bayarea_dude
New Member
Hi all,
Just wanted to let you know that my visa renewal went without any hitch at Calgary consulate.
I have been to Mexico before for renewal and compared to that experience, this appears a very good option - very few people (less than 100 probably), polite officers, systematic approach to the renewal.
Mine was a straight forward case - H1b extension for same employer. Single dude - No wifey, no dependents, no tension.
US Consulate is located at downtown and it appears they don't put number of the building outside. So 615 615 MacLeod Trail SE is the address, but you can look for a building called <b>ROCKY MOUNTAIN PLAZA</b> near 6th and 7th Ave. This building is kinda opposite Calgary Town Municpal Building. Other landmark is Olympic Park which is right next to this building.
My appointment was at 9AM. I flew the previous day from SFO - nonstop Air Canada to Calgary reaching around 5PM. Rented a car at airport, stayed at Holiday Inn on MacLeod trail (2kms from consulate). On that evening went and checked where the building is and also explored the downtown (beautiful!)
Next morning turned up at the building at 8:30AM. On the ground floor itself, US Consulate has kinda security/reception. And was asked to stand in line. Once 5-6 people were accumulated, the security guard personally escorted us to the 10th floor - where the consulate is, after verifyng we have appointment letter/passport and fee. BTW there is a nice cafetaria/sandwich shop right near the queue. So take coffee and stand in the line!
So around 9AM reached 10th floor. Security was strict, bags checked. The official letter asks NOT to bring cell phone etc. But in case you got it they do label it and keep it near the security counter which you can collect after the interview.
Once that was done, I was asked to stand in line to pay 100 bucks at counter 1. The official here took really long time going over the documents and asked "Do you have any relative in US" and noted our answers on the application. Confirmed the name is printed correctly etc. He asked for letter from the company and 797. Then asked $100 and gave receipt and told "please be seated, you will be called for interview".
I waited only around 15 minutes when my name was announced and asked to come to window 2. BTW only two windows were active for interview (other than counter 1).
Officer asked what do I do at my company and what was our company's main business. (I work in IT for a healthcare company). I mentioned my role in couple of sentences and he immediately asked me to put left forefinger on the machine and then asked to put right forefinger.
After that followed bit scary part - he took solid 60 SECONDS - not much, but scared the hell out of me - viewing the computer screen. I could not see the screen so not sure what goes on at that time? Like movies they can compare my fingerprint with thousands of databases? Anyway at the end of it, he sighed and looked straight at my eyes and asked "During your stay at US have you ever been involved in illegal activities, crime or have you encountered problem with law enforcement authorities or been out of status?". I politely told "No sir". (which is true - as I don't even have a speeding ticket LOL)
At this point, he looked at the monitor again and said "Your visa has been approved. Your reciprocity visa fee is $50" and gave me a chit and asked me to pay at the cashier and get the receipt back to him.
I went to cashier, paid it, got both receipts to the officer. He gave me a kinda sticker with a number on it (same number was put on passport cover). He asked me come and collect the visa at 3PM at GROUND FLOOD. (same place where we queued in the morning). So essentially I was out of consulate by 10AM.
Went around downtown, city center is one superb architecture and there are many murals in downtown (my interest). Happily took photos (after taking the camera from car trunk).
You can park the car at City parking garage on 9th Ave. It is time based fee. Note that before you collect the car back you have to PAY FIRST at 15th level and then go back to car and drive out by swiping the receipt.
So killed time till 2:45PM. Had lunch at Buddhas Veggie Restaurant on MacLeod Trail. There is also one Tajmahal - very good food according to the Ukrainian chap who was with me in the queue while collecting passport back.
So at 3PM we again queuedup and gave our receipt, the pvt security guard gave our passport and 797 back. I made sure everything was ok - Multiple entry - expiry date etc and walked around downtown a bit again. It was still only 3:15PM, but my flight to SFO was at 6:15PM. So went to car garage, collected the car and drove to airport. Returned the rental car and was at airport counter by 4:30PM.
