From: partha@mse.ogi.edu (R. Parthasarathy)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: H1B VISA AT VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Date: 15 Oct 92 18:35:59 GMT
Article-I.D.: ogicse.44154
Distribution: usa
Organization: Oregon Graduate Institute, Material Science & Engineering



This might be of interest to those who are seeking H1B visa
from Canada. I went to Vancouver, BC and got mine without any
problem. No questions were asked. This is the procedure.

1. Obtain a visitor Visa to Canada

2. Get an appointment for visa interview at the US Consulate in BC

3. Go through the interview. 

	YOU HAVE TO MAKE TWO TRIPS TO VANCOUVER, BC - one for an
appointment, one for the interview.

Other points:

	Canadian Visa:

	There is a Canadian Consulate in Seattle - on Stewart Street
	and 6th avenue intersection. Opens at 8.30 AM. Apply for a
	visitor visa. You need your passport, H1B original Blue form,
	I94. No questions asked. Maximum duration of visa will be 
	until the date mentioned on your H1B form. US $ 43 per head.
	No photographs needed.

	Address: Consulate General of Canada, 6th Ave & Stewart St., Plaza 600
		 Fifth floor (You'll see a huge McDonald's opposite to it)
		 Ph. (206) 443 1777

	US Visa:

	First Trip: 

	Take your passport (shd be valid for at least 6 months), H1B
	blue form, I94. 

	Do not lose your I94 form this time. If you lose it, you can kiss
	goodbye to the USA.

	The Canadian border guard might ask you the purpose of your trip.
	Tell him that you are on a short tour of Vancouver. If he/she says
	how come you are touring so early in the middle of the night, tell
	him/her that you are trying to save time as there are several places
	to visit. You may be asked on your duration of stay. Tell him/her
	that it will be a couple of days only. DO NOT LOOK NERVOUS.

	Appointments are given ONLY ON FRIDAY (7.30 AM to 2PM). You
	will be given a date and time on the following week. THEY GIVE
	THE TIME. YOU HAVE NO SAY IN THAT. They are pretty rude if
	you open your mouth. BE THERE AT THE EARLIEST. There is a
	queue from 3.30 AM onwards. It takes less than five minutes
	to get an appointment. You have to produce your passport. They'll
	give you an application form and an instruction sheet that
	contains all the information you need. On the back of it
	the appointed time and date will be given.  READ THE APPOINTMENT
	FORM CAREFULLY. Enter on it your family name and country of
	citizenship.

	At the US border, the immigration official will ask you why
	you visited Canada. Tell him you visited there on a short trip.
	He might ask where all you went. Know about a few places there
	- Stanley park, Capillano, Victoria etc.. DO NOT LOOK NERVOUS.

	Hand over your passport, I94 and blue forms. This takes about
	a couple of minutes. Smile if you can.	

	Second Trip:

	Do not forget the appointment form. In addition to all documents,
 	you need a RECENT letter from your employer which states that you
	are employed from ----- date, as a -----, with a salary of -----,
	until -----. It should also state what the company does. YOU NEED
	ONE PASSPORT SIZE PHOTOGRAPH (37mm X 37mm)

	There is no hurry on this trip, because you need to go only
	at the appointed time. They won't let you in until a minute before
	that time.

	At the most the consular officer might ask you, why you need a
	H1B visa. Tell him either you might have to go on business trips
	outside the US or that you are planning to go on a short tour
	abroad where you have no time for going for a US visa. Usually
	the officer doesn't even ask that. THE CONSULAR OFFICER DECIDES
	WHETHER TO GIVE YOU A SINGLE OR MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA AND THE
	DURATION OF THE VISA. Do not open your mouth about this. If you
	get a single entry visa, tough luck. Usually this seldom happens.

	YOU WILL BE ASKED TO COME THE NEXT DAY BETWEEN 2 AND 3 PM. No matter
	what you tell them, they ignore your requests and you have to stay
	there until the next day. 

	YOUR I94 WILL BE REMOVED. Do not get panicky. It is the new rule
	there now. No matter how much you try to get more information on
	that you will not go beyond the security guard. 

	YOU WILL BE GIVEN A NEW I94 AT THE BORDER. No problems on this.
	When you re-enter the US on your second trip, tell the border
	immigration official that you had been to Vancouver to obtain
	a US visa. Hand over your passport and H1B blue form. He'll give
	you a yellow slip and ask you to go into a nearby office. There
	another official will ask you to fill out the new I94 form and
	place the necessary seals on it. Once you have a visa, these
	guys turn nice to you. 

The US Consulate is located at 1075, W. PENDER Street in downtown Vancouver.
After crossing the Canadian border, I5 becomes Hwy 99. You have to go about
thirty miles to reach downtown. Keep going on 99 North. Cross the International
airport exit. Look for East Marine Dr. exit. Once on E. marine drive, look
for Cambie street. Turn left on Cambie st. and keep going north on it. Cambie
street will lead you into downtown. Find Georgia street. W. Pender st. is
behind Georgia street. I am sure you are good at reading maps. You should
have no problems. 

I was detained for a little while by the Canadian immigration official
on my second trip. He was not clear about the I94 form. He told me to
return to the US. Then I went to the US immigration and told them about
my problem. The official placed a stamp on the form given at the Canadian
checkpost and signed saying it's OK if I have my passport, H1B form and
a Canadian visa. Then I was let in. Many times the border guards just
let you go without even looking at your documents. On my first trip I
did not even get down from the car. DO NOT LOOK NERVOUS.

To get appointment on Friday, leave on Thursday night itself. It depends
upon where you are living. From Portland, OR, I had to leave at 10PM on
Thursday night. I reached by 3.30 AM. For the second trip, it depends
upon your appointed time.

For me, the US Consular officer did not even look at my employer's letter.
He didn't say a word. He just asked me to pay the fee ($100) and return
the receipt. Then he gave me a slip which said that I should collect the
passport the next day between 2 and 3 PM. The consular office is at 1095,
W. Pender st, on the 20th floor. The appointment office is in the same
building at 1075, at the mezzanine level. You collect your passport and
visa there only.

Vancouver downtown is kind of haphazard. Avoid right most lanes because
people also park their cars on them. There is a pay parking lot next to
the consul building on Thurlow St. Lots of desis in BC. 

HAVE CANADIAN COINS and CURRENCIES. You can't use US coins there. Teller
machines accept US bank cards.

NO RESTROOMS NEARBY. Use any nearby restaurent. Buy a coffee or something
else to use a restaurent rest room. Unlike in the US, people don't smile
at you. Looks very European indeed. I feel Indians don't have much respect
there. Even the Indians there don't smile at you.

Remember that the VISA is handled by the US state dept. and the H1B blue
form is given by the US dept. of Justice. The border immigration officials
are higher up in hierarchy and have the authority to override the consular's
permission or directives. Having a valid visa is no guarantee that the
border official should let you in. If he/she is not clear with the new
immigration rules, ask him/her to let you talk to his/her supervisor. Some
of the officials are still confused about the change in immigration rules.

Make sure that your car insurance covers Canada too. If not get a temporary
coverage from your agent. The road system in Vancouver looks wierd. If
you plan to drive all night, then you need to be prepared for any unforseen
events during driving. Drive very carefully.

It is cold and windy there. Take sufficient winter clothings. It is also
a rainy place. It rains even if you sneeze.

Good Luck,

Partha sarathy