H1 Visa stamping experience- Canada

Hi Sunda,

(1) Did they return the passport in the same day ?

(2) What's the mode of payment ?

(3) They allow the payment in US$ from the US bank ?

Would you please clarify this.

I appreciate your help.


Thanks
arun
 
Urgent Help : H1B Stamping or AP ..Going for PR

I got Immigration visa for canada. Planning to go canada around next month. I have h1b approval till next year. but do not have visa stamp on passport.

1> If they reject H1b or ask to wait more time on stamping. can I come back on AP ?

Thanks,
 
wheretogo said:
I got Immigration visa for canada. Planning to go canada around next month. I have h1b approval till next year. but do not have visa stamp on passport.

1> If they reject H1b or ask to wait more time on stamping. can I come back on AP ?

Thanks,
Click to expand...
Quick (unrelated ) question. does apping for PR affect your application for h1b\GC in the US? I was told that immigration Canada and US share the data with each other. hence the query..
 
Sunda123,
Congratulations.
Would you mind list the questions you were asked regarding your job and previous experiences during your interview. I would be appreciated for your help.
JYW

sunda123 said:
Hello Folks:


Just sharing my stamping experience at Ottawa Canada:

a.) Drove by car to Canada and stayed at a downtown hotel close by to the embassy.

b.) 10 am appointment - Good queue at the entrance. It was very cold-please get dressed properly. (9.45am)

c.) You could leave your keys and cellphone at the entrance and pick it up later.

d.) Once you enter, first you need to pay $100 app.fee (10.10am)

e.) If your app is fine you would be called for interview. It will be take approx 20-30 minutes. (10.45am). Everyone is interviewed appox 2-5min. The people at the embassy appeared to be nice and cordial. Even the interviews tjhat I observed were fun and there was occassional laughter going around the room.

f) My name was called and the interviewing person was a young guy. He was cool and asked some questions about my job and my previous experiences. He was very friendly and was always smiling. (10.48am)

g) Asked for my employment letter and paystubs.Asked me to pay the reciprocity fee of $50 and return the receipt. (10.52am)

h) He gave back my I-797 and asked me to collect the passport at 3pm at the front entrance (11am done)

i) Collected the passport at 3pm drove back. Got the new I-94 stamping at the border .. reached home safely.


Don`t worry too much. have all your documents with you. You can get it.

~Sunda123
Click to expand...
 
Revalidation of H1B VISA in canada

Hi,

I got 221-G when i sent to st louis for my h1b revalidation.now,is there any problem if i go to canada for my visa revalidation.
please share any experience in this type of case,appreciate your help.

Thanks,
kannan
 
vkannan_10 said:
Hi,

I got 221-G when i sent to st louis for my h1b revalidation.now,is there any problem if i go to canada for my visa revalidation.
please share any experience in this type of case,appreciate your help.

Thanks,
kannan
Click to expand...

Hi vkannan_10,
If you follow this thread you see some people could able to get Visa
after 221G from ST louis from Canada or Chennai.
Wish you Good luck.
 
Hi,

I-94(Whilte color,received in the latest arrival in US), stapled in the passport, should we submit to the airport when travelling to canada for revalidation though we will be staying there for few days and coming back with revalidation done in US embassy ?

If the officer takes the I-94 when departure, Is revalidation can be done without I-94(White color,received in the latest arrival in US) ?

As mentioned in the some thread, this is like hit or miss situation.

Would any experienced people help in this. I appreciate your help

Thanks in advance.

arun
 
arun_gc_waiting said:
Hi,

I-94(Whilte color,received in the latest arrival in US), stapled in the passport, should we submit to the airport when travelling to canada for revalidation though we will be staying there for few days and coming back with revalidation done in US embassy ?

If the officer takes the I-94 when departure, Is revalidation can be done without I-94(White color,received in the latest arrival in US) ?

As mentioned in the some thread, this is like hit or miss situation.

Would any experienced people help in this. I appreciate your help

Thanks in advance.

arun
Click to expand...

It is my understanding that you have to surrender i-94 when departing for visa stamping. This is also listed on nvars.com and webpage of US consulates in Canada. The immigration officer (if driving to Canada) will ask why you are going to canada and will collect your i-94 upon hearing your answer. I would think this would be truer if you were to fly to canada.
 
tusharvk said:
It is my understanding that you have to surrender i-94 when departing for visa stamping. This is also listed on nvars.com and webpage of US consulates in Canada. The immigration officer (if driving to Canada) will ask why you are going to canada and will collect your i-94 upon hearing your answer. I would think this would be truer if you were to fly to canada.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot Tusharvk.

In some of the forums, I saw the people travelling took the I-94 since officer said it may be required for revalidation.

