H1 Visa stamping experience- Canada

[arsraj87]

Please share any experience in Toronto US Consulate for
H1B & H4 Revalidation.

I have had my first H1B stamped from Toronto back in 2001.

Thanks
Raj

[immiadvice]

Hello Folks;
I successfully got my H1 (& H4 stamp) in Ottawa on March 8.
This was my third H1 stamp (second for the same employer)
It went very smooth...hardly 5 min interview...
Please note that bar coded DS156 is a must...i had filed my online but for my wife I had to fill in the consulate...for they did not accepted hand-filled form...there were 4 people ahead of me waiting for the computer...so it took 1 hour before I was able to pay the fees...after paying the fess in about 10 min I was called to submit the documents...the lady was very couteous and documents asked were:
H1/H4 approvals
passports
DS156 & DS157 forms
finger printing (both for myself & my wife)
status in Canada ( I had landed 2 days before)
submitted all my papers...after that in about 8 min I was called for the interview....the officer was very cool and had god sense of humour.....following questions....

1. where do you work?
2. what does the company do?
3. how long you have been working?
4. employer letter
5. pay stub

got the passport back at 3 pm. there were about 3 other Indians who also got their visa issued.
There were about 5 other people (I am not sure for what visa) but were from Pakistan and were submitted for security clearance and asked to come back in 3 weeks...

Thank you very much to all who helped me out...this is very useful forum...I will be more than haapy to answer any questions....

[gretzky]

immiadvice, thanks for sharing your experience.

I will be traveling to Vancouver at the end of this month to get my first H1B visa stamp. However, I have not seen the "fingerprint" requirement, that you mention below, in any documentation. Could you please elaborate what this "fingerprinting for you and your wife" is about?

Thanks.

[vahope4gc]

immiadvice,

Congratulation for successful stamping!!!

I am also thiking to go to Ottawa but hesitate as I have my all education from India and heard they might because of that and send me back to India for stamping.

Could you please tell me if had any education from US? Also can I contact you via your personal email or phone. If yes then please send me email at howie_ind@yahoo.com

Thanks in advance

[usnycus]

gretzky

Don't worry about fingerprinting. US consulate will do that within consulate if/when they grant you a visa. Just go there with all the papers/documents listed at "http://www.amcits.com/"

[usnycus]

Check following two threads:

http://boards.immigrationportal.com/...hreadid=106316

http://boards.immigrationportal.com/...hreadid=106312

[jaxen2]

H1 Visa stamping experience- Canada some experiences- merged from the posts of immiadvice and usnycus. thanks.

[immiadvice]

for gretzky;
I have been aware of finger printing for atleast last 2 months...but its a simple procedure...inkless finger printin of middle finger of both the hands...for even the officer at the time of interview confirmed we did finger printing at the time of document submission...


for vahope4gc....
I have MS for US..hinestly I dont have idea/experience about visa stamping for eduction from India....but in my opinion..so long as you have BE or ME and work in the same field as your degree it should not be a problem...yeah but if you are trying to establish equivalency criteria then you have to be careful....

[jaxen]

Non US degree will be categorically refused H1B stamp in toronto (unless it is a F1 to h1). Some canadian consulates have been known in the past to reject degrees that do not sound obviously relevant to the position. For a Non US degree holder (without prior H1 stamp) going to canada is a risk. Mexico is a better choice.

[vahope4gc]

jaxen ,

Do you think with previous H1B(expired) in passport and apply for extension in ottawa will be risky? I have masters degree and working on h1b for last 4 years.

Thanks in advance

[sselva69]

vahope4gc,

If you have atleast one H1 stamp on the passport from the home country, then it should not be an issue.

Best of luck!!

[dr1]

Folks , please advise.
I first came on B1-F1-H1, obtained my first H visa from Mexico in 2001 (was easy) and got a revalidation through washington D.C till 2003. I have a US degree (residency) and am currently working. My H1B status is valid till 2006 but my H1B stamp expired in 2003.
I need to go to India next month, is it risky to go to Canada ?? what will happen if my visa gets denied in canada ? I have an appointment shortly in toronto. will appreciate early responses.

[chimi]

I just made an appointment for getting my H1 stamped in Ottawa and in the appointment letter it says, they are no longer returning the passports the same day. It may take 3 min days to get the stamped passport back.

Is this really true? I mean, immiadvice got his back the same day, right?

Does anyone have any ideas about this?

chimi..

[pdiddy75]

Hi everyone:

I would appreciate a response to this question. I am currently on an H1B visa in the US and it expired in December. I am planning to make a trip to Canada in April to renew the visa. I am working with the same employer and it is just a standard renewal. I already have an old H1B visa stamp in my passport. I also got my new I-797 and all other documentation that I will need to do this renewal.

My questions are as follows:
1. How safe is it to go to Canada and get this renewal done? I am not a permanent resident of Canada - I am an Indian citizen with H1B visa.
2. How long would it take to get this renewal?

I would appreciate any responses. Thanks!!

[dimple2001]

It should not be a major issue since you already have a prior visa history on your passport.

