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Visa
Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico
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2019/05/23 Canada first-time H1B with CoPR, Toronto
Time to give back to this beautiful forum.
1) Landed on 5/21/2019 with husband and got landing PR. Got our SIN done immediately too in the airport(passport is key for this process, so make sure you do it before H1B interview). We had goods to follow at customs.
2) Entered embassy on 5/23/2019 at 8:40am for a 9:00am appointment time. Single applicant as my husband already had visa stamp when he went to India.
Check 1:
1) Outside gate, was asked if I have any electronics or bags, answered no and allowed by guard to go and talk to the guy inside a counter.
2) Counter guy asked for DS-160 and passport, checked both and let me in (probably just checking to see my appointment time)
Check 2:
1) Security check, put all your stuff in a bin, get out of scanner, guard scanned quickly, let me in further.
Check 3:
1) Was a line up a ramp for actual check. Noticed there was an adjacent ramp down to photo booth (presumably for people who have something wrong with their pic, take $20 CAD for pics, just in case)
2) Walked up to another guard, who took passport and DS160 again, I was holding the latest passport pics in my hand but was not asked for it (possibly because the photo I uploaded was sufficient)
3) After entering my details, he put a sticker on my passport, wrote down my unique DS-160 ID on it and gave them back to me. Entered the adjacent room.
There are about 12-ish counters, broken down as follows:
1- 4: was pre-check of documentation
5: finger printing
6+: actual interview lines.
Hence, you basically get into 3 lines one after the other.
Check 4:
1) Waited in line and sent to a counter. Guy at counter asked me for my passport, I797A.
2) Asked me what my legal status in Canada is, answered as "Canadian PR".
3) He asked for PR card, I replied "I just landed" and handed him the CoPR (previously signed at the airport when I landed)
4) He asked "So you have your landing done"? - Yes
5) Then he asked if I was here for renewing, through me off the way he worded it, but finally understood him and said, "first-time H1B"
6) He proceeded to enter some stuff in computer, put my passport+I797A in an envelop and gave it back to me, gave back my CoPR and handed me a booklet with rights (see below for the 6 rules, memorized them while waiting in line for interview)
Check 5:
1) Proceeded to stand in line for Counter5 and went to Counter. Handed her the envelop, she asked me to put my left four fingers first on the machine, then right four fingers, then two thumbs together. Gave back the envelop.
Check 6:
1) Proceeded to stand in line for actual interview.
2) Wished him "good morning", Interviewer took the envelop, typed for a minute
3) Asked me if I work for Company X? - Yes
4) What kind of Company? - Fin Tech Company
5) Is it in NY? - Yes
6) How long have you been working for this company? - about 3 years now
7) What is your role? - blah blah
8) Where you a student before this? - Yes
9) Where you on OPT after that? - Yes
10) How long were you on OPT? - October 2018, after which my H1B kicked in.
11) What is your highest qualification? - PhD in blah blah
He typed some more and then proceeded to say your visa is approved, passed me the white sheet with instructions, gave me back by I797A, but kept the passport. Told me takes a week to get your passport. Have a good day.
Overall, simple and courteous.
All in all took me 30 mins to get in and out.
Tips:
1) Most important documents are passport, I797A, DS-160 and photos. Keep them handy, chances are you won't be asked any other documents if your papers are right.
2) From what I understand reading this forum, all questions asked seem to be related to what you filled in your DS-160, so do a once-over before you go to make sure your answers match.
3) Smile and follow directions of people working inside directing you to the different lines.
4) Do not carry anything else than paperwork.
5) Spend the extra money and get a decent recent photograph, so you don't have to do the run around with pictures just before interview inside embassy.
Will update once my passport changes to pick up. Currently stuck in administrative processing.
1) Landed on 5/21/2019 with husband and got landing PR. Got our SIN done immediately too in the airport(passport is key for this process, so make sure you do it before H1B interview). We had goods to follow at customs.
2) Entered embassy on 5/23/2019 at 8:40am for a 9:00am appointment time. Single applicant as my husband already had visa stamp when he went to India.
Check 1:
1) Outside gate, was asked if I have any electronics or bags, answered no and allowed by guard to go and talk to the guy inside a counter.
2) Counter guy asked for DS-160 and passport, checked both and let me in (probably just checking to see my appointment time)
Check 2:
1) Security check, put all your stuff in a bin, get out of scanner, guard scanned quickly, let me in further.
Check 3:
1) Was a line up a ramp for actual check. Noticed there was an adjacent ramp down to photo booth (presumably for people who have something wrong with their pic, take $20 CAD for pics, just in case)
2) Walked up to another guard, who took passport and DS160 again, I was holding the latest passport pics in my hand but was not asked for it (possibly because the photo I uploaded was sufficient)
3) After entering my details, he put a sticker on my passport, wrote down my unique DS-160 ID on it and gave them back to me. Entered the adjacent room.
There are about 12-ish counters, broken down as follows:
1- 4: was pre-check of documentation
5: finger printing
6+: actual interview lines.
Hence, you basically get into 3 lines one after the other.
Check 4:
1) Waited in line and sent to a counter. Guy at counter asked me for my passport, I797A.
2) Asked me what my legal status in Canada is, answered as "Canadian PR".
3) He asked for PR card, I replied "I just landed" and handed him the CoPR (previously signed at the airport when I landed)
4) He asked "So you have your landing done"? - Yes
5) Then he asked if I was here for renewing, through me off the way he worded it, but finally understood him and said, "first-time H1B"
6) He proceeded to enter some stuff in computer, put my passport+I797A in an envelop and gave it back to me, gave back my CoPR and handed me a booklet with rights (see below for the 6 rules, memorized them while waiting in line for interview)
Check 5:
1) Proceeded to stand in line for Counter5 and went to Counter. Handed her the envelop, she asked me to put my left four fingers first on the machine, then right four fingers, then two thumbs together. Gave back the envelop.
Check 6:
1) Proceeded to stand in line for actual interview.
2) Wished him "good morning", Interviewer took the envelop, typed for a minute
3) Asked me if I work for Company X? - Yes
4) What kind of Company? - Fin Tech Company
5) Is it in NY? - Yes
6) How long have you been working for this company? - about 3 years now
7) What is your role? - blah blah
8) Where you a student before this? - Yes
9) Where you on OPT after that? - Yes
10) How long were you on OPT? - October 2018, after which my H1B kicked in.
11) What is your highest qualification? - PhD in blah blah
He typed some more and then proceeded to say your visa is approved, passed me the white sheet with instructions, gave me back by I797A, but kept the passport. Told me takes a week to get your passport. Have a good day.
Overall, simple and courteous.
All in all took me 30 mins to get in and out.
Tips:
1) Most important documents are passport, I797A, DS-160 and photos. Keep them handy, chances are you won't be asked any other documents if your papers are right.
2) From what I understand reading this forum, all questions asked seem to be related to what you filled in your DS-160, so do a once-over before you go to make sure your answers match.
3) Smile and follow directions of people working inside directing you to the different lines.
4) Do not carry anything else than paperwork.
5) Spend the extra money and get a decent recent photograph, so you don't have to do the run around with pictures just before interview inside embassy.
Will update once my passport changes to pick up. Currently stuck in administrative processing.
All Replies (6)
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