I am not sure about this and the website you mentioned not had the detail about I-94.

Would any body help in this.

Thanks
Arun
 
AP(US), PR(canada) & Go for H1b Stamping in Canada

I got PR for Canada. I have to enter for one time to get PR for canada. I have AP. My H1B Restamping rejected from St. Louis on 221g.

My question :

1> Can I go for H1b Stamping in Canada while going for PR ?
2> If they stop for any reason for H1b Stamping , Can I come back USA on AP.
3> What is chance not to get H1b Stamp in Canada. I am USA last 3 years.
4> Can I get appoinment in April 2005 ?

Thanks,
 
My H1B stamping experience in Vancouver...

Background: I came to US in F1 visa... got 3 employers changed after graduating... went for my first H1B stamping to Vancouver.

A week back I was feeling so dreadful about the visa interview. Now that I am back after successful stamping, I would like to share my experience.

=========================================================
Flew to Seattle.

Rented a car at the airport.

Stayed at one of my acquaintances' place and started an early morning drive towards Vancouver.

Reached the Canada border in around 2 hours.

Stopped over at the Canada immigration and showed my passport with Visitor Visa. I showed the visa appointment letter when the border officer asked for the reason of visit. He checked for something on the system and made an entry stamp on the visa. He didn't ask for my I-94.

After formalities at the border, my drive extended for another an hour towards Vancouver Downtown.

As there were lots of parking places in downtown, finding a parking place wasn't that tough. A whole day parking costs around Canadian $10.

I reached the Consulate around 30 minutes before my scheduled time at 9:00 and noticed a huge queue as a result of around 30 minutes' backlog.

After waiting for about an hour in open freezing air, our slot was let in after checking for passport, hardcash of US $100 and the appointment letter. No other form of application fee was accepted.

In the second floor a lady at the counter issued a token number after collecting the passport, DS-156, DS-157, letter from employer and application fee.

A thorough security check was performed on all applicants before being asked to wait in a waiting room till the token number is called.

After waiting for about 30 minutes, my token number flashed in a mini e-billboard and directed me to go to floor 20.

Once on floor 20, another thorough security check was performed on me.

After the security check, I was asked to sit in the wait area until my number is called. The wait area was just in front of the interview counters.

There were around 4 counters, out of which 2 were occupied. I was called at counter 1 and, with no questions asked, I was asked to fingerprint both left and right index fingers. It was just a preliminary step. Then again I was asked to wait till my token number is called.

After about 10 minutes, I heard my number being called by the officer in counter 4. After greeting mutually, the interview process started.

Q. When did you come to US?
A. I came in Spring 2000.

Q. When did you graduate from your school?
A. I graduated in Spring 2001.

Q. How come you could graduate so fast? Can I see your degree certificate?
A. Yes, sir.

I showed the degree certificate and grade sheet. After glancing through them for a while, the officer proceeded for next question.

Q. What did you do after graduating?
A. I was in OPT.

The officer asked for my OPT card.

Q. What did you do during that time?
A. I was searching for jobs.

Q. Did you get one?
A. Yes, sir. I got a job after 7 months in OPT. (told the company name)

The officer asked for the I-797 approval notice for that.

Q. How long were you with them?
A. I was with them for one year and 6 months.

Q. What did you do after that?
A. I joined another company. (told the company name)

The officer asked for the I-797 approval notice for that.

Q. How long were you with them?
A. I was with them for 6 months.

Q. What did you do after that?
A. I joined another company (told the company name) and am still working with them.

The officer asked for the I-797 approval notice for that.

Q. What kind of company is it?
A. It provides services............ (described my job profile and company profile)

Q. Why didn't you go to your home country for interview?
A. I tried but didn't get an appointment due to long waiting time and so I preferred Vancouver.

Then the visa officer started talking jovially about Indian US Consulates' inefficiency in processing visa applications in India while circling the reciprocity fee on a slip. Then he directed me to the cashier counter to pay the fee and asked to wait for my number to be called again.

I paid the fee through my credit card and waited in the wait area. In about 5 minutes, my token number was called again by the officer in counter 1. He collected the receipt, gave another token and asked me to collect the passport at 3:00pm downstairs. When I came out, it was almost 11:30am.

After some rest in the parked car, I wandered through downtown on legs and went to Consulate at few minutes to 3:00pm.

People were sent in small batches to the same counter we paid the fees in the second floor. After submitting the second token, the passport was issued with Visa stamped.

There were few guys walking back to the counter after finding errors in Visa. After checking for any errors on my Visa, I took a stroll back to my parked car and started my journey back to USA.

On my way back to USA, US border office consumed around 45 minutes of my journey time and issued a new I-94 by charging USD $6 for the same.