You will need an appointment at the US consulate and you will need a visitor visa to enter Canada. You can obtain the Canadian visitor visa by mail or person. Applying in person takes few hours at the Canadian consulate.

The US visa renewal normally is claimed to take 3 working days, however, they seem to complete the process in 2 working days.

[arsraj87]

I just got H1B & H4 revalidated in Toronto on March 12th, only
thing she asked me is the employment letter and then told me to collect the passports next day btw 3 - 4 PM


there were few guys for H1B none of them had any problems

Raj

[LabCheck75]

Hi, Saw all the messages floating around. I think i just have one basic question. In case if they do not approve the visa stamping in Canada, can we come back to USA and send it again to Washington. I mean if for some reason the Stamping doesnt happen in CANADA, are we allowed to come back to US though we do not have a valid visa stamped on the passport?

I am in a fix situation. My Canada Immigration decision has been made. But i just have 3 weeks for sending the passport to them and then visiting canada once they stamp the canada GC on my passport. However my US H1 extension is still in process. I still have to hear from them. So not sure how can i tackle the situation.
If i had time i would have sent to Washington DC for h1 visa stamping for no risk.

Thank You for all the response.
Sri.

[gretzky]

H1B stamping in Vancouver - 03/29/04

1. Appointment made through nvars.com – for 0800hrs on 03/29/04
2. 0715hrs - arrived at the Consulate – first in line, 15 people arrived within 10 minutes after me
3. 0755hrs - Consulate official (with a big chip on his shoulder) checked for the appointment letter and CASH for the application outside the Consulate
4. 0805hrs – 2nd floor – submitted:
a. DS-156 and DS-157
b. I-797
c. Company Letter
d. Passport
e. Application Fee
Given a ticket and asked to go to the 20th floor

5. 0810hrs – 20th floor – security check (stern guard who couldn’t speak proper English)
6. 0830hrs – interview lasted less than 10 minutes; asked the following questions:
a. What company do you work for?
b. What does the company do?
c. What do you do for them?
d. Where did you study in the US?

a. Despite the fact that I carried a whole bunch of documents, during the interview, I was asked to show only my marriage certificate at which the interviewer took only a cursory look.
b. Did the fingerprinting.
c. Then asked to pay the reciprocity fee around the corner on the same floor
7. 0840hrs – paid the reciprocity fee
8. 0915hrs – passport returned with visa

Total time taken (including waiting time) – 2hrs.

[buntyhaz]

Hi
Me and my wife are planning to go to Montreal or Otawwa for our visa revalidation begining of june. when I called up the consulate person, I was told that it takes 3 business days + the interview day earliest to get the visa.

Is that true? Can anyone please tell me the approx timings in each of the consulates so I can get the visa appointment. 3 days leave would be an impossible for me vacation wise...


thanks in advance

Sid

[amitkoh]

Even if you are not from SR countries and your profession does not come under TAL, there is a chance that a background check, not visa condor or visa mantis, would be ordered e.g. common name etc. In that case you are stuck in Canada till that clears. It can take 72 hrs to 30 days. 98% cases get resolved in 30 days. Rest 2% take 3-4 months. I have had 4 US Visa stamps, US education and I am from India. Now I am stuck in Ottawa waiting for background clearance.

If you are from SR countries or work under TAL don't even think about going to Canada.

[waitingnwaiting]

My situation :
I had completed 6 years in US without green card. So I left US
and lived in India for 7 months, Meanwhile my Canadian PR was approved.
So I moved to Canada and lived there for 7 months.
After 14 months, I applied for a fresh H1-B and got approved.

I got appointment for stamping at Toronto on February 2, 2004

My interview time was 9:30AM.

I took all documents that was needed.
I reached there very early (at 8:30 AM).
The security folks let me in right away.

Once inside I was asked to go right away to counter 7.
There I gave my appointment letter and Passport to the lady.

She asked me to have a seat.
Then within a few minutes, I was called by a lady officer in the counter 6.


officer: So you are a canadian permanent resident, eh? (friendly way)

Me : Yes

Officer: So no jobs in Canada,eh ? (she was being sympathetic)

Me : Yes , I work in the bank ****.

Officer: So what is the deal. Is this bank sending you to USA?

Me : No, I am going to work in a new company.

Officer: ok.

(She looks at my documents)

Officer: Can I see all your past approvals.

(I show her all the approvals. One of them was misplaced. Both of us
search in the pile. Finally she finds it).

Me: Here is the proof of my leaving US.

(I show her the tickets I used to fly from USA.
She checks the tickets and also stamps in the passport).

Officer : Alright have a seat. Another officer will call you.

(That was it. All the officer wanted was to check that I was in
legal status for the full six years)


(The new officer was just for fingerprinting me.
He asked one question though - What do you plan to do in USA.
I replied I was an Oracle DBA , blah , blah , blah)


That was it!!!!!


I was asked to come next day at 3pm to collect passport with stamp.

I walked out relieved .

My comments - Do not worry . Just have all your documents .
Answer honestly and you will be fine.

