Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

hi

Does anyone have the experience of the interview in Ottawa. Were you approved? rejected?

Please let me know.

I have a quick question for people who have been to Ottawa consulate. Do they have locker facility there for phone or atleast car key.

Also, if anybody is in Ottawa in first week of December, feel free to connect. My appointment is on Dec 3rd.

Hello

I am trying to get appointment date at vancouver from couple of days. Please let me know if you are able to book one.

This forum has helped me a lot in preparing for my visa interview at Vancouver and hoping to return the favor by sharing my experience. Hope it helps someone.

DS 160 was Filled in October 5th

Interview date booked for 7.45 AM on November 14th at Vancouver

I am full time employee working directly for employer and renewing my H1B for 2nd time.

Documents carried
1. Instructions page from US VISA date booking website
2. DS 160 Confirmation page
3. Two passport photos
4. Approved I797
5. Employment verification (confirmation) letter from employer
6. Last 3 months pay slips
7. Last 5 years Tax filings
8. M.S. and bachelor’s education certificates
9. Resume

On interview day:
Weather is rainy and cold with temperatures around 45- 55 F. Please carry a jacked with hoody to cover both rain and cold.

Reached consulate 30 Min before interview but waited until my time slot was called in. Lady at the entrance checked Passport, I-797, DS-160 confirmation page, passport photo and bundled them together to show to security at the entrance.

Security at the entrance checked these papers again and asked to put my mobile at the locker to collect after visa interview is over. From here security will guide you on next steps as you move along to the VO.

VO interview questions:

Handed over passport and i-797.
VO: You are here to renew your H1B
Me: Yes
VO: What is your job title?
ME: Told my title
VO: What is the name of the company you work for?
ME: Told my company name
VO: Can I see your CV?
ME: Handed over my Resume
VO: What is the highest degree you have?
ME: MS in…..
VO: How much total experience you have in this field?
ME: Answered my experience which is 10+ years
VO: Your visa is approved and collect your passport on Monday.

Gave a green slip with the time and date information to collect passport.

My online status currently showed “Administrative Processing” on 15th evening and showed issued on 16th evening. Waiting to collect passport on Monday.

Hi all ,

Is good to go for stamping with EVVC model ?? please advice , Thanks

Hi All,
Thanks for those of you who shared their experiences and now it's my turn to give back to the community.
This was my renewal with the same company and first time stamping in Vancouver, BC

Date of intw: Nov 14th
Time: 7.45AM

Both I and my husband had to get the stamping accompanied with our toddler.
Arrived at around 7.20a but we had to wait as the 7.30 folks were being let in. So we went to the starbucks next door and waited until 7.30

Stood in the line, passport and I-797(original) were checked by the staff. we took our mobile phones and had them deposit with the security staff.

Next was the airport type security check. Each person/family is let in one after the other after the security check - all the security personnel are very friendly.

Next up - Passport, I-797 and photo check. Asked about our Canadian status (we are Canada PR holders). Finger prints after this step(at window 2 and the lady was friendly and smiling)

Note: Our passports were not put in any folder - we had to hold it with ourselves. The I-797 was folded and put in the passport

After this we waited for a few minutes for the security staff to take us to the 20th floor where the visa interview happens

On the 20th floor, we stood in line waiting for our turn - there were just about 7-8 persons ahead of us. Only 2 VO working at this time (there are about 4-5 counters though)

When our turn came up - The lady VO called us and the 3 of us went together

VO - Good morning
Us: Hi and Good morning

VO - Please hand me over your passports
Us: Passed it along

VO - What the relationship between the 3 of you?
Husband answered - wife and son
I answered: mom, dad and kid

VO - was the kid born in US
Reply - yes

VO - have you both been on H1 always
Replied yes

To the husband:
VO - how long have you been with the company
Replied
VO - wow! such a long time with the same company!
VO - what is your highest degree

To me:
VO - what is your title
Me: bla bla
VO - wow! such a long title
VO - verified the company name
Me: replied with a yes
VO - annual salary
Me: replied
VO - highest degree
Me: replied
VO - general or any specialization:
Me: replied

Finally VO said, your visas are approved. Come and collect your passport on Friday. She gave a green pamphlet and said it has instructions to collect passport because Canada post is on strike.

Before leaving she asked our kid - what do you do buddy? make mom and dad work?..lol

It was a smooth experience and never felt intimidated. Staff is very empathetic because you bring you kid along so early in the morning.
The VO was just confirming our identities and making sure what we say is the same as what they see on their computer screens. She had a smiling face and we never felt nervous at all

I feel the process in India is a lot more stressful and staff is pretty rude too. We may come back here for our next stamping as well

PS - We are Canada PR holders and when we were at the border, the Canada immigration officials were very rude. The person asked why are you living in US when you have a Canada PR
Are you here to surrender your PR? Are you aware that you could lose your PR status if you don't maintain residency in Canada. We were asked to go inside
The lady officer inside the office - why are you here?
We said we are here for a short vacation and to get our US visa stamping
She wasn't sure what that was and asked where is your US visa. To this I replied we are here for our H1B visa interview. She wasn't convinced and asked us to show proof of confirmation. We showed the DS 160 confirmation and I-797. She asked us which company we work for

Even the US VO did not ask us so much and never asked us about Canada status.

Overall, we were not expecting these questions since we are PR holders., We drove down late and there were no other cars crossing the border so they thought we may be drug peddlers...lol

If any of you have any questions feel free to add your questions to the post.

Good luck and stay postive!

Hi, Can someone please confirm availability of visa appointment dates in Canada in Dec 2018 - Jan 2019? Does it make sense to wait for appointments to open up and travel last minute? Thanks

How many ppl are stuck in Vancouver please post here

Hi All,

I have COS from H4-EAD to H1-B in Dec 2017. I started my work on H4-EAD and now I'm on H1-B. I'm a FTE and do not have any US education. I'm planning to go to Canada fro H1 stamping. Can anyone please suggest if it is ok to go to Canada for first time stamping?

Thanks in Advance,
Sruthi07

Can someone who booked a recent appointment let me know the latest available dates at any of the consulates?

Iam looking for a date between Jan 15th and 31st. Thanks in advance.