Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

Sharing my timeline here and will continue to keep this updated. Appreciate any updates/notes from folks on similar experience.

History: Canadian PR holder living in USA. I have had my stamping done in Canada 2 times prior to this a) Vancouver - In Person (2019) and b) Toronto - Dropbox (2021).

Current Dropbox:

Mar 20 - Reached Canada
Mar 21 - Post Docs at 10 AM in Post Office closest to consulate.
Mar 22 - 10 AM received by Consulate.
April 6 - Application moved to "Application Received" in first half of day after no status for 2+ weeks.
Waiting on next steps.

2021 Dropbox:
Oct 10: Reached Canada
Oct 11 - Post Docs at 10 AM in Post Office closest to consulate
Oct 15 - Issued
Oct 18 - Passport collected from Post Office in evening.
Oct 19 - Left Canada.

Updates:
April 17 - Approved (Morning hours)
April 18 - Issued (Morning hours)

Timeline:
Aug 12 2022 - Got appointment for March 29th (after a rescheduling a few later appointments )
March 29th 7:45am - Interview
March 29th 9:00 am - Status changed to approved
March 31st 3:45PM - Status changed to Issued
April 3rd 9:30am - Tracking number generated
April 3rd 4:30pm - Picked up by CanadaPost
April 4th 11:00 am - Ready for pickup

Interview Experience:
1. Was let into the consulate a little after 8am (many people before in me in queue up to 8:30am appointments).
2. First stop - document check (DS160, passport, valid status in canada, photo).
3. Next stop one more doc check (DS160, passport, valid status in canada, photo). Photo scanned into their system. I am a PR holder (with just CoPR no PR card) so no reciprocity fee. if not, have to go to another counter to pay the fee
4. Next stop - fingerprints
5. next stop - interview. Very quick. Was just asked what i do in my role and where I live. Approved.

Hi all,
Wanted to share my experience and where I am currently in the process.
I am applying for a cap-exempt H-1B visa with an interview waiver

March 01 2023 - Mailed documents to the Toronto consulate via Canada Post

March 03 2023 - Canada Post tracking indicated that it had arrived at the destination. CEAC still showing "No Status"

March 13 2023 - CEAC status changed to "Application Received"

March 20 2023 - CEAC status changes to "Approved"

As of March 22 2023 there is no further update. I haven't received any indication that my passport has been mailed back to me. Would I normally get a tracking number? How long does it normally take to get my passport after my application was approved?

Thanks

Hi,
I was trying to renew my H1B visa from Canada. But before paying for the visa fee, I can see that earliest appointment is in 2024. Do you think it is possible to get an earier appointment if I pay the fee and check for it from time to time? or can I expedite on the ground of a conference?

Hi All,

Would like to post my h1b stamping experience :

Landed in Canada with COPR on Jan 17th

Jan 18th - Sent documents to Consulate through Canada Post

Jan 19th - Consulate received my documents

Jan 30th- Status changed to Application Received

Feb 4th - Status changed to Refused

Reason : Not eligible for interview waiver asked me to come for in person interview

tried booking the appointment latest i got was Apr 4th

Sent a expediate request to having something in Feb but request rejected consulate responded the request cannot be accommodated due to no slot availability

Refreshed every day and got appointment in March 7th

We had to stay in Airbnb and those were long frustrating waiting days

Mar 7th - Interview at 7.45 - Attended interview and asked based questions job tile ,roles& repsonsibility,work location

Around 8.30 - Status changed to Approved

March 9th - Status changes to Issued

March 10th - Tracking number generated

March 13th - collected passport ( 11 & 12 - Canada post not working so had to collect my passport on March 13 )

Waiting in the airport now to travel to US after 55 DAYS

I see some post the consulate will accept COPR but in my case they asked me to come for interview .. Not sure what exactly the reason . I will never go for drobox again & In person interview is always the best as you will know what is happening in your case .

If i would have book inperson interview the work will be done in 6- 7 days Thank You

If any information is required .Please reach out to me .

Hi Anyone who attended march 7th interview in Toronto consulate got their status change & update on passport collection? Please update your status . How many days it takes to change the status to issued ?

I had my interview on 23rd Feb, the consular said the Visa was approved. Came back and checked the status and it had turned Approved. Its been 9 working days now, the status still shows Approved. Have written to the Consulate email and called the phone number multiple times, get standard answer they cannot comment on processing time, have to wait for status to get changed to Issued.
Can anyone in Ottawa on the same date please confirm if they got their passport?

Hi All,
This is the first time I am going to Toronto for stamping.
Should I choose an expedited delivery option if I am staying in Toronto ?

Going for H-1B visa stamping in Toronto on March 9th. Can anyone share their recent experience in terms of the process, questions asked, requested documents and timeline? I am very nervous 😬

I attended in person appointment for H1b for a new employer in Toronto consulate on Dec 30 2022. VO asked few basic questions with regards to roles & responsibilities, place of work, returned my passport and gave me a yellow slip. I was told that no documents were required from my side. My new consultant and client received an enquiry from USCIS on Jan 27. I am still waiting for any communication from consulate. Does anyone know how much time it takes after the client verification to ask for the passport for visa stamping?

Update-
Timeline-
Client verification- Jan 27
Email received from USCIS to Submit passport - Feb 27
Passport mailed on same day
Passport delivered to consouate - March 1
Status changed to Admin Processing from Rejected - March 9
Approved - March 10
Issued - March 14
Received email to Picked up passport - March 16, picked up on the same day