Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

Hello,

Background: FTE in tech, around 6 yrs of experience. 3rd stamping of H-1B. First time in Canada. The other two were in India.

My visa appointment was at 7:45AM. Got there 15 mins prior as instructed. The employees outside were announcing the the interview time: "7:45AM appointments, please join the line.". They asked for the DS-160 confirmation page, passport and I-797. There was a kiosk setup to confirm your identity and appointment date and time. Right behind the Kiosk, there were two officers checking for any electronics in your file and would ask you if you are carrying any other prohibited items. (Recommendation: Carry nothing except the required documents in a folder.). All of this was outside the building.

You finally enter the building, where you are asked to remove any coins, belt, coats off you and put it in a tray(Airport style checking basically).

Once done, you are sent to a counter/window, where your photos are checked and scanned. The officer will also check your permit/visa/PR card for Canada. If your photos are not good, they have a machine where you can click instant photographs and are charged around 10$ CAD. I could be wrong on the price. You are then sent to get your fingerprints.

After your fingerprints are done, you are asked to stand outside an elevator and are offered to use a restroom that's right next to the elevator, since there are none on the floor where the interview takes place. You wait for the elevator to come down, a security guard within the elevator will instruct you whether you are good to go or not. Once you're up there, you are asked to stand in the appropriate line based on your visa. There's no seating anywhere in this consulate. You have to stand all through. It took about 15 minutes until it was my turn.

VO: Good Morning. How are you?
A: Hello. Great. Thanks and you?

VO: So you're here for H-1B? Where do you work?
A: XYZ

VO: Sorry?
A: XYZ(Louder this time)

VO: What do you do?
A: ABCD

VO: Oh, so you do this and that? What exactly does the company sell?
A: That and that.

VO: Oh.. so just that? How is it different than regular stuff that's out there?
A: Had to give him details and he did seem pretty knowledgable about the technology.

VO: How long have you been with them?
A: Almost a year.

VO: SO I see you have a Visa from this company? Are you done with them?
A: Yea.

VO then Stamped "Cancelled without Prejudice" on that visa.

VO: I see that you went to school at xyz university. What did you study there?
A: I studies this: xyz

VO: Was that a masters degree?
A: Yes

VO: Did you always work on a H-1B or did you work on OPT as well?
A: Worked on OPT as well.

VO: Was it with xyz company?
A: No, that was with ABC company.

VO: Ok. Your visa has been approved.
A: Thanks.

VO: We'll keep you passport and I-797. It take take us a few days. Here's the sheet which will tell you how you can track your passport.
A: Thanks.

Kept checking the application status on CEAC all day. It showed administrative processing. 25th and 26th was the weekend. This morning at around 11:30AM, received a notification via email with the tracking number and the application status on CEAC changed to Issued.

The tracking number is yet to be updated by Canadapost.