vayumahesh
Registered Users (C)
I would like to Thank all the people who shared their experiences before me. Here comes my successful experience (H1-B revalidation) at Toronto Consulate on March 20th.
Drove from Detroit along with my wife (H4) and daughter (U.S citizen) via PortHuron U.S - Canada bridge.
At the border (To Canada):
- Showed Passports and Appointment Letter
1) What is the purpose of ur trip?
To Toronto U.S consulate for visa stamping.
2) How many r there in the car ?
Myself (H1 visa), My wife (H4 visa) and our daughter (U.S citizen)
3) How long will u stay?
2 days
4) Where u will stay?
At our friends place in Guelph (i hour from Toronto)
5) Are you bringing any gifts along with u?
NO
Stamped the Arrival Date on the Canada Tourism Visa page and gave the passports back. Did not took I-94.
Currency Exchange:
Took Canadian Currency for 100 US$ at the counter next to the border check
Have an appointment at 10:30 AM. Reached Scotia Bank in Scotia Plaza on King Street (1 mile from Consulate) by 9:30 AM and deposited 200$ (2 * 100$) towards the application processing fee. Bank will keep 1 copy and will return 3 copies to you.
Drove to Simcoe Street, parked the car in one of the Parking Structures. Showed the appointment letter and passports to the security guard at the U.S consulate and went inside. Passed through security check and stood in the Documents Submission line. (There would be 2 lines; one for people who need to submit documents and another who already submitted documents and waiting for finger printing). Waited for about 30 minutes before being let inside. (If you need to take photos, dont wait in the line. Ask Guard and go inside to use the photo machine).
At the Documents Checklist Window:
Submitted 797, Passports, DS-156, DS-157, DS-158, 1 Photo, Appointment Letter.
The officer went through DS-156 in detail and asked the following questions.
1) When did u arrive in USA?
xxxxxx 1998
2) Huh, 1998 ?
I came on F1 visa and changed to H1 after completing my M.S degree.
3) Where did u goto school?
xxxxx
4)When did u change from F1 to H1?
xxxxxx
5) Did u work on ur OPT?
Yes
6) Show me ur OPT card.
Showed OPT card.
7) Show me ur first H1 approval
Gave 797 from my previous employer
8) I see u work for xxxx company? How long u have been with them?
3 yrs
9) Did ur employer filed for Immigration for u ?
Yes
10) When did u arrive in USA (question for my wife)?
xxxx
Marked "A" (Dont know what it means. probably approved/accepted) on my DS-156 form and told to go and stand in the line.
Stood in another line for about 1 hour before being let inside. Was called for finger printing once inside.
Waited for 30 minutes before being called for actual interview. The V.O asked the following questions.
1) What is ur position with xxxx company?
Programmer/Analyst
2) How long have u been with the company?
3 yrs
3) Where did u goto school?
xxxx university.
V.O: I am approving ur visas. Gave some receipt and asked to Go and pay the reciprocity fee upstairs and bring back the receipt to him.
Paid the reciprocity fee, came back and gave the receipt to him. Asked to collect the passports between 3 and 4 pm next day.
Next day, Went to consulate by 3 pm and picked up the passports. Verified the details in the new visa issued (Note that your previous visas would be cancelled - "Cancelled without Prejudice" stamp).
Drove back to USA and at the border (to USA) after checking passports and confirming the purpose of the trip, was asked to park and go inside the building.
The office inside asked the following question.
What do you do in USA?
work for xxx company as "programmer/analyst"
Officer Checked the passports. Asked for Finger printing and Driver's license.
Took away the old I-94 and affixed the new I-94 in the passport and gave it back.
Hurray, Back to USA.
If anyone has any questions, I would be glad to answer them.
Thanks,
vmrao
Drove from Detroit along with my wife (H4) and daughter (U.S citizen) via PortHuron U.S - Canada bridge.
At the border (To Canada):
- Showed Passports and Appointment Letter
1) What is the purpose of ur trip?
To Toronto U.S consulate for visa stamping.
2) How many r there in the car ?
Myself (H1 visa), My wife (H4 visa) and our daughter (U.S citizen)
3) How long will u stay?
2 days
4) Where u will stay?
At our friends place in Guelph (i hour from Toronto)
5) Are you bringing any gifts along with u?
NO
Stamped the Arrival Date on the Canada Tourism Visa page and gave the passports back. Did not took I-94.
Currency Exchange:
Took Canadian Currency for 100 US$ at the counter next to the border check
Have an appointment at 10:30 AM. Reached Scotia Bank in Scotia Plaza on King Street (1 mile from Consulate) by 9:30 AM and deposited 200$ (2 * 100$) towards the application processing fee. Bank will keep 1 copy and will return 3 copies to you.
Drove to Simcoe Street, parked the car in one of the Parking Structures. Showed the appointment letter and passports to the security guard at the U.S consulate and went inside. Passed through security check and stood in the Documents Submission line. (There would be 2 lines; one for people who need to submit documents and another who already submitted documents and waiting for finger printing). Waited for about 30 minutes before being let inside. (If you need to take photos, dont wait in the line. Ask Guard and go inside to use the photo machine).
At the Documents Checklist Window:
Submitted 797, Passports, DS-156, DS-157, DS-158, 1 Photo, Appointment Letter.
The officer went through DS-156 in detail and asked the following questions.
1) When did u arrive in USA?
xxxxxx 1998
2) Huh, 1998 ?
I came on F1 visa and changed to H1 after completing my M.S degree.
3) Where did u goto school?
xxxxx
4)When did u change from F1 to H1?
xxxxxx
5) Did u work on ur OPT?
Yes
6) Show me ur OPT card.
Showed OPT card.
7) Show me ur first H1 approval
Gave 797 from my previous employer
8) I see u work for xxxx company? How long u have been with them?
3 yrs
9) Did ur employer filed for Immigration for u ?
Yes
10) When did u arrive in USA (question for my wife)?
xxxx
Marked "A" (Dont know what it means. probably approved/accepted) on my DS-156 form and told to go and stand in the line.
Stood in another line for about 1 hour before being let inside. Was called for finger printing once inside.
Waited for 30 minutes before being called for actual interview. The V.O asked the following questions.
1) What is ur position with xxxx company?
Programmer/Analyst
2) How long have u been with the company?
3 yrs
3) Where did u goto school?
xxxx university.
V.O: I am approving ur visas. Gave some receipt and asked to Go and pay the reciprocity fee upstairs and bring back the receipt to him.
Paid the reciprocity fee, came back and gave the receipt to him. Asked to collect the passports between 3 and 4 pm next day.
Next day, Went to consulate by 3 pm and picked up the passports. Verified the details in the new visa issued (Note that your previous visas would be cancelled - "Cancelled without Prejudice" stamp).
Drove back to USA and at the border (to USA) after checking passports and confirming the purpose of the trip, was asked to park and go inside the building.
The office inside asked the following question.
What do you do in USA?
work for xxx company as "programmer/analyst"
Officer Checked the passports. Asked for Finger printing and Driver's license.
Took away the old I-94 and affixed the new I-94 in the passport and gave it back.
Hurray, Back to USA.
If anyone has any questions, I would be glad to answer them.
Thanks,
vmrao
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