I feel bad that I did not give any update in the forum after I got my H1 visa two months back. So, here it goes.
My situation in January'07:
F1 completed, OPT completed, first H1 visa stamping had done in Mexico
Old Passport expired in July'06. H1 visa is going to expire in Mar.07. Planned to renew H1 before it expires. So had applied for a new passport through mail in Indian Consulate in NY in Feb'06 and got it through mail after two weeks or so.
Made an appointment with US consulate at Canada in Febraury at the following webpage
http://www.nvars.com
For my dates, Calgary worked. So booked it.
With the new passport, went to the canadian consulate in new york in Jan. 07 and obtained a canadian tourist visa, single entry. I went with everything prepared for my Calgary appointment. Including flight tickets to canada, hotel stay.
candian consultate web page:
http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/new_york/menu-en.asp
Once I obtained my tourist visa to canada, boarded the flight to calgary and checked in downtown hotel. The consulate was at walkable distance. Went 30mins prior to appointment, was called by my name. It was a guy who asked how long have i been working, if i was married, my college details and whats my work. He asked me to collect the passport in the afternoon.
I have read here that people have been asked to stay in canada until adminstrative processing is complete. I dont know why but all the people who were with me on that day in Calgary, got visa on the same day, not even the next day.
If you have any questions, do reply. If I know the answer I will reply.
Thanks and Good luck.
My situation in January'07:
F1 completed, OPT completed, first H1 visa stamping had done in Mexico
Old Passport expired in July'06. H1 visa is going to expire in Mar.07. Planned to renew H1 before it expires. So had applied for a new passport through mail in Indian Consulate in NY in Feb'06 and got it through mail after two weeks or so.
Made an appointment with US consulate at Canada in Febraury at the following webpage
http://www.nvars.com
For my dates, Calgary worked. So booked it.
With the new passport, went to the canadian consulate in new york in Jan. 07 and obtained a canadian tourist visa, single entry. I went with everything prepared for my Calgary appointment. Including flight tickets to canada, hotel stay.
candian consultate web page:
http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/new_york/menu-en.asp
Once I obtained my tourist visa to canada, boarded the flight to calgary and checked in downtown hotel. The consulate was at walkable distance. Went 30mins prior to appointment, was called by my name. It was a guy who asked how long have i been working, if i was married, my college details and whats my work. He asked me to collect the passport in the afternoon.
I have read here that people have been asked to stay in canada until adminstrative processing is complete. I dont know why but all the people who were with me on that day in Calgary, got visa on the same day, not even the next day.
If you have any questions, do reply. If I know the answer I will reply.
Thanks and Good luck.