ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
CanadaInterview Scheduled!
AndreaK, I don't think it's necessary for you to have a car while you're in the city. If you stay downtown around Burrard and Robson, especially somewhere like the Century Plaza or the Days Inn, a lot of things (including the consulate) are walking distance. I also believe the Century Plaza offers shuttle service to and from the airport, though you may want to check on that - barring that, a cab would probably be cheaper than a rental and parking charges (Century Plaza charges $12/day, if I remember correctly).

I also noticed that my interview was scheduled for 1pm, but I took it as their summer hours. Besides, it'll be nice to have some "ohmygodi'msonervousbutwe'regonnabeokay" time with the fiance. ;)
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-05 11:53:00
CanadaDid you get yours? I got mine!
Next one is $40 million! Go go go!
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-10 12:48:00
CanadaDid you get yours? I got mine!
I definitely need to tell my mom about this. :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-08 15:12:00
CanadaI got my Son into a Great School ....
That's great news! :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-08 01:08:00
CanadaWe're gonna be making a run for the border soon!!!!
Congrats! :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-08 23:37:00
CanadaPayment for K-1 interview in Canada
Just got an email from the Vancouver consulate too.

"Effective July 01 2007, you will need to pay the bank the $100USD application prior to your interview. Deposit slips can be downloaded at http://amcits.com/vancouver.asp."

Would've been nice if they'd said that on the interview letter! :angry:
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-12 13:05:00
CanadaPayment for K-1 interview in Canada
Off the US Consulate in Vancouver website:

"On the day of the appointment, applicants must appear in person, including any dependent children who are approved beneficiaries on the fiancé(e) visa petition. Applicants must bring with them originals of all documents requested, and 100 U.S. dollars cash in exact change per applicant. If approved, the visas will be issued within two workdays."

I'm thinking an email is in order. :unsure:
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-11 12:45:00
CanadaPayment for K-1 interview in Canada
Aroo? :blink:

I'll check my Packet 3 when I get home, but as far as I can remember, it only stated to bring $100 in US funds.

My Packet 4 (which for some reason I carry around at school with me, maybe it's a security blanket thing) says that I have to bring the $100 US in cash only.

Maybe you should email the consulate to double-check?

Edited by Nini & Bee, 08 June 2007 - 12:18 PM.

~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-08 12:17:00
CanadaName change questions
Unfortunately for Canadian passports they have to be re-issued if there's a name change. They used to do observations to the original passport, but they've changed it since then.

At least for me my passport expires next year, but with the current regulations and delays, it'll take forever and a day for it to be renewed. *sigh*
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-12 12:45:00
CanadaName change questions
Hehe, I'm basically in the same boat as liz_legend that we won't be telling my family about the civil ceremony either (not for religious reasons, just to prevent the apocalypse). I guess I'll just need to keep my IDs and credit cards tucked away, then. ;)

On top of that, what are the regulations for name changes? I've been thinking about keeping my maiden name but compounding my fiance's name to mine, but I'm not sure whether that's allowed. I love his name, but I like mine too. :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-11 02:39:00
CanadaName change questions
How much is it to have a name change if you don't decide to apply for AOS with the husband's name? I know it's a silly question to ask. :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-10 16:38:00
CanadaI'm a leavin! On a jet plane...
Congratulations! :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-14 12:00:00
CanadaI'm a leavin! On a jet plane...
Good luck on your interview! I bet you'll do just fine! :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-09 14:11:00
Canadapassport question
I guess it depends on which POE you're using. For instance, when I went to visit Bee I know I was stamped going into JFK and the pre-clearance customs in YVR (Vancouver International Airport), but another time going through YVR I wasn't given a stamp.
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-13 19:37:00
CanadaMy interview is scheduled!
August 7th, baby! :dance:

(As an aside, I know I could've chosen an earlier date, but my fiance wanted to attend the interview and I have a very tight final semester at school. August was the earliest stress-free day for both of us. :D)
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-04 15:05:00
CanadaAPPROVED APPROVED APPROVED!!
Yay! Congratulations! :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-17 22:45:00
Canadavancover and montreal
Flying through YVR to see my fiance was fine. The officer was nice, didn't ask about my K1, only got curious when I mentioned that I was visiting my fiance and asked a few questions about him. I only had to show my itinerary for proof (even though I brought more than that to prove ties) and that was that.
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-22 11:57:00
CanadaAnother interview story
Congrats!
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-22 10:25:00
CanadaOK, we all know about flames'sss obsession...
I'm not a fan of Second Cup, and the only thing I like from Moonbucks is the chai they have, which is the only coffee place around work for a ten-block radius. (Yes, in Vancouver, believe it or not.)

