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Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico
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Help on PR without residency going for stamping
I have canada PR from 4+ years and my PR card will expire in Jan 2021. I went to Canada for my PR landing in 2016 for 1 day and came back to USA. I have not lived in Canada and have been in USA for 10+ years.
Now I am going to H1b visa stamping in Vancouver.
I don't meet the residency requirements of PR- so should I fly to Vancouver or do land border crossing?
Can Canadian officer stop me from entering canada?
in case i find a super diligent Canadian officer- they can calculate i will never meet the residency so can they ask me to voluntary give up my PR or what can they ask/say?
what are my risks and options?
Help please
Now I am going to H1b visa stamping in Vancouver.
I don't meet the residency requirements of PR- so should I fly to Vancouver or do land border crossing?
Can Canadian officer stop me from entering canada?
in case i find a super diligent Canadian officer- they can calculate i will never meet the residency so can they ask me to voluntary give up my PR or what can they ask/say?
what are my risks and options?
Help please
All Replies (2)
Montreal first time h1b stamping Feb 2020
Hi everyone,
Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences. It has helped me a lot to prepare myself for my interview, Its time for me to share my experience. Hope it helps someone --
We have never been outside of the US after we came here. This was our first time H1b stamping In montreal in Feb 2020. Me my husband and my 3 year old (he is a US citizen) had been to the stamping together.
Reached the consulate at 12.20 - They dont allow even 10 minutes early. We were told to go back and come at 12.30 our appointment time.
At 12.30 they let us in. First counter they checked our passport and DS160. They gave us a orange slip which you will submit at each counter and they update the timings on it. Immedietly after u finish the first counter, it is followed by security check where you are asked you take out your jackets and belts. (There is no place to keep jackets/caps anywhere. You need to have it with you all throughout). We did not carry our phones.
After that you are asked to go to the first floor where they will take your photo, Orange slip. I797 and passport. Once everything is verified, you will be asked to go to another counter for finger printing.
Once finger printing is done, you will be made to wither stand in a queue or sit on chair depending on rush for your Visa interview.
Question asked during interview:
1) Asked for marriage certificate
2) Highest education degree
3) Where do we work
4) Job title.
Both of us were asked questions at the same time. After that came the magic words - Visa approved. It was very easy go and the officer was also very good. Totally it took about an hour and we were done.
Our interview was on Tuesday at 12.30. after the interview status changed to Administrative processing. Wednesday afternoon the status changes to issued and we got a notification with our passport being shipped. Thursday at 10.30 am the passport was ready to be picked up from the post office.
Some other details:
1) We stayed at an airbnb in downtown.
2) Parking close to consulate - 1245 Stanley Street. Its just 2min walk.
3) Right close to coonsulate there is a coffee center where you can wait before the interview.
4) Kids are allowed. We dint have any issue taking our 3 year old.
5) PP pickup - Montreal B passport office at 800 Rene Levesque.
6) We drove to Montreal so while coming back we were asked to go to the office. The officer again asked few questions like where we work and how long its been. He then gave us a paper I-94.
Overall it was a good experience. let me know if anyone has any questions.
Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences. It has helped me a lot to prepare myself for my interview, Its time for me to share my experience. Hope it helps someone --
We have never been outside of the US after we came here. This was our first time H1b stamping In montreal in Feb 2020. Me my husband and my 3 year old (he is a US citizen) had been to the stamping together.
Reached the consulate at 12.20 - They dont allow even 10 minutes early. We were told to go back and come at 12.30 our appointment time.
At 12.30 they let us in. First counter they checked our passport and DS160. They gave us a orange slip which you will submit at each counter and they update the timings on it. Immedietly after u finish the first counter, it is followed by security check where you are asked you take out your jackets and belts. (There is no place to keep jackets/caps anywhere. You need to have it with you all throughout). We did not carry our phones.
After that you are asked to go to the first floor where they will take your photo, Orange slip. I797 and passport. Once everything is verified, you will be asked to go to another counter for finger printing.
Once finger printing is done, you will be made to wither stand in a queue or sit on chair depending on rush for your Visa interview.
Question asked during interview:
1) Asked for marriage certificate
2) Highest education degree
3) Where do we work
4) Job title.
Both of us were asked questions at the same time. After that came the magic words - Visa approved. It was very easy go and the officer was also very good. Totally it took about an hour and we were done.