=========================================================
Thank you for your time in reading my post on my stamping experience.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi:
I will be on my 7th year extension in April 2005. Wanted to know is it safe to get visa stamped in canada. My qualifications are not from US but work experience for the past 6 years is in US. Please advise.

:confused:
 
I also don't have education/qualifications from U.S.
I am at last stage of PR, canadian Immg has asked for the personal interview , but not given the date yet.
I also have 221g

Could someone suggest..

Also some one told me if you visit Canada, visit by rented car ( why so?-- I noticed Kovai also rented a car)

Wheretogo,
What is AP?
 
AP - Advance Payroll

AP is advance payroll. which we can entry to US.


Bidu said:
I also don't have education/qualifications from U.S.
I am at last stage of PR, canadian Immg has asked for the personal interview , but not given the date yet.
I also have 221g

Could someone suggest..

Also some one told me if you visit Canada, visit by rented car ( why so?-- I noticed Kovai also rented a car)

Wheretogo,
What is AP?
Click to expand...
 
kovai said:
Background: I came to US in F1 visa... got 3 employers changed after graduating... went for my first H1B stamping to Vancouver.

A week back I was feeling so dreadful about the visa interview. Now that I am back after successful stamping, I would like to share my experience.

=========================================================
Flew to Seattle.

Rented a car at the airport.

Stayed at one of my acquaintances' place and started an early morning drive towards Vancouver.

Reached the Canada border in around 2 hours.

Stopped over at the Canada immigration and showed my passport with Visitor Visa. I showed the visa appointment letter when the border officer asked for the reason of visit. He checked for something on the system and made an entry stamp on the visa. He didn't ask for my I-94.

After formalities at the border, my drive extended for another an hour towards Vancouver Downtown.

As there were lots of parking places in downtown, finding a parking place wasn't that tough. A whole day parking costs around Canadian $10.

I reached the Consulate around 30 minutes before my scheduled time at 9:00 and noticed a huge queue as a result of around 30 minutes' backlog.

After waiting for about an hour in open freezing air, our slot was let in after checking for passport, hardcash of US $100 and the appointment letter. No other form of application fee was accepted.

In the second floor a lady at the counter issued a token number after collecting the passport, DS-156, DS-157, letter from employer and application fee.

A thorough security check was performed on all applicants before being asked to wait in a waiting room till the token number is called.

After waiting for about 30 minutes, my token number flashed in a mini e-billboard and directed me to go to floor 20.

Once on floor 20, another thorough security check was performed on me.

After the security check, I was asked to sit in the wait area until my number is called. The wait area was just in front of the interview counters.

There were around 4 counters, out of which 2 were occupied. I was called at counter 1 and, with no questions asked, I was asked to fingerprint both left and right index fingers. It was just a preliminary step. Then again I was asked to wait till my token number is called.

After about 10 minutes, I heard my number being called by the officer in counter 4. After greeting mutually, the interview process started.

Q. When did you come to US?
A. I came in Spring 2000.

Q. When did you graduate from your school?
A. I graduated in Spring 2001.

Q. How come you could graduate so fast? Can I see your degree certificate?
A. Yes, sir.

I showed the degree certificate and grade sheet. After glancing through them for a while, the officer proceeded for next question.

Q. What did you do after graduating?
A. I was in OPT.

The officer asked for my OPT card.

Q. What did you do during that time?
A. I was searching for jobs.

Q. Did you get one?
A. Yes, sir. I got a job after 7 months in OPT. (told the company name)

The officer asked for the I-797 approval notice for that.

Q. How long were you with them?
A. I was with them for one year and 6 months.

Q. What did you do after that?
A. I joined another company. (told the company name)

The officer asked for the I-797 approval notice for that.

Q. How long were you with them?
A. I was with them for 6 months.

Q. What did you do after that?
A. I joined another company (told the company name) and am still working with them.

The officer asked for the I-797 approval notice for that.

Q. What kind of company is it?
A. It provides services............ (described my job profile and company profile)

Q. Why didn't you go to your home country for interview?
A. I tried but didn't get an appointment due to long waiting time and so I preferred Vancouver.

Then the visa officer started talking jovially about Indian US Consulates' inefficiency in processing visa applications in India while circling the reciprocity fee on a slip. Then he directed me to the cashier counter to pay the fee and asked to wait for my number to be called again.

I paid the fee through my credit card and waited in the wait area. In about 5 minutes, my token number was called again by the officer in counter 1. He collected the receipt, gave another token and asked me to collect the passport at 3:00pm downstairs. When I came out, it was almost 11:30am.

After some rest in the parked car, I wandered through downtown on legs and went to Consulate at few minutes to 3:00pm.

