I started the whole process in August. I scheduled an appointment on
www.nvars.com in the second week of August for H1B visa interview at Ottawa in the last week of September. I paid $15 fee using my credit card at the time of scheduling the interview. Although I wished to appear for the interview earlier than that, I could not get an earlier date. The waiting time for Ottawa consulate from the date you schedule appointment is 50 days approximately, while it is 70 to 75 days at Toronto Consulate. I did not check it for the other consulates as I wanted to appear for interview either at Toronto or Ottawa.
I came to U.S. as F1 student to pursue masters’ degree. I was a masters student, then on OPT before I changed my status to H1B.
I have obtained Single Entry Temporary Resident Visa from Canadian Embassy in New York and the fee is $65. The Canadian Consulate in New York returns the passport within 10 days if you send the application by mail and on the same day if you apply personally.
I booked a room in Best Western Cartier Hotel in Hull, Quebec (not in Ottawa, Ontario) on expedia.com. I planned to stay in Canada for visa purpose for 3 days and 2 nights since the Consulate returns passport only on the next day after the interview. The hotel price is reasonable and one has access to free cable T.V., swimming pool, local phone calls, and wireless internet access. Don’t say all hotels provide these services for free. The fact is all don’t, but many do. The hotel charges 6 dollars for car parking. The hotel rooms are spacious and have two beds. Two people can live comfortably although I stayed alone. The hotel is in a walkable distance (0.9 miles, just cross the bridge on Ottawa River and you cannot miss the consulate, a big glass building on the left side of the road.) to U.S. Consulate in Ottawa and to Parliament buildings. Ottawa River, Cruises, a huge park, and civilization museum are all located accoss the street from the hotel (2 or 3 minutes by walk). Taxi drivers, McDonalds, and other stores accept U.S. dollars. The conversion rate varies from place to place. For instance, in McDonalds they treated 1 US $ as equivalent to 1.10 Canadian dollar and in a small store, they treated 1 US $ as 1.15 Canadian dollar, while the market rate is 1.16, which is not bad. I was unsure when it came reserving my hotel room. But, I decided to go for this hotel and am happy with my decision. This description might help people planning to go to Ottawa consulate.
I informed my employer about the trip and started gathering required documents from August. Thanks to
saik, saurabh_ tulika, and simranb for their time and helping me out when I was looking for a sample employer letter.
On the interview day, I reached the consulate at 9 a.m. and my appointment is at 9:30 a.m. The guard let me in immediately after checking the appointment letter. It was my first H1B visa stamping appearance. I am in status throughout my stay in the States but I was nervous since I was unsure if I can answer to the consulate officers questions to his/her satisfaction and if I missed out on any required documents. Or it could be just I am too cautious. Just go through this thread and there is a post (by amit_d78 on page 45) that gives the entire list of documents that you needed at the interview. Check your documents several times before you leave U.S. If the consulate officer asks for a particular document and you fail produce it, you are denied visa and cannot re-enter U.S. You have to go to India, get it stamped there, and then enter U.S.
I paid $100 fee at Counter No.7 and the lady took my passport, I-797 approval, DS-156 and DS-157. The lady asked me to wait until the Consulate Officer calls my name. The counters numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 are all meant for interviews. After 20 or 25 minutes (approximately), the officer at Counter No.1 called my name.
Me: Good Morning Officer. (The officer had glasses, aged around 45, wore white shirt and a tie and my first impression was that he is very cool)
Officer: How are you doing today?
Me: I am okay Sir.
Officer: I will take your finger prints. Could you place your left index finger on the glass?
Me: My heart was beating with joy as the officer said that since they take finger printing only if they decide to issue visa. I hastily and at the same time composedly did just what officer had asked me to do. (I just do not want to be there and want to get out of that place. There is a thing at the counter with a small one inch rectangular glass on the top. I placed one inch of my left index finger on the glass for finger printing.
Officer: Now your right finger.
Me: Did that. Done with the finger printing.
Officer: May I see your employer’s letter.
Me: Yes Sir. I slided it through the window opening.
Officer: Alright. May I see your Original Degree certificate from the U.S university?
Me: Yes Sir. Slided the certificate through also.
Officer: Take this pink slip, pay $50 at Counter No.7 and come back to me with a receipt.
Me: Thank you very much Sir.
The interview lasted for just two minutes. The only words I said were "good morning officer," "yes sir," "yes sir," and "thank you very much sir." The officer who interviewed me was very liberal. I could not have expected an easier interview.
Of the four counters, the lady aged around 50 at Counter No. 3 was tough, interviewing applicants for relatively long times and she even denied visa to a desi. Everyone present in the room heard that desi pleading the officer saying “please, please, please…” loudly for atleast 10 times as the officer was saying something. The room maintained pin drop silence at that moment and I did not even bother to know the reason as I was focusing on my interview and thinking about how to handle that particular officer if she called my name.
Do not worry about Consulate Officers, if you have been in status through out your stay in U.S. and carry all the documents, you will get your visa for sure.
I went to the consulate next day at 2-45 p.m, produced the receipt and collected my passport.
