Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

Hi guys...I just got my canada visa and waiting to book an appointment anywhere in canda..My current project ends on Aug 15 so i have to make sure i go to stamping before that..there are no dates available. So if any one of you are rescheduling your appointment please let me know..

Thanks in advance

Hello -

I have a visa appointment in Tijuana, Mexico on June 25/26. I will be traveling from San Jose. My plan is to drive on 24th June, park my car at the border and cross the border.
Anyone planning around the same times, please feel free to ping me.

- Amar

Hello -

Initially I filled my DS160 for Toronto consulate and scheduled my appointment which was in Oct.After constant checking ; I was able to get date in Ottawa on 07/14/2017.

Do I have to fill out new DS 160 form ? Yes or No.

Also I already re-scheduled my appointment date to Ottawa. Do I have to make payment again ?

Note : The confirmation I received for my Ottawa appointment has the same DS number which I filled for Toronto embassy.

Thanking you in advance.

Hi;

I'm an Indian working in USA, I need to schedule an appointment in US consulate in Canada. in the Radio button 'Are you traveling from another country to apply for a U.S. visa in Canada? " should i say yes or it No.If I say know I get appointments only in September. Please advise.

Hello,

I live in the US (from India) and am planning to get my h1b stamped in Canada.

I intended to go to Ottawa this summer, but according to the chart that I saw (at this link: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/niv/users/sign_in), the next opening in Ottawa is mid-Sep, which doesn't work for me.

The only city with an opening before Sep is in Vancouver.

Does this make sense? Or am I doing something wrong? Please let me know

I have an appointment for H1B visa on July 14th at Vancouver. Anyone with close dates please reply and we could plan accordingly..

Thank you everyone for sharing your experience that helped me to prepare for my appointment. I would like to share mine.

Background:
==========
* This is my 2nd H1B extension and visa interview after I-140 approval. Initially I booked for the appointment on dec 31st and cancelled it due to cold weather. Rescheduled my appointment to May 31st at 7.45AM

* I don't work for any client and have been directly employed at a reputed MNC for the past 7 yrs.

Before the interview
================
*Arrived 2 days early to Vancouver. Stayed in a hotel close to US consulate (10 minutes drive approx).
*On the day of interview, I went with my family (2 kids US citizens). Parked my car in a public parking lot (a block away from the consulate). Left our bags and cellphones in the car itself.
*Arrived at 7.15AM at the consulate (next to Starbucks). We were asked to wait till 7.45AM.
*At 7.45AM, they verified DS-160, passports and I-797 and asked us to leave smartwatch in the locker. (After that we waited in line for about 40 mins) then we were asked to go to upstairs (1st floor)
*Airport like security in the 1st floor, after that we went to the next counter in the same floor. They verified DS160. I asked them to use my new DS160 (as I had previously cancelled and rescheduled my visa appointment, I had created a new DS160). They set up the new DS160 for the interview
* Went to the next counter in the same floor for finger prints. After that we were asked to go to 20th floor for the interview.
* Please use rest room (if needed) in the 1st floor after finger prints, as there is no opportunity after that and before the interview.
* At the 20th floor, we waited for a couple of minutes before called upon.

At the interview:
=============

Me : Hello Sir, Good Morning
VO: Good Morning
( I provided our passports, DS-160 and I797)

VO; Where are you working?
Me: answered

VO: What you do?
Me: Answered

VO: Do you have approved I-140?
Me: Yes

VO asked my wife for H4: Mam, how long have you been married?
She answered.

VO: Your visa is approved. You will receive your passports in 3 to 5 business days.
Me: Thank you.

It took approximately 2 minutes for the interview. After that we came down to the ground floor and collected the smart watch.

After the interview:
===============
On the next day at 8.30AM, My application status became 'Issued' in the website, but my wife's application was still in 'Administrative processing'
*I waited till evening and no change in status, so I sent an email to the NIV center.
* Got a response back on the next day morning at 8.30AM that the status is now changed to 'Issued'.
* Within couple of hours, I received a notification from Canada post that the shipment is picked up.
*Since the shipment confirmation was received on Friday, we had to wait for the weekend (Canada post is closed during the weekend)
*On Monday at 9AM, received a notification that 'Shipment is ready for pickup'.
*Collected our passports around 1PM on Monday.

