visastamping
Registered Users (C)
My experience at the Montreal Consulate:
I was able to book my appointment at www.nvars.com at around 12-2AM EST. I had been trying for weeks before I got a date. So be patient and dont give up just after 2-3days of looking for appointments.
Canada Visa:
I am a consultant and work at a Client site. I had to visit the montreal office. Took a letter from employer and Client stating that, to the Canada consulate and got the visa. The interview was for less than 1min. Very easy to get a canadian visa. Got a single entry valid for 6months.
My background:
F1-OPT-H1-Transfer
First time stamping after the F1 stamping(Mumbai) in July 2002. Completed the OPT. H1 filed under Masters quota. H1 transfer to another employer.
Leaving US and entering Canada:
Got the boarding pass from the airline counter. Told the lady to remove my I-94 cards. I had the white one which I got with my F1 visa, 1 for original H1 and 1 for the H1 transfer. She took all the 3 I-94 and kept it with the ticket. She first said, you do not need to return these, but I insisted and she did.
While boarding, the flight deck attendent, took the I-94 cards without any questions.
Entered Montreal. Canadian Customs Officer, asks the purpose of visit. Told him for work purposes. Asked me about the work. Explained him. Done. Stamped, Arrived in Montreal.
Interview:
Reached at 9.30AM. Had the interview at 10AM. Did the security check and went to the 19th floor, window 13 to pay $100. Please note that you are not allowed bags, cellphones or any sort of electronics. Do not come there with these items and tell them I dint know and where will I keep it. I saw an Indian lady come there with these items. Then at the counter, she comes up to asking for a pen. Come on now, you are going for a visa interview, atleast carry a pen.
After 45-50min, paid $100 and waited for my number. A clerk calls me, lady, asking for all the documents.
Asked my I-797(new & old), LCA and I-129(new), offer letter, employer letter, client letter(only if you are a consultant), 5-6 paystubs, OPT card.
Since I was F1-OPT-H1, she asked me for all the exact dates, for entering USA, graduating, start & end of OPT, start of H1 and transfer of H1. I told her all the dates.
She also asked me if my Masters degree was related to my work. I said 'YES'.
Then went back and sat till the VO called me.
Within 5min, I was called again.
VO (lady, again, but was nicer than the clerk),
VO: Hi,
Me: Good Morning Officer, How you doing?
VO: fine.
VO: Can you put your right index finger on the fingerprinting machine. Right and then left.
Me: Did that.
VO: What do you do for your Client?
Me: Told her.
VO: Where do you live? Do you like it?
Me: Told her.
VO: Do you have family in the US?
Me: 'NO'.
VO: You will have to pay extra $50 for reciprocity fees. These fees are due to agreement between US and INDIA.
Me: Take anything but give me the visa. Just kidding. Paid the $50, gave the receipt to her.
VO: Come tomorrow between 3-3.30PM to collect the passport.
Collected the documents and left the consulate.
I think the number of questions and documents asked was normal and since I had everything, I was confident.
I will repeat what many people said here, if you have all the documents, it should be smooth.
Went next day, to collect the passport. Checked the passport, left.
Travel:
Booked the flight and hotel on www.hotwire.com.
I got a deal for $650 (flight+hotel), I stayed at Inter-Continental Hotel.
There are lots of sites for hotels and tickets.
Airport code : YUL,
Bus to central bus station : $13,
Taxi to Montreal Downtown : $35,
Shuttle to all hotels : Free,
This was my sweet experience in Montreal.
Let me know if you need any assistance with anything.
Please note: US residents can get their visa stamped in Montreal. There is nothing like US residents cannot get their visa stamped in Montreal. Please ignore these comments.
These forums provide valuable and all information to get a visa stamped. Right from I-94, H1 documents, everything...I would request the users to do their search on these forums and the net. There is nothing you cannot search on these forums.
I was able to book my appointment at www.nvars.com at around 12-2AM EST. I had been trying for weeks before I got a date. So be patient and dont give up just after 2-3days of looking for appointments.
Canada Visa:
I am a consultant and work at a Client site. I had to visit the montreal office. Took a letter from employer and Client stating that, to the Canada consulate and got the visa. The interview was for less than 1min. Very easy to get a canadian visa. Got a single entry valid for 6months.
My background:
F1-OPT-H1-Transfer
First time stamping after the F1 stamping(Mumbai) in July 2002. Completed the OPT. H1 filed under Masters quota. H1 transfer to another employer.
Leaving US and entering Canada:
Got the boarding pass from the airline counter. Told the lady to remove my I-94 cards. I had the white one which I got with my F1 visa, 1 for original H1 and 1 for the H1 transfer. She took all the 3 I-94 and kept it with the ticket. She first said, you do not need to return these, but I insisted and she did.
While boarding, the flight deck attendent, took the I-94 cards without any questions.
Entered Montreal. Canadian Customs Officer, asks the purpose of visit. Told him for work purposes. Asked me about the work. Explained him. Done. Stamped, Arrived in Montreal.
Interview:
Reached at 9.30AM. Had the interview at 10AM. Did the security check and went to the 19th floor, window 13 to pay $100. Please note that you are not allowed bags, cellphones or any sort of electronics. Do not come there with these items and tell them I dint know and where will I keep it. I saw an Indian lady come there with these items. Then at the counter, she comes up to asking for a pen. Come on now, you are going for a visa interview, atleast carry a pen.
After 45-50min, paid $100 and waited for my number. A clerk calls me, lady, asking for all the documents.
Asked my I-797(new & old), LCA and I-129(new), offer letter, employer letter, client letter(only if you are a consultant), 5-6 paystubs, OPT card.
Since I was F1-OPT-H1, she asked me for all the exact dates, for entering USA, graduating, start & end of OPT, start of H1 and transfer of H1. I told her all the dates.
She also asked me if my Masters degree was related to my work. I said 'YES'.
Then went back and sat till the VO called me.
Within 5min, I was called again.
VO (lady, again, but was nicer than the clerk),
VO: Hi,
Me: Good Morning Officer, How you doing?
VO: fine.
VO: Can you put your right index finger on the fingerprinting machine. Right and then left.
Me: Did that.
VO: What do you do for your Client?
Me: Told her.
VO: Where do you live? Do you like it?
Me: Told her.
VO: Do you have family in the US?
Me: 'NO'.
VO: You will have to pay extra $50 for reciprocity fees. These fees are due to agreement between US and INDIA.
Me: Take anything but give me the visa. Just kidding. Paid the $50, gave the receipt to her.
VO: Come tomorrow between 3-3.30PM to collect the passport.
Collected the documents and left the consulate.
I think the number of questions and documents asked was normal and since I had everything, I was confident.
I will repeat what many people said here, if you have all the documents, it should be smooth.
Went next day, to collect the passport. Checked the passport, left.
Travel:
Booked the flight and hotel on www.hotwire.com.
I got a deal for $650 (flight+hotel), I stayed at Inter-Continental Hotel.
There are lots of sites for hotels and tickets.
Airport code : YUL,
Bus to central bus station : $13,
Taxi to Montreal Downtown : $35,
Shuttle to all hotels : Free,
This was my sweet experience in Montreal.
Let me know if you need any assistance with anything.
Please note: US residents can get their visa stamped in Montreal. There is nothing like US residents cannot get their visa stamped in Montreal. Please ignore these comments.
These forums provide valuable and all information to get a visa stamped. Right from I-94, H1 documents, everything...I would request the users to do their search on these forums and the net. There is nothing you cannot search on these forums.