Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

Hi All,

  I am planning to visit this March 2018 to Calgary for H1B Stamping. Anyone planning during same time?

I was living in US on H4 visa since 2015. I started studying and changed my status from H4 to F1 in June 2016. I decided to visit canada for my F1 visa stamping. I applied for canada visitor visa and booked visa appointment for 18th December,2017 in Calgary, Canada.
I had my interview on 18th December,2017 at 9:30 am. Security check-in then fingerprinting and visa interview window. The officer asked me about my study, major, interests, subjects etc. Asked university details, financial support etc.
He wrote down everything in his computer and gave my passport back to me with yellow 221(G) paper and asked me to submit my resume, project work, research work, publications, financial supporting documents and school letter.
I argue with him and convinced him to keep my passport with them. Came back to hotel and called few university people and asked for required documents. I submitted all the documents on the same day.
Will give you date to date updates for my case
Status: Administrative Processing
Case Created: 15-Dec-2017
Case Last Updated: 18-Dec-2017
No updates from anywhere after that. Sent few emails asking for my status. I only received the reply for my first email in auto-generated email format.
On 21-Dec-2017 - Received an email from Embassy regarding sending my documents.
22-Dec-2017 - Received my passport with no stamp in it.

23-Dec-2017 to 26-Dec-2017 = Holidays
28-Dec-2017 to 30-Dec-2017 = No updates

31st Dec-2017 to 1-Jan-2017 = Holidays
2-Jan-2017 to 5-Jan-2017 = No updates

6-Jan-2017 to 7-Jan-2017 = Holidays
on 9-Jan-2017
Status: Administrative Processing
Case Created: 15-Dec-2017
Case Last Updated: 09-Jan-2018

On 10-Jan-2017
Received an email asking to submit my passport and supporting documents to the embassy.
Generated courier-in instructions from Us visa account and submitted documents on the same day via canadapost.

12-Jan-2017
Documents received.

13-Jan-2017 to 15-Jan-2017
Holidays

16-Jan-2017
Status: Administrative Processing
Case Created: 15-Dec-2017
Case Last Updated: 16-Jan-2018

17-Jan-2017
Status: Issued
Case Created: 15-Dec-2017
Case Last Updated:17-Jan-2018
Got email from US embassy about returning my documents.

18-Jan-2017
Received email from post office to pick up documents.

19-Jan-2017
Reached home safely!

Hello,

Our H1/H4 visa got approved in Calgary on Jan 18th  and collected the passports from the post office on Jan 25th . This visit was for renewal and second time in Calgary. Fourth time H1 renewal.

The interview was at 8:00 am on Thursday  Jan 18th  and we took a Airbnb near the consulate in downtown walking distance from the Consulate. We  reached there at around 7:25 am at Rocky Mountain Plaza building. On the ground floor itself the front desk  checked our documents ( DS-160 confirmation page or Appointment confirmation) and latest one  2*2 photo.  After screening some personnel took a bunch of us in a line to 10th floor where the actual consulate is. 

On the first  window  they checked the documents again ( passport and I797 original). They put both the passports together and wrote down "NO PIMS" on back of my passport and gave it back to me. Next Window was finger printing and after that we were standing in queue to be called by the VO.

The Interview was a breeze few questions regarding job location, employer, education. For my spouse questions as to how many years we were married and her employment information ( H4 EAD ). After a few minutes of typing the VO mentioned that our visa's were approved and it would take 5-10 business days.

We took off to Banff for the weekend and spend time in and around Calgary. Got an email notification on Jan 24th that a tracking number has been created. Picked up the passport from Canada PO next day.

 All the Best to all.

I had my H1B visa interview on Jan 24,2018 and my Visa got approved. However, my DS-160 still shows as 'Administrative Processing' and website shows status as 'appointment'. I read through the portal that the status got changed in a day but my status has not changed for two days. How long does it take?

Hi Guys,

I am going for H1B Stamping to Ottawa, my interview is on Jan 31, 2018. I will be travelling from USA(Chicago) on Jan 30,2018.

I have following questions.
1. What should I mention to the officer at canada port of entry, about my travel to canada, Shall I mention that I came for H1B stamping or Just to visit a friend, I dont have any relatives or friends in canada.

2. Where will be the US port of entry while travelling from Ottawa to Chicago ?

Please advise,

Thanks
Venkat

Hi,
I had my interview on 4th Jan. All went well. Was issued yellow slip with no docs requested. Status changed to admin processing a week later and no updates since. Anyone else in the same boat/timeline or is it just me ? Please advise.

On Jan 03, 2018, my status was changed from H4 to H1.
I have to go to Canada to complete my PR formalities before mid-March, 2018, which also means I need H1 stamp to re-enter US.
So, what are the odds of getting H1 stamp denied, considering the fact my status/employment history has short duration?
What are the chances that the counselor might ask me to go to India for stamping considering my very limited work experience in US and Indian education?
Please advice or share any relevant experience.
  

Hi All,

Thank you for sharing your experience and tips. Now I would like to share mine for your reference.

