U.S. consulate Vancouver interview experience.....
Jan 6th 2004, 11:34 pm
#1
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 21
U.S. consulate Vancouver interview experience.....
I had my interview at the U.S. consulate in Vancouver yesterday and was successful in getting the K-1 visa after a waiting period of 10mths since first sending in our I-129F application. For those of you who are interested this is how it all unfolded at the consulate:
Arrived an hour and a half early and was advised by the security guard (who was very friendly) to come back at 1.45pm (just 15mins before interview time). Wasted time in coffee shops and the mall, went back at 1.40pm and the guard let me in, escorted me to the lift where another guard took myself and another family (applying for a K-3) up to the 19th or 20th floor (can't remember which, getting anxious at this point and not paying much attention to what floor I was taken to). Then went through security (all very friendly once again) not unlike typical airport security but less thorough actually because I beeped several times on the walk through and they never used a wand or anything they just told me not to worry about it and to go on through. One of the security personnel gave me a sheet of paper that listed the order in which they wanted to see my documents, it was as follows:
passport, photographs (2 with name printed on back), OF 156/DS-156, DS 156K, Birth Certificate (long form), marriage certificate, termination of all previous marriages, Police certificate(s), court records (where applicable), affidavit of support, medical. (Some of these items obviously don't apply to everybody, some of them didn't apply to me).
I had everything organised in a big binder so it was very easy for me to do a quick re-shuffle then take a seat in a small waiting area with 2 other couples and 1 other woman. Perhaps 45mins passed before I was called up to a window and my paperwork (as listed above) was requested, the very friendly lady made sure it was all there and then sent me down the hall (just a short walk) to pay my $100 US cash to the cashier and come back with a receipt, that took me about 1 minute to do. I came back delivered the receipt to her and she attached it to the other documents, told me to take a seat and that I'd be called up shortly for interview by an officer. The other people waiting were called up; 1 before me and the others after but were just as quick and straightforward. Perhaps 30mins passed before I was called up to another window where a second officer had my complete file in front of him (all the docs filed with the I-129F apparently as well as the ones I'd just handed to the officer at the first window), he asked me whether I could swear that all of the information I had given was correct and truthful, I said that I could and he asked me to sign the bottom of one of the forms (that I had left unsigned as it was to be signed in front of a consular officer). He then told me to take a seat whilst they prepared the visa. The others were called up for exactly the same experience, not sure it could be construed as an interview as such. I had a 4 inch 3 ring binder full of evidentiary documentation and they wanted none of it! After maybe another half hour wait or so the first officer called us all up to the windown together and handed each of us our passports with the brand spanking new visa heat sealed into it (or something similar) and the sealed brown envelope to be handed to the immigration and customs officials upon crossing the border. We were asked to check the visa in our passports to ensure everything was correct so amendments could be made right there and then if necessary. We were also given a sheet of paper titled General Information for Fiance Visa which basically outlined what happens next and that we should direct any questions we may have to the official at the border crossing. Then we all walked out together, kind of shell shocked and couldn't believe that was it....... but it was.
Hopefully that was informative for all who are interested in what happens when you roll up for interview (at least at the Vancouver consulate anyway).
Regards,
Jules
Arrived an hour and a half early and was advised by the security guard (who was very friendly) to come back at 1.45pm (just 15mins before interview time). Wasted time in coffee shops and the mall, went back at 1.40pm and the guard let me in, escorted me to the lift where another guard took myself and another family (applying for a K-3) up to the 19th or 20th floor (can't remember which, getting anxious at this point and not paying much attention to what floor I was taken to). Then went through security (all very friendly once again) not unlike typical airport security but less thorough actually because I beeped several times on the walk through and they never used a wand or anything they just told me not to worry about it and to go on through. One of the security personnel gave me a sheet of paper that listed the order in which they wanted to see my documents, it was as follows:
passport, photographs (2 with name printed on back), OF 156/DS-156, DS 156K, Birth Certificate (long form), marriage certificate, termination of all previous marriages, Police certificate(s), court records (where applicable), affidavit of support, medical. (Some of these items obviously don't apply to everybody, some of them didn't apply to me).
