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| Vancouver, Canada |  Review on October 30, 2008: |
mary'n'ev
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Overall, the interview was quite easy and suprisingly non-stressful (as long as you follow the VJ guide and bring the correct documents!!).
I was allowed to go through security around 12:40ish. As others have stated, there are two sets of security points, one at the building's entrance and the other at the entrance to the visa office. You enter the side entrance, go through security, walk up a set of stairs to a security guard controlled elevator where He/she will send you up to the 20th floor. You then go through the second set of security (hint: just carry your belongings in hand until you pass through the second security checkpoint (i.e. watch, loose change, belts, jackets). In one afternoon I went through these security check-points three times, each time they treated me as an unknown. The majority of the guards were also ESL, so be prepared for directives in broken english (i.e.: "other persons" (repeated three times) was translated as, "is anyone attending the interview with you?").
I entered the interview waiting area and was called to window 2 to go through my application documents (app. 15 minute wait). Everything was there except a photocopy of my birth certificate (they require the original for validation, but will return it to the beneficiary).
After the other 2 beneficiaries were called to window 2, they began, it seemed, the fingerprinting process at random. They were having great difficulties with the machines, two of us had to re-do our fingerprints several times. After sitting around for 30 minutes we were all called to window B where Olivia, the K visa person, informed us that the computers were down and that we would have to wait to do the interview tomorrow. We decided to wait to see if the machines would turn back on, they did. I was then called to do the interview:
How did you meet your fiance;
What does she do?;
Who pays for her schooling?;
Does she work?;
Who is your sponsor?;
How do you know him (fiancee's father)?;
Are you permanently moving to the US? (I said yes, but we're not 100% positive);
Are you going to become a ward of the state?;
Are you going to work in the US?;
What do you do in Canada?;
Where do you work?;
What did you study at university?;
Are you going to use your degree?;
Do you have evidence of your engagement ( I had letters, phone bills and pictures. She was satisfied with one picture).
The interview lasted about 10 minutes, but should have only taken about 5 minutes since the lady fingerpecked the information into the computer. It seemed that she was more concerned about the wording of the information than the validity of my answers.
After that I was told to wait for Olivia (the K visa person). She told me to go pick up my medical and return it either that afternoon or the next day at 8:30am. I ran back to the medical office (15 blocks south on Burrard). I left at 2:55 and was back in the building's elevator at 3:20, it's not a far distance, esp if you take public or private transportation.
I was told to come back tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 to pick up my visa. However, since I was leaving that evening I had purchased a large expressport envelop in which for the to send it. BUT, they needed the JUMBO EXPRESSPOST package. The post office was across the street. I was back at my hotel (2 blocks from woking medical) by 4.
Besides the computer malfunctions and the inevitable confusion over the new DS-160, the staff were very accomodating and wanted to make sure I left that day with an approved application 
the end!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #3528