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Visa
Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico
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Question about Driving through US-Canada Land Border to enter Canada
Hi,
I would be traveling to Canada next week to drop off documents requested by Toronto Consulate as I was eligible for Interview Waiver option (stamping for H1 renewal). This will be my first time traveling to Canada with a Valid COPR document. I plan to enter Canada through land border / drive. I will carry proof of vaccination through ArrivaCan and also PCR test results.
- I heard this is pretty common, but as a first timer, can someone please share their experience driving through land border into Canada?
- What to expect from the officers? What questions do they ask?
- I plan to rent a car and drive. Has anyone had any issues, anything which I should keep in mind? Please share. Appreciate your response.
Thank you
Priyesh
I would be traveling to Canada next week to drop off documents requested by Toronto Consulate as I was eligible for Interview Waiver option (stamping for H1 renewal). This will be my first time traveling to Canada with a Valid COPR document. I plan to enter Canada through land border / drive. I will carry proof of vaccination through ArrivaCan and also PCR test results.
- I heard this is pretty common, but as a first timer, can someone please share their experience driving through land border into Canada?
- What to expect from the officers? What questions do they ask?
- I plan to rent a car and drive. Has anyone had any issues, anything which I should keep in mind? Please share. Appreciate your response.
Thank you
Priyesh
All Replies (10)
H1B Stamping in Vancouver
Hello, thanks everyone for sharing your stories!
I will share my experience for the first time stamping in Vancouver for my H1B visa.
I had originally F1 status in the US and my H1B got approved last July after OPT. This year I decided to travel to Canada to get the visa stamped in my passport.
I registered in the appointment system and the first appointment there were available for next October and November 20203 in all Canada consulates. I kept checking and found an earlier appointment for early November this year, booked the appointment on Monday evening, did the COVID test on Tuesday and flew to Vancouver from the US on Thursday to attend my Friday appointment.
Getting to Canada was pretty easy, I had my visitor visa approved this October, only needed the negative test and be fully vaccinated.
On Friday I arrived at the US consulate 15 min before the appointment, there were two security checks, next went for the ten-printing and gave my photo(make sure your photos are good, because the person before me was sent to retake his photos).
Next was the interview, questions:
Where am I from?
What company do I work for?
What does the company do?
My responsibilities
My degree and which school I graduated
My salary
Next the VO gave me the work rights in the US booklet and said that everything is approved and that I can get my passport the following week Monday through the Canada Post. I asked if I can get my passport earlier and the VO offered to pick it up from the consulate next Friday.
I checked my visa status online right after the interview: Friday- administrative processing
Wednesday 11am PT - Issued
Friday - 2pm picked up my passport, next did the antigen COVID test, 7pm flew back to the US.
Overall, I had great experience at the US consulate in Vancouver, very nice people from the security to the VO. Good luck everyone!
I will share my experience for the first time stamping in Vancouver for my H1B visa.
I had originally F1 status in the US and my H1B got approved last July after OPT. This year I decided to travel to Canada to get the visa stamped in my passport.
I registered in the appointment system and the first appointment there were available for next October and November 20203 in all Canada consulates. I kept checking and found an earlier appointment for early November this year, booked the appointment on Monday evening, did the COVID test on Tuesday and flew to Vancouver from the US on Thursday to attend my Friday appointment.
Getting to Canada was pretty easy, I had my visitor visa approved this October, only needed the negative test and be fully vaccinated.
On Friday I arrived at the US consulate 15 min before the appointment, there were two security checks, next went for the ten-printing and gave my photo(make sure your photos are good, because the person before me was sent to retake his photos).
Next was the interview, questions:
Where am I from?
What company do I work for?
What does the company do?
My responsibilities
My degree and which school I graduated
My salary
Next the VO gave me the work rights in the US booklet and said that everything is approved and that I can get my passport the following week Monday through the Canada Post. I asked if I can get my passport earlier and the VO offered to pick it up from the consulate next Friday.
I checked my visa status online right after the interview: Friday- administrative processing
Wednesday 11am PT - Issued
Friday - 2pm picked up my passport, next did the antigen COVID test, 7pm flew back to the US.
Overall, I had great experience at the US consulate in Vancouver, very nice people from the security to the VO. Good luck everyone!
All Replies (8)
Toronto Dropbox
Hello All,
I need some help with the dropbox process for the Toronto location. Can you please help me with the below queries:
1. I am eligible for dropbox to what address should I send the documents
2. Through what courier service should I send the documents
3. Out of 4 family members, my elder son has to attend the interview as he turned 15. Is there any way I can get a waiver for him. He got Dec 2022 as the interview date.