I had everything organised in a big binder so it was very easy for me to do a quick re-shuffle then take a seat in a small waiting area with 2 other couples and 1 other woman. Perhaps 45mins passed before I was called up to a window and my paperwork (as listed above) was requested, the very friendly lady made sure it was all there and then sent me down the hall (just a short walk) to pay my $100 US cash to the cashier and come back with a receipt, that took me about 1 minute to do. I came back delivered the receipt to her and she attached it to the other documents, told me to take a seat and that I'd be called up shortly for interview by an officer. The other people waiting were called up; 1 before me and the others after but were just as quick and straightforward. Perhaps 30mins passed before I was called up to another window where a second officer had my complete file in front of him (all the docs filed with the I-129F apparently as well as the ones I'd just handed to the officer at the first window), he asked me whether I could swear that all of the information I had given was correct and truthful, I said that I could and he asked me to sign the bottom of one of the forms (that I had left unsigned as it was to be signed in front of a consular officer). He then told me to take a seat whilst they prepared the visa. The others were called up for exactly the same experience, not sure it could be construed as an interview as such. I had a 4 inch 3 ring binder full of evidentiary documentation and they wanted none of it! After maybe another half hour wait or so the first officer called us all up to the windown together and handed each of us our passports with the brand spanking new visa heat sealed into it (or something similar) and the sealed brown envelope to be handed to the immigration and customs officials upon crossing the border. We were asked to check the visa in our passports to ensure everything was correct so amendments could be made right there and then if necessary. We were also given a sheet of paper titled General Information for Fiance Visa which basically outlined what happens next and that we should direct any questions we may have to the official at the border crossing. Then we all walked out together, kind of shell shocked and couldn't believe that was it....... but it was.
Hopefully that was informative for all who are interested in what happens when you roll up for interview (at least at the Vancouver consulate anyway).
Regards,
Jules
Jan 6th 2004, 11:38 pm
#2
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Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Ireland--->London--->Spain--->Rockport, MA
Posts: 3,353
Re: U.S. consulate Vancouver interview experience.....
Congrats and not a single question!
Jan 7th 2004, 12:02 am
#3
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,367
Re: U.S. consulate Vancouver interview experience.....
Originally posted by aussiejules1974
I had my interview at the U.S. consulate in Vancouver yesterday and was successful in getting the K-1 visa after a waiting period of 10mths since first sending in our I-129F application.
I had my interview at the U.S. consulate in Vancouver yesterday and was successful in getting the K-1 visa after a waiting period of 10mths since first sending in our I-129F application.
Jan 7th 2004, 12:42 am
#4
The Missus
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Northwest of Chicago
Posts: 6,239
Re: U.S. consulate Vancouver interview experience.....
Ok, Jules, so the organized binder with photocopies helped then! LOL.....Mr. Pink's interview was today in London (see "A Day in London (long!)" if interested, and sounds basically the same as yours! Well done! 
Good luck, and welcome to the USA...soon......
~SG and Mr. Pink
Good luck, and welcome to the USA...soon......
~SG and Mr. Pink
Jan 7th 2004, 2:50 pm
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: Us LAX- Vz PBL
Posts: 186
Re: U.S. consulate Vancouver interview experience.....
