F1 to H1B @ Vancouver Oct 2019, after 7-8 years on H1

[MSRV]

This forum helped me to be prepared for my visa stamping. Here is my visa experience at Vancouver.
My first H1B stamping, F1 to H1B:

Me: GM Officer
VO: Give me passport and 797.
Me: Gave my passport+797.
VO: Where do you work?
Me: I work for ****
VO: Whats your company do?
Me: mentioned about my company (2 lines)
VO: How long you are with your current employer?
Me: 6 years
VO: What's your job title?
Me: mentioned whatever is on my I-129 petition.
VO: Do you have master's degree?
Me: Yes (I didn't provide what degree, or major or school as extra information. VO always asks for the extra information, if he really thinks it's needed)

VO said, your visa is approved and will be ready to pick-up in 3-5 days.

On the Interview day (Day 1): Status showed as Admin Processing;
Next day (Day 2): Status updated to ISSUED;
Following-day (Day 3): I received an e-mail saying it is available for pick-up. 

I returned on same weekend, At the port of entry (In Vancouver), I had an issue with the admission stamp. They mistakenly entered it as B2 instead of H1B, which I corrected at Deferred Inspection Unit later. SO MAKE SURE TO CHECK CLASS & DATE ON ADMISSION STAMP AT THE PORT OF ENTRY.

I was tensed about my interview like everyone, there were 221-G's issued to 3-4 people, who were interviewed before me. At the end of the day, it went as planned.

Good luck to you all.

[pontevedra8]

5 hours ago, MSRV said:

This forum helped me to be prepared for my visa stamping. Here is my visa experience at Vancouver.
My first H1B stamping, F1 to H1B:

Me: GM Officer
VO: Give me passport and 797.
Me: Gave my passport+797.
VO: Where do you work?
Me: I work for ****
VO: Whats your company do?
Me: mentioned about my company (2 lines)
VO: How long you are with your current employer?
Me: 6 years
VO: What's your job title?
Me: mentioned whatever is on my I-129 petition.
VO: Do you have master's degree?
Me: Yes (I didn't provide what degree, or major or school as extra information. VO always asks for the extra information, if he really thinks it's needed)

VO said, your visa is approved and will be ready to pick-up in 3-5 days.

On the Interview day (Day 1): Status showed as Admin Processing;
Next day (Day 2): Status updated to ISSUED;
Following-day (Day 3): I received an e-mail saying it is available for pick-up. 

I returned on same weekend, At the port of entry (In Vancouver), I had an issue with the admission stamp. They mistakenly entered it as B2 instead of H1B, which I corrected at Deferred Inspection Unit later. SO MAKE SURE TO CHECK CLASS & DATE ON ADMISSION STAMP AT THE PORT OF ENTRY.

I was tensed about my interview like everyone, there were 221-G's issued to 3-4 people, who were interviewed before me. At the end of the day, it went as planned.

Good luck to you all.

thanx a lot and congrats, im planning to go to Vancouver in Nov need direction on where to stay . Same scenario as urs 1st F1-H1 after 3yrs.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jsk423]

Congratulations.

are you a contractor working at a client place or FT?

[User099]

16 hours ago, MSRV said:

This forum helped me to be prepared for my visa stamping. Here is my visa experience at Vancouver.
My first H1B stamping, F1 to H1B:

Me: GM Officer
VO: Give me passport and 797.
Me: Gave my passport+797.
VO: Where do you work?
Me: I work for ****
VO: Whats your company do?
Me: mentioned about my company (2 lines)
VO: How long you are with your current employer?
Me: 6 years
VO: What's your job title?
Me: mentioned whatever is on my I-129 petition.
VO: Do you have master's degree?
Me: Yes (I didn't provide what degree, or major or school as extra information. VO always asks for the extra information, if he really thinks it's needed)

VO said, your visa is approved and will be ready to pick-up in 3-5 days.

On the Interview day (Day 1): Status showed as Admin Processing;
Next day (Day 2): Status updated to ISSUED;
Following-day (Day 3): I received an e-mail saying it is available for pick-up. 

I returned on same weekend, At the port of entry (In Vancouver), I had an issue with the admission stamp. They mistakenly entered it as B2 instead of H1B, which I corrected at Deferred Inspection Unit later. SO MAKE SURE TO CHECK CLASS & DATE ON ADMISSION STAMP AT THE PORT OF ENTRY.

I was tensed about my interview like everyone, there were 221-G's issued to 3-4 people, who were interviewed before me. At the end of the day, it went as planned.

Good luck to you all.

Appreciate you taking time to write about your experience!

[gopalakrishnach]

Congrats and Thanks for sharing. I appreciate you can hang on here and help others

[MSRV]

14 hours ago, pontevedra8 said:

thanx a lot and congrats, im planning to go to Vancouver in Nov need direction on where to stay . Same scenario as urs 1st F1-H1 after 3yrs.

Thanks in advance!

 

About stay, there are many places in and around, but I chose to stay in Airbnb place in downtown. From here, you can take a cab (<$10) to consulate or walk (15-20 min) or take a bus. Airbnb was economical compared to other hotels, just being cautious I didn't accesses any personal-important information over their internet, I used my mobile for such things. 

Commute in Vancouver is very good, you can easily go around, best is to take a compass card (I took it in the Sky train station at the airport) and load with some 20-30$. Once you scan the card, they won't charge you again for next 90 minutes or so, sky train included. You can use the same card to access the sky train, which is well connected to the other places in Vancouver.

Best scenarios is, you get the passport in 3 working days, if approved.

@jsk423I am working as FT.

[pontevedra8]

7 hours ago, MSRV said:

About stay, there are many places in and around, but I chose to stay in Airbnb place in downtown. From here, you can take a cab (<$10) to consulate or walk (15-20 min) or take a bus. Airbnb was economical compared to other hotels, just being cautious I didn't accesses any personal-important information over their internet, I used my mobile for such things. 

Commute in Vancouver is very good, you can easily go around, best is to take a compass card (I took it in the Sky train station at the airport) and load with some 20-30$. Once you scan the card, they won't charge you again for next 90 minutes or so, sky train included. You can use the same card to access the sky train, which is well connected to the other places in Vancouver.

Best scenarios is, you get the passport in 3 working days, if approved.

@jsk423I am working as FT.

thx for the info @msvr

[VB111]

Thank you for the information!

I have H1B consular processing- with Consulate stated as Kolkata on my i-797b. 

Can I still go to Canada for stamping ? 

[User099]

17 hours ago, VB111 said:

Thank you for the information!

I have H1B consular processing- with Consulate stated as Kolkata on my i-797b. 

Can I still go to Canada for stamping ? 

Yes.