Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

Time to share my experience.

For booking appointment, there's no magic spell I'm aware of. Keep looking. The slots change even within a minute. I was surprised when I rescheduled and I couldn't see my old appointment date as open. Either it goes that fast or they were made available later.

On the day of appointment, I reached 20 minutes early to my 7.45 appointment and was asked to wait. As I was staying in a close by hotel, I wasn't carrying any bags or electronics. At 7.45 the security screening started (not even a pen is allowed inside, they will hold it for you and you can collect it on the way out) and was sent in to the cashier counter. Do not go to any other counter. For L1, cashier counter is the first stop.

In this counter they ask for the petition sets (two) and the checks (two).

Things to make sure.

Please carry cards(debit/credit cards) in case if you have to pay anything extra. One person had to request to go out and get another card as the card they were carrying didn't work. So make sure you have a card that you already tried using in Canada.

If you wear eye glasses, make sure in your visa photo you're not wearing it. No eye glasses. It would create another hassle and you would have to go to the photo booth and take a new photo.(and you need Canadian 5 dollars or coins to use it. And the VO has to allow you.) This would be extra stress. So make sure your photo meets all the specifications.

Once the photo is scanned they will give it back and that's done. The petition sets and receipts for the fee payment will be placed in a transparent folder and handed over to you.

By this point, your fee is paid, photo is screened. Now on to finger prints. The cashier will ask you to go to a specific counter for that. In this counter you will be asked to pledge that all information provided is true by giving ten prints.

Next comes the wait. By 8.00 I was done with both the counters. The interview counter opened at 8.30. I think that's the actual time they start.

I have read many experiences here and they all helped me. IMHO, there is only one thing to follow.

Answer to the point.

Treat all the questions as one word answer questions. If you can answer it with a yes or no, just end it there. Don't explain why it is yes or no. The VO will ask you to explain if they need it. If your answer has to be more than two words, keep it with in two sentences. Even the explanations. Again this is just my opinion.

Here is the list of questions, I was asked. (For future forum users who plan to post experience, please add your answers to give others an idea, it is greatly appreciated, at least it was, by me.)

1. Which visa are you in here? —my Canada visa type.
2. Do you still work for xxxxx? — Yes.
3. How long have you been working with xxxx? —xx years. (And yes, the questions were asked in this order.)
4. Do you work at a client site? — Yes.
5. What's the name? — xxxx
6. What do they do? — five word sentence. It's a xxxx yyyy company.
7. What's your highest education? — Degree with specialization
8. Are you married? — Yes
9. How many kids? xx
10. Can you explain what you do on a daily basis at work? I answered in two sentences, using the same key words as in my DS 160.

I was given a set of stamped petition and was asked to check my email for passport collection. I took a photo copy of the petition as I was told that it may be taken at the POE.

Good luck.