Whole process was smooth, except there was a little delay in processing my wife's application. But received a prompt response from the consulate and they resolved it quickly.

Our interview was on a Wednesday at 7.45AM and the passport was ready for pickup on Monday morning 9AM (due to the weekend) Otherwise, it took 4 days for processing. But compared to other location experiences in Canada, I think, the processing time is little slower. We actually went for a vacation to Canada, and it did not cause any change in plan, although I was bit tensed till collecting the passport.

Hope this helps. All the best!

Can someone please tell me whats the next available appointment around 19th June for Matamoros Mexico ?

TIA !!

Hi,

Is it mandatory to fill DS160 before Re-scheduling the appointment booked already in Calgary, Canada ? Or you can reschedule an appointment to another city like Montreal or Ottawa and then fill the DS160 right after. I'm not sure if the system is allowing to reschedule it before changing DS160.

I have an booked an appointment for 29Aug in Calgary, but my I94 is expiring on 13th Aug, so i am looking for early dates. Any one seeing prior dates in cities like Montreal or Quebec city or Ottawa ?

thanks,

Short Version:

Background: Previous L1B and H1 B Stamped with previous company in India, new H1 B Not stamped before with new company, petition approved till March 2020

Interview Date: 06/01/2017, 8:15 AM, Ottawa

Total time at consulate: around 45 minutes (Visa approved)

Visa Status Changed to “Issued” on website: 06/02/2017, 1:00 PM

Document Shipment Notice: 06/02/2017, 1:00 PM

Tracking # email from Canada Post: 06/02/2017, 2:00 PM

Passport pick up email from Canada Post: 06/05/2017, 1:00 PM

Note 06/03, 06/04 were Sat and Sun.

Detail Version

Before appointment:

I was FTE with reputed company on L1B for 5 years and on H1 B for 1year (all visas were stamped in India), switched to another reputed company on H1 B and working for last 2 years (visa was never stamped) so this was my first stamping experience outside India.

I filled DS-160 for Toronto and was planning to go in July but after paying the visa fees saw no appointments were available till September, then selected Ottawa, as appointment were only available there in June and that too on 1st and 2nd only, so I booked 1st June. I called helpdesk multiple times to see if they can fix DS-160 to reflect Ottawa, I got different answer each time I called, so I just filled new DS-160 for Ottawa cancelled the appointment and rebooked it (I did this at 4 AM in the morning, to make sure I get the same spot again, but I didn’t get same spot again so booked a different spot but in the morning around 9 or 10 am it started showing up my vacated spot so booked it at that time).

I planned a road trip with family to Ottawa and other cities in Canada, I cross the border at Sarnia and mostly it was uneventful except long weekend traffic at border. Just note that they don’t do any exit entry at US side (so no record that you exit US). May be it’s well known but I didn’t know that and went to officer inside and they told me about it. Officers on US side were mostly professional, on Canada side lady officer was little rude, and asked some nonsense questions, got the entry stamp and left.

On Appointment day:
I reached early at consulate at Ottawa, parked at nearby Indigo parking on same street. After reading so many post I took only documents and car keys NOTHING ELSE. I was little early but don’t go early also they won’t let you in. I had to wait for 5-7 mins.
- Inside lady officer checks your passport, I797 and photo etc.
- Airport like security check
- You go inside and check in at counter 6/7.
- Figure prints at counter 4
- Waited in line for interview for about 10-15 mins
- All were approved before me except one and he was not H1B
- Interview questions were very basic - how long with the company? Designation? What you do? Etc.
- No documents were asked
- Visa approved
           
Whole process was completed in around 45 mins.

After Appointment:

I had to wait till 1 PM till next day for the Visa status to change to Issues from Administrative Processing. We left for Toronto as I had given passport pick up location at Mississauga. Spent the weekend at Niagara Falls and Toronto downtown. Monday got the email from Canada post for pick up. Collected passport and drove back. You have to park the car and go inside to get I-94 at the border, again basic questions but you have sit and wait (5-7mins) before they stamp it and you have to pay $6 per I-94.

Conclusion

Overall it was a nice experience although I was little tense throughout the process, but I will probably go to Canada again for stamping. Thanks all on this forum for their posts and useful tips.

Please feel free to ask questions if any.