I have collected the H1 B visa experiences published in this blog by searching various websites and by spending lot of time. Since I didn’t find some of their mail id’s there I couldn’t take permission from all the people whose H1b visa experiences I have posted here in this blog. Anyhow because their intention was also to share their experience with others so i had posted without their permission, but i took acceptance from few of them. I thought of posting both success and failure experiences of H1B visa stamping. If you would like to share your experience too, please send it to satyadon@gmail.com.
The Web H1bVisaExp.blogspot.com

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Visa stamping experience in Vancouver, Canada



My case: US Masters degree in Computer Science. H1 started in Oct 2006. Working as IT consultant.
First time stamping after graduation.

Visa appointment: Booked visa appointment on nvars.com in Aug 1st week. Morning 8:30 AM slot.

Journey to Vancouver: Flew to Vancouver. Booked room in Robsonstrasse hotel beforehand. Its about half a mile from the consulate. Reasonably priced hotel in downtown.You can walk to the consulate from here. Cab costs $5 to consulate and $30 to the airport.

Canada immigration: The officer asked for passport and asked the purpose of visit. I said - "I have an appointment at US consulate.".
Officer: "Can I see your appointment letter?"
I handed over my appointment letter.
Officer: "What do you do ?"
Me: " I am a progra.... with ...... Inc "
She stamped my passport and gave it back to me.

Visa interview: My appointment was at 8:30. I was at the consulate by 8:15. But I think I should have been there by 8:00.

-The security guard verifies passport, visa appointment letter, and Scotia Bank deposit slips. You have to remove wallet, watch, keys, belt etc here. Remember. DO NOT TAKE YOUR CELL PHONE WITH YOU. Also, avoid taking purses or handbags in order to cut down time at security checks.

Then you are sent upstairs
Here you have to arrange your core documents in a certain order and give them to a clerk. I dont remember the order but here is the list of documents you need to submit here
1. Passport
2. I-797 original
3. DS-156 (If you didnt attach photo, you have to give a 2x2 photo)
4. DS-157
5. Employment Letter
6. Scotia Bank deposit slip
7. Document to show status in Canada (Usually included in passport)

Once you submit these documents, you are given a token number, and you have to wait in the waiting room till your token number is called. I had to wait about 1 hr in this waiting room.
When your token number is called, you will need to go to another floor where the actual visa interview takes place. There will be a thorough security check here. Remember. DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING IN CLOSED ENVELOPES. Eg transcripts. Open them beforehand. After the check, you will wait in the hallway which is by the consular officers' window.

They will call your token number to take your finger prints and you are seated again.It took about 15 min of waiting before I was asked to give finger prints.

Again you sit and wait for about 20-30 minutes waiting for the interviewing consular officer to call out your token number. "Number XXX at window XXX please".
Then you go the window and the interview begins. Here is how's my interview went:

Officer: "Hi! How are you doing?"
Me: "Great! How are you?"
Officer: "Doing good. Thanks. When did you graduate from University of XXX?"
Me: " In Dec 2005"
Officer: "And now you are working for XXX Inc?
Me: "Yes."
Officer: "What is your position?"
Me: "I am a XXX. And I work on XXX technologies."
Officer: "What kind of work does it involve?"
Me: "Theres this system which does XXXX...My responsibilities are....XXX"
Officer: "OK. Your visa is approved. You can collect at 3 pm tomorrow."
Me: "Thank u. Have a nice day."

That is it. He didnt ask me for any document. Not even my pay stubs. I havent seen a rejection for anyone from India that day.

So guys, as long you have the required documents and your case is simple, DO NOT WORRY AT ALL. Have clear answers for commonly asked questions.

I thank all the guys who wrote their experiences in the forum. It was really helpful.

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