However, I make up for that loss with the genuine Timmy Ho's in the college cafeteria. :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-25 12:18:00
Canadainterview tomorrow!
Don't stress! :D

Good luck on your interview. Chin up! You'll do great!
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-18 21:12:00
CanadaThe Visa is Here
Congratulations, Allie! :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-25 11:42:00
CanadaE-mail to the Montréal Consulate...

Thanks for the good birthday wishes, everyone.

Things are starting to get better. The temp job that I had been working for the past 5 weeks or so has ended, but the employment agency found another one for me that pays WAY better and is a temp-to-hire position!!! It starts on Thursday, so I'll have a few days to rest before it begins. Plus this job pays more than enough to be able to support the two of us on, and get this... it's a government job! I am so relieved that I might have something permanent again.


That's great news! :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-25 11:42:00
CanadaE-mail to the Montréal Consulate...
I definitely agree with CutienPurg. This forum has offered some of the comfiest shoulders when I've needed to rant and I'd hate to think that you would hold back because you're going through a really bad time. So... don't do it! We're here if you need to get something off your chest. :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-05-24 23:46:00
CanadaE-mail to the Montréal Consulate...
My advice is to tell them the truth, and request for faster action due to your current medical situation. I would like to believe you wouldn't get any form of reprisal for this from the consulate - the worst they could do is say no. At best, you can hope that a kind-hearted person at the consulate will read your email and do what he can to expedite your interview.

Good luck!
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-05-23 21:50:00
CanadaVisa In Hand
Congratulations to you both! :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-25 11:28:00
CanadaI'm gone and next time you hear from me ......
Good luck! :D

And have some poutine for us!
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-26 23:16:00
CanadaThe US Treasury at Scotia Bank?
Yeah, I just received this letter the other day too. We had a thread about this a week or two ago. I'm not sure why they're starting to do this for the U.S. consulate though - I guess to reduce paperwork on their end?

Quite honestly, I wish they'd stuck with the old system. Rushing to a bank to deposit your fee for the visa seems a little inconvenient, especially for those that have to travel long distances for the interview. But it's a small gripe.
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-28 11:42:00
CanadaMedical review - Vancouver
I just wanted to add that when I was picking up my results on Wednesday afternoon, I was also given a copy of my vaccination records for future AOS. The medical results envelope (just a regular business letter size) was sealed with a big "U.S. Consulate Do Not Open" stamp and the not-that-impressive-and-big x-ray came in a nice brown envelope.

I also recommend that you don't be late in picking your results up! My bus ran late and when I arrived at 2.15pm the nurses were already leaving for the day. Luckily the office had left the results next door at the x-ray clinic and I went home a relieved clam. :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-29 03:17:00
CanadaMedical review - Vancouver

I was thinkin' of you today - glad everything went well. Sounds fairly painless, actually. =)


Oh Eka - I totally thought of you too! There was a girl who was also making the trip down to NC and for a split second I was like "That can't be her!" Alas, she had never heard of World of Warcraft.
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-27 16:57:00
CanadaMedical review - Vancouver
It's a huge black gate which blocks the walkway to the entrance of the building. I think they only use it when the building is closed, though - otherwise you just walk up the walkway and into the lobby.
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-27 12:08:00
CanadaMedical review - Vancouver
*rubs eyes*

So, today was my medical exam at #250-1144 Burrard Street to see Dr. Ian Morgan. I get there at the (obnoxious) hour of 5.30am in the morning after catching the first Translink bus, and waited outside the locked gate as the lucky first arrival. A few others showed up and at about 6am someone opened the gate for us, and we went to sit in the lobby until the office opened up.

