One of our H1BWiki readers recently got his H-1B Stamping in Canada. Initially, he got a 221(g) issued by the visa officer and then the visa was finally approved after a long wait. Here is the case study on his journey to Canada and visa stamping experience.

Hello fellow H1BWiki readers. I would like to share my visa stamping experience and the situations I faced in Canada and at the consulate. I work full time for a company XYZ, and have been working for the same employer past 2 years.

H1-B Visa Stamping Experience

I attended an H-1B visa interview in Ottawa, Canada on the 17^th December 2012, Monday. I finished my masters and worked on OPT and then converted to H-1B visa. My Interview was around 9.30 am and I arrived at the consulate around 8.30 am.

Security Check and Documents Verification 

As I entered the Visa Consulate in Ottawa,  my visa appointment letter and DS160 form were thoroughly checked before letting me in. And then, I went through a security check. I was asked to provide my passport, visa appointment letter and DS 160 form. My date and time of my visa interview was checked and I was asked to go to a counter ahead.

Canada Visa Status Verification and Finger Prints

I was asked to provide my passport and I was asked my visa status in Canada. I mentioned I was on visitor status and I have come to get my H-1B visa stamped. The person at the counter asked me if I was changing my visa status from F1 to H-1B and I promptly replied ‘Yes’. I was then given a token and was asked to sit. I was called after a few minutes and I an officer there guided me to give fingerprints. I was then asked to sit again and said I would be called for the interview.

My H-1B Visa Interview at Ottawa Consulate

ME: Good Morning sir.

VO: Good Morning.

VO: Give me your client and vendor letter.

ME: I work as a full time for my employer and I have my offer letter from my employer.

VO: Can you pass me the offer letter?

ME: Gave it.

VO: What does your company do?

ME: Answered.

VO: What do you do for your company?

ME: Answered.

VO: Your offer letter mentions you are a part time programmer analyst? (After going through my offer letter)

ME: I work for 35 to 36 hours and take a day off each week

Here is something I need to explain. My Employer filed my H-1B under part time. Generally part time H-1B is filed when you work for less than 40 hours a week. Although I work full time, I was filed as a part time H-1B when my employer filed it previously, but then I worked as a full time employer for 40 hours at my firm. But I mentioned I work for about 35-36 hours a week and take a day off to the Visa Officer, to satisfy the fact that my H-1B was filed under part time.

VO: How many employees work for your company?

ME: Around 25. While I filing my H-1B, there were around 20 and few joined after I got my H-1B approved. However, we have a development center in India, which comprises of around 200 employees.

VO: Gave a slip which contained the documents I had to submit: I-797 original, W-2’s, pay stubs, bank statements and client letter (I provided my offer letter)

ME: Gave them.

The VO then gave me 221(g) form and told me that the consulate would contact me in a few days. I was given back my passport and the VO explained to me it may be necessary while I travel in the country or if I want to travel out of Canada.

After the Interview

I got an email from consulate after 3 days and I was asked to provide my client manager’s details. I replied to the email and mentioned again that I work full time for an employer and there is no client. I gave my Human Resources Manager (H.R.) email address and phone number.

Email from Consulate to my Employer

This was during the Christmas Holidays and there was some delay because of the holidays. My H.R. Received an email from the consulate and there was a questionnaire attached to the email which was supposed to be filled and sent out. My H.R. Forwarded the email to my manager and he replied with the answers. My H.R. Emailed it to the consulate with the filled in questionnaire and also cc ed my manager in the email.

And then it was during the New Year holiday time. This caused a little delay. After the New Year holidays, the consulate sent another email to my employer asking to provide company’s tax documents and the email also specified that this would be the last thing the consulate would be expecting from the employer and mentioned that the process would be finished as soon as they receive the tax documents. My H.R. Emailed them immediately within a day.

Received Email from Consulate

After 3 to 4 days, I received an email which mentioned that I need to go to the Consulate any day M-F, between 9.30 am to 10.30 am. The email also mentioned I need to inform if I am out of the country.

I was living in Toronto, at my sister’s place since I didn’t know how long it would take for me to get my visa. I received the email on the 7^th Of January, 2013 and I went to the consulate on the 8^th From Toronto to Ottawa.

At the Consulate

I reached the consulate and my passport was asked for. I was mentioned that I would get my passport within 2 business days. I selected to pick up the passport at Toronto, since I left for Toronto after I dropped my passport at the consulate.

Collected my Passport

My passport was ready to pick up at the consulate in Ottawa the same evening, but I have already left to Toronto by then. The next day, I picked up my passport from Loomis, who does package delivery for the consulate. They do deliver home, but an extra charge is applied.

And that is how my struggle ended. I got my passport with H-1B visa stamped on it. I was almost stuck for 3 weeks and I went through a horrible situation. My employer allowed me to work from home, so however my work never got disturbed during this process.

Experience and Tips I want to Share

• Food was expensive outside.
• It was really very cold and I didn’t expect that I would have to stay for so long and I didn’t get enough clothes. So, I faced a hard time out in the snow.
• Hotels are around 75 Canadian Dollars per day.
• I booked my ticket from Washington to Ottawa almost a month ahead of my travel date and I got the ticket for 140 U.S. Dollars.
• I went and checked the consulate area a day ahead before the interview and also checked where I had to park the car.
• It would have been very difficult for me to stay in hotels, so I stayed in Toronto with my sister. If you get into the same situation and you do not have any relatives around, I would suggest looking for sharing accommodation with 2 or 3 people.

H1BWIKI DIGEST

• Planning to attend an H-1B visa stamping in Canada? Check the U.S. Visa application process in Canada at http://h1bwiki.com/h-1b-stamping-at-canada-visa-application-process/.
• You would need to apply a temporary resident visa before you start your visa application process to apply in Canada. To know more about how to obtain temporary resident visa in Canada, check the H1BWiki post at http://h1bwiki.com/how-to-apply-for-temporary-resident-canadian-visa/.

We, H1BWiki team sincerely thank Chaitanya, one of our H1BWiki readers for taking time and posting his visual experience. This is definitely valuable and helpful to other fellow H1BWiki readers. Do you have any experience you would want to share with our blog visitors? Please do write us your experiences to [email protected]