Successful Visa stamping- Ottawa - 22MAR13

[itisme]

Hello everyone,

I had a successful visa stamping today at the Ottawa consulate

I am in an EC model - and this is my 7th year extension

Appointment was at 9:45am and I got in there around 9:15am.

Since it was very cold nobody was standing outside.

There were very few people this morning

There was only 1 other H1B stamping this morning and that person did not get the visa.

There were only 2 V.Os. One was a younger male at counter 2 and other was an older male at counter 4.

The counter 2 Vo was very strict and seemed to be asking too many questions.

After getting in to the counsulate, a lady at the entrance checked all my documents and clipped my DS 160 confirmation, I797 and passport and asked me to submit at counter 1.

Counter 1: In addition to the above, I was asked to provide any employer/vendor letters.

There I was given a token and a 'rights about finger printing'

I only had employer letter and no client letter and I gave that

I went to COunter 6 for finger printing and then waited for my turn to be called

Interview

V.O.at counter 4: Where do you work?

Me : ABC

V.O: What kind of work do you do?

Me: I provided the job responsibilites

V.O: So why did u leave ur previous company? (I was FTE before switching to consulting)

Me: New opportunites etc

V.O: What was your major in

Me: XYZ in US university

V.O: Your visa has ben approved

And gave me back my I797, the employer letter and a flyer with instructions to collect the passport in 2-3 business days

Thanks for everyone for their posts as it was helpful

Good luck to those who are waiting to go for their interviews!

[kumartc1]

Hi Itisme

Congratulation on your successful stamping.

How many days it tool for you to get the passport after the approval

Thanks

Kumar

[nikisinhup]

Congrats on the visa approval!

I'm planning on visiting Ottawa for my 7th year renewal as well! Can you provide some ideas on accomodation - where to stay? Travel to consulate - best by car/bus? Just any info on the logistics would be helpful.

Thanks - Niki

[nn.teradata@gmail.com]

Congrats on the visa approval!

I'm planning on visiting Ottawa for my 7th year renewal as well! Can you provide some ideas on accomodation - where to stay? Travel to consulate - best by car/bus? Just any info on the logistics would be helpful.

Thanks - Niki

when is your appointment? I have mine on April 2nd. Does anyone have near by April 2nd?

[itisme]

kumartc1: I have not yet received the passport. I will let you know when I do

nikisinhup: My previous stamping was also at Ottawa. And I have been staying at Novotel which is in the Downtown area.

I took at cab to the hotel (cost was about $35) . The consulate is at a walkable distance and takes about 10 minutes.

Novotel is right across from the Rideau center mall that has fresh market and food court. The Byward market is also 10 minutes away. Lots of small restaurants close by and I certainly don't feel the need to have a car. Bus stops close by that g o by the LOOMIS center location. So works out well.

Hope this well

[itisme]

Update

Appointment date: 22MAR13 (FRIDAY)

Loomis email recevied 5:30pm : 25MAR13 (MONDAY)

Passport picked up at LOOMIS : 26MAR13 (TUESDAY)

This processing has been really quick

Note, the sheet of paper directs us to check the CSC Visa info center website where we set up the appointments

However, I found after reading several posts that you can also check the 'ceac.state.gov' website

CSC takes a long time to update so checking the ceac website was helpful.

Also, 'Administrative processing' in the ceac website does not necessarily mean it is actually admin processing and will takes days etc'.

While the passport is being processed they put it as 'Admin processing' and subsequently changed to 'Issued'

A few hours later came the email from loomis (FYI: laser.report is the sender)