Follow the steps below to complete your Application. Remember to always refer to the U.S. Embassy in Vancouver’s website for the latest instructions.
Note: The K1/K3 visa application process for Vancover is different than Montreal. You can get the latest embassy instructions here.
1. Complete your K1/K3 Visa Application and mail it to USCIS.
Once approved your application will be sent to the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
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2. You will receive your Notice of Action (NOA1 and NOA2).
The NOA (Notice of Action) is an action USCIS has taken with your application. The NOA1 is the notice that USCIS has received your application (1-4 weeks). The NOA2 is the notice that USCIS has approved your application and sent it to the National Visa Center (1-4 months).
3. Your application arrives at National Visa Center (NVC).
When your application arrives here it will be given a Vancouver case number Within 1 to 4 weeks your application will be sent to the U.S. Embassy in Vancouver, Canada.
Optional: Get Vancouver (VAC#) case number. After 1 week of receiving your NOA2, you can call the NVC (Tel: 603-334-070). Have the NOA2 receipt number with you. Ask them if your case has arrived at NVC. If so, ask if an VAC number has been assigned and whether the case has been sent to Vancouver.
4. You will receive Instruction Packet (Packet 3) from U.S. Embassy in Vancouver.
Your application will arrive at the U.S. Embassy in Vancouver, Canada. Once your application arrives, it will be processed and you will eventually receive your Packet 3 instructions letter. Receiving the Packet 3 can take upto 4 months, so be patient. If you wish to find out the status of your application, you can call the Department of State number: 202-663-1225 (press 1-0). You can drive yourself crazy calling repeatedly, so just accept this will take awhile and start preparing your Packet 3 documents as explained next.
Note: You cannot schedule your interview yet. Complete Packet 3 at this time.
5. Prepare your documentation.
You can do this before you receive your Packet 3, that way you’ll be ready when it arrives and get it mailed back quickly.
Here are the required documents you must include for Packet 3:
- DS-230, Part I only, one copy per applicant including children.
- DS-156, DS-156K is no longer required. Replaced by DS-160 (see below)
- DS-160 (Not required by U.S. Embassy in Vancouver)
- 3 color photographs of Beneficiary (Photograph Requirements)
- Photocopy of the biographic data page of the applicant’s passport.
- Birth Certificate
- (Optional) As is always good practice in any correspondence, include a cover letter listing petitioner name, beneficiary name, VAC#, list of documents included and your contact information.
- Marriage certificate (for K3 visa)
- Divorce and/or death certificates
- Police certificates
- Court and Prison records
- Evidence of financial support
- Child custody documentation
- Translations if any documents are not in English
6. Gather all the Packet 3 checklist documents (above). Fax the document.
As part of Packet 3 you signed a checklist to say you have gathered all the documents listed in the checklist which you will bring to the interview. Gather them now, you will bring them to the interview. Here is the checklist outlining the document.
7. You will receive your Appointment Package (Packet 4).
Schedule your Marriage Interview. After you fax the Packet 3 checklist, you will wait for sometime and then receive Packet 4 from the U.S. Embassy in Vancouver. Once you receive Packet 4, you can schedule your marriage interview here.
You will need to pay $350 USD at the time of scheduling the interview or you can choose to bring it with you to the interview. You will receive a confirmation email, print this and bring it on the day of your interview as proof of your interview date.
Marriage Visa Expert
Take any interview date you can get even if it is a month away. Once you’ve gotten a date, you can always log back in later, select reschedule and see if an earlier date has become available. Do not continue if a later date is shown otherwise you will be given this later date and the earlier date will be cancelled.
8. Schedule DHS Pickup location.
When scheduling your interview you will also schedule where your passport with the visa will be sent to. Make sure you do this correctly.
Marriage Visa Expert
Ensure you enter your email address when selecting the DHL pickup location. That way you will get an email notifiction when your passport with your K visa is being sent to you (after the interview process).
9. Complete your Medical Exam.
Your medical exam can only be completed at an officially authorized office. There are only 4 offices that can perform the medical exam for your K1 visa/K3 visa. Do it close to your interview date, but at most it must be done within a year of the interview.
Important: Call the medical office, inform them you require it for your immigrant visa and provide the date of your interview. Schedule an appointment with them. You will be informed of the cost. Be sure to bring the medical results with you to the interview. Here is the list of authorized offices and medical exam instruction.
10. Day of the Marriage Interview.
This is what you have been waiting for and working so hard to get to. The most important part here is to ensure you have all your documents and do not lie during the interview. It will only hurt you. Review the checklist you signed previously and ensure all the documents are in the correct order.
Arrive 30-60 minutes before your interview time. Embassy office opens at 9:00am so don’t get there too early. This embassy office is pretty efficient in getting people through the process so you don’t have to worry too much. They are very organized and helpful. When you arrive at the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver, you may wait briefly in line. Show your appointment confirmation to the security guard at the front. He will direct you to the security guards just inside the building. Follow their instructions. Be prepared to wait in line.
11. You obtain your K1 Visa or K3 Visa.
Your will receive your K1 Visa or K3 Visa in the mail and not on the day of your interview. Your passport and visa will be sent to the DHL location you selected in Step 8. The wait can be very long, but you will get a email notification when DHL is deliverying it (if you entered your email at the time of scheduling, see Scheduling DHS step above).
13. Fly to the U.S. and Get Married.
Congratulations. Now, book your trip to the U.S. Remember you have 90 days to get married once you enter the United States. Once you’ve gotten married, file your Adjustment of Status application.
