ketulpopat
New Member
I wanted to share my experience of getting H1B stamped at American Consulate in Toronto since it is little different then most of the experiences posted here. I am citizen of India and went to Toronto to get F1 to OPT to H1B stamped. I have been in US for past 5.5 yrs.
My appointment was at 8.30 am on 23rd October 2003 at the consulate in Toronto. The procedure was very standard. You need to wait in the line outside the consulate and one by one after security the guard lets you in the building. Once I was in the building, I submitted my passport, I-797, DS-156, DS-157 and photograph to the counter. After this one by one the consular officer at different windows annouced the name with the country the passport is issued. My name was called within 15mins. The women at the counter asked me what documents I had. She didnt ask me for any specific documents. So one by one I gave her all the documents that are listed on the nvars.com website. She looked at my documents very carefully and told me to wait since her senior will call me for further interview. At this point I was at the peak of anxiety. After 10mins I was again called by the senior officer. He was very polite. He asked me lots of questions regarding my education and work. Finally he told me that everything looks good. All my documents are in order. But since my education and work is in the field listed in TAL they will have to get security clearance from DC. He told me that this is very standard procedure and I need not worry its just time, since it might take anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months. I gave me a piece of paper with date of 14th November to call consulate about the status of clearance.
After talking to my lawyer and people at university (since I work for university) they all suggested that I should stay in Canada and not try to go to India or even back to USA (sometimes u can sneak in through border at Niagara Falls since many times they dont check passport properly!!!!). So i decided to hang in Canada untill my security clearance was cleared. I called on 14th November as I was asked to between 2-4pm. The lady told me that havent heard from DC and I should keep calling. If I want I can call daily too.
After 14th November, my frustration was at peak. I kept on calling everyday at 2pm and I had the same answer. Finally on 24th November when I called they told me that the security is cleared and I can come anyday from 8-11am with all my documents to get visa stamped.
I went back to consulate on 25th November at 8am. It was again the same procedure to wait in line, and one by one after security is cleared they guard lets everyone go in. Once I was in I submitted my passport, I-797 and the little paper that was given to me first time which is the authorization to come to consulate. I submitted the papers to the window to the women. Fortunately she remembered me from my conversations on phone everyday at 2pm since she was the one who used to answer. She was very nice to me and wished me good luck.
Well this time I had to wait for 2 hrs before my name was called, Since the give first preference to people who have appointment. I was called by a senior officer. He asked me why do I want to go to USA. I told him the answer. He told me what did I do in past few weeks. Did I go to India or back to USA or was in Canada. I told him I was in Canada and he told me I made right decision by staying in Canada otherwise things might get more complicated. Then he gave me a sticker and told me to come next day between 3-4pm to collect my passport and I-797. He didnt ask me to pay reciprocity fee. However my lawyer told me if the dont ask, I should tell them that I need to pay. Because if they find out later that I didnt pay, then there will be delays in getting passport back next day. So I told officer I need to pay reciprocity fee. He gave me a silp and told me to go to 3rd floor and pay USD50 and bring him back the reciept.
The next day 26th November i went to consulate at 2.15pm since I thought there will be long line in collecting passports. But they had already started giving passport. Within 5mins I got my passport and was relieved.
Since the next day was Thanksgiving day, I got a good deal on flight so I flew Air Canada back to USA. At toronto airport the immigration officer was very nice. He was friendly and didnt ask much. He just asked for my old passport. He took my old I-94 and stamped my new one. Within few hours I was back on US soil. And finally the long nightmare ended on the day of Thanksgiving.
Finally I would like to advise all the people that they are doing security even if you are Indian Citizen if your area of work lies in TAL. They do MANTIS clearance for TAL rather then CONDOR for most of the other cases. MANTIS data suggests that 90% people get approval within 30 day, in remaining 7% hear within 2-3 months and rest within 4months. Also I did meet an Indian couple at the consulate when I went again who were also waiting for visa after security. Their visa was denied even after the clearance was received. I didnt get chance to talk to them why it was denied or they needed more documents. So I guess lot of things depend on luck too. But in general the people at consulate were very nice and friendly. I guess its frustrating when something like this happens and you have to wait for security clearance. But I think the people at consulate are doing thier job and they do what the rules tell them to do.
