Consulate Review: Vancouver, Canada
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
September 30, 2015 |
| Embassy Review : |
SHORT VERSION (more details in Long Version, below!)
My appointment was at 8:30. I got there a few minutes early. There were two security checks. A preliminary outside the building telling you what you can't bring and checking you briefly (no patdowns, just asking if you have stuff on you and asking to see certain things), and then a second check inside very much like airport security, complete with metal detector and a tray to xray your belongings.
Then you get escorted into an elevator with an officer and get shuttled to floor 20, where the waiting rooms and booths are. Booth B is the one with the light switch. I was expecting a room, but it was fairly open. Like, DMV-esque, I guess?
They took only a few papers (the essentials, police record, birth certificate, and proof of finances, along with the DS-160 confirmation printout) and asked I keep the rest if needed for the interview. He gave me a number and I sat down. Then I waited for a good while, lost track of time due to their lack of clocks. I think it was an hour or two.
My number got called finally, and the lady took my finger prints. Then asked standard questions. Where and how we met, when we first started dating, what we did (jobs), when we first met in person, and how we got engaged. Simple stuff, the easiest questions. Took maybe 10 minutes tops.
Then after that, she said "Congratulations, your visa has been approved. See the man at Booth B and he'll tell you how to collect your visa."
Another 10-15 minutes of waiting and then the guy at Booth B went over the procedure with me. I'll get emailed when the visa arrives at the drop-off I chose. Then I followed the hallway out and was brought to the lobby, and thus ended my time there.
Overall, it was just as easy as was implied. Security was tight, but everyone was friendly and helpful. No worries!
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LONG VERSION
I only had a select few belongings with me when heading to the consulate building. I first went to the Quiznos across the street and checked in my phone and transit ticket for a 10 dollar fee. All I had on me past that was a twin pocket portfolio holding all my important papers (including my passport, among other things), my keys, some change, a paperback book, and an ID card that I brought just in case. No electronics are allowed in the consulate building, including those little car fobs, so you have to be mindful. Don't bring a large bag with you as that too is prohibited.
After checking in my modest belongings, I crossed the street to the consulate building. Looking at the building from Quiznos, you want to head to the right-most edge of the building, where you'll find a line and a preliminary security check. An attendant will ask for your passport and DS-160 confirmation printout, and after checking them will let you in the line for security. You will receive a card along the line that will tell the floor and the booth letter you'll be going to. Then after a short line, you'll be asked to hand over any larger items you have and declare all items that may be prohibited, and once satisfied you'll be let through.
Immediately after the checkpoint, you'll enter a door inside the building. There is an immediate left, followed by a staircase that hooks right. Follow the staircase up and you'll be in line for the next security check. This one is closer to airport security, complete with luggage xrays and a metal detector. You'll empty your pockets into a bin, and be asked to stand on a raised mat. They didn't ask many questions, though they did ask to inspect my eyeglasses. Shortly thereafter, I was asked to walk through the metal detector and retrieve my stuff. The only way through to the elevator is back through the metal detector, and as soon as I was through they waved the next person to be scanned.
An officer escorted me up to the 20th floor, handing me off to two other officers once we arrived. The officers there were very clear with their instructions, but in a fairly friendly, non-threatening way. They told me to turn left, and immediately left again, and I was greeted with a row of booths, the first of which was Booth 2, and the rest of which were lettered alphabetically, starting with B.
Booth B was the only one with a lightswitch, which I flipped once as instructed. After a short while of pondering the use of a switch over a button, I was greeted by a man who again asked for my passport and DS-160 papers. He then asked for a few more things from my portfolio, and gave me a number. I took a seat and waited to be called.
There were two places to sit: a little open waiting room that overlooked Booth 2 and the lettered booths, and a hallway of chairs overlooking the rest of the numbered booths. For a bit of perspective, if I had gone right when I first entered the door, I would have been in the hallway with the numbered booths. I chose to sit in the open room, and started reading the book I brought. On the wall was a generic number board for displaying the last two numbers called. Among the numbers called both audibly and on the board, other numbers would occasionally appear that were not explicitly called. Needless to say your eyes don't have to be glued to the screen. Non-decoy numbers (I assume they’re decoys!) will always be called audibly.
It's admittedly a bit difficult to keep track of time in the building, as they don't have any clocks hanging. I'm fairly certain I spent about an hour or so waiting before my number was called. I walked up to the booth I was called to and we went through the process of scanning my fingerprints. I'd advise bringing a napkin or a kleenex if you have naturally clammy hands like me, as it made scanning the prints a tad bit difficult. Following the scan, we started with the interview. The interview took maybe 10-15 minutes before it concluded, and the interviewer congratulated me, stating right then and there that my visa had been approved. She told me to visit Booth B once again for details on how to receive my visa and sent me on my way.
After being told that my visa would be delivered to the drop-off and that I'd receive an email on its arrival, I was congratulated once again and dismissed. The door I came in from was clearly marked as an entrance only, so I followed the exit sign down the hallway. Hanging a right, and then another right, I was back at the elevator ready to be brought down. I was deposited at lobby level, and exited the building from the main entrance at the intersection. From there I crossed the street to Quiznos where I collected my belongings and went on my merry way. It was about 11 a.m., so it took maybe 2 1/2 hours, start to finish.
(updated on October 1, 2015) |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0