Originally posted by aussiejules1974
I had my interview at the U.S. consulate in Vancouver yesterday and was successful in getting the K-1 visa after a waiting period of 10mths since first sending in our I-129F application. For those of you who are interested this is how it all unfolded at the consulate:
Arrived an hour and a half early and was advised by the security guard (who was very friendly) to come back at 1.45pm (just 15mins before interview time). Wasted time in coffee shops and the mall, went back at 1.40pm and the guard let me in, escorted me to the lift where another guard took myself and another family (applying for a K-3) up to the 19th or 20th floor (can't remember which, getting anxious at this point and not paying much attention to what floor I was taken to). Then went through security (all very friendly once again) not unlike typical airport security but less thorough actually because I beeped several times on the walk through and they never used a wand or anything they just told me not to worry about it and to go on through. One of the security personnel gave me a sheet of paper that listed the order in which they wanted to see my documents, it was as follows:
passport, photographs (2 with name printed on back), OF 156/DS-156, DS 156K, Birth Certificate (long form), marriage certificate, termination of all previous marriages, Police certificate(s), court records (where applicable), affidavit of support, medical. (Some of these items obviously don't apply to everybody, some of them didn't apply to me).
I had everything organised in a big binder so it was very easy for me to do a quick re-shuffle then take a seat in a small waiting area with 2 other couples and 1 other woman. Perhaps 45mins passed before I was called up to a window and my paperwork (as listed above) was requested, the very friendly lady made sure it was all there and then sent me down the hall (just a short walk) to pay my $100 US cash to the cashier and come back with a receipt, that took me about 1 minute to do. I came back delivered the receipt to her and she attached it to the other documents, told me to take a seat and that I'd be called up shortly for interview by an officer. The other people waiting were called up; 1 before me and the others after but were just as quick and straightforward. Perhaps 30mins passed before I was called up to another window where a second officer had my complete file in front of him (all the docs filed with the I-129F apparently as well as the ones I'd just handed to the officer at the first window), he asked me whether I could swear that all of the information I had given was correct and truthful, I said that I could and he asked me to sign the bottom of one of the forms (that I had left unsigned as it was to be signed in front of a consular officer). He then told me to take a seat whilst they prepared the visa. The others were called up for exactly the same experience, not sure it could be construed as an interview as such. I had a 4 inch 3 ring binder full of evidentiary documentation and they wanted none of it! After maybe another half hour wait or so the first officer called us all up to the windown together and handed each of us our passports with the brand spanking new visa heat sealed into it (or something similar) and the sealed brown envelope to be handed to the immigration and customs officials upon crossing the border. We were asked to check the visa in our passports to ensure everything was correct so amendments could be made right there and then if necessary. We were also given a sheet of paper titled General Information for Fiance Visa which basically outlined what happens next and that we should direct any questions we may have to the official at the border crossing. Then we all walked out together, kind of shell shocked and couldn't believe that was it....... but it was.
Hopefully that was informative for all who are interested in what happens when you roll up for interview (at least at the Vancouver consulate anyway).
Regards,
Jules
I had my interview at the U.S. consulate in Vancouver yesterday and was successful in getting the K-1 visa after a waiting period of 10mths since first sending in our I-129F application. For those of you who are interested this is how it all unfolded at the consulate:
Arrived an hour and a half early and was advised by the security guard (who was very friendly) to come back at 1.45pm (just 15mins before interview time). Wasted time in coffee shops and the mall, went back at 1.40pm and the guard let me in, escorted me to the lift where another guard took myself and another family (applying for a K-3) up to the 19th or 20th floor (can't remember which, getting anxious at this point and not paying much attention to what floor I was taken to). Then went through security (all very friendly once again) not unlike typical airport security but less thorough actually because I beeped several times on the walk through and they never used a wand or anything they just told me not to worry about it and to go on through. One of the security personnel gave me a sheet of paper that listed the order in which they wanted to see my documents, it was as follows:
passport, photographs (2 with name printed on back), OF 156/DS-156, DS 156K, Birth Certificate (long form), marriage certificate, termination of all previous marriages, Police certificate(s), court records (where applicable), affidavit of support, medical. (Some of these items obviously don't apply to everybody, some of them didn't apply to me).