I havent seen any experience by Indian citizen who has gone through security clearance. I hope this information helps for people who are planning to go to Toronto for visa. I will be happy to answer any other questions.
My appointment was at 8.30 am on 23rd October 2003 at the consulate in Toronto. The procedure was very standard. You need to wait in the line outside the consulate and one by one after security the guard lets you in the building. Once I was in the building, I submitted my passport, I-797, DS-156, DS-157 and photograph to the counter. After this one by one the consular officer at different windows annouced the name with the country the passport is issued. My name was called within 15mins. The women at the counter asked me what documents I had. She didnt ask me for any specific documents. So one by one I gave her all the documents that are listed on the nvars.com website. She looked at my documents very carefully and told me to wait since her senior will call me for further interview. At this point I was at the peak of anxiety. After 10mins I was again called by the senior officer. He was very polite. He asked me lots of questions regarding my education and work. Finally he told me that everything looks good. All my documents are in order. But since my education and work is in the field listed in TAL they will have to get security clearance from DC. He told me that this is very standard procedure and I need not worry its just time, since it might take anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months. I gave me a piece of paper with date of 14th November to call consulate about the status of clearance.
After talking to my lawyer and people at university (since I work for university) they all suggested that I should stay in Canada and not try to go to India or even back to USA (sometimes u can sneak in through border at Niagara Falls since many times they dont check passport properly!!!!). So i decided to hang in Canada untill my security clearance was cleared. I called on 14th November as I was asked to between 2-4pm. The lady told me that havent heard from DC and I should keep calling. If I want I can call daily too.
After 14th November, my frustration was at peak. I kept on calling everyday at 2pm and I had the same answer. Finally on 24th November when I called they told me that the security is cleared and I can come anyday from 8-11am with all my documents to get visa stamped.
I went back to consulate on 25th November at 8am. It was again the same procedure to wait in line, and one by one after security is cleared they guard lets everyone go in. Once I was in I submitted my passport, I-797 and the little paper that was given to me first time which is the authorization to come to consulate. I submitted the papers to the window to the women. Fortunately she remembered me from my conversations on phone everyday at 2pm since she was the one who used to answer. She was very nice to me and wished me good luck.
Well this time I had to wait for 2 hrs before my name was called, Since the give first preference to people who have appointment. I was called by a senior officer. He asked me why do I want to go to USA. I told him the answer. He told me what did I do in past few weeks. Did I go to India or back to USA or was in Canada. I told him I was in Canada and he told me I made right decision by staying in Canada otherwise things might get more complicated. Then he gave me a sticker and told me to come next day between 3-4pm to collect my passport and I-797. He didnt ask me to pay reciprocity fee. However my lawyer told me if the dont ask, I should tell them that I need to pay. Because if they find out later that I didnt pay, then there will be delays in getting passport back next day. So I told officer I need to pay reciprocity fee. He gave me a silp and told me to go to 3rd floor and pay USD50 and bring him back the reciept.
The next day 26th November i went to consulate at 2.15pm since I thought there will be long line in collecting passports. But they had already started giving passport. Within 5mins I got my passport and was relieved.
Since the next day was Thanksgiving day, I got a good deal on flight so I flew Air Canada back to USA. At toronto airport the immigration officer was very nice. He was friendly and didnt ask much. He just asked for my old passport. He took my old I-94 and stamped my new one. Within few hours I was back on US soil. And finally the long nightmare ended on the day of Thanksgiving.
Finally I would like to advise all the people that they are doing security even if you are Indian Citizen if your area of work lies in TAL. They do MANTIS clearance for TAL rather then CONDOR for most of the other cases. MANTIS data suggests that 90% people get approval within 30 day, in remaining 7% hear within 2-3 months and rest within 4months. Also I did meet an Indian couple at the consulate when I went again who were also waiting for visa after security. Their visa was denied even after the clearance was received. I didnt get chance to talk to them why it was denied or they needed more documents. So I guess lot of things depend on luck too. But in general the people at consulate were very nice and friendly. I guess its frustrating when something like this happens and you have to wait for security clearance. But I think the people at consulate are doing thier job and they do what the rules tell them to do.
I havent seen any experience by Indian citizen who has gone through security clearance. I hope this information helps for people who are planning to go to Toronto for visa. I will be happy to answer any other questions.
