Just returned from Montreal after stamping. Want to share my experience.
Background:
Indian PP holder, typical muslim name, 4th year H1B extension, 3 year H1B expired on 31-Oct-2006, previous H1B stamped at Toronto without any problem, changed status from F1 to H1B, I-140 pending approval and multiple visits to middle east country.
Entered Canada by road on Visitor Visa. Entering Canada was simple. Was asked about the purpose of visit at checkpoint and also some typical questions like carrying any alcohol, drugs, firearms. Then I was asked to see immigration officer inside building. He asked me the purpose of visit again and the interview appointment letter. He saw my previous entry into Canada and did not bother to look at the appointment letter.
Arrived at US Consulate on time. Went through heavy security check and was told to pay fee at Counter 13. The lady took my passport, visa application with photo and asked when I took the photo. I told something like a month ago. She didn't seem satisfied with my answer though I look very much like my photo. She gave me a token number then the wait began.
After almost like an hour and half, I was called at one counter. Here they took the documents required for H1 and ofcourse few questions.
VO: Good Morning
Me: Good Morning
VO: You are visitor in Canada.......Looks like u have visited X(middle east) country multiple times. Was this country your transit point to/from India?
Me: Yes, most of the visits.
VO: Do u have ur I-797 and I-129?
Me: Yes
VO: Also do u have current employment letter?
Me: Yes
VO: What is ur position?
Me: I'm Civil/Structural engineer.
VO: Do u have a US degree?
Me: Yes
VO: When did u graduate?
Me: May 2003
VO: When did u start working?
Me: May 2003
VO: Did u work on your OPT?
Me: Yes
VO: When did u first enter US?
Me: Aug 2001 (she looks at my previous visas)
VO: So, this is visa renewal. You can have seat and will be called with the same token number.
Me: Thanks
After about another 20 mins I was called with my name loud and clear at another window. Another lady VO.
Me: Good Morning
VO: Good....
VO: What is your position in Y company?
Me: I work as Civil/Structural Engineer.
VO: Do you ...Urban Planning?
Me: No, we are Structural engineering firm. We design bridges, tunnels, roads.
VO: So, who are your clients? like City or Municipal...?
Me: Its NY State Dept of Transportation, Port Authority and sometimes local City.
VO: Oh great, so I guess these project involve huge money..
Me: Yes, some projects go in millions.
VO: What was ur major in MS?
Me: Civil Engineering, Structures as Major.
VO: (Looking at my DS-157) So u graduated from Z university?
Me: Yes
VO: Did u work for any other company before?
Me: Yeah, I work for a company on OPT.
Vo: (Looking at my DS-157) and that is XX company.
Me: Yes
VO: And you live in NJ?
Me: Yes
VO: OK, first I need your left index finger print and then the right....
Me: Ok
VO: You have to pay $50 as reciprocity fee and comeback to this counter.
I paid the fee and was given the receipt by the VO to collect PP next day.
Entering back into USA:
Off: Can I have some form of ID?
Me: (Handed over PP)
Off: What is your country of Citizenship?
Me: India (moron look at the passport)
Off: Where do u live?
Me: NJ
Off: What was your purpose of trip to Canada?
Me: To get my visa stamping....
Off: You went to get visa all over again?
Me:
Yeah
Off: Park your car inside the canopy/building and wait to be called. (He took my PP with expired I-94).
After about 10 mins........
Off: What do you do for X company?
Me: I work as ...... blah blah (same story again)
Off: Why did u get the visa stamped? Are you planning to go somewhere?
Me: Yes, I'm planning a visit to India
Off: So u have visited X(middle east) country? (looking at my PP)
Me: Yes
Off: When did u last visit India?
Me: Dec-2005
Off: Was X country your transit point?
Me: Yeah most of the time
Off: Where did u visit in Mar-2006
Me: Country X
Off: I thought this was your transit point only
Me: Yeah most of the time but last visit was not.
Off: So do u have any relatives/friends there?
Me: Yeah
Off: What do they do there?
Me: they work as so and so engineers
Off: Have u ever been convicted of any crime, .....?
Me: No
Off: Have u ever been denied a US visa?
Me: No
Off: Have u ever been denied entry into US?
Me: No
Off: what is your address in US?
Me: (I tell him address)
Off: (finger print scans, photo and a new I-94 for $6......)
Me: Thanks
I guess my last visa stamping at Toronto was better than this one. But I liked the city of Montreal. Driving in the city is cool. Rue Saint Catherine is must visit. Also there is a desi area (Rue Jean Talon) with some good desi restarants and also few scattered bad desi restarants in downtown.
