**UPDATED** Here is my experience so far - To whomsoever it may benefit:
My scenario: H1B(me), H4(Spouse) | Canada PR (never settled, just visited for stamping) - gave my friends address as my own.
Timeline:
Sep 18: Got H1b - i797B approval copy from lawyers via email
Sep 25: H1b approval copy delivered to my address (Stupid that I am, waited until this date to request an appointment at the consulate unaware of the 'virtual waiting queue' nonsense) - so paid the fee and and requested interview waiver appointment on this day at US consulate of Ottawa.
Note 1. With current trends of timeline - apply for the interview waiver as soon as you receive the receipt number electronically if going for premium processing
Note 2. You can opt out of interview waiver even if you have a Canadian PR. Lawyers actually encouraged me to do it (But, I went with interview waiver anyway - since I predicted this will be quicker and I was correct in my case) But if you have any prior complication or 221g history, you may want to rethink my strategy for yourself.
Oct 11 - 9:23am : Request to send documents email arrived with instructions.
Oct 11 - 11:45am: Sent all documents via Canada post to consulate of Ottawa.
Note 1: I had all the necessary documents labelled and photographs taken ready to be sent waiting on the shipping label only at this time
Note 2: If you send the courier after 12pm noon - it will only arrive the day after tomorrow of your shipping date. so try to beat this time. I didn't plan on it, but just happened to learn it while I was sending the courier.
Oct 12: Documents delivered to consulate and received confirmation via Canada Post.
Oct 17: Case created
Note 1: The ais website will have 'send documents' as your status until your return shipping label is created. so check your visa status via your DS-160 (
https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx)
Note 2: The statuses go this way. Case created -> Case approved -> Issued
Oct 18: Case approved
Oct 19: Issued
Oct 20: Document sent my way (intimated via courier tracking number) with October 23rd delivery date.
