indomitable_77
Registered Users (C)
Hi all,
I just want to share my visa stamping experience in Vancouver.
My status b4: F1 - OPT - H1
My appointment was on Friday 17th June and i booked a flight to Seattle from Bay area on 16th (costed $300 round trip). U'll get a deal ($89 one-way) if u can plan a week b4 if u want to fly. Also researved a car rental at airport and a motel in Bellingham (itz the nearest city close to the boarder ... takes ~1hr to Vancouver) for $40 in Motel 6.
Reached Seattle around 9pm. Drove to Bellingham ... reached at around 10.30pm. Slept well ... started at 6.30am in the morning ... the security person at US check post checked my passport & visa and asked the reason for visit etc. Asked me to go to the Canadian Immigration office ... person at the front desk checked my passport ... visiting visa and appointment letter and stuff. Took 15mins roughly.
Started again ... got confused with the directions as I-99 split into 2 ... and took a wrong path ... later came back and and took the right one ... was confused and nervous for some time ... check the directions well b4 hand. Reached the consulate on time at 8.30am and stood in the line.
1) Security check was done b4 entering the buld (donot carry cellphone or electronic devices ... no sealed envelopes allowed)
2) On 2nd floor showed the passport, appointment letter etc ... paid $100 cash and was told to go to 8th floor (i guess).
3) There a wait for abt 30mins along with all the people who came for stamping in front of the counters and around 10am, i my # was called for interview.
4) The lady asked few general Q's ... it was like a conversation (a) When did u come to US (b) How long have u been working (c) OPT start date ... showed the I797 with OPT card (d)Where did u work and where r u working now... (e) WHat is ur job ... (f) Ur transcripts ... Ohh lot of computer courses ... giggles etc. (e) Asked me to go and pay the fee in the counter and come back at 3pm today and said 'We do not garantee to give ur Passport back to u today ... as it is Friday ... if not given today, u might have to come back on Monday' (again started thinking what will i do if i don't get te passport today) ... better schedule an appointment on Monday's.
Letme tell u abt the major hurdle i've crossed, which i'd been worrying abt. It was my 2nd H1 after OPT and my 1st employer denied giving me the H1(I797 I94). I didn't even have a copy of it with me (B4 this i applied for H1 transfer through my present employer without previous H1 copy and got approved...thatz a big story). Lady didn't ask in particular abt the dates and stuff and i didn't mention abt my previous employer at all ... i was just talking abt the client places where i worked. Cool....isn't it.
5) Paid $50 ... took the receipt (slip that needs to be produced while taking the passport back) ... killed time eating, sleeping in my car etc.
6) Stood in line at 2.45pm ... got the passport back at 3.15pm. Started driving back ... on my way back, near the US checkpost there was a lot of waiting ... almost took 45mins to cross the boarder. Drove to Seattle...took 3 1/2hrs because of waiting and traffic. Fight was at 8.30pm ... arrived at 10.30pm in Oakland.
It went on smoothly ... except for the driving directions mistake, worry abt not carrying previous employers H1 approval ... which didn't stop me though. All the best for those who r going for stamping guys.
I just want to share my visa stamping experience in Vancouver.
My status b4: F1 - OPT - H1
My appointment was on Friday 17th June and i booked a flight to Seattle from Bay area on 16th (costed $300 round trip). U'll get a deal ($89 one-way) if u can plan a week b4 if u want to fly. Also researved a car rental at airport and a motel in Bellingham (itz the nearest city close to the boarder ... takes ~1hr to Vancouver) for $40 in Motel 6.
Reached Seattle around 9pm. Drove to Bellingham ... reached at around 10.30pm. Slept well ... started at 6.30am in the morning ... the security person at US check post checked my passport & visa and asked the reason for visit etc. Asked me to go to the Canadian Immigration office ... person at the front desk checked my passport ... visiting visa and appointment letter and stuff. Took 15mins roughly.
Started again ... got confused with the directions as I-99 split into 2 ... and took a wrong path ... later came back and and took the right one ... was confused and nervous for some time ... check the directions well b4 hand. Reached the consulate on time at 8.30am and stood in the line.
1) Security check was done b4 entering the buld (donot carry cellphone or electronic devices ... no sealed envelopes allowed)
2) On 2nd floor showed the passport, appointment letter etc ... paid $100 cash and was told to go to 8th floor (i guess).
3) There a wait for abt 30mins along with all the people who came for stamping in front of the counters and around 10am, i my # was called for interview.
4) The lady asked few general Q's ... it was like a conversation (a) When did u come to US (b) How long have u been working (c) OPT start date ... showed the I797 with OPT card (d)Where did u work and where r u working now... (e) WHat is ur job ... (f) Ur transcripts ... Ohh lot of computer courses ... giggles etc. (e) Asked me to go and pay the fee in the counter and come back at 3pm today and said 'We do not garantee to give ur Passport back to u today ... as it is Friday ... if not given today, u might have to come back on Monday' (again started thinking what will i do if i don't get te passport today) ... better schedule an appointment on Monday's.
Letme tell u abt the major hurdle i've crossed, which i'd been worrying abt. It was my 2nd H1 after OPT and my 1st employer denied giving me the H1(I797 I94). I didn't even have a copy of it with me (B4 this i applied for H1 transfer through my present employer without previous H1 copy and got approved...thatz a big story). Lady didn't ask in particular abt the dates and stuff and i didn't mention abt my previous employer at all ... i was just talking abt the client places where i worked. Cool....isn't it.
5) Paid $50 ... took the receipt (slip that needs to be produced while taking the passport back) ... killed time eating, sleeping in my car etc.
6) Stood in line at 2.45pm ... got the passport back at 3.15pm. Started driving back ... on my way back, near the US checkpost there was a lot of waiting ... almost took 45mins to cross the boarder. Drove to Seattle...took 3 1/2hrs because of waiting and traffic. Fight was at 8.30pm ... arrived at 10.30pm in Oakland.
It went on smoothly ... except for the driving directions mistake, worry abt not carrying previous employers H1 approval ... which didn't stop me though. All the best for those who r going for stamping guys.