Request you all to please help me. Thanks all in advance
I need some help with the dropbox process for the Toronto location. Can you please help me with the below queries:
1. I am eligible for dropbox to what address should I send the documents
2. Through what courier service should I send the documents
3. Out of 4 family members, my elder son has to attend the interview as he turned 15. Is there any way I can get a waiver for him. He got Dec 2022 as the interview date.
Request you all to please help me. Thanks all in advance
All Replies (9)
H1 Interview Auto Rescheduled | Calgary
I have my H1 interview in late Jan, which got rescheduled by a week early. I did not initiate the request, or the email they sent with the new date mentions anything about a reschedule.
When I called the visa center, they were not aware of any change, as my online profile reflects the new date. I tried contacting the consulate but could not get thru.
Anyone else had this experience of the date being moved without saying anything about a reschedule.
When I called the visa center, they were not aware of any change, as my online profile reflects the new date. I tried contacting the consulate but could not get thru.
Anyone else had this experience of the date being moved without saying anything about a reschedule.
All Replies (2)
First Ever H1B Stamping from F1 to H1B in Ottawa, Canada (Got 221G - Yellow Slip)
Hello! Below is the experience from my first ever F1 to H1B stamping in Ottawa, Canada.
* Came to the US in January 2015 as a student and completed my Master's in December 2016.
* Was on OPT and STEM OPT from Feb 2017 to Feb 2019 (got my H1B picked in the lottery in April 2018 and got my case approved in Feb 2019 having had an RFE).
* Feb 2019 to Dec 2019, I had my first approval notice.
* Jan 2020 to Dec 2020, I had my H1B renewed/extended.
* Sep 2020 to Sep 2023, I got my next H1B renewed/extended.
* April 2021, changed employers and that's when I got my H1B extended to April 2024
Submitted DS-160 on November 1, 2021 and got a slot for November 9, 2021 in Ottawa. I went for the interview and was asked basic questions like where do you work, what do you work as, highest qualification, illegal presence ever in the US, etc.
Essentially, the officer told me that they wanted to verify some more information and that she would take my passport. She returned everything else she had asked for (old expired passport and 797). She also said "she does not anticipate this to take long" and handed me the yellow 221g slip where she had ticked the "wait for us to contact you" option.
Ever since then, I have been checking the DS-160 status but it says "Refused". Don't know how long this is going to take but wanted to share my experience so that people could get some familiarity.
PS: Forgot to mention I live in the US but have a PR of Canada.
* Came to the US in January 2015 as a student and completed my Master's in December 2016.
* Was on OPT and STEM OPT from Feb 2017 to Feb 2019 (got my H1B picked in the lottery in April 2018 and got my case approved in Feb 2019 having had an RFE).
* Feb 2019 to Dec 2019, I had my first approval notice.
* Jan 2020 to Dec 2020, I had my H1B renewed/extended.
* Sep 2020 to Sep 2023, I got my next H1B renewed/extended.
* April 2021, changed employers and that's when I got my H1B extended to April 2024
Submitted DS-160 on November 1, 2021 and got a slot for November 9, 2021 in Ottawa. I went for the interview and was asked basic questions like where do you work, what do you work as, highest qualification, illegal presence ever in the US, etc.
Essentially, the officer told me that they wanted to verify some more information and that she would take my passport. She returned everything else she had asked for (old expired passport and 797). She also said "she does not anticipate this to take long" and handed me the yellow 221g slip where she had ticked the "wait for us to contact you" option.
Ever since then, I have been checking the DS-160 status but it says "Refused". Don't know how long this is going to take but wanted to share my experience so that people could get some familiarity.
PS: Forgot to mention I live in the US but have a PR of Canada.
All Replies (25)
First H1B stamping from Canada
Hi All - I am planning to go to Canada for my first H1B stamping. I am an Indian national residing in the US having Canada permanent residence card. Just wanted to check Is it allowed to go to Canada for first time H1B stamping or Does it has to be your home country to get first time H1B stamp? Can anyone please share their experience on this? Thanks!
All Replies (6)
B1 Visa Appointment
HI All, I have a valid H1B Stamped and I am currently in Canada on PR. Due to personal reasons I cannot join the Organization in US However, I would like to travel to US for a personal reason(Family re-union) in Dec. I would like to check what are my options.
1. Can I travel to US on H1B for the purpose of Visiting
2. Next B1 Visa is end of the next year. Can I request an Expedited B1 Appointment based on Family re-union
1. Can I travel to US on H1B for the purpose of Visiting
2. Next B1 Visa is end of the next year. Can I request an Expedited B1 Appointment based on Family re-union
All Replies (2)
H1B Stamping in Toronto
Hi,
I have an upcoming H1B visa interview appointment at Toronto consulate next week.
The original offer letter that I got from the US employer mentions a Start Date of August 2021. Do I need to get an updated offer letter of start date in the future for the visa appointment or the old one will be fine? I do have an employment letter which does not mention any dates - and just mentions details about Employer-Employee relationship, job duties and salary. Will that be sufficient?
