aamirzeeshan
Registered Users (C)
Hello All,
I have been a reader on this forum until now which helped me on many occasions. I thought its my turn to repay and share some info.
This is about our successful Visa stamping H1-b at the Vancouver consulate on Nov-15-2006.
To give you a little background. This was my third consecutive renewal for 3 Years. I-140 approved in Mar06. Cannot file for 485 due to retrogression
PD = June 2005
Canadian PR approved in Jul05.
approval for 3rd H1 for Dec 06 to Dec 09.
I was trying to get appoinment at the vancouver consulate in oct 20th 06 but no appointments were available for Nov06. It was very important since my current visa was valid until Dec 2006 so i wanted to get it stamped before it expires so in case of denial i can still return to USA using my old visa. Since i had Canada PR card so i provided my canadian address and NVARS gave me an appointment for NOV 15 2006.
Also note that i am from Pakistan with a very common muslim name.
Trip started with a very bad day. The plan was to fly to seattle and then rent a car. original flight was at 9 pm and we should have been there by 11 or so. Unfortunately the flight was delayed and we got at the airport at around 1 am.
ADVISE. take an early flight.
Got our rent a car with our current insurance. No problems. Hertz is good.
Drive from seattle to vancouver is around 145 miles. For people who have to register before leaving US. THere are two exits from the US, 1 from I-5 and other is from Pacific HWY. You must register at the pacific HWY exit as there is no US immigration for exit on I-5.
Got to vancouver at 4 am. We were staying at a friend's house which was around 5 miles away from the emabbasy. There are many hotels around the embassy as well. got at our friend's place around 5 am. Lost couple of times .
Interview was at 8:30 am so i took a small nap and left for the US consulate at 7:45 am. FUN PART BEGINS NOW!
Got there at around 8:15 and was on number 20s in line. ADVISE. ARRIVE EARLY.
US embassy is at 1075 pender st where at interviews are conducted.
There were lines for all other appointments like at 9 am and 9:30 am as well. When your appointment time comes, security will escort you to a different line and then will start sending 2-3 people at one time inside the building for metal check.
ADVISE: Please dress warm. you will be standing outside the building for an hour or so at below 50F. Rain is also very common. So cover your docs in clear folders or so.
No bags/ electronic device is allowed in the building. NOT EVEN CELL PHONE. people who had any of this were sent out for disposal and were sent to end of the line. So please dont carry anything except your docs in clear folder and your wallet. when you enter the security check, officer will ask for you interview letter and passport.
Once you cleared the security check. There are stairs just step up until you see a white door. Go inside and a security officer will guide you to the cashiers office. Cashier wants your original I797, letter from your company describing, job/pay/timeworked, 156 COMPUTER GENERATED and must be filled at state department's website with barcode, 157, $100 US DOLLAR cash (Carry $100 bill only), passport, 1 photo,status in canada (in my case PR card) and please organize docs when presenting it to cashier.
Cashier will give you a token number and a reciept.
For indian nationals the $50 rec. fees is now waived.
Your number will be displayed soon on the screen right behind the cashier booth on the other side of entrance. When your # is displayed go to the elevator where security will escort you to 20th floor.
Here one more security check.
after that make a right and you will see a door as soon as you get in you will see a waiting area on your left.
Just wait until your number is called. Be alert as the dont have PG system so open all yours listening skills. you will be called on window 1 where fingerprinting is done. then W8 begins.
my number was called in about 20 mins on window 3.
VISA Officer = VO
ME: Good Morning.
VO: Good Morning, how r u doing?
ME: doing well, how about u SIR
VO: ohhhh pretty good.
VO: so you are applying for H1
ME: Yes.
VO. What company you work for.
ME: ABC Company.
VO: so are they based in houston.
ME. No, they are in dallas, and recently they have opened an office in canada as well.
VO: Smiles, ohh. Lots of airline miles for you then.
ME: yeahhh, smiles
ME: i added, yeah right now we are going with initial reaserch work as the branch is fairly new.
VO: IC.
VO: Can i see you recent paystub.
ME: sure. handed him.
VO: so how r u paid, twice a month or so.
ME: Yes twice a month.
VO: Give me a minute. (looking at the paystub i guess he did some math on his computer)
VO: I see that you are married, y not applying for your spouse.
ME: She already have VISA.
VO: How come?
ME: we were married a little over a year ago and i went back to my home and applied for her visa there which is valid till 2009. And my 6 months old son is visa free entry to US as he was born in TX.
VO: Smiles, ohh OK.
VO: Is tomorrow at 3pm pick up time convenient for you.
ME: Absolutely!
VO: Allright then. Thank you and have a nice day! (Handed me a token for pickup tomorrow at 3)
ME: thank you sir.
VO: you will get your documents (I-797)tomorrow as well.
ME: Thats fine. Thank you.
Got out. and left for home. Following day got their at around 2:40 pm and same security until the cashier. Cashier took my token # and gave me the passport. She also asked me to check everything before i leave. Passport had my prior visa Cancelled without Pre. and new visa stamped till dec 09. which should make my total H1-b to nine years. Was out by 3:10. They returned my 797 but kept company letter and other forms.
Since i went their with family the reamining days we enjoyed sight seeing the beautiful city of vancouver. We returned on sunday night. Entry on the border was peace of cake. they charged us $6 each for new I-94 though we had the old one still valid. I guess thats their way of money making.
As said "alls well that ends well" Our trip was very successfull and mission accomplished.
