Hi everyone!
I got my H1-B Stamping in Vancouver on December 3rd! YAY! Thank you to all who posted their experience prior to my trip. It really helps a lot. I just thought I would do the same and post a really detail description of my experience....
AIRPORT AND CANADIAN IMMIGRATION EXPERIENCE:
I did not need a Canadian Visa to visit Canada. I flew in to Vancouver, BC. In the airplane, I was given a "Custom Declaration Form" to fill. This is a really simple form to fill-up and it\'s simply asking you for your basic info like name and asked if you have possession of weapons, illegal goods etc... I just put \'NO\'.
Upon arrival in the Vancouver International Aiport, I had to go through a really long line as with the rest of the international folks arriving in Canada. You have to have your passport and the "Custom Declaration Form" ready for the Canadian Immigration Officer. When I met with the officer, she asked how long I\'ll be in Canada (has to be no longer than 30 days), asked to see my plane tickets (she wants to see when I\'ll be departing. If you have e-tickets, make sure you print out the itinery), asked where I was flying from, asked why I\'m in Vancouver, looked at my passport (she makes sure that your passport is valid) and then she wrote some kinda number and stamps my "Custom Declaration Form" to the date of my arrival and then she let me proceed.
I went and claimed my baggage and then try proceeding to the exit. Upon exiting, one have to hand in their "Custom Declaration Form" to the officer at the exit. When I hand in mine, the officer looks at it and then have me go to an area where they can check the content of your luggage. When I met with the officer whom I thought was going to be checking my luggage, she didn\'t do that but instead asked me a few questions like where I was flying from and what was my intention in Vancouver. She then took my passport and "Customs Declaration Form" and then went to the backroom (I think she\'s doing a background check??, I\'m not sure). She then directed me to the Canadian Immigration (it\'s a different area than the first Canadian Immigration) There was again a huge line of internation folks in line.
When it was finally my turn to meet with the officer. I hand her my passport and "Customs Declaration Form". She verified my name, asked where I was flying from, when I flew in, my intentions (just say your seeking a US Visa) as well as the duration of my trip. To prove my intentions, I have to show her the "US Consulate Appointment Letter" as well as my valid I-797 and I-94 (the one from your H-1B approval letter). I was then told to wait since she\'ll need to call up the US Consulate again to verify my appointment. After she verified it, she stamped my passport to the date of my arrival and told me that I was good to go! FYI, I spent about 2.5 hours in the airport because of the immigration stuff (a lot of waiting!).
TRAVELING TO YOUR HOTEL FROM THE AIRPORT AND VANCOUVER HOTEL INFO
I took a taxi to the hotel I will be staying downtown Vancouver. You can get foreign currency exchange from the airport. The exchange rate is not as good though. You\'ll be much better off getting it somewhere else. The cost for my taxi cab to downtown Vancouver was CAD$24.00. Expect a cost of $CAD20.00 - $CAD30.00. If you are traveling alone, you can try taking the shuttle for CAD$12.00 per person to your hotel.
I stayed in the Greenbrier Hotel in Robson Street, downtown Vancouver. It cost about US$60.00 per night for a double room. It\'s not a super nice hotel but comfy and clean (3 stars). Your kitchen and living room is separated from your bedroom. Greenbrier hotel is located in a nice area, tons of place to eat, shopping etc. It\'s about a 10-15 minutes walk to the US Consulate on 1075 West Pender Street. FYI, when I was in Vancouver I pretty much walked everywhere I go. It\'s a really nice city and everything in the downtown area is within the walking distance. Proceed Part 2..
I got my H1-B Stamping in Vancouver on December 3rd! YAY! Thank you to all who posted their experience prior to my trip. It really helps a lot. I just thought I would do the same and post a really detail description of my experience....
AIRPORT AND CANADIAN IMMIGRATION EXPERIENCE:
I did not need a Canadian Visa to visit Canada. I flew in to Vancouver, BC. In the airplane, I was given a "Custom Declaration Form" to fill. This is a really simple form to fill-up and it\'s simply asking you for your basic info like name and asked if you have possession of weapons, illegal goods etc... I just put \'NO\'.
Upon arrival in the Vancouver International Aiport, I had to go through a really long line as with the rest of the international folks arriving in Canada. You have to have your passport and the "Custom Declaration Form" ready for the Canadian Immigration Officer. When I met with the officer, she asked how long I\'ll be in Canada (has to be no longer than 30 days), asked to see my plane tickets (she wants to see when I\'ll be departing. If you have e-tickets, make sure you print out the itinery), asked where I was flying from, asked why I\'m in Vancouver, looked at my passport (she makes sure that your passport is valid) and then she wrote some kinda number and stamps my "Custom Declaration Form" to the date of my arrival and then she let me proceed.
I went and claimed my baggage and then try proceeding to the exit. Upon exiting, one have to hand in their "Custom Declaration Form" to the officer at the exit. When I hand in mine, the officer looks at it and then have me go to an area where they can check the content of your luggage. When I met with the officer whom I thought was going to be checking my luggage, she didn\'t do that but instead asked me a few questions like where I was flying from and what was my intention in Vancouver. She then took my passport and "Customs Declaration Form" and then went to the backroom (I think she\'s doing a background check??, I\'m not sure). She then directed me to the Canadian Immigration (it\'s a different area than the first Canadian Immigration) There was again a huge line of internation folks in line.
When it was finally my turn to meet with the officer. I hand her my passport and "Customs Declaration Form". She verified my name, asked where I was flying from, when I flew in, my intentions (just say your seeking a US Visa) as well as the duration of my trip. To prove my intentions, I have to show her the "US Consulate Appointment Letter" as well as my valid I-797 and I-94 (the one from your H-1B approval letter). I was then told to wait since she\'ll need to call up the US Consulate again to verify my appointment. After she verified it, she stamped my passport to the date of my arrival and told me that I was good to go! FYI, I spent about 2.5 hours in the airport because of the immigration stuff (a lot of waiting!).
TRAVELING TO YOUR HOTEL FROM THE AIRPORT AND VANCOUVER HOTEL INFO
I took a taxi to the hotel I will be staying downtown Vancouver. You can get foreign currency exchange from the airport. The exchange rate is not as good though. You\'ll be much better off getting it somewhere else. The cost for my taxi cab to downtown Vancouver was CAD$24.00. Expect a cost of $CAD20.00 - $CAD30.00. If you are traveling alone, you can try taking the shuttle for CAD$12.00 per person to your hotel.
I stayed in the Greenbrier Hotel in Robson Street, downtown Vancouver. It cost about US$60.00 per night for a double room. It\'s not a super nice hotel but comfy and clean (3 stars). Your kitchen and living room is separated from your bedroom. Greenbrier hotel is located in a nice area, tons of place to eat, shopping etc. It\'s about a 10-15 minutes walk to the US Consulate on 1075 West Pender Street. FYI, when I was in Vancouver I pretty much walked everywhere I go. It\'s a really nice city and everything in the downtown area is within the walking distance. Proceed Part 2..