Hint here: Air Canada queues are LONG to US if you have check-in luggage. If you don't have any check-in luggage then proceed to Air Canada kiosks which will print boarding pass once you enter credit card/your passport number etc. So collected it and went to US Customs and Immigration (yeah in Calgary itself, before boarding). Officer asked what do I do in US. He also saw the I-94 and just waved me through after entering something into the computer.
Note that while flying out of US, in the consulate and while entering US the I-94 remained stapled to the passport - as it was indicating expiry till the end of my new I-797. i.e. it was not removed by anyone..
Flight was bit delayed but had good dinner (you gotta pay) and landed at SFO around 8:30PM.
All in all everything went according to the plan.
Logistics: Booked appointment through nvars.com one month before. Booked flights one month before (costs $285 Round trip), booked hotels and car thru company travel rep. To get Canadian visa went to LA - they give visa the same day at 1PM provided you give the application by 10:30AM. I had work at LA so did that three weeks before the trip to Calgary.
Papers I took: Obviously I-797 and copy of labor application, W2, tax returns, letter from the company, my business card, recent paystubs, all education documents in original, letter from my manager and his biz card. Out of all these, I was only asked for the letter from company. May be the fact that my salary is in six figures did the trick (I am not boasting but just putting in the facts and setting the scene - so much about H1bs being cheap labor eh)
So anyway, just want to stress that as long as your ducks are in the row there is absolutely no risk in going to Calgary for visa renewal. I did see many visa rejections - primarily visitors to Canada who were applying for visa to US. I did not see many H1b extension folks (no desis atleast. just couple of them).
Compared to Mexico, trip to Canada for renewal seems like a picnic - provided you have all the right documents and have capacity to make arrangements. Good thing is you can book all via travelocity and take directions from Mapquest. So basically you are not dependent on any agent or language barrier like Mexico, not to mention thousands of Mexicans who throng the consulate forming huge queue.
Other big advantage is the fact that they accept US currency at the consulate. So make sure you have $100 and then $50 for visa (if you are Indian passport holder) - unlike Mexico or India where you need to have Demand Draft or Money Order drawn from a specific bank in local currency.
So thats it!
My only regret is I should have taken one more day to explore Banff which I could not do, but will do soon before the winter sets in!
If you have any questions I will be happy to answer.
Just wanted to let you know that my visa renewal went without any hitch at Calgary consulate.
I have been to Mexico before for renewal and compared to that experience, this appears a very good option - very few people (less than 100 probably), polite officers, systematic approach to the renewal.
Mine was a straight forward case - H1b extension for same employer. Single dude - No wifey, no dependents, no tension.
US Consulate is located at downtown and it appears they don't put number of the building outside. So 615 615 MacLeod Trail SE is the address, but you can look for a building called <b>ROCKY MOUNTAIN PLAZA</b> near 6th and 7th Ave. This building is kinda opposite Calgary Town Municpal Building. Other landmark is Olympic Park which is right next to this building.
My appointment was at 9AM. I flew the previous day from SFO - nonstop Air Canada to Calgary reaching around 5PM. Rented a car at airport, stayed at Holiday Inn on MacLeod trail (2kms from consulate). On that evening went and checked where the building is and also explored the downtown (beautiful!)
Next morning turned up at the building at 8:30AM. On the ground floor itself, US Consulate has kinda security/reception. And was asked to stand in line. Once 5-6 people were accumulated, the security guard personally escorted us to the 10th floor - where the consulate is, after verifyng we have appointment letter/passport and fee. BTW there is a nice cafetaria/sandwich shop right near the queue. So take coffee and stand in the line!
So around 9AM reached 10th floor. Security was strict, bags checked. The official letter asks NOT to bring cell phone etc. But in case you got it they do label it and keep it near the security counter which you can collect after the interview.
Once that was done, I was asked to stand in line to pay 100 bucks at counter 1. The official here took really long time going over the documents and asked "Do you have any relative in US" and noted our answers on the application. Confirmed the name is printed correctly etc. He asked for letter from the company and 797. Then asked $100 and gave receipt and told "please be seated, you will be called for interview".
I waited only around 15 minutes when my name was announced and asked to come to window 2. BTW only two windows were active for interview (other than counter 1).
Officer asked what do I do at my company and what was our company's main business. (I work in IT for a healthcare company). I mentioned my role in couple of sentences and he immediately asked me to put left forefinger on the machine and then asked to put right forefinger.
