H1B stamping in Calgary

Here is my recent H1B stamping experience (early August, 2003) in U.S. consulate in Calgary, AB.

I am citizen of China, came to U.S. on F1, H1B approved early this year, I only have an expired F1 visa stamp on my passport, no H1B visa stamp. I also was an approved Canadian PR, with Canadian PR visa and landing paper. I planed my landing trip to Canada and made a U.S. appointment next day after landing. Actually U.S. consulate Calgary does not requirement a visa appointment if you are landed immigrant of Canada, you may apply on walk-in basis. I made one just for certainty since it would ruin my plan if they say no for any reason. U.S. Consulate in Calgary is located on Macleod Trail Rd. almost in downtown. The consulate is on 10th floor. But for increased security, you can’t go to 10th floor on your own. You have to wait in lobby and every 5-10 minutes security personnel will come to lobby and do a preliminary check of everyone’s purpose of visiting. Then this person brings a dozen of people upstairs. Before entering the consulate, another security guard(or more) will check your document to make sure you really come to do what you claim to do. Also all your belongs and yourself will need to pass x-ray or security gate. After I passed all those I was told to go to Window number 1. That is not the window to conduct interview though I thought it is earlier, just to submit all forms and supporting document. The lady in that window marks what kind of visa you will apply for. And check your personal information on DS-156 to make sure they match those on your passport. For H1B, I submitted DS-156, DS-157, complete copy of H1B petition, original approval notice, employer letter, transcript, diploma copy(my original is too big but I did have it with me). The lady specifically asked me where the employer letter is, so you may know that’s absolutely necessary for H1B. And she also asked if I am a visitor to Canada, I told her I am PR of Canada, I just landed a day before. She asked me to pay US$100 then handed me a receipt and told me to please have a seat and I will be called to interview. Since there was only one officer interviewing people on that day, it took long to be called. During my waiting there, I did see people got rejected. Most of those being rejected were applying for visitor visa to U.S. while was also a visitor to Canada. Some others were just became landed immigrant of Canada without owning property and job while seeking to visit U.S.. After hours waiting, I was called. I went to Window 2. The officer was looking at my document. When he came across my diploma copy he asked me where the university is. I replied. He then asked what I will be doing for the employer. I replied with a brief job description. That was all essential questions. He then asked during your previous stay in U.S. if I had any trouble with law enforcement and immigration. I said no. Then he told me the visa is approved and asked me to come to the lobby of the building at 3:00 pm to pick up passport. He returned all my document to me, just kept employer letter, I797A and passport.

So, here you go! H1B stamping for a landed immigrant of Canada is not a big deal, there is really not much reason I can think about of getting rejected. I also asked officer if I could be given an multiple entry visa since Chinese passport holder usually get a 1-2 entry/ 3 month valid H1B visa stamp. The officer said it would be multiple entry. Nice! Maybe that’s because I am PR of Canada – I wasn’t sure.
Okay, that’s it. I will be glad if this will help you in anyway.
Thank you for reading!