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Visa
Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico
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Visa Stamping Experience (TCN Interview) - Vancouver
I had my visa interview appointment in Vancouver on August 22nd. This is my 3rd H-1B, 2nd time stamping in Vancouver. I do not have a PR, I travelled on a tourist visa.
I first filled a DS-160 in November 2021, and got an appointment for Jan 2023. Kept on checking for 2-3 months afterwards, and some time in March 2022, I was able to secure August appointment.
Afterwards, my company applied for an amended to my original I-797 (issued in Nov 2021) due to going full-time remote. Once I had the new approval notice in hand, I had to figure out how to keep my appointment but update DS-160 that now points to new I-797. I was able to reach out tech-support email and they helped me update my DS-160 number in May and later, my petition number (which also needs to be updated in profile section on ais website) separately in early August.
August 20 - Arrive to Vancouver by flight on a tourist visa.
August 22 - 8:30 AM appt.
Documents asked - DS-160 confirmation, I-797, photo (has to be in last 6 months)
Biometrics questions - specifically asked for legal status in Canada - Told them tourist visa, and accepted.
Interview questions - Is this an extension or first time H-1B?
What is your title and what do you do?
What is your salary?
Where (which city) will you be working from?
Interviewer said "Approved" and you'll get passport back in one week.
Once I got back to where I was staying, I checked DS-160 status, and weirdly it said "Approved" and not "Application Received" or "Administrative Processing". I tried to search for it, but couldn't figure out if "Approved" is even a valid DS-160 status on the website... anyways, it did not change throughout the day.
August 23rd - 10:30 AM status changed from "Approved" -> "Issued"
11 AM received tracking number for Canada Post.
August 24th - 10 AM passport in hand - Picked up from Canada post.
Overall, similar to my last stamping, Vancouver consulate is very friendly, and it was a breeze to get it done. The only issue being the wait. I started in Nov. 2021, and finally I have the visa in August 2022. I hope the wait gets better in next year.
I first filled a DS-160 in November 2021, and got an appointment for Jan 2023. Kept on checking for 2-3 months afterwards, and some time in March 2022, I was able to secure August appointment.
Afterwards, my company applied for an amended to my original I-797 (issued in Nov 2021) due to going full-time remote. Once I had the new approval notice in hand, I had to figure out how to keep my appointment but update DS-160 that now points to new I-797. I was able to reach out tech-support email and they helped me update my DS-160 number in May and later, my petition number (which also needs to be updated in profile section on ais website) separately in early August.
August 20 - Arrive to Vancouver by flight on a tourist visa.
August 22 - 8:30 AM appt.
Documents asked - DS-160 confirmation, I-797, photo (has to be in last 6 months)
Biometrics questions - specifically asked for legal status in Canada - Told them tourist visa, and accepted.
Interview questions - Is this an extension or first time H-1B?
What is your title and what do you do?
What is your salary?
Where (which city) will you be working from?
Interviewer said "Approved" and you'll get passport back in one week.
Once I got back to where I was staying, I checked DS-160 status, and weirdly it said "Approved" and not "Application Received" or "Administrative Processing". I tried to search for it, but couldn't figure out if "Approved" is even a valid DS-160 status on the website... anyways, it did not change throughout the day.
August 23rd - 10:30 AM status changed from "Approved" -> "Issued"
11 AM received tracking number for Canada Post.
August 24th - 10 AM passport in hand - Picked up from Canada post.
Overall, similar to my last stamping, Vancouver consulate is very friendly, and it was a breeze to get it done. The only issue being the wait. I started in Nov. 2021, and finally I have the visa in August 2022. I hope the wait gets better in next year.
All Replies (20)
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