Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

Is anyone planning to go for stamping in OTTAWA in June 3rd week 2017. I have an appointment on June 19th.

Anyone Planning for H1B stamping in OTTAWA Aug or Sep 2017 , As of now only available date i booked is Sep 11,2017 .( for myslef and H4 EAD my wife and son who is US Citizen.
I know date is bad i will reschedule it. But only available dates it shows is in sep.
Thsi si my second time going for ottawa H1B extension stamping.

Anyone interested can reply me , we can plan about dates and trip.I live in VA.

Time to give back. I have been silent reader of this forum while preparing for H1B interview. I would like to Heartily thank you everyone for putting up all the experience to help others.

Visa - H1B; Model - EC
Education - MS from US

Timeline :

05/30/2017 08:15 AM - Appointment (No change in online status )

05/31/2017 (after 3:00 PM) - Got Email - Tracking # generated & Passport ready to be picked by Canada Post

06/01/2017 09:00 AM - Passport ready to be Picked from Post Office.

I drove from NJ to Ottawa by Road with wife & 2 year kid. It was fun driving to Ottawa. Crossing the border both ways was very easy and process was pretty smooth. This is my 2nd H1B stamping from ottawa, last one was in sept 2015.

Interview day:

#Reached Consulate at 08:05 AM after parking car on the street close by. After clearing the security at the gate and appointment confirmation by security personal, we were let in. We did not have any issues taking our kids (US citizen) along with us. DO NOT TAKE ANY BAG PACKS, they won't let you in.
# After getting in I797, Ds-160 were checked.
#Next was 1 more security check, all the electronic devices, water, food were left at the security area.
#Went to first counter for I797, Ds-160, Photo verification
#Sent to counter 4 for Fingerprints.
#Had to wait in line for interview call now.

Questions -

Vo - Your employer is YYYY ?
Me - Yes

Vo - What do you do ?
Me - Database Administrator

Vo - You have a End Client ?
Me - Yes, YYYY

Vo - What do you do for them ?
Me - Told my responsibilities

Vo- Returned my I-797. Visa is approved, you will get your passport in 3-4 days.
Me - Thank You

Whole Process took around 30 minutes and everything was pretty straight forward.

Visa type: L1A (blanket)
Location: Ottawa
Date & time: 31 May, 0800 hours
Previous status: L1B

Timeline:
31 May- Interview and submission of passport
1 June- Admin processing in the morning, Stamped & shipped in the evening
2 June- Passport delivered at PO.

Process @ Ottawa:
- Reached @ 0755 for my 0800 appointment, passport and interview confirmation letter checked at the gate
- Inside they check your DS-160, passport, photo and 797
- Go through the security, phones need to be switched off and left at the security area.
- Went to the counter and paid the 500$ fee. Credit cards are accepted.
- Then directed to another counter for verification of the petition, passport. They scan your photo here
- Next move on to give your fingerprints

Interview:
- 6-7 folks before me in the line. Only one counter was open initially and then later another one opened as more people came in.

After initial exchange of pleasantries

VO: So you work for xxx?
Me: Yes

VO: How long have you been with this firm?
Me: xx years

VO: What is your job title and salary? How many direct reports?
Me: xx & yy

VO: When did you come to Canada?
Me: one day before

VO: Your visa is approved and you will get your document in 2-3 business days.
Me: Thanks

Overall very smooth and straightforward process. In and out in 30 mins. Processing was even faster than expected. I got back the passport in 2 days.

Hi guys,

Had my stamping on 31st in Ottawan still my status is showing application received nothing else.
As I read review here for all cases it's "administrative processing" but am not even getting that should I be worried,

Is someone else experiencing the same thing any advice how long the process might take ?

Thanks

I have upcoming visa appointment in Vancouver. I want to fly to Toronto after my interview to spend time with family. I'll pick up my passport in Toronto Post office. Can someone please let me know, if I will be able to take domestic flights within Canada without my passport, does my NY state Drivers license suffice as ID for domestic travel?

