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| Vancouver, Canada |  Review on September 30, 2009: |
Michael+Tracie
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I arrived at the consulate early enough that they didn't let me in right away, sending me to sit in an adjacent park/sitting area for about 20 minutes before coming back. Once I was allowed inside, they had me turn out my pockets and take off my belt while they rifled through all my paperwork in a similar manner to airport security...just a little weirder, since they scanned the paperwork to make sure it all applied to visas. As if I would bring in offensive paperwork or something! After that, I was sent up a flight of stairs to the elevators, where another guard swiped her access card to allow the elevator to take me to the top floor. Off the elevator and to another guard station, and the whole downstairs process began again (in case I picked up something threatening in the elevator). After the second security scan, I was admitted to the waiting room. I went on a slow day, since there were only three of us: one couple also awaiting a K1 and another couple with a small child awaiting a K3.
I was last to be called of the three of us, and I didn't mind. Both of the people ahead of me had problems with their submissions. The couple with a child especially, since they discovered that they actually filed for the WRONG type of visa! So, by the time I was called, the customs officer was used to mistakes. Since I had everything over-planned thanks to Visa Journey, I sailed through the pre-check stage, where they assemble and ask for all your paperwork. After they take everything, it's another round of waiting before you're called to the next window for the actual "interview", which was more like being asked a few questions. Going through customs at the airport is harder than the questions I was asked. Pretty much: What's your fiancee's name? What's your name? Where did you meet? Where will you be living? Do you have an affidavit of support?/How much does your fiancee earn in a year? Do you have proof of your relationship?
Names were a no-brainer, as was the address where I'd be living. The affidavit was looked at, but dismissed quickly as my fiancee makes over the required minimum. The proof of the relationship was a handful of photos, of which she looked at the top three. The funniest thing was my answer to the where did you meet question, which was "online". The officer asked which site, which was "Second Life". She said almost everyone who she interviews says "online" but I was the first Second Life she got in response! So I had to describe the site for her...not because it was required, but because she was interested!
After explaining my one "red flag" in the system (I had been turned back from the border for not having enough evidence of "ties to Canada" while trying to visit my fiancee) I was told I was approved and to sit back down. A few minutes later and it was back to the first window to receive instructions on how to pick up my visa, two days later.
All-in-all, I was there for about three hours, but I figure about two of that was because of the people ahead of me. Had I been the first one to the window, I would have been out of there in about an hour. Picking up the visa was even easier...about 10 minutes tops.
Of the whole process, this was by far the easiest. Since I was prepared and well-versed in their terminology, I sailed through. Compared to those ahead of me (including the person who didn't realize that he couldn't work on a K3 visa), I was a simple case. Just be polite, patient, and understanding and everything will go perfectly!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #5038