Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

H1b holder looking to get visa stamping from Canada. First H1b stamp obtained from Ottawa consulate on tourist visa (TCN). Non PR holder, no work permit.

Went through the questionnaire on ais-usvisa Canada website expecting to get an inteview appointment. Instead it redirected me to ‘submit documents’ . I answered all the questions knowing that I’m not a PR, yet somehow it pointed me to an interview waiver.

Called to confirm the consulate that have to submit documents from Canada. Cannot submit from US.

I’ve been reading some experiences here and seems like Ottawa consulate is rejecting and requiring in person interviews.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Is it worth taking the risk to travel to Canada? I need to get my stamping done before Oct 2022.

Hi,

Like most of other folks, we are stuck in the US without a stamp. I am exploring Canada as an option and am curious to see if others can chime in with appointment availability? Since I am not a Canadian PR, I am assuming I will have to go for an interview.
What are the earliest dates that are available for interview?
For those who have done it, how long did the process take?

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

I submitted my passport for H1B visa renewal to the Ottawa consulate. Below are my timelines:

Application sent: May 31
Application Delivered: June 01
Application Received: April 15

Does anyone know how long the current processing time is in Ottawa consulate? Please share your timelines if you submitted your passports in May/ June.

Hello everyone!

I'm an international student living in GTA, I applied for a B1/B2 renewal and sent my documents at the end of April.
It has been already 7-8 weeks and I received no update whatsoever about its status (Application received since April 26th).

Such a long wait time makes me really anxious, especially when no decent feedback was provided via email.

I have an important trip coming up in a week and I would like to receive my passport as soon as possible even without a visa.
Is it possible to receive a passport from the Consulate? Whom should I contact?

Thanks!

Hello Friends!

I’m PR holder and sent my documents for H1 visa stamping on May 3rd.
On May 17, statues changed to documents received.

On June 3rd I sent an email asking for my passport back (even without stamping) because I need to travel to Europe urgently by June 18. Has anyone faced a similar situation before? And if so how did they get their passport back and how long did it take? Thanks!

Here is my timeline:
Application sent: 4/21/2022
Application Received: 4/26/2022
As of 6/3/2022 the status is still Application Received. It's been 6 weeks already. Anybody sent their docs in the same timeframe. Please share your experience.

Hello All,

I landed at Toronto airport on May 21,2022 to do my soft landing. Process was pretty smooth. Officer at airport asked couple of questions including where i will be staying in Canada, what work i did before coming to Canada and address where they can mail the PR card.
Jumping to H1B stamping in Ottawa timeline,
05/24- Travelled from Toronto to Ottawa
05/25- H1 interview at 8.30am. Mostly all basic questions, where do you work, what are your job responsibilities, what's your job title, since how long you are working in this field, since how long you are with your current company
05/25 afternoon- Administrative processing
05/26- Ds160 status updated to Issued
05/30- Passport ready for pick up
05/ 31- Picked up passport

Hope this helps people who are planning to go Canada for H1B stamping or for landing. Good luck to all!

Canada post delivered documents on : 19th May.
Status : "No status"

It's been 11 days so far. i did not see the status changed to "Application received".

Does anyone face the same experience now ?

Consulate where the document was sent: Toronto

Date shipped via canada post: 25th April

Application Received Status updated on 28th April

Visa Category: H1-B

Number of application: 1

Documents Sent:

PASSPORT (CURRENT & PREVIOUS WITH VISA STAMP)
I-129 APPROVAL (ORIGINAL) - It appears i could have just sent a copy but I guess I live & learn
PASSPORT PHOTO (Just one photo, also had a photo took via webcam and uploaded to be used DS 160 online)
PREVIOUS PAY STUBS
PREVIOUS I-129 APPROVAL (COPY)

AIS Website status is currently "Send Documents" which is as expected i believe!!

Please do share your experiences and i will keep this thread updated so that you all can get a guesstimate of the timeline when choosing toronto for dropbox!

hello friends..

Currently, I reside in Toronto GTA. I will be applying for my H1B visa stamping through drop box in the next few days.

I have few questions.

Looking at the current trend of stamping duration being posted in this thread, Toronto consulate is taking approx. 5-6 weeks from the application received date to issue visa stamping and Ottawa consulate is taking between 3-5 weeks.

Since i reside in Toronto GTA, Should i need to choose Toronto consulate for drop box option or am i allowed to choose Ottawa consulate?

Also, do we need to send I-797 approval copy, when sending the documents for stamping? My visa is approved and waiting for approval notice.

Regarding photos, We will have to upload the digital photo while submitting DS-160 and send 2 hard copies when sending the documents for stamping. Is my understanding correct.

Thanks much for all your assistance.