Appreciate your help/advice!

Hello,

I plan to visit Ottawa, Canada in order to get my H1B visa stamped, in August of this year. I am an Indian national, currently residing in the US. I am in the process of completing a DS-160 form and obtaining a Canadian visitor visa.

My question: After attending my H1B interview in Ottawa, I would ideally like to spend several days (until my passport is ready to be returned) in Toronto, with family/friends. Would it be safe/acceptable to travel, without my passport, from Ottawa to Toronto, and to stay in Toronto for several days? I will be travelling with an American national, for what it's worth; he will be in possession of his US passport and State ID. (I have a State ID, as well.)

Any information or advice would be much appreciated. Thank you!

I was a silent reader of this forum and many tips came from here. Giving back to the community by sharing my and my family's visa stamping experience at Vancouver Canada US Embassy.

Appt date and time: May 23rd 7:45 A.M.
I work in a reputed IT organization in USA and am a full time employee and do not work from Client Location. I work from home managing multiple clients and multiple projects. And hence no client letters. I was in L1 Visa with my prior employer till about 5.5 years back. My current employer had filed for the H1b. Had not left USA and hence no H1b Stamping till date.
Neither do I have any US degree as all my education was from India. But have more than 7.5 years of working experience in USA.

My employer has employed a highly reputed attorney firm and my immigration dept is very good. They had already prepared me on what documents to carry and how to conduct myself during the interview.

Since there are already posts on the different stages we go thru before we reach the interview counter and also what to carry and not to carry, skipping those.

Reached the counter
The lady took all our passports and just my H1b Approval notice ( She did not ask for the H4 approval notices)
Just 2 questions

1) What is your Job title?
2) What is your Salary?

That was it...And she was typing some details looking at her computer and then said visa is approved.

Process was very simple. No other documentations were asked.

Currently status shows "Administrative Processing" which I am informed is standard for all cases. Waiting for the status to be updated so that we can collect our passports and my H1b approval notice.

Overall our experience was good.

Regards
LJ

Hi Guys,

Am going for stamping in Ottawa on 31st May. /Anyone else going during the same time?
Also if you recently had experience from their please share you experience, bit nervous as am on EVC model.

Appointment date 05/18/2017.
I had taken the service of the U.S. Visa Application Service in Matamoros in Mexico managed by Mr. El Salvador who is also the manager of Best Western Hotel in Matamoros.

I arrived by flight to Brownsville Airport in Texas on 05/16/17. As advised by Mr. Salvador, I took as taxi to the local bus station which is around 15 mins away from the airport. Within minutes, he came and picked me up and drove me across the border into Matamoros. Within the next 20 minutes, I checked in at the Best Western Hotel. The room was nice and comfortable with good complementary high speed internet.

On the next day, I was taken to the ASC center for the biometrics and it took around 15 mins and was dropped back at the hotel. Spent the rest of the day watching TV and shopping at a large market which is around 5 mins walk away from the hotel.

On the following day, we arrived at the consulate at 7.45 am. There were hardly 10-15 candidates in total. My documents were checked by an official and was allowed to enter the consulate by 8.15 am. Within 10 mins, i was at the window for the interview. Just a few questions like where do u work, how long are you working for this company and did i ever change my employer. Within 5 mins, I was given a coupon and was asked to come and collect the passport at 3 pm.

By 9 am, I was back in the hotel. Mr. Salvador took me to a nice Chinese restaurant for lunch along with some other candidates who came for the visa stamping.

Everyone who attended the interview with me got their visas approved. I collected the passport at 3 pm and I was dropped at the Mexican border around 4 pm. Had to walk 10 mins towards the US border and had to go through immigration. The officer questioned regarding my scope of work and for whom i work for. Then he verified by driver's license. I was asked to pay $6 for the I-94 and walked by way out. All these took around 20 mins.

The total trip was cool and tension free and i should say one of the easiest renewals i have had during the last 9 years.