People were sent in small batches to the same counter we paid the fees in the second floor. After submitting the second token, the passport was issued with Visa stamped.

There were few guys walking back to the counter after finding errors in Visa. After checking for any errors on my Visa, I took a stroll back to my parked car and started my journey back to USA.

On my way back to USA, US border office consumed around 45 minutes of my journey time and issued a new I-94 by charging USD $6 for the same.

=========================================================
Thank you for your time in reading my post on my stamping experience.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience Kovai.

Do you know, if we land by flight whether we need to surrender I-94 ?

When revalidation whether they are asking the original I-94 ? or I-94 from the Notice of action ?

It is like hit or miss situation. Would you please tell us about this

Thanks
arun
 
arun_gc_waiting said:
Thanks a lot for sharing your experience Kovai.

Do you know, if we land by flight whether we need to surrender I-94 ?

When revalidation whether they are asking the original I-94 ? or I-94 from the Notice of action ?

It is like hit or miss situation. Would you please tell us about this

Thanks
arun
Click to expand...

I am not sure about the revalidation. (I have two I-94s with me as well) Is that still in place if your visit is less than 30 days period? Is this valid for any passport holders or just canadian landed immigrants? Can somebody elaborate on this one?
 
Succesfull 7th year H1B visa stamping in Montreal,Canada

Hi Guys,
I got a succesfull visa stamping on my 7th year H1b in Montreal,Canada on
3 rd Feb 2005.It was very nice experience and very thing went well perfectly.

I had my visa appoinment at 8.00 AM,so i reached the consulate around 7.30 am.First security guys checked very thing(visa appoinmnet letter,passport) and they allowed me into inside the consulate.

At cashier counter I gave my passport,DS-156&DS-157 and paid $100,so she gave me a token number.

Around 10 minutes of waiting,my token number has been called and i went to the counter.She asked to me to submit the approval notcie and all other supporting documents. I gave all my documents(employer letter,I-129 copy and pettition,LCA,Pay stubs,W-2 forms,Labour Receipt form DOL for 7 th year H1B extension) to her.She took all my documents and asked the follwoing questions.
1. How long have been in USA?
Ans: 6 years
2. Have been on 7 th year extension?
Ans: yes! so she wrote it down on my DS-156 form.

After that,She asked me to wait for the call from some other counter.

After 5 minutes of waiting my token number has been called at some other counter.First she took my finger prints and after that she asked the following questions.
1. Did your empolyer filed a green card?
Ans:No,but my employer filed a Labor for me.

She didn't ask to me to pay a $50 fee(I am a Canada Permanent Resident).
That's all,she asked to me to wait for 20 minutes to return my passport with visa.
Around 9.00 Am,i got my passport back with visa.
Actually that day there are only 3 H1B people,so they returned our passports with visa with in 20 minutes.
 
vijay117 said:
Hi Guys,
I got a succesfull visa stamping on my 7th year H1b in Montreal,Canada on
3 rd Feb 2005.It was very nice experience and very thing went well perfectly.

I had my visa appoinment at 8.00 AM,so i reached the consulate around 7.30 am.First security guys checked very thing(visa appoinmnet letter,passport) and they allowed me into inside the consulate.

At cashier counter I gave my passport,DS-156&DS-157 and paid $100,so she gave me a token number.

Around 10 minutes of waiting,my token number has been called and i went to the counter.She asked to me to submit the approval notcie and all other supporting documents. I gave all my documents(employer letter,I-129 copy and pettition,LCA,Pay stubs,W-2 forms,Labour Receipt form DOL for 7 th year H1B extension) to her.She took all my documents and asked the follwoing questions.
1. How long have been in USA?
Ans: 6 years
2. Have been on 7 th year extension?
Ans: yes! so she wrote it down on my DS-156 form.

After that,She asked me to wait for the call from some other counter.

After 5 minutes of waiting my token number has been called at some other counter.First she took my finger prints and after that she asked the following questions.
1. Did your empolyer filed a green card?
Ans:No,but my employer filed a Labor for me.

She didn't ask to me to pay a $50 fee(I am a Canada Permanent Resident).
That's all,she asked to me to wait for 20 minutes to return my passport with visa.
Around 9.00 Am,i got my passport back with visa.
Actually that day there are only 3 H1B people,so they returned our passports with visa with in 20 minutes.
Click to expand...


Thank you that was very helpful. Do you have passport from India? Also you said that you had canadian PR. Does your h1b\GC application get affected by your having canadian PR? Please let me know or point me to the right forum at this site.
 
Hi Tusharvk,
I am from india and i have an indian passport.Just couple months ago only,I got a canada permanent resedience card.
There is no problem with having Canada PR Card,when you are on H1B or GC
process.
 
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