1/11 9:30am MST H-1B visa renewal interview appointment @ US Consulate General Calgary
Arrived 15min before the appointment;
1st floor front desk checked DS160 confirmation page, photo, I-797, passport;
Security check;
Taken to the visa interview office by officer;
Waited in one line;
Asked what visa you are applying for, collected photo, checked passport and I-797;
Fingerprint check;
About 15-20 people waited for interviews, two windows open at the beginning, later opened one more window;
Waited for about 30 min, then my turn for interview, officer asked employer name, job title, US graduate degree and school, and OPT start and end dates;
No more questions but the officer kept typing notes in the compute for a minute;
In the end, officer passed me yellow slip 221(g) and didn't approve my visa with pending administrative processing on the system error about my OPT period, no further action needed on my end, but can just wait;
Asked officer how long it could take, officer said this error is not uncommon, and could take about 1 week for the system to be corrected, and another week for the passport delivery;
Visa Status Check at DOS, case last updated on 1/11 Administrative Processing

1/12-1/16
No update on either DOS Visa Status Check or Visa Appointment Service website, still administrative processing last updated on 1/11

1/17 afternoon
DOS Visa Status Check, case last updated on 1/17 but still administrative processing

1/18 morning
DOS Visa Status Check, case last updated on 1/18 Issued
noon, received email from The CSRA Visa Appointment and Information Service Team and got tracking number, but cannot see delivery status yet

I expect to receive the passport from postal office tomorrow 1/19 or 1/21.

Hope this helps.

Good luck to you all!

Hi all, Thank you for sharing all your experiences, information, answers and Its time for me to give back to community.

Here's my experience:

We travel to Canada in every December to visit my brother's family for a 2 week trip.
As I had to go for visa stamping before returning to USA, I booked an appointment at Halifax US consulate.
A day later appointment confirmation, Halifax US consulate sent me an email saying that ' as we are small facility, we only process applications of residents of our consular district or previously issued visa applications at Halifax' and ask you to attend at a larger facilities in Toronto or Ottawa or Vancouver or Montreal' . Therefore I rescheduled my appointment to Vancouver where I got an earliest appointment.

Visa Stamping experience on Jan 4th, Thursday morning hours:

Pre-processing:

1. First security check, checked all envelops.
2. Security Check#2: Airport kind of checking.
3. Counter#1: Took passport and DS 160 confirmation, verified appointment and given token#.
4. Counter#2: Ten print (finger printing)
5. Waiting area, 30 mins wait. Sent 10 people at a time to 20th floor for visa interview.
6. two counters were open, wait in line until called.

Interview:
me: Good Morning! Officer.
vo: Good morning! Can I have your passport and I-797.
me: passed docs.
vo: Who is your employer?
me: said xxx
vo: Who is your client?
me: said xxxx
vo: What's your role?
me: mentioned my role
vo: what do you do exactly?
me: explained in detail in 4 to 5 points
vo: Do you interact with front end teams? or back end?
me: front end teams.
vo: your visa is approved, you will receive your passport in 3 to 4 business days.
me: Thank you! Officer.
vo: Have a great day!
me: thank you, have great day too.

VO is an young officer

Wanted to add my experience to help others. It was helpful to know others experience.

Had an appointment at 7.45 am. Went at 755 am to consulate.
First security check where they kept my chewing gums packet and gave a coupon so I'm assuming you can leave your mobile here not sure though and then inside there is a queue for visa checkin.
First counter is for checking docs (ds160 confirmation, passport, i797 and canada visitor visa.), scanning the photograph (you will not need after this).
Marked my old expired visa with a sticky.
Second counter is for finger printing. checked the docs again (passport, i797 and canada visitor visa.)

Then moved on to the next line where others were waiting for the interview. Note that there is no waiting in seating area with tokens like in India you just go and stand in queue and proceed to the counter empty on your turn. There were only two visa interview counters .
Before me saw the officer asking lot of questions to a native canadian student for visitor visa and he took lot of time and then gave him a visa for one month because of lacking some document which was being explained in french to him.

VO - can i have your passport
gave i797 and passport.
VO - you are on H1B can i have i797
gave i797.
VO - so you work for this company X. what do you do (or some thing like that)
A- I work as Senior Data Engineer at X. Told couple of duties of what I do.
VO - what does X do
A- explained what Company does business in. did tell it is one of the biggest startups in usa (as it is not known to many)
VO - Do you have an employment letter.
A- Yes, sir I have employment letter and can share the offer letter too.
VO - yes please will have a quick look at it. (he browsed through the employment letter)
A- I joined this company recently
VO - I see you have joined it recently
A- It has been three months since I joined there already
VO - Your visa is expired
A- yes sir. I have a valid petition and I94 if you want to have a look at it.;
VO- What exactly do you work at the WM company.
 A- told the team name and what kind of data we ingest. (he seemed to have got it and interrupted in btw with by saying ok so you store this data)
VO - what is your highest level of education
A- masters in india
VO - was your masters course based or research based
A - it was course based with a project in the end
VO - what was the project about
A- it was design of switches
VO - what was it about
A - I'm from electronics so it is design of electronic switches (was planning to explain more but he was telling ok switches and felt he got it)
VO - was your masters in computer science
A - no sir it was in electronics, i have educational evaluation and original degree certificates if you want to have a look at it.
VO - yes give educational evaluation please, will have a quick look at it.
VO - your visa is approved you should get an email to pick in 2-3 days
(gave back my old passport and i797 and kept new passport and employment letter)

extras - hotel accomodation - byward blue inn is good booked via hotwire though expedia also offers great deal on this. hotel is good with good wifi, awesome breakfast and is walkable 5mins to consulate. offers bath robes and cloth slippers which i like. Also free printouts and free personal laptop if you need one.

you do not need visa fees print out atleast they never asked me though i got a gmail printout