Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

Status in Canada: PR
Past H1b stamping: Outside Canada

Sept 27: Documents drop off at Canadapost (Niagara Region)
Sept 29: DS-160 status changed to Application Received
Oct 1: Status changed to Administrative Processing
Oct 4: Issued
Now waiting to pick up passport from document delivery location (requested premium service)

I have a dropbox option available for H1B stamping (Sending through courier). I am currently in US, and planning to travel to Canada just to have the dropbox option available. I am assuming its same as sending the document through courier. I am a Canadian PR, but resides in US on H1B.

Has anyone done that, travelled from US to just get stamping done through couriers (dropbox)? How long it usually take?

Hello Community,
I would like to see some information around Consular Processing of EB1 green card from Canada.
Has anyone gone through this process and would like to share their experience, please do respond to this thread.

I am currently in a situation to choose between consular processing vs adjustment of status.
I am in Canada on a PR working for an IT firm.

Thanks in advance !!

Here is my most recent experience. Hope it helps.

1. Last H1B Renewal Visa was stamped in Toronto in 2017 (I travelled to Canada from US that time)
2. I am currently a resident of Canada with Canadian PR since past 2 years
3. Applied for H1B visa stamping (Cap exempt - I140 approved) recently and based on the questions on interview scheduling portal, I qualified for IWP
4. Toronto US Consulate asked me to send documents.

Below is the timeline:

22-Sept = Documents Sent
23-Sept = Application Received
29-Sept = Administrative Processing
01-Oct = Issued

Expecting passport in few days as I selected Premium delivery option for Documents return.

Hi all,

Hope this post helps some people.

My wife went for a regular L2 visa appointment on 20th Sept. 2021 at Calgary Consulate. She lives in Canada is a PR holder. This appointment happened after 2 cancellations in last 10 months or so.

Reached consulate around 30 hour early, she was let in by security after confirming the visa appointment time.

First counter - Document check: My L1 petition, Photo, My passport Bio page & I-94 stamps on the passport.

Second counter - Fingerprinting

Third Counter - Interview with VO
1. What company does your husband work in?
2. What is your husband's job title?
3. Where is your husband right now? ( I am in Canada with her)

VO said your visa is approved and that we will get the passport back next week.

CEAC status:
20th Sept. 2021 - Admin processing
21st Sept. 2021 - Issued
28th Sept. 2021 - Got an email for passport pickup

Good luck to everyone. Please feel free to ask any questions.

Hi

I had fresh H1B Stamping interview on Sept 16th at Toronto Consulate. The Consular officer said approved and will get passport in a week.

The status still shows Refused (Long Text) and no updates since then.

Is this normal ? How I can follow up with consulate ?

Thanks

Timelines:
05-Oct - regular appointment (secured in Jan)
18-Aug - EA request sent | Requested EA date: 26-Aug | Approved EA date: 01-Sep
19-Aug - EA approved (2 emails and date reflected on the website)
01-Sep - Interview for H1B and H4 spouse / I have a minor dependent who is a Canadian citizen
02-Sep - Application status changed to ‘Issued' for H4. 'Administrative processing' for H1b
07-Sep - Application status changed to ‘Issued' for H1B. (may be delayed due to long weekend?)
13-Sep - Received Passport via Canada Post

EA Template:
This is the template I followed based on inputs from many discussions in this forum. My company is in NIE list.

[Introduction]
Very short bio, esp where you live. ( I am not a PR, temp worker)
Your work profile
When did you get your H1B approval
How long are you waiting in Canada to get stamp

[Reason to travel to the US]
Project and its impact in US
How your profile suits and helps the project
Why you cannot work remotely
why the company cannot/wont hire another person in US (too costly or takes x months of time)

Interview experience:
10:30 AM - Interview slot

We arrived on time for the interview, they asked for a valid ID for my child to enter the consulate with us (we emailed them [email protected] the previous day about brining in the child as we have no one to take care of the baby, they replied on the same day " Your child may accompany you to your appointment as she is a minor and you have no available childcare.”). We gave our child’s passport. And we were asked to give, one photo, DS-160, passport, our work permits. After I handed over the doc, I was informed that we cannot use our DS-160s because they were created in APR-2020. I was not aware that DS-160 is valid only for a year !!! But the security person who checked our doc was very kind enough call the visa officer and requested permission for us. She asked us whether we can get new ones in an hour. We told her that we can as we were staying a nearby hotel (Pinnacle) So, we got an hour to create new DS-160 forms for both myself and my spouse. We were staying a hotel near by (Pinnacle) as we are far away from Vancouver. I brought my laptop with me, I filled up the data from previous DS-160 application and got the print outs from Hotel front-desk.

11:45 - We came back with our new Ds-160s. The security person let us in aftert checking our new DS-160s.

12:00 - after security clearance, we were escorted to a booth in 20th floor (I guess) .

12:15 - One of the officers checked our documents and redirected us to the visa officer on the same floor.

Interview Questions:
VO: GM, The security person informed that you guys are living in xyz place and staying in hotel near by for the interview.
Me: Yes, we don’t want to be late to the interview as we have an infant.
VO: Smiled and replied - that’s a good idea.
VO: Where did you both meet?
Spouse: Answered the city
VO: Are you working for XYZ company?
Me: Yes
VO: How long are you working for XYZ company?
Me: answered
VO: What is your role in the US?
Me: Answered
VO: What are your responsibilities in your new role?
Me: answered with 4 to 5 points of my responsibilities
VO: (was looking the monitor for 5 mins and handed over the ‘Know your rights’ booklet)
VO: Your visa is approved, you will get the passports in couple of days. have a great day!

It was a short interview and we came downstairs at 12: 30 pm.

Thanks to everyone who posted their experience here. Good luck guys. Don’t lose hope!

Hi,
What do you answer for the question "Are you traveling from another country to apply for a US visa in Canada?" I see more dates available if I answer NO and I see very few dates available when I answer YES to the question. I plan to visit my brother in Canada in December and stay there for a month so my purpose of visit will not only be visa interview.

Folks,

I had my H1B interview at Calgary consulate on Sept 20, 2021. The VO mentioned that my visa should be approved and handed me a paper to track my passport and the 'work rights' handbook. However, since checking ceac the status I see has been "Applicatiin Received" even till this post. Anyone been through this before? Is this normal or should I be worried?

Thanks in advance!

I recently submitted my DS160 for H1B visa stamping in Toronto and when I tried to look for interview slots I see the first available appointment is 16 September, 2022 !!
In Ottawa it is 29 September, 2022.
I see there is an option for requesting for expedited appointments. How strong/significant should the reason be? Has anyone tried that and been successful in getting one?

I need to be able to get an appointment before March 2022 as I need to travel to Canada by that date. My current I797 approval is valid till May 2022 so getting an appointment after that date with the current approval won't work.

Also does the appointment availability change or updated on a daily basis?