I had everything organised in a big binder so it was very easy for me to do a quick re-shuffle then take a seat in a small waiting area with 2 other couples and 1 other woman. Perhaps 45mins passed before I was called up to a window and my paperwork (as listed above) was requested, the very friendly lady made sure it was all there and then sent me down the hall (just a short walk) to pay my $100 US cash to the cashier and come back with a receipt, that took me about 1 minute to do. I came back delivered the receipt to her and she attached it to the other documents, told me to take a seat and that I'd be called up shortly for interview by an officer. The other people waiting were called up; 1 before me and the others after but were just as quick and straightforward. Perhaps 30mins passed before I was called up to another window where a second officer had my complete file in front of him (all the docs filed with the I-129F apparently as well as the ones I'd just handed to the officer at the first window), he asked me whether I could swear that all of the information I had given was correct and truthful, I said that I could and he asked me to sign the bottom of one of the forms (that I had left unsigned as it was to be signed in front of a consular officer). He then told me to take a seat whilst they prepared the visa. The others were called up for exactly the same experience, not sure it could be construed as an interview as such. I had a 4 inch 3 ring binder full of evidentiary documentation and they wanted none of it! After maybe another half hour wait or so the first officer called us all up to the windown together and handed each of us our passports with the brand spanking new visa heat sealed into it (or something similar) and the sealed brown envelope to be handed to the immigration and customs officials upon crossing the border. We were asked to check the visa in our passports to ensure everything was correct so amendments could be made right there and then if necessary. We were also given a sheet of paper titled General Information for Fiance Visa which basically outlined what happens next and that we should direct any questions we may have to the official at the border crossing. Then we all walked out together, kind of shell shocked and couldn't believe that was it....... but it was.
Hopefully that was informative for all who are interested in what happens when you roll up for interview (at least at the Vancouver consulate anyway).
Regards,
Jules
2Pat
Jan 7th 2004, 3:38 pm
#6
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Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Phoenix AZ
Posts: 2,345
Re: U.S. consulate Vancouver interview experience.....
Originally posted by aussiejules1974
I had my interview at the U.S. consulate in Vancouver yesterday and was successful in getting the K-1 visa after a waiting period of 10mths since first sending in our I-129F application. For those of you who are interested this is how it all unfolded at the consulate:
Arrived an hour and a half early and was advised by the security guard (who was very friendly) to come back at 1.45pm (just 15mins before interview time). Wasted time in coffee shops and the mall, went back at 1.40pm and the guard let me in, escorted me to the lift where another guard took myself and another family (applying for a K-3) up to the 19th or 20th floor (can't remember which, getting anxious at this point and not paying much attention to what floor I was taken to). Then went through security (all very friendly once again) not unlike typical airport security but less thorough actually because I beeped several times on the walk through and they never used a wand or anything they just told me not to worry about it and to go on through. One of the security personnel gave me a sheet of paper that listed the order in which they wanted to see my documents, it was as follows:
passport, photographs (2 with name printed on back), OF 156/DS-156, DS 156K, Birth Certificate (long form), marriage certificate, termination of all previous marriages, Police certificate(s), court records (where applicable), affidavit of support, medical. (Some of these items obviously don't apply to everybody, some of them didn't apply to me).
I had everything organised in a big binder so it was very easy for me to do a quick re-shuffle then take a seat in a small waiting area with 2 other couples and 1 other woman. Perhaps 45mins passed before I was called up to a window and my paperwork (as listed above) was requested, the very friendly lady made sure it was all there and then sent me down the hall (just a short walk) to pay my $100 US cash to the cashier and come back with a receipt, that took me about 1 minute to do. I came back delivered the receipt to her and she attached it to the other documents, told me to take a seat and that I'd be called up shortly for interview by an officer. The other people waiting were called up; 1 before me and the others after but were just as quick and straightforward. Perhaps 30mins passed before I was called up to another window where a second officer had my complete file in front of him (all the docs filed with the I-129F apparently as well as the ones I'd just handed to the officer at the first window), he asked me whether I could swear that all of the information I had given was correct and truthful, I said that I could and he asked me to sign the bottom of one of the forms (that I had left unsigned as it was to be signed in front of a consular officer). He then told me to take a seat whilst they prepared the visa. The others were called up for exactly the same experience, not sure it could be construed as an interview as such. I had a 4 inch 3 ring binder full of evidentiary documentation and they wanted none of it! After maybe another half hour wait or so the first officer called us all up to the windown together and handed each of us our passports with the brand spanking new visa heat sealed into it (or something similar) and the sealed brown envelope to be handed to the immigration and customs officials upon crossing the border. We were asked to check the visa in our passports to ensure everything was correct so amendments could be made right there and then if necessary. We were also given a sheet of paper titled General Information for Fiance Visa which basically outlined what happens next and that we should direct any questions we may have to the official at the border crossing. Then we all walked out together, kind of shell shocked and couldn't believe that was it....... but it was.
