|
|
| Vancouver, Canada |  Review on May 19, 2016: |
Sim.Arnold
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
My interview was at 9 am on May 10th. I arrived just after 8:15 and was asked to wait. I don't have a cell phone (and they're not allowed anyway), but I was chatting with some other people waiting outside who told me at 9 am. Don't expect the security officers to let you know what time it is, bring a watch.
At 9, I was let through to the first security check outside, where they went through my whole bag and asked if I had any sealed envelopes besides my medical exam. I did (a police check), so I opened it in front of him. I had a granola bar I had to eat too. I thought you'd be able to bring sealed food in, but you can't.
Inside I was sent through a metal detector and my bag was checked again. I was told to use the bathroom if I needed to, since there isn't one upstairs. I had just used the bathroom before arriving at the consulate, so I didn't. I wish I'd tried though, the wait upstairs can be really long and I had to go badly when I got out.
Upstairs, I was sent to window B, where a woman took my name and asked me to wait on some chairs in front of the interviewing windows. I probably waited less than 20 minutes before I was called to window B. She checked I had all the appropriate forms: my birth certificate, took my sealed medical exam, my police certificates, and our Letter's of Intent. She asked me if I or my fiancé had ever been married before, and if I was sure. Then she sent me to wait in line for the interview.
After maybe 30 minutes I was sent to the interview window. The officer had me raise my right hand and swear that everything I was about to say was true and that I will marry my fiancé within 90 days of arriving in the US. He asked me to explain, in my own words, how my fiancé and I met and how we got to this point. He asked me about his employment -- where and for how long, how much money he makes. He asked a couple clarifying questions about our timeline, and again if either of us has ever been married before. Then he said that the interview was over and to return to his colleague at window B. She asked me to sit and wait for her to call me again.
The last wait was the worst, because I wasn't sure if I'd been approved or not. Finally a security guard sent me back to window B. The woman told me I'd been approved and went over the visa, the entry process, how long to wait for my passport, etc. By the time I got out, I really had to pee, so I went straight to find a bathroom and then returned to the hotel to email my fiancé.
I got back to my hotel about 11:45, so the whole thing was about 2.5 hours. Overall, everyone was very polite and helpful. It's a bureaucratic process, so of course it's a bit of a pain, but everyone involved was as nice and friendly as you could possibly expect.
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #19540