Our interview was on Tuesday at 12.30. after the interview status changed to Administrative processing. Wednesday afternoon the status changes to issued and we got a notification with our passport being shipped. Thursday at 10.30 am the passport was ready to be picked up from the post office.
Some other details:
1) We stayed at an airbnb in downtown.
2) Parking close to consulate - 1245 Stanley Street. Its just 2min walk.
3) Right close to coonsulate there is a coffee center where you can wait before the interview.
4) Kids are allowed. We dint have any issue taking our 3 year old.
5) PP pickup - Montreal B passport office at 800 Rene Levesque.
6) We drove to Montreal so while coming back we were asked to go to the office. The officer again asked few questions like where we work and how long its been. He then gave us a paper I-94.
Overall it was a good experience. let me know if anyone has any questions.
All Replies (3)
Feb 13th Visa Interview in Toronto
Hey, Does anyone attending visa interview in Toronto on Feb 13th got their passport back? Mine was approved, status changed to issued next day. However I did not receive any courier/shipping details to date to collect the passport. I wonder how others are doing.
All Replies (0)
Toronto stamping
So giving it back to the community by sharing my experience.
Indian Citizen doing first H-1B stamping in Toronto, CA
Oct 1: Change of Status becomes effective and status changes to H-1B
A lot of people advised me to go to my home country for first stamping but I decided to take a chance.
Oct 30: Filled in DS-160 and picked the latest available date of Feb-6 in Toronto US consulate
Oct 30: Applied for Canada tourist visa (used a family member in Canada as inviter)
Canada visa approved in a couple of weeks.
Feb 5: Landed in Toronto with all documents. Stayed with a friend. Did a recce of the consulate location.
Feb 6:
Appointment was at 8:15. Reached by 7:45. NO cell phones or electronics. Just have a folder with all your documents. Wallet is okay.
Airport style security check
(Hopefully my memory is correct here)
First counter: Provide your PASSPORT_SIZE_PHOTO. They will scan it and put your passport and I-797 receipt notice in a blue folder and give you the folder.
Second counter: Biometrics
Third counter: Visa officer
VO asks 3 or 4 questions like:
* What do you do at your job?
* Where did you go to school?
* What was your research field?
He kept typing a lot and a lot and a lot.
Then he hands back the I-797, keeps the passport with himself and tells me "Everything looks ok. You should get the passport back in a few days. You can track the status online". I exit the consulate.
Total time in consulate: 15 mins
You would be checking the status here: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx
Feb 7: Says "Administrative processing" followed by some standard legal terminology like "can take several weeks or longer"
Feb 10: Status changed to "Issued", and says I will get a tracking info in 5 days
Feb 11: Email with tracking number from US embassy
Feb 12: Email from Canada Post says "ready to pickup from location X". I had given 26 Hale Rd, Brampton as a pickup location since I heard people in forums say that it's the fastest. I don't have info to corroborate or contradict this. At a few places I had received communication that I had to pick up from a "Loomis" location, but mine ended up in the Canada Post office. I didn't bother to dig deeper
Feb 12: Picked up passport from Brampton Canada Post Office.
After a few days, back in the US.
There's a pre-clearance facility in Toronto Pearson Airport. So immigration was seamless as well. Hit me up with any questions you may have
Indian Citizen doing first H-1B stamping in Toronto, CA
Oct 1: Change of Status becomes effective and status changes to H-1B
A lot of people advised me to go to my home country for first stamping but I decided to take a chance.
Oct 30: Filled in DS-160 and picked the latest available date of Feb-6 in Toronto US consulate
Oct 30: Applied for Canada tourist visa (used a family member in Canada as inviter)
Canada visa approved in a couple of weeks.
Feb 5: Landed in Toronto with all documents. Stayed with a friend. Did a recce of the consulate location.
Feb 6:
Appointment was at 8:15. Reached by 7:45. NO cell phones or electronics. Just have a folder with all your documents. Wallet is okay.
Airport style security check
(Hopefully my memory is correct here)
First counter: Provide your PASSPORT_SIZE_PHOTO. They will scan it and put your passport and I-797 receipt notice in a blue folder and give you the folder.
Second counter: Biometrics
Third counter: Visa officer
VO asks 3 or 4 questions like:
* What do you do at your job?
* Where did you go to school?
* What was your research field?
He kept typing a lot and a lot and a lot.
Then he hands back the I-797, keeps the passport with himself and tells me "Everything looks ok. You should get the passport back in a few days. You can track the status online". I exit the consulate.