Please feel free to ask any questions. I wish you all the very best. Thanks!
I have been a reader on this forum until now which helped me on many occasions. I thought its my turn to repay and share some info.
This is about our successful Visa stamping H1-b at the Vancouver consulate on Nov-15-2006.
To give you a little background. This was my third consecutive renewal for 3 Years. I-140 approved in Mar06. Cannot file for 485 due to retrogression
PD = June 2005Canadian PR approved in Jul05.
approval for 3rd H1 for Dec 06 to Dec 09.
I was trying to get appoinment at the vancouver consulate in oct 20th 06 but no appointments were available for Nov06. It was very important since my current visa was valid until Dec 2006 so i wanted to get it stamped before it expires so in case of denial i can still return to USA using my old visa. Since i had Canada PR card so i provided my canadian address and NVARS gave me an appointment for NOV 15 2006.
Also note that i am from Pakistan with a very common muslim name.
Trip started with a very bad day. The plan was to fly to seattle and then rent a car. original flight was at 9 pm and we should have been there by 11 or so. Unfortunately the flight was delayed and we got at the airport at around 1 am.
ADVISE. take an early flight.Got our rent a car with our current insurance. No problems. Hertz is good.
Drive from seattle to vancouver is around 145 miles. For people who have to register before leaving US. THere are two exits from the US, 1 from I-5 and other is from Pacific HWY. You must register at the pacific HWY exit as there is no US immigration for exit on I-5.
Got to vancouver at 4 am. We were staying at a friend's house which was around 5 miles away from the emabbasy. There are many hotels around the embassy as well. got at our friend's place around 5 am. Lost couple of times
.Interview was at 8:30 am so i took a small nap and left for the US consulate at 7:45 am. FUN PART BEGINS NOW!
Got there at around 8:15 and was on number 20s in line.
ADVISE. ARRIVE EARLY.US embassy is at 1075 pender st where at interviews are conducted.
There were lines for all other appointments like at 9 am and 9:30 am as well. When your appointment time comes, security will escort you to a different line and then will start sending 2-3 people at one time inside the building for metal check.
ADVISE: Please dress warm. you will be standing outside the building for an hour or so at below 50F. Rain is also very common. So cover your docs in clear folders or so.No bags/ electronic device is allowed in the building. NOT EVEN CELL PHONE. people who had any of this were sent out for disposal and were sent to end of the line. So please dont carry anything except your docs in clear folder and your wallet. when you enter the security check, officer will ask for you interview letter and passport.
Once you cleared the security check. There are stairs just step up until you see a white door. Go inside and a security officer will guide you to the cashiers office. Cashier wants your original I797, letter from your company describing, job/pay/timeworked, 156 COMPUTER GENERATED and must be filled at state department's website with barcode, 157, $100 US DOLLAR cash (Carry $100 bill only), passport, 1 photo,status in canada (in my case PR card) and please organize docs when presenting it to cashier.
Cashier will give you a token number and a reciept.
For indian nationals the $50 rec. fees is now waived.
Your number will be displayed soon on the screen right behind the cashier booth on the other side of entrance. When your # is displayed go to the elevator where security will escort you to 20th floor.
Here one more security check.
after that make a right and you will see a door as soon as you get in you will see a waiting area on your left.
Just wait until your number is called. Be alert as the dont have PG system so open all yours listening skills. you will be called on window 1 where fingerprinting is done. then W8 begins.
my number was called in about 20 mins on window 3.
VISA Officer = VO
ME: Good Morning.
VO: Good Morning, how r u doing?
ME: doing well, how about u SIR
VO: ohhhh pretty good.
VO: so you are applying for H1
ME: Yes.
VO. What company you work for.
ME: ABC Company.
VO: so are they based in houston.
ME. No, they are in dallas, and recently they have opened an office in canada as well.
VO: Smiles, ohh. Lots of airline miles for you then.
ME: yeahhh, smiles
ME: i added, yeah right now we are going with initial reaserch work as the branch is fairly new.
VO: IC.
VO: Can i see you recent paystub.
ME: sure. handed him.
VO: so how r u paid, twice a month or so.
ME: Yes twice a month.
VO: Give me a minute. (looking at the paystub i guess he did some math on his computer)
VO: I see that you are married, y not applying for your spouse.
ME: She already have VISA.
VO: How come?
ME: we were married a little over a year ago and i went back to my home and applied for her visa there which is valid till 2009. And my 6 months old son is visa free entry to US as he was born in TX.
VO: Smiles, ohh OK.
VO: Is tomorrow at 3pm pick up time convenient for you.
ME: Absolutely!
VO: Allright then. Thank you and have a nice day! (Handed me a token for pickup tomorrow at 3)
ME: thank you sir.
VO: you will get your documents (I-797)tomorrow as well.
ME: Thats fine. Thank you.
Got out. and left for home. Following day got their at around 2:40 pm and same security until the cashier. Cashier took my token # and gave me the passport. She also asked me to check everything before i leave. Passport had my prior visa Cancelled without Pre. and new visa stamped till dec 09. which should make my total H1-b to nine years. Was out by 3:10. They returned my 797 but kept company letter and other forms.
Since i went their with family the reamining days we enjoyed sight seeing the beautiful city of vancouver. We returned on sunday night. Entry on the border was peace of cake. they charged us $6 each for new I-94 though we had the old one still valid. I guess thats their way of money making.
As said "alls well that ends well" Our trip was very successfull and mission accomplished.
Please feel free to ask any questions. I wish you all the very best. Thanks!