Greetings everybody,
It's payback time. Thanks a lot for all those posted their experiences earlier. It made easy for
preparation.
By grace of God, we got our H1 Visa (for myself, wife & daughter) stamped at Vancouver. Interview was on July 13th, got the passports with visa stamping on July 14th.
Background - My case was renewal for 10th Year H1B. Earlier visa had expired in Feb, 2004. I have Bachelors from India. All along was on H1B. 10th year with Labor pending at DBEC.
Canadian Visa - Got the canadian visa from Candian Consulates in Los Angeles. It was a same day story. Presented US Visa Interview appointment letter, bank statement and 3 recent pay staubs.
Flight & Hotel:
Booked thru, Travelocity.com - Intrestingly I got $100 less when booked hotel & flight togther by Alaska Airlines. Try Flight & hotel. Started on July 12th morning from LAX and reached Vancouver around 12 Noon. Had to wait for immigration clearance for about an hour. But was very smooth. Reneted a Car from Airport and left for Downtown Vancouber. Stayed in Holiday INN on Broadway Street, which is 4 Miles from Consulate.
After checking into the hotel, and refreshing, went to familiarize the location of the conuslate. I drove by myself and it was pretty easy. the Consulate is located in a busy downtown area. Expect traffic.
July 13th:
Went to consulate around 6:45 AM, parked the car in the Pay Parking right accross the consulate. Had coffee in the Starbucks in the same building.
Around 7:30 AM lined up in the consulate. We were the 2nd in line. We had made sure except our docs (which were in binders) we had no Cell phone, bcakpacks etc.
1. @ 8 AM Passed thru security at the ground floor, after showing appointmnet letter and passports. I had my 6 year Son also, had to show his US passport.
2. Went to 2nd Floor, asked to submit the application along with passport, fees, Employment letter.
3. It was 8:20 AM, the lady checked all the paper work, just took my passport, 156, 157, I 797, employment letter and fees (cash). For my wife & daughter, 156, Passport and fees (Cash). nothing else. Was given a token number and asked to go to 20th Floor for further processing.
4. On 20th floor you again go thru Security check. Was asked to sit. They have a very small area for the seating and not vey spacious.
5. Around 8:40 called for the finger prints of myself and my wife @ window # 1. My daughter (10 years old) didn't had to.
6. There were 5 -6 window offices where the interview takes place.
7. @ 9:10 we were called @ the Window # 2, manned by a lady.
V.O Good morning
me: Good morning
V.O: Nice picture (looking at my daughter.)
V.O: Do you work for <my employer>.
me: Yes. I work for <my employer>
V.O: What do you do?
me: gave a very brief description of my job
V.O: Show me your recent payslips.
Me: Here it is (gave payslips for last 3 months)
V.O had a cursory look at the few of the payslips and returned it to me.
V.O: You have a common name.
Me: I smiled.
Then for few moments she was looking at the computer, probably going thru my previous Visa history. Finally she said, you all set and your visa is approved. She started giving me the red slips for passport pick next day.
Me: Don't we need to pay the reciprocity fees?
V.O: Oh, yes. (She realised that, I need to pay) and asked me to pay the 50 dollors each at the cashier and to collect the Passport pickup coupons from Winodw # 1. I did.
This whole thing took about 5-6 minutes.
8. We were out of the consulate by 9:30.
Untill we were there, everybody got their visas approved.
9. Then Returned to hotel and went out for sight seeing, visiting some family friends in Vancouver.
10. Next day, reached consulate @ 2:50 PM, stood in the line and after security checks got the passport with Visa Stamps by 3:30.
11. Checked everything for correctness and then left the conuslate for a walk on the "Robson Street" famous for shopping.
12. Had a late lunch in Italian Restaurant and finally returned to the hotel for preparation to leave for LAX next day (Saturday).
So the vist was successfull. Weather was little gloomy and rainy, therefore didn't had chnace to go out much. Visit to Robson Street, Stanley park and other sightseeings are worth visiting.
Feel free to ask me if I have missed anything.
Once again thanks and best of luck to all of the Visa Applicants.