Total time in consulate: 15 mins
You would be checking the status here: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx
Feb 7: Says "Administrative processing" followed by some standard legal terminology like "can take several weeks or longer"
Feb 10: Status changed to "Issued", and says I will get a tracking info in 5 days
Feb 11: Email with tracking number from US embassy
Feb 12: Email from Canada Post says "ready to pickup from location X". I had given 26 Hale Rd, Brampton as a pickup location since I heard people in forums say that it's the fastest. I don't have info to corroborate or contradict this. At a few places I had received communication that I had to pick up from a "Loomis" location, but mine ended up in the Canada Post office. I didn't bother to dig deeper
Feb 12: Picked up passport from Brampton Canada Post Office.
After a few days, back in the US.
There's a pre-clearance facility in Toronto Pearson Airport. So immigration was seamless as well. Hit me up with any questions you may have
All Replies (4)
Ottawa stamping
Wife and I had expired visa stamps (H1B) which needed to get renewed.
Drove from Chicago to Canada (with wife and 2 kids), crossed at Port Huron, MI into Canada. At port of entry into Canada officer asked for passports, Canada visa stamp, but also asked for proof of USA valid status. Luckily had 797 handy (not in the trunk) so showed him that.
Officer: Where do you live?
Me- Illinois
Offiver: all of you?
Me- Yes
Officer: where you headed?
Me- visiting friends in Toronto tonight and then to Ottawa
Officer Whats in Ottawa?
Me- US visa stamping appointment.
Handed back our passports and we were on our way.
At the Ottawa consulate, Appointment was at 930am on 2/10 and a very snowy day. We reached at 915am per instructions and the guard asked us to come back at 930, which we did. Went through the security screening. At the first counter, some ladies were arranging documents,photo, 797 in passport, DS-160 confirmation etc. They asked what my status was in Canada, I said visitor visa. Once inside the interview room, in the first queue, at the first window, lady was validating all documents asked some basic questions like, history in the US, company worked for etc, then handed the documents bag and we went to the interview line.
Officer Who is applying for H1B?
Me- Me and wife
Officer: Who works for company XX?
Me: My wife
Officer then focused on her for the next couple of mins
Whats your salary?
Whats you highest level of education?
How long have you worked there?
Whats your position?
Then to me, same questions, since I have 2 MAsters degrees, she dug a little deeper
Officer: which fields are your Master's degrees in?
Me- Eng and management?
Officer what field of Engineering?
ME- Mechanical
Officer: did you do any research?
Me- (this was a surprise as its been 15 years since my Master's), recalling quickly said I did a research project but no Thesis.
Officer: OK visas are approved and passports will be ready in 3-4 days.
Passports were ready on the 3rd day.
Picked up passports and drove back to Chicago vis same route. At the port of entry
Officer: How many people on board?
Me- 4
Officer: Where you headed?
Me- Chicago
Officer_ how long you have lived there?
Me- 10 years
Officer- (wife had a new passport and a new visa stamp now). I don't see any stamps...?
Me- Handed him old passports
Officer- Cool, keep carrying these in the future. Drive safe. (handed all passports back)
In general, very smooth experience!
Drove from Chicago to Canada (with wife and 2 kids), crossed at Port Huron, MI into Canada. At port of entry into Canada officer asked for passports, Canada visa stamp, but also asked for proof of USA valid status. Luckily had 797 handy (not in the trunk) so showed him that.
Officer: Where do you live?
Me- Illinois
Offiver: all of you?
Me- Yes
Officer: where you headed?
Me- visiting friends in Toronto tonight and then to Ottawa
Officer Whats in Ottawa?
Me- US visa stamping appointment.
Handed back our passports and we were on our way.
At the Ottawa consulate, Appointment was at 930am on 2/10 and a very snowy day. We reached at 915am per instructions and the guard asked us to come back at 930, which we did. Went through the security screening. At the first counter, some ladies were arranging documents,photo, 797 in passport, DS-160 confirmation etc. They asked what my status was in Canada, I said visitor visa. Once inside the interview room, in the first queue, at the first window, lady was validating all documents asked some basic questions like, history in the US, company worked for etc, then handed the documents bag and we went to the interview line.
Officer Who is applying for H1B?
Me- Me and wife
Officer: Who works for company XX?
Me: My wife
Officer then focused on her for the next couple of mins
Whats your salary?
