Got our Visas
Hi everyone:
I got my H-1 revalidation and my wife got a new F-1 from Montreal on Jan 10th. Here are some of the details tha might help people who are planning to go to Montreal.
(1) Made appointment at US consulate in Canada through the website nvars.com. (You have an option of printing a copy of the appointment letter once you make the appointmnet, actual appointment will come in mail in about a week).
(2) Applied for a visitors visa to Canada at New York. We told the purpose is to get our visas stamped in US consulate. They will ask for the appointment letters. We only had printed copies at that time. That was sufficient.
(3) I went by bus to Montreal. At the border they look for Canadian visa and they asked the purpose of my visit. I told I have appointment at US consulate. They asked for appointment letters. They asked where will I be staying in Canada. I said Econo Lodge. I left my old and new (one that came with H-1 extension) I-94s inside the passport. They did not take anything. They have just put a stamp in the passport with the date of entry to Canada.
(4) I went to the US consulate in the morning half an hour before my appointment time. They checked the passports, appointment letters, and forms DS-156s at the entrance. They asked what visas we are applying for. We said H-1 and F-1. Then they gave me a form (only for H-1s it seems), asked me to read, fill it. Then they asked me to go to 19th floor window 6A. That form basically had what documents are needed and in which order we should keep them. Note: It says they need Old I-797s from all the previous employers (if applicable). If you were on F-1 before, they also ask for I-20, degree certificate, and transcripts. They we both went to window 6A on 19th floor as told. The lady there checked our passports, Forms DS 156s, photographs. She again asked what visas we are applying for. She gave everything back. Then she took $90.00 cash from us. she gave us a number and asked us to wait in the waiting area. When our number was called (after a wait of 5 minutes), we both went up to the particular window we were called at, and the lady there asked for all the documents that she will be needing. She kept all the documents and asked us to wait in the area until our names were called. After about 30 to 45 minutes our names were called, this time separately. They asked me what company I work for and what are my general job responsibilities. He then gave me a piece of paper and asked me to pay $ 75.00 at a particular window and bring a reciept back to him. After giving him the receipt, he gave a me one more paper stub and asked me come back at 3:00 P.M. (same day) and pick up my passport from downstairs. He gave all my documents back excepting the passport. For my wife, they kept passport and I-20.
(5) We went back at 3:00 P.M and picked our passports, made sure everything was correct in the new stamp and then left the place.
(6) At the border when we were returning, they checked the visas and for me they said I do not need any new I-94. For my wife, since there is a change in classification, they gave a new I-94 (they charged $6.00). They again asked whom I work for and that\'s it. We just came back after a successful trip.
We just walked from one place to other in Montreal. All the streets are well named and there is no room for confusion if you have a map of the area.
Any questions? Please post them. I will try my best to answer. People using this site have provided me with a lot of useful information and I hope I can do the same to others.
