I got my H1 stamping in Ottawa this week and would like to share my experience for the benefit of all users in this forum.
I visited the consulate armed with my appointment letter and other docs. Security was very tight and they even had me remove my bracelet.
After having cleared security I presented my papers to an gentleman at the counter. He looked at my appointment order and asked me to pay the $100 fees at the cashier’s counter. After paying the fees I was asked to wait. My name was then called and I presented all my papers to a different person. This lady looked at the forms DS156/157, I-797, I-94 wanted my I-129, employer letter and paystubs. She also took my passports (new and old which had my old visas) and said that I would have to attend an interview with a consular officer and asked me to wait. After about 15 minutes my name was called again and I went to the window.
I was asked questions like what is the nature of my work, my salary, why I want to stamp my visa in Ottawa, whether I have applied for my GC and she also wanted to have some information about my employer. The interview lasted for around 15 minutes.She then asked me to pay the reciprocity fee and returned my paystubs to me. She said my passports, I797 and I-129 will be returned to me around 3.00 pm alongwith the visa. I collected all my docs around 3.00 pm the same day. All in all a very good experience and since I have worked in the US for almost 5 years now there was no problem anywhere.
I visited the consulate armed with my appointment letter and other docs. Security was very tight and they even had me remove my bracelet.
After having cleared security I presented my papers to an gentleman at the counter. He looked at my appointment order and asked me to pay the $100 fees at the cashier’s counter. After paying the fees I was asked to wait. My name was then called and I presented all my papers to a different person. This lady looked at the forms DS156/157, I-797, I-94 wanted my I-129, employer letter and paystubs. She also took my passports (new and old which had my old visas) and said that I would have to attend an interview with a consular officer and asked me to wait. After about 15 minutes my name was called again and I went to the window.
I was asked questions like what is the nature of my work, my salary, why I want to stamp my visa in Ottawa, whether I have applied for my GC and she also wanted to have some information about my employer. The interview lasted for around 15 minutes.She then asked me to pay the reciprocity fee and returned my paystubs to me. She said my passports, I797 and I-129 will be returned to me around 3.00 pm alongwith the visa. I collected all my docs around 3.00 pm the same day. All in all a very good experience and since I have worked in the US for almost 5 years now there was no problem anywhere.