Whats you highest level of education?
How long have you worked there?
Whats your position?
Then to me, same questions, since I have 2 MAsters degrees, she dug a little deeper
Officer: which fields are your Master's degrees in?
Me- Eng and management?
Officer what field of Engineering?
ME- Mechanical
Officer: did you do any research?
Me- (this was a surprise as its been 15 years since my Master's), recalling quickly said I did a research project but no Thesis.
Officer: OK visas are approved and passports will be ready in 3-4 days.
Passports were ready on the 3rd day.
Picked up passports and drove back to Chicago vis same route. At the port of entry
Officer: How many people on board?
Me- 4
Officer: Where you headed?
Me- Chicago
Officer_ how long you have lived there?
Me- 10 years
Officer- (wife had a new passport and a new visa stamp now). I don't see any stamps...?
Me- Handed him old passports
Officer- Cool, keep carrying these in the future. Drive safe. (handed all passports back)
In general, very smooth experience!
All Replies (7)
H1B Visa Interview- Vancouver
Hello,
Have interview on 9th March morning, is any have same day interview at Vancouver
Please let me know will call you,
Thanks
Have interview on 9th March morning, is any have same day interview at Vancouver
Please let me know will call you,
Thanks
All Replies (4)
H1B Visa Interview Experience
I have attended stamping interview at Toronto Consulate on 10th Feb 2020. It was nice experience and felt smooth process. I had got 2 peittion approved from 2 different companies, one with employer A (in Nov-2019) and employer B (in JAn-2020). I scheduled PAI in Nov-2019 first time by filling DS-160 for employer A but keep on rescheduling dates as I was hoping to get approval for employer B. I did received approval for employer B and decided to take stamping for B and filled new DS-160 for B. But could not update DS-160 on portal where scheduled the appointment. So carried both Old and NEw DS-160 confirmation pages at the time of stamping. At Coulter 1 itself explained that I would like to replace old DS 160 with New 160 - she did not asked why I want to replace - just asked bar-code of new DS 160, scanned it and updated it system. Generated bar-code sticker and sicked on back of passport. I made sure she sicked bar-code number is of New DS 160. On second counter they had collected Photo and verified I-797 Approval and Passport. On next 3rd counter was Actual Interview. Just asked about Employer Name, Client Name, How long working for this Client (including onsite and offshore), Last question was - what project I did during Masters - I was not sure if I explained the same project that was on my resume when submitted petition. It was Approved and received passport on 3rd day.
All Replies (0)
H1Bapproved but COS denied
Hi everyone, I recently had my H1B approved but my COS denied and on the approval notice it included the consulate in my home country that the notice had been sent to. It also states in the letter that if I want to choose another consulate, I should fill a separate form. I'd like to go to Canada to get this done instead since it's closer and I have a PR card for Canada. I'd like to find out from people who have been in this situation, is it necessary I fill this form before I can go for visa stamping in Canada? Can i choose a consulate in Canada and appear for my appointment without filling this additional form? Thanks
All Replies (2)
First H1b stamping in toronto
Reached at 8:00
Counter 1 : passport check
Counter 2 : doc arrangement (follow the instruction in the appointment letter CSRA)
Counter 3: finger Prints
Counter 4 : VO
Where you are going to : DALLAS
Who is your employer : ZZZ
What they do : ZZZ
What your Role : ZZZ
Did your masters :: XX
Where ? ZZZ
You got loans :: BACK in india
After some typing .. "seems everything is good"
Gave back my I797A and kept the passport.
Counter 1 : passport check
Counter 2 : doc arrangement (follow the instruction in the appointment letter CSRA)
Counter 3: finger Prints
Counter 4 : VO
Where you are going to : DALLAS
Who is your employer : ZZZ
What they do : ZZZ
What your Role : ZZZ
Did your masters :: XX
Where ? ZZZ
You got loans :: BACK in india
After some typing .. "seems everything is good"
Gave back my I797A and kept the passport.
All Replies (4)
H1b interview at Toronto on Feb 10th
Hi ,
I had my interview on Feb 10th and it was approved.
My status as of today says as administrative processing.
Did any one else who had their visa interview at Toronto consulate on Feb 10th have change in status ?
I had my interview on Feb 10th and it was approved.
My status as of today says as administrative processing.
Did any one else who had their visa interview at Toronto consulate on Feb 10th have change in status ?
All Replies (6)
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