Let me know if there is anything more I can help with. Sorry for the lenghty post.
Background:
Indian PP holder, typical muslim name, 4th year H1B extension, 3 year H1B expired on 31-Oct-2006, previous H1B stamped at Toronto without any problem, changed status from F1 to H1B, I-140 pending approval and multiple visits to middle east country.
Entered Canada by road on Visitor Visa. Entering Canada was simple. Was asked about the purpose of visit at checkpoint and also some typical questions like carrying any alcohol, drugs, firearms. Then I was asked to see immigration officer inside building. He asked me the purpose of visit again and the interview appointment letter. He saw my previous entry into Canada and did not bother to look at the appointment letter.
Arrived at US Consulate on time. Went through heavy security check and was told to pay fee at Counter 13. The lady took my passport, visa application with photo and asked when I took the photo. I told something like a month ago. She didn't seem satisfied with my answer though I look very much like my photo. She gave me a token number then the wait began.
After almost like an hour and half, I was called at one counter. Here they took the documents required for H1 and ofcourse few questions.
VO: Good Morning
Me: Good Morning
VO: You are visitor in Canada.......Looks like u have visited X(middle east) country multiple times. Was this country your transit point to/from India?
Me: Yes, most of the visits.
VO: Do u have ur I-797 and I-129?
Me: Yes
VO: Also do u have current employment letter?
Me: Yes
VO: What is ur position?
Me: I'm Civil/Structural engineer.
VO: Do u have a US degree?
Me: Yes
VO: When did u graduate?
Me: May 2003
VO: When did u start working?
Me: May 2003
VO: Did u work on your OPT?
Me: Yes
VO: When did u first enter US?
Me: Aug 2001 (she looks at my previous visas)
VO: So, this is visa renewal. You can have seat and will be called with the same token number.
Me: Thanks
After about another 20 mins I was called with my name loud and clear at another window. Another lady VO.
Me: Good Morning
VO: Good....
VO: What is your position in Y company?
Me: I work as Civil/Structural Engineer.
VO: Do you ...Urban Planning?
Me: No, we are Structural engineering firm. We design bridges, tunnels, roads.
VO: So, who are your clients? like City or Municipal...?
Me: Its NY State Dept of Transportation, Port Authority and sometimes local City.
VO: Oh great, so I guess these project involve huge money..
Me: Yes, some projects go in millions.
VO: What was ur major in MS?
Me: Civil Engineering, Structures as Major.
VO: (Looking at my DS-157) So u graduated from Z university?
Me: Yes
VO: Did u work for any other company before?
Me: Yeah, I work for a company on OPT.
Vo: (Looking at my DS-157) and that is XX company.
Me: Yes
VO: And you live in NJ?
Me: Yes
VO: OK, first I need your left index finger print and then the right....
Me: Ok
VO: You have to pay $50 as reciprocity fee and comeback to this counter.
I paid the fee and was given the receipt by the VO to collect PP next day.
Entering back into USA:
Off: Can I have some form of ID?
Me: (Handed over PP)
Off: What is your country of Citizenship?
Me: India (moron look at the passport)
Off: Where do u live?
Me: NJ
Off: What was your purpose of trip to Canada?
Me: To get my visa stamping....
Off: You went to get visa all over again?
Me:
Off: Park your car inside the canopy/building and wait to be called. (He took my PP with expired I-94).
After about 10 mins........
Off: What do you do for X company?
Me: I work as ...... blah blah (same story again)
Off: Why did u get the visa stamped? Are you planning to go somewhere?
Me: Yes, I'm planning a visit to India
Off: So u have visited X(middle east) country? (looking at my PP)
Me: Yes
Off: When did u last visit India?
Me: Dec-2005
Off: Was X country your transit point?
Me: Yeah most of the time
Off: Where did u visit in Mar-2006
Me: Country X
Off: I thought this was your transit point only
Me: Yeah most of the time but last visit was not.
Off: So do u have any relatives/friends there?
Me: Yeah
Off: What do they do there?
Me: they work as so and so engineers
Off: Have u ever been convicted of any crime, .....?
Me: No
Off: Have u ever been denied a US visa?
Me: No
Off: Have u ever been denied entry into US?
Me: No
Off: what is your address in US?
Me: (I tell him address)
Off: (finger print scans, photo and a new I-94 for $6......)
Me: Thanks
I guess my last visa stamping at Toronto was better than this one. But I liked the city of Montreal. Driving in the city is cool. Rue Saint Catherine is must visit. Also there is a desi area (Rue Jean Talon) with some good desi restarants and also few scattered bad desi restarants in downtown.
Let me know if there is anything more I can help with. Sorry for the lenghty post.