Quite worried. Any suggestions in this regard would be great.
Thanks in advance!
I have an upcoming H1B visa interview appointment at Toronto consulate next week.
The original offer letter that I got from the US employer mentions a Start Date of August 2021. Do I need to get an updated offer letter of start date in the future for the visa appointment or the old one will be fine? I do have an employment letter which does not mention any dates - and just mentions details about Employer-Employee relationship, job duties and salary. Will that be sufficient?
Quite worried. Any suggestions in this regard would be great.
Thanks in advance!
All Replies (3)
Entered US on H1B via US-CANADA land border with Canadian minor
Below is my experience crossing the US-CANADA land border from Vancouver, Canada to Seattle, Washington.
PORT: I chose Lynden Port of Entry as it had good reviews on Google.
TRAVELERS : Myself on H1B, spouse on H4 and a Canadian minor
- As soon as I entered the border office gate, an officer checked our passports and asked the reason for visit. I explained the purpose that I am entering the US in my H1B visa to join my office in Seattle. The officer redirected me to proceed to the office.
- CBP officer at the booth asked our passports and reason for visit. I explained the same reason as mentioned above. She gave us a slip to get I-94 from officers inside the building and requested us to park the car in the parking area.
- CBP offices ( 3 officers) came to verify our passports and asked us to wait while they were deciding on the i-94 date.
- After 5 mins, myself and my spouse were asked to give our fingerprints
- I was asked to pay ~$18 ( I used my credit card | cash is also accepted)
- My baby is Canadian citizen and so they stamped H4 visa on the baby's passport. We need not apply for H4 separately for Canadian minors. If you travel by air, you can get H4 for Canadian dependents in pre-clearance. (this info was given by CBP operations team, I called them before travel)
- They gave back our passports in 5 mins or so. And we left the border office.
The officers were friendly and the overall experience was very smooth.
I entered on Oct 18th | Vaccination proof and covid-19 negative test results were not asked for land border travel on this date.
PORT: I chose Lynden Port of Entry as it had good reviews on Google.
TRAVELERS : Myself on H1B, spouse on H4 and a Canadian minor
- As soon as I entered the border office gate, an officer checked our passports and asked the reason for visit. I explained the purpose that I am entering the US in my H1B visa to join my office in Seattle. The officer redirected me to proceed to the office.
- CBP officer at the booth asked our passports and reason for visit. I explained the same reason as mentioned above. She gave us a slip to get I-94 from officers inside the building and requested us to park the car in the parking area.
- CBP offices ( 3 officers) came to verify our passports and asked us to wait while they were deciding on the i-94 date.
- After 5 mins, myself and my spouse were asked to give our fingerprints
- I was asked to pay ~$18 ( I used my credit card | cash is also accepted)
- My baby is Canadian citizen and so they stamped H4 visa on the baby's passport. We need not apply for H4 separately for Canadian minors. If you travel by air, you can get H4 for Canadian dependents in pre-clearance. (this info was given by CBP operations team, I called them before travel)
- They gave back our passports in 5 mins or so. And we left the border office.
The officers were friendly and the overall experience was very smooth.
I entered on Oct 18th | Vaccination proof and covid-19 negative test results were not asked for land border travel on this date.
All Replies (1)
H1 appointment rescheduled | Calgary
Hi,
Checking in to see if anyone had a similar experience.
I have an H1 interview scheduled in Calgary in the last week of Jan, which I found a few months ago.
Earlier today, I got an email with a new interview date, 5 days sooner. The email from the embassy does not mention anything about a reschedule, and it's the exact verbiage as the one I got the first time I scheduled my interview. The online portal also reflects the new date, called the helpline, and they have no info reg why it changed, as they can't see the old appt date.
Is it normal for the consulate to prepone the dates? If so, how many times does this happen?
Has anyone else had this experience?
Checking in to see if anyone had a similar experience.
I have an H1 interview scheduled in Calgary in the last week of Jan, which I found a few months ago.
Earlier today, I got an email with a new interview date, 5 days sooner. The email from the embassy does not mention anything about a reschedule, and it's the exact verbiage as the one I got the first time I scheduled my interview. The online portal also reflects the new date, called the helpline, and they have no info reg why it changed, as they can't see the old appt date.
Is it normal for the consulate to prepone the dates? If so, how many times does this happen?
Has anyone else had this experience?
All Replies (0)
Disclaimer: Please note that the experiences presented are submitted by visitors to our website. Individuals’ experiences may vary, and you should interpret each individual’s experience at your own risk. Do not make a decision solely based on an experience posted here. We do not endorse any individuals’ experiences, and we are not liable or responsible for consequences stemming from your use of the information presented within any individual’s experience.
