Since I have been benefited by the info on this forum, I think it is my responsibility to pay it forward. 
Here is my experience of stamping my H1B (7th year extension) at Vancouver BC.
Little bit of background: I had a visa stamp/I94 valid till Dec 8, 2006 and received new I797 about 3 weeks before appointment date. (I did not have it while getting an appointment) US Master's degree.
1. Got an appointment for 10/26/06 about 6 weeks ago for my wife and me. I think you have to plan well ahead.
2. Planned my trip to fly to Seattle and drive to Vancouver and I think was a very appropriate decision.
3. The border crossing into Canada was peaceful and don't have to even get out of the car. (we had been to Canada over the July 4th weekend and the stamp was still valid) Spent less than 10 minutes at the border. Reached Vancouver the night before appointment and checked into Days Inn right next to the embassy. This hotel is not great from amenities point of view, but worked out great as it was only a block away from the consulate office. Used valet parking at hotel. (convenient $15/day)
4. On the appointment day, showed up at 8am for 8.30 appointment and was 7-8th in the line.
5. Make sure to follow all instructions from the appointment confirmation letter and don't bring any extra things. This is very important otherwise you will end up getting pushed back to the end of line.
6. At about 8.30, the security guard started letting people in for metal detector test followed by another one after climbing few stairs.
7. After second check, they will make you pay ($100 per applicant cash US dollars) and will give you a token/number to take it to 20th floor. At this point , they will take main applicant's I797, employment letter and passports.
8. There are public restrooms on 20th floor (where you have wait at least 30-40 minutes)
9. At 20th floor, they will call your number and you have to go for fingerprinting. Wait few more minutes next to the booths.
10. Officer will call your number and window. Pay attention as they don't have any PA system and you may miss your number if you don't listen carefully.
11. Visa officer asked me where I worked, what I did and asked for 3-4 paystubs. Online printouts worked for me that showed direct deposit. Pretty cool, no complicated questions.
12. He asked me to come next day at 3pm to collect the passports and sked to pay the cashier. ($50 per applicant)
13. Cashier accepts Visa/Mastercard. No cash required. He will give you a receipt.
14. Take the receipt to person who does fingerprinting. That person will give you stubs for passport collection. (1 per passport)
15. Left the embassy office at 10am and enjoyed rest of the day sightseeing. Punjab market is worth a visit. (for food, clothes, jewelry, CD/DVDs)
15. Came back next at 2.15pm and were almost 25th in the line. Arrive early.
16. Got into the embassy for metal detector checks at around 3.15 and asked everybody to go upstairs (not the 20th floor). After making all of us sit for 10 minutes or so, the people asked us to come forward with the stubs to collect passports. (anyone can collect the passport as long as they have your stub)
17. Checked and rechecked for all the information on my visa stamp and I797.
Left at about 3.45pm.
18. Collected the bags (Days Inn staff was nice enough to let us leave the bags up front till 4pm) and left for Seattle around 4.30pm.
19. Since it was Friday evening, the lines at highway 99 (Peace Arch) border crossing were extremely long and took us almost 2 hours to get the agent. The agent asked us questions about what food we are carrying and looked at the passport for I94 validity. He put a tag on the car and asked us to go inside US customs and border office.
20. There was a line inside and had to wait 20 minutes before an agent called us. The agent asked us for our passports and I797 and took the fingerprints. After making us pay (I think $6 per person- Visa/Mastercard is fine here as well) she issued us brand new I94 cards with new expiry dates. Making sure you have new entry int eh passport as an evidence that you left and came back in status was important according to my attorney.
21. After almost spending 3 hours at the border crossing
, we were on the way to the airport. Please give yourselves enough time for any such delays and unforeseen circumstances.
Let me know if I can help in answering any questions.
Here is my experience of stamping my H1B (7th year extension) at Vancouver BC.
Little bit of background: I had a visa stamp/I94 valid till Dec 8, 2006 and received new I797 about 3 weeks before appointment date. (I did not have it while getting an appointment) US Master's degree.
1. Got an appointment for 10/26/06 about 6 weeks ago for my wife and me. I think you have to plan well ahead.
2. Planned my trip to fly to Seattle and drive to Vancouver and I think was a very appropriate decision.
3. The border crossing into Canada was peaceful and don't have to even get out of the car. (we had been to Canada over the July 4th weekend and the stamp was still valid) Spent less than 10 minutes at the border. Reached Vancouver the night before appointment and checked into Days Inn right next to the embassy. This hotel is not great from amenities point of view, but worked out great as it was only a block away from the consulate office. Used valet parking at hotel. (convenient $15/day)
4. On the appointment day, showed up at 8am for 8.30 appointment and was 7-8th in the line.
5. Make sure to follow all instructions from the appointment confirmation letter and don't bring any extra things. This is very important otherwise you will end up getting pushed back to the end of line.
6. At about 8.30, the security guard started letting people in for metal detector test followed by another one after climbing few stairs.
7. After second check, they will make you pay ($100 per applicant cash US dollars) and will give you a token/number to take it to 20th floor. At this point , they will take main applicant's I797, employment letter and passports.
8. There are public restrooms on 20th floor (where you have wait at least 30-40 minutes)
9. At 20th floor, they will call your number and you have to go for fingerprinting. Wait few more minutes next to the booths.
10. Officer will call your number and window. Pay attention as they don't have any PA system and you may miss your number if you don't listen carefully.
11. Visa officer asked me where I worked, what I did and asked for 3-4 paystubs. Online printouts worked for me that showed direct deposit. Pretty cool, no complicated questions.
12. He asked me to come next day at 3pm to collect the passports and sked to pay the cashier. ($50 per applicant)
13. Cashier accepts Visa/Mastercard. No cash required. He will give you a receipt.
14. Take the receipt to person who does fingerprinting. That person will give you stubs for passport collection. (1 per passport)
15. Left the embassy office at 10am and enjoyed rest of the day sightseeing. Punjab market is worth a visit. (for food, clothes, jewelry, CD/DVDs)
15. Came back next at 2.15pm and were almost 25th in the line. Arrive early.
16. Got into the embassy for metal detector checks at around 3.15 and asked everybody to go upstairs (not the 20th floor). After making all of us sit for 10 minutes or so, the people asked us to come forward with the stubs to collect passports. (anyone can collect the passport as long as they have your stub)
17. Checked and rechecked for all the information on my visa stamp and I797.
Left at about 3.45pm.
18. Collected the bags (Days Inn staff was nice enough to let us leave the bags up front till 4pm) and left for Seattle around 4.30pm.
19. Since it was Friday evening, the lines at highway 99 (Peace Arch) border crossing were extremely long and took us almost 2 hours to get the agent. The agent asked us questions about what food we are carrying and looked at the passport for I94 validity. He put a tag on the car and asked us to go inside US customs and border office.
20. There was a line inside and had to wait 20 minutes before an agent called us. The agent asked us for our passports and I797 and took the fingerprints. After making us pay (I think $6 per person- Visa/Mastercard is fine here as well) she issued us brand new I94 cards with new expiry dates. Making sure you have new entry int eh passport as an evidence that you left and came back in status was important according to my attorney.
21. After almost spending 3 hours at the border crossing
, we were on the way to the airport. Please give yourselves enough time for any such delays and unforeseen circumstances.Let me know if I can help in answering any questions.