[parshu]

guys,

ANy imputs on H4 to H1 stamping in Toronto.
My friend's wife has to travel to Canada on her new job for a week. No US degree. No prior H-1 stamping in passport.
ANy chances of rejections.If rejected what happens. DO they allow to enter into US or do they send back to India


ANy experience or inputs greatly appreciated

[amitkoh]

If a visa is rejected for whatever reason, you cannot come back to USA.

Frankly I am surprised a senior member is asking this question

[parshu]

Amitkoh
When I went to Canada for stamping four years back for F-1 to H-1 , I went with full confidence that i can comeback if rejected. Atleast I remeber thats what they used to say then. I mean travel by road and they dont take i-94.etc
So i was curious whats the trend in post 9/11 world.
sorry to let you down with my seniority!!
Parshu

[xluo1971]

Has anybody stamped his/her H1B at Montreal? Can you get the passport in the same day or you have to wait three days? Please share your experience. Thanks.

[tnadkarni]

Here's my experience in Montreal. I've been to Toronto and I love Montreal..hopefully this will be the last time I have to get my visa stamped but if I go anywhere, I'm going to Montreal.

http://www.immigrationportal.com/sho...d.php?t=128102

[tnadkarni]

Even if you are not from SR countries and your profession does not come under TAL, there is a chance that a background check, not visa condor or visa mantis, would be ordered e.g. common name etc. In that case you are stuck in Canada till that clears. It can take 72 hrs to 30 days. 98% cases get resolved in 30 days. Rest 2% take 3-4 months. I have had 4 US Visa stamps, US education and I am from India. Now I am stuck in Ottawa waiting for background clearance.

If you are from SR countries or work under TAL don't even think about going to Canada.

You need to stop scaring people just because you were held back. Also you seem to have a habit of changing your stories. In some posts you said you were delayed for security check because your profession falls under TAL, now you're saying it could just be because of a name.

Also, they clearly state on the Canada appointment letter that IF you're processing will take more than the standard 1-3 days they will notify you via email or phone call. You make it sound as if you go there thinking it will only be 1-3 days and then all of a sudden you're told it will take 3-4 weeks...that is also not true.

Frankly, I don't think anyone should take what you write seriously because it just seems like you are mad that you are stuck in Canada and keep scaring people who will most likely not have any problems whatsoever.

[tnadkarni]

Hi
Me and my wife are planning to go to Montreal or Otawwa for our visa revalidation begining of june. when I called up the consulate person, I was told that it takes 3 business days + the interview day earliest to get the visa.

Is that true? Can anyone please tell me the approx timings in each of the consulates so I can get the visa appointment. 3 days leave would be an impossible for me vacation wise...


thanks in advance

Sid

See my post:

http://www.immigrationportal.com/sho...d.php?t=128102

There were quite a few people who were getting H-1Bs all of whom were given their passports back the same day at 3pm. I think for a while it was taking 3 business days with the new security and background checks but that has now improved to the point where they can give it back to you same day.

I highly recommend Montreal. There are nice hotels nearby. I am staying at the Residence Inn - Downtown Montreal. 15 min walk and 5 min by cab to US Consulate. The process is nice there, people who work there are very nice too.

good luck and don't worry...go in with a positive attitude. Sometimes reading these forums can scare you for no reason. Just have all your papers with you and as someone said, answer honestly and you'll be fine.

[smxhan]

tnadkarni

Just because u did not have any problems does not mean that no one else will. You posted ur experience and amitkoh posted his/her own. So let people reading this decide what they want to do and please do not say that people should not listen to amitkoh. You bring up interesting points abt the processing time and if urs is a special case it will require special processing. But remember that what goes behind the doors after u apply for visa no one knows. So u can be subjected to different checks that u will not be even aware of. So when visa officer tells u that u need to wait for checks to be completed u really dont have choice. But again that does not mean that everyone will go thru that..Its like very rare cases. So post messages which will help people gather different advices and not just rather depend only on ur advice.

[buntyhaz]

Hi All,
Thanks a lot for your inputs and suggestions. We took an appointment at the US consulate, Montreal for the revalidation of my H1 and my wife's H4 on June 1st at 8:30 AM.
The procedure was pretty simple.
1) Went there at 7:45 AM. passed security check, went up the elevator to 19th floor, paid at the counter.
2) my number comes up, the lady there was very nice and friendly. She took all my papers and asked the following questions:
1) Were u ever here on student visa? I replied "No".
2) Do u have any family members in the US? I replied "No".
3) Did the company file immigration for u? I replied "Not yet".
Thats it, I was asked to wait till my number is called again. Since I was the first person, I waited for some 30 mins, when my number popped up again.
Went to another counter, there was a guy, who said, "this is just plain revalidation, same company , same position..?" I said "Yes". Gave the finger printing, and asked to pay at the counter the $50 fee.
Paid and came back. He asked us to come back at 3:00 PM to pick up our passports. And we are now back in the US.

thanks again to all those who replied to my query.

this was immensely helpful

Sid