After that followed bit scary part - he took solid 60 SECONDS - not much, but scared the hell out of me - viewing the computer screen. I could not see the screen so not sure what goes on at that time? Like movies they can compare my fingerprint with thousands of databases? Anyway at the end of it, he sighed and looked straight at my eyes and asked "During your stay at US have you ever been involved in illegal activities, crime or have you encountered problem with law enforcement authorities or been out of status?". I politely told "No sir". (which is true - as I don't even have a speeding ticket LOL)
At this point, he looked at the monitor again and said "Your visa has been approved. Your reciprocity visa fee is $50" and gave me a chit and asked me to pay at the cashier and get the receipt back to him.
I went to cashier, paid it, got both receipts to the officer. He gave me a kinda sticker with a number on it (same number was put on passport cover). He asked me come and collect the visa at 3PM at GROUND FLOOD. (same place where we queued in the morning). So essentially I was out of consulate by 10AM.
Went around downtown, city center is one superb architecture and there are many murals in downtown (my interest). Happily took photos (after taking the camera from car trunk).
You can park the car at City parking garage on 9th Ave. It is time based fee. Note that before you collect the car back you have to PAY FIRST at 15th level and then go back to car and drive out by swiping the receipt.
So killed time till 2:45PM. Had lunch at Buddhas Veggie Restaurant on MacLeod Trail. There is also one Tajmahal - very good food according to the Ukrainian chap who was with me in the queue while collecting passport back.
So at 3PM we again queuedup and gave our receipt, the pvt security guard gave our passport and 797 back. I made sure everything was ok - Multiple entry - expiry date etc and walked around downtown a bit again. It was still only 3:15PM, but my flight to SFO was at 6:15PM. So went to car garage, collected the car and drove to airport. Returned the rental car and was at airport counter by 4:30PM.
Hint here: Air Canada queues are LONG to US if you have check-in luggage. If you don't have any check-in luggage then proceed to Air Canada kiosks which will print boarding pass once you enter credit card/your passport number etc. So collected it and went to US Customs and Immigration (yeah in Calgary itself, before boarding). Officer asked what do I do in US. He also saw the I-94 and just waved me through after entering something into the computer.
Note that while flying out of US, in the consulate and while entering US the I-94 remained stapled to the passport - as it was indicating expiry till the end of my new I-797. i.e. it was not removed by anyone..
Flight was bit delayed but had good dinner (you gotta pay) and landed at SFO around 8:30PM.
All in all everything went according to the plan.
Logistics: Booked appointment through nvars.com one month before. Booked flights one month before (costs $285 Round trip), booked hotels and car thru company travel rep. To get Canadian visa went to LA - they give visa the same day at 1PM provided you give the application by 10:30AM. I had work at LA so did that three weeks before the trip to Calgary.
Papers I took: Obviously I-797 and copy of labor application, W2, tax returns, letter from the company, my business card, recent paystubs, all education documents in original, letter from my manager and his biz card. Out of all these, I was only asked for the letter from company. May be the fact that my salary is in six figures did the trick (I am not boasting but just putting in the facts and setting the scene - so much about H1bs being cheap labor eh)
So anyway, just want to stress that as long as your ducks are in the row there is absolutely no risk in going to Calgary for visa renewal. I did see many visa rejections - primarily visitors to Canada who were applying for visa to US. I did not see many H1b extension folks (no desis atleast. just couple of them).
Compared to Mexico, trip to Canada for renewal seems like a picnic - provided you have all the right documents and have capacity to make arrangements. Good thing is you can book all via travelocity and take directions from Mapquest. So basically you are not dependent on any agent or language barrier like Mexico, not to mention thousands of Mexicans who throng the consulate forming huge queue.
Other big advantage is the fact that they accept US currency at the consulate. So make sure you have $100 and then $50 for visa (if you are Indian passport holder) - unlike Mexico or India where you need to have Demand Draft or Money Order drawn from a specific bank in local currency.
So thats it!
My only regret is I should have taken one more day to explore Banff which I could not do, but will do soon before the winter sets in!
If you have any questions I will be happy to answer.