It's payback time. Thanks a lot for all those posted their experiences earlier. It made easy for
preparation.
By grace of God, we got our H1 Visa (for myself, wife & daughter) stamped at Vancouver. Interview was on July 13th, got the passports with visa stamping on July 14th.
Background - My case was renewal for 10th Year H1B. Earlier visa had expired in Feb, 2004. I have Bachelors from India. All along was on H1B. 10th year with Labor pending at DBEC.
Canadian Visa - Got the canadian visa from Candian Consulates in Los Angeles. It was a same day story. Presented US Visa Interview appointment letter, bank statement and 3 recent pay staubs.
Flight & Hotel:
Booked thru, Travelocity.com - Intrestingly I got $100 less when booked hotel & flight togther by Alaska Airlines. Try Flight & hotel. Started on July 12th morning from LAX and reached Vancouver around 12 Noon. Had to wait for immigration clearance for about an hour. But was very smooth. Reneted a Car from Airport and left for Downtown Vancouber. Stayed in Holiday INN on Broadway Street, which is 4 Miles from Consulate.
After checking into the hotel, and refreshing, went to familiarize the location of the conuslate. I drove by myself and it was pretty easy. the Consulate is located in a busy downtown area. Expect traffic.
July 13th:
Went to consulate around 6:45 AM, parked the car in the Pay Parking right accross the consulate. Had coffee in the Starbucks in the same building.
Around 7:30 AM lined up in the consulate. We were the 2nd in line. We had made sure except our docs (which were in binders) we had no Cell phone, bcakpacks etc.
1. @ 8 AM Passed thru security at the ground floor, after showing appointmnet letter and passports. I had my 6 year Son also, had to show his US passport.
2. Went to 2nd Floor, asked to submit the application along with passport, fees, Employment letter.
3. It was 8:20 AM, the lady checked all the paper work, just took my passport, 156, 157, I 797, employment letter and fees (cash). For my wife & daughter, 156, Passport and fees (Cash). nothing else. Was given a token number and asked to go to 20th Floor for further processing.
4. On 20th floor you again go thru Security check. Was asked to sit. They have a very small area for the seating and not vey spacious.
5. Around 8:40 called for the finger prints of myself and my wife @ window # 1. My daughter (10 years old) didn't had to.
6. There were 5 -6 window offices where the interview takes place.
7. @ 9:10 we were called @ the Window # 2, manned by a lady.
V.O Good morning
me: Good morning
V.O: Nice picture (looking at my daughter.)
V.O: Do you work for <my employer>.
me: Yes. I work for <my employer>
V.O: What do you do?
me: gave a very brief description of my job
V.O: Show me your recent payslips.
Me: Here it is (gave payslips for last 3 months)
V.O had a cursory look at the few of the payslips and returned it to me.
V.O: You have a common name.
Me: I smiled.
Then for few moments she was looking at the computer, probably going thru my previous Visa history. Finally she said, you all set and your visa is approved. She started giving me the red slips for passport pick next day.
Me: Don't we need to pay the reciprocity fees?
V.O: Oh, yes. (She realised that, I need to pay) and asked me to pay the 50 dollors each at the cashier and to collect the Passport pickup coupons from Winodw # 1. I did.
This whole thing took about 5-6 minutes.
8. We were out of the consulate by 9:30.
Untill we were there, everybody got their visas approved.
9. Then Returned to hotel and went out for sight seeing, visiting some family friends in Vancouver.
10. Next day, reached consulate @ 2:50 PM, stood in the line and after security checks got the passport with Visa Stamps by 3:30.
11. Checked everything for correctness and then left the conuslate for a walk on the "Robson Street" famous for shopping.
12. Had a late lunch in Italian Restaurant and finally returned to the hotel for preparation to leave for LAX next day (Saturday).
So the vist was successfull. Weather was little gloomy and rainy, therefore didn't had chnace to go out much. Visit to Robson Street, Stanley park and other sightseeings are worth visiting.
Feel free to ask me if I have missed anything.
Once again thanks and best of luck to all of the Visa Applicants.