Ok, so I'm sitting in my hotel room right now as I type this having just returned from my morning appointment at the US Consulate in Montreal. First let me start by saying that this is only MY experience and obviously cannot be applied to everyone else but I made some observations of other people there to help.
My appointment was at 8:30am so I got to the US Consulate approx. 7:55am. There were already several people there and there was a small wait for security. Got through security went up the elevator to the main floor. Once I got there waited inline at the cashier.
She took my application (DS-156,157), my $100 USD, my passport and that is it. She then gave me a ticket and told me to wait until I was called.
I was towards the front of the line so I was called within 20-25 mins. I went to the window and she just asked me for supporting documentation. I passed her my papers and she looked through them. She made some comments like :"oh that's a good company" and "so your parents are permanent residents here" but she did not ask me any questions about anything!
she tells me to go sit down again and wait to be called. 30-40 mins later I am called again to a different window. As soon as I get there the male officer asks me to scan my fingers and then says
"So it looks like this is a straightforward renewal, same company, same job, same office. Right?"
I said: "yes"
He marked something else on my DS-156 and then stamped "CANCELLED" on my current H-1B (this scared me a little) and then said
"Ok, well I'm approving your visa please go to the cashier and pay the reciprocity fee and come back."
Paid the $50 USD came back to him and he tore off his portion of the receipt and handed me a claim check for my passport.
The claim check was printed to say "next business day" but he had crossed that out. He told me to come back at 3-3:30 SAME day and pick it up. I left around 9:45am.
It's now 11am...I'm heading over there to pick it up in a few hours.
I'll post when I have the passport with the new visa in my hand. I'm very surprised that they didn't really ask me any questions whatsoever.
My appointment was at 8:30am so I got to the US Consulate approx. 7:55am. There were already several people there and there was a small wait for security. Got through security went up the elevator to the main floor. Once I got there waited inline at the cashier.
She took my application (DS-156,157), my $100 USD, my passport and that is it. She then gave me a ticket and told me to wait until I was called.
I was towards the front of the line so I was called within 20-25 mins. I went to the window and she just asked me for supporting documentation. I passed her my papers and she looked through them. She made some comments like :"oh that's a good company" and "so your parents are permanent residents here" but she did not ask me any questions about anything!
she tells me to go sit down again and wait to be called. 30-40 mins later I am called again to a different window. As soon as I get there the male officer asks me to scan my fingers and then says
"So it looks like this is a straightforward renewal, same company, same job, same office. Right?"
I said: "yes"
He marked something else on my DS-156 and then stamped "CANCELLED" on my current H-1B (this scared me a little) and then said
"Ok, well I'm approving your visa please go to the cashier and pay the reciprocity fee and come back."
Paid the $50 USD came back to him and he tore off his portion of the receipt and handed me a claim check for my passport.
The claim check was printed to say "next business day" but he had crossed that out. He told me to come back at 3-3:30 SAME day and pick it up. I left around 9:45am.
It's now 11am...I'm heading over there to pick it up in a few hours.
I'll post when I have the passport with the new visa in my hand. I'm very surprised that they didn't really ask me any questions whatsoever.