Hopefully that was informative for all who are interested in what happens when you roll up for interview (at least at the Vancouver consulate anyway).
Regards,
Jules
I had my interview at the U.S. consulate in Vancouver yesterday and was successful in getting the K-1 visa after a waiting period of 10mths since first sending in our I-129F application. For those of you who are interested this is how it all unfolded at the consulate:
Arrived an hour and a half early and was advised by the security guard (who was very friendly) to come back at 1.45pm (just 15mins before interview time). Wasted time in coffee shops and the mall, went back at 1.40pm and the guard let me in, escorted me to the lift where another guard took myself and another family (applying for a K-3) up to the 19th or 20th floor (can't remember which, getting anxious at this point and not paying much attention to what floor I was taken to). Then went through security (all very friendly once again) not unlike typical airport security but less thorough actually because I beeped several times on the walk through and they never used a wand or anything they just told me not to worry about it and to go on through. One of the security personnel gave me a sheet of paper that listed the order in which they wanted to see my documents, it was as follows:
passport, photographs (2 with name printed on back), OF 156/DS-156, DS 156K, Birth Certificate (long form), marriage certificate, termination of all previous marriages, Police certificate(s), court records (where applicable), affidavit of support, medical. (Some of these items obviously don't apply to everybody, some of them didn't apply to me).
I had everything organised in a big binder so it was very easy for me to do a quick re-shuffle then take a seat in a small waiting area with 2 other couples and 1 other woman. Perhaps 45mins passed before I was called up to a window and my paperwork (as listed above) was requested, the very friendly lady made sure it was all there and then sent me down the hall (just a short walk) to pay my $100 US cash to the cashier and come back with a receipt, that took me about 1 minute to do. I came back delivered the receipt to her and she attached it to the other documents, told me to take a seat and that I'd be called up shortly for interview by an officer. The other people waiting were called up; 1 before me and the others after but were just as quick and straightforward. Perhaps 30mins passed before I was called up to another window where a second officer had my complete file in front of him (all the docs filed with the I-129F apparently as well as the ones I'd just handed to the officer at the first window), he asked me whether I could swear that all of the information I had given was correct and truthful, I said that I could and he asked me to sign the bottom of one of the forms (that I had left unsigned as it was to be signed in front of a consular officer). He then told me to take a seat whilst they prepared the visa. The others were called up for exactly the same experience, not sure it could be construed as an interview as such. I had a 4 inch 3 ring binder full of evidentiary documentation and they wanted none of it! After maybe another half hour wait or so the first officer called us all up to the windown together and handed each of us our passports with the brand spanking new visa heat sealed into it (or something similar) and the sealed brown envelope to be handed to the immigration and customs officials upon crossing the border. We were asked to check the visa in our passports to ensure everything was correct so amendments could be made right there and then if necessary. We were also given a sheet of paper titled General Information for Fiance Visa which basically outlined what happens next and that we should direct any questions we may have to the official at the border crossing. Then we all walked out together, kind of shell shocked and couldn't believe that was it....... but it was.
Hopefully that was informative for all who are interested in what happens when you roll up for interview (at least at the Vancouver consulate anyway).
Regards,
Jules
