Consulate Review: Vancouver, Canada
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
December 10, 2011 |
| Embassy Review : |
Thanks to everyone who submitted reviews and tips before me. I'll add some things that I observed, since there aren't so many Vancouver reviews.
I travelled to Vancouver to join my fiancee for her medical and interview. She is from Alberta. Given our work requirements, we scheduled both the medical and interview the same day (Dec 7). Because we knew we'd need to be near the front of the line in the medical to make the 10am Consulate interview, we were hyper-vigilant (and unable to sleep much anyway, from excitement and nerves) and arrived at Woking at 5:15am. We had some discussion about whether we were at the right door; as others have stated, there is no sign. Look for the large wrought iron doors at the top of a sloping ramp. That's where you want to be. We waited until 5:50am until another couple arrived, and watched as others joined them, slowly. There's a Blenz coffee shop two doors down, but it doesn't open until 6am, so I'd suggest taking toe-warmers and having a cup of coffee at the hotel before you go to Woking.
At 6:15am a Woking employee arrived and let all of us into the building. We followed her to the elevator and went to floor 2. I recalled a comment about standing near the front of the elevator and was glad to have remembered to do it. Upon exiting the elevator, the employee told us to line up in the order we were outside and take a number. Regrettably, a couple of people from the back of the outside group pushed forward and drew numbers in front of others who had waited longer; I took great pleasure in pushing past them to claim Number 1, which was certainly ours, having arrived at 5:15. People always surprise me.
The Woking staff is incredibly nice and very helpful. The medical was efficient and my fiancee's questions were answered with smiles. We finished by 8:15am and were glad for the time to return to the hotel before the interview. Anyone near the front of the line should have no problem finishing the medical in time for a 10am Consular interview.
We arrived at the Consulate at 9:15am to find a line of at least 50 people. Instead of waiting to join the line until 20 minutes before our interview (as directed by the confirmation letter), we jumped in and decided to start the move forward. Within a few minutes, a security staff member had come through the line to confirm which service we were seeking. After 20-30 minutes more of waiting, another security member came through and finding that we were K-1 applicants, took us to the front of a much smaller line, despite the many people behind us who were there for 9:30am interviews (but none who were K-1). Note: we stood in the slowly-moving line and worried we'd be late - and therefore not be seen - until we heard security say to someone "it doesn't matter to them upstairs what time your interview is. They'll see you when you get through security. Here, you have an appointment time. Upstairs, you're just a number." There was some irony in that, but also should help those who are feeling anxious about slow lines and impending appointments.
We finally passed through Security and headed upstairs. The first window was where we submitted our paperwork. The lady there - short brown hair, older - was sweet, firm, funny and incredibly helpful. She's been mentioned here, but it's worth reiterating: go prepared, and go with a good attitude, and you should have a great experience with her. She asked us to put the documents in the order that can be found on the Vancouver Consulate information page and returned the rest to us. We then had a seat to wait for our number. I spent the waiting time making outrageous comments and trying to distract my fiancee from what I knew would be a straightforward interview but what of course made her very nervous. To those USC's in the enviable position of supporting your fiance/e for the interview: smile and act calm - it helps (you as much as them).
Finally, our number was called. The interviewer was kind yet official and didn't make small talk like others have mentioned. He took her oath, her fingerprints, and simply asked questions: where we met, what I did for work, would she work, where I live, had we met each other's parents, and perhaps one or two more. It was quite short (I counted 6 minutes total from reaching the window to finishing). Finally, we were approved and were directed to the original window for information about receiving the visa, etc.
The medical results were ready at 1:15pm. We took the results and returned to the Consulate. She went upstairs to turn them in, and by 1:35pm we were finished and smiling and having a celebratory kiss in the middle of the town where we met.
A few notes, in summary:
-Be assertive at Woking (with other patients; there's no need to be assertive with the staff - they're awesome).
-At Woking, they may call you for an x-ray out of the order of the number you got; don't worry, that won't affect your place in the order of the day. My fiancee was nearly last for an x-ray, but we still finished everything first.
-We took cabs between the clinic, the Consulate, and back to the clinic for results and to the Consulate to turn them in upstairs. That saved time and stress, but not money, but was totally worth it.
-Don't take makeup to the Consulate (except what you're wearing). They'll make you throw it away. Lip balm is ok, however.
-The interviewer didn't even glance at our 30+ pages of relationship proof. Not that they won't if they have doubts about yours, but we left with everything we took. That surprised us.
-For our I-134f, I had the form, a letter from my employer, tax transcripts back to 2007, and paystubs for the past 3 months. That satisfied them. Your experience may differ.
Send me a PM if you have any questions. I hope this helps someone out there....and good luck.
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| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0