15 and had just enough time to go to the Starbucks beside and have a tea/half a muffin before going to the line.
Consulate:
I arrived and handed the man at the first counter outside my passport and my DS-160. He asked when my pictures had been taken and then sent me backwards to another line to wait for a bag check person to become available. I went to the bag check and placed each my papers and my bag in the bin. I did know not to bring my cell phone so I left it in the car but forgot to remove my external battery charger and had to "locker check" it with another man who also kept my Drivers license. I then was told to go stand in line and wait for the door to open. They Let 5 people in at a time and then you are brought up some stairs to something similar to airport security but WAY smaller. You put your empty pocketed jackets, papers and anything else in the bin and wait for it to be your turn to pass though the detector. I then was told to collect my belongings and go to the elevator to take me to window B. This was a little confusing for me and I ended up going inside the room following the wait it looked like I should be going, but what I needed to do was turn around and take all my things back thought the metal detector to get to the elevator. Oops.
You are then warned that this was the last time you can use the wash room for the remainder of your stay in the embassy as they don't have one on the level I was dropped off at. The elevator is a fast one and made my stomach do a couple flips before we made it to the top.
Then I was prompted to go to window B. You then flip the switch ONE TIME! Your passport and DS-160 are collected, and you are told to have a seat and your NAME will be called momentarily back up to window B.
I then waited for approximatelyt 5-10 minutes and was called back up to collect my long form birth certificate and a photocopy I made, police check, passport sized photos, Medical results, police check, affidavit, and both of our letters of intent to marry. I was then handed a number and told that when my number comes up and says window 1 to ignore it because that was downstairs for fingerprinting, but to only go if it said windows 3,4,5 or 6. I ended up waiting for approximately 45-60 minutes for my number to come around and then was called up to window 3. I was greeted by a man who was really nice and made lots of awkward jokes about how my fiance was hiding from attended the interview because marriage is a trap or something along those lines. He did some stuff off the computer, double checking everything was filled out correctly and matched what I said about my DS-160 and stuff has then asked me one question "what's the timeline of your relationship". I gave him the quick version because I could see on the computer that we have 16+ visits under our relationship belt. After I came to the part about the engagement he asked me if he had presented me with a ring and I happily showed off my bling and was then told to go meet him back at Window B right away no need to sit down. He went and got the lady who I had met the first time who then told me "congratulations" so I then knew I was approved. She went over how it will be 5-7 business days to receive the Visa back to me and gave me a welcome to the USA thing to read and told me about advance parole and how I'd be deported if we do not get married within 90 days standard things I'm sure she says 20+ times a day.
All in all I'm happy with the experience at the consulate, but VERY happy it's over. 11 months for this K-1 visa is tooo long! (My condolences to anyone's visa that is taking longer)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #18737