At about 6.15am we were allowed to wait in the reception area outside #250. We were given numbers according to arrival time, and were given a waiver form and medical history sheet to fill out. Afterwards at 6.45am, we went to get our blood tests done in the adjacent building (we walked through a little walkway) and groups of four were taken into a room separated by dividers for each seat. The guy who took our vials of blood was really friendly and energetic which was nice. Then we were hauled back to the reception area to wait to take our x-rays.

For the x-ray they ask that you strip from the waist up and put on a little hospital gown. One of the other girls and I didn't know which way to put it on so we just tied it in the front. We were led individually into the x-ray room, where the technician gave me a lead sheet to cover me from the waist down. That was finished at 7.20am - we were allowed to go off and do our own thing till the doctor arrived at 8am.

At that time I was called in and taken to a little room and asked to take everything but undergarments off. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that one of the nurses would also be in the room during the exam since the doc was male. He was an extremely friendly guy and asked me lots of questions (both medical and about my move) during the 5-minute checkup, which was a general exam. Afterwards, I was measured for my height and weight and my eyes were checked (I need new glasses :blink: ). Then I paid my bill (yay $275) and that was that!

The funniest parts were when the bunch of us were waiting outside the lab and someone mentioned VJ - and everyone kept referring to me as the person that knew what she was doing. I guess reading all those reviews helped! :D There were a few who hadn't quite collected what they needed - one girl had forgotten her vaccination records, another couple hadn't brought their visa photos along. Overall I'm glad that the medical clinic had sent me an email with instructions as to what I should bring.

Also, we kept shuffling around together like cows marching around a slaughterhouse. It's definitely been an interesting morning, but I get to pick up my results at 2pm today. :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-27 11:28:00
CanadaI'm back from Montreal -Had my poutine and smoked meat!
Oh, congrats neiks! :D

Now the real question is, what kind of poutine did ya eat?
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-29 02:43:00
CanadaUS Banking Vs Canadian Banking
I'm really not looking forward to banking in the US. At all. I've been browsing through numerous sites trying to find the best bank and I'm sooooo confused. Plus, most of the banks that I want to deal with are all in Philadelphia, which is about a half-hour drive away from where I'm going to be at. Bleh.

Having been privy to watching my fiance do his banking in PA, it's like trying to pull teeth from the teller. Writing deposit slips? Credit checks? Confusion between a check card and a debit card? Swiping your own credit card at a retail terminal? Eeps.

I don't even want to think about what it's going to be like to wire money back to Canada. :unsure:

For the most part, I was so shocked when I saw someone writing a personal check to pay for their groceries at Whole Foods. I've been in retail for-ever and just the amount of fraud based on those has been crazy - plus the convenience of a debit card has been amazing.

The only thing I've seen about a U.S. bank that I like is the Penny Arcade. I literally stared at it so long that one of the tellers asked me if I needed assistance. :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-28 11:49:00
CanadaGoing Home!!
Abandoning ice caps = bad juju. Baaaaad juju.
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-28 13:14:00
CanadaGoing Home!!
Get some poutine while you can! Have a great trip! :D

And just because flames is totally going to mention it - don't forget the Timmy Ho's!
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-28 11:50:00
CanadaUPdate: Nancy and Ramos
Woohoo! :D
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-07-03 10:27:00
CanadaThings not to do or say

Most important!!! When Nancy asks where the washroom is....she doesn't mean where the washing machine is :lol:

It's always good to be able to laugh at the little differences between us :thumbs:


I remember when the waiter at the restaurant gave me a funny look when I asked that... haha. :blush:
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-29 20:25:00
CanadaThings not to do or say
I guess white gravy would be common for someone that, y'know, is familiar with that kind of thing. I guess we just don't see it up here and we're surprised when we do.

Difference in opinions! Who would've thunk it?
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-29 18:36:00
CanadaThings not to do or say

When she says "Thank you", don't ever say "Uh huh." The response is "You're welcome."

Thank you. Posted Image


OMG! That totally drives me up the wall!

I mean, how many more syllables is it to say "Thank you" than it is to say "uh huh"!
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-29 17:15:00
CanadaThings not to do or say
I was pretty surprised when I heard about the kettle thing too. Bee's family has a nice stove kettle which I used almost every day when I went to visit them, but then again they're all tea drinkers. :D

What is this "white gravy" stuff I hear about? :wacko: I'm really, really frightened... I hope they don't serve that for Thanksgiving!
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-06-29 14:52:00