Canadian Citizen TN to H1-B Visa

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DesiCanadian

Registered Users (C)
Hi,

I am a Canadian Citizen working in USA on TN, my company sponsor my H1-B this year and I got the approval papers. My TN expires in Nov and I am planning to fly out of US in Dec. I thought of stamping my H1-B visa, so i called the consulate and they told me that I don't need visa stamped on my Canadian Passport, I just need to go to POE and they will get me the visa and I-94.

I was confused because my understanding is you get your TN on POE but for H1-B you need to go to the consulate and get it stamped. My second question is my wife does not have Canadian Passport and she is with me on TD visa (we got it stamped from the consulate before coming to US), the guy told me to get my H1-B first by going to any POE and then get the visa appointment for my wife as H4 on non-Canadian Passport has to go through the consulate process.

I would appreciate your help in this issue.

Thanks.
 
DesiCanadian said:
I thought of stamping my H1-B visa, so i called the consulate and they told me that I don't need visa stamped on my Canadian Passport, I just need to go to POE and they will get me the visa and I-94.
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They are correct.

I was confused because my understanding is you get your TN on POE but for H1-B you need to go to the consulate and get it stamped.
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No; the only common statuses for which Canadians need a visa stamp are E and K.

the guy told me to get my H1-B first by going to any POE and then get the visa appointment for my wife as H4 on non-Canadian Passport has to go through the consulate process.
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Yup, correct again. Two correct answers over the phone; that's probably a sign of the impending Apocalypse.
 
Thanks for the quick response. I understand that I need to get my H1-B done and then apply for my wife's H4 through the consulate.

One more question, I think I should ask is when I came to US, i brought my car in with me. It was financed by honda finance. Now as I have got H1, I thought of changing my car registration here. I read in other forums that I need a compliance letter from Honda. I have got my license and other ownership documents. What I need to know about the "No Objection" letter from Honda. In my case it's finance and my ownership doesn't show any name other than mine. Do I still need that letter?

My second question is ffter getting all my documents, do i need to take my car with me and get it inspected by the customer officer, or would it be fine if I just go to the POE (fly there) and mention that i brought in my car when I entered on TN and now I want to register it in US.

Let me know. Thanks
 
DesiCanadian said:
One more question, I think I should ask is when I came to US, i brought my car in with me. It was financed by honda finance. Now as I have got H1, I thought of changing my car registration here. I read in other forums that I need a compliance letter from Honda. I have got my license and other ownership documents. What I need to know about the "No Objection" letter from Honda. In my case it's finance and my ownership doesn't show any name other than mine. Do I still need that letter?
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-- You need a compliance certificate from Honda America. If the car still has lien on it (if you have not paid it off yet), you will need a no-objection certificate from the finance company.

DesiCanadian said:
My second question is ffter getting all my documents, do i need to take my car with me and get it inspected by the customer officer, or would it be fine if I just go to the POE (fly there) and mention that i brought in my car when I entered on TN and now I want to register it in US.
.
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-- Go to any POE with the docs and get it formally imported. Check if your local airport does it - so that you will not have to fly anywhere or drive to the border.
 
Thanks BigBoy and RealCanadian for your replies. After reading your responses and searched on the forum, I finally decided to go to the boarder and get my H1-B stamp. I am working in Minneapolis and the closed Canadian border is Thunder Bay, Ontario (almost 6 hours drive). I will br carrying the following documents:
1. Passport
2. Approved H1-B Papers
3. Educational Documents
4. Company Letter
5. Equivalency Documents (I did my education from Australia)

Is there any other document that I need to carry? Do you guys think any problem as a Canadian Citizen with H1-B? Any experience with the Thunder Bay border?

I would appreciate any help. Thanks in advance.
 
DesiCanadian said:
I finally decided to go to the boarder and get my H1-B stamp.
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You're not going to get a visa stamp at the border, nor do you need one. If you have an I-94 with your H-1 approval you have all you need for you and your wife. Why are you wasting a half day to drive to thunder bay and back?
 
I have got my I-94 with TN stamp. My wife is not a Canadian Citizen so for her H4 I need my H1 status from TN. We are planning to go abroad so i thought I should change my status first and then I will get her appointment at the canadian consulate for H4.
 
DesiCanadian said:
I have got my I-94 with TN stamp. My wife is not a Canadian Citizen so for her H4 I need my H1 status from TN. We are planning to go abroad so i thought I should change my status first and then I will get her appointment at the canadian consulate for H4.
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What does the H-1 approval notice say? Does it have an I-94 at the bottom right?
 
Yes, it does have I-94 attached to it. Does it mean I don't even have to change my status from TN to H1 and it will autometically be changed to H1-B in Oct (the H1 date is in Oct).

If that's the case then my understanding was even I do have I-94, but I still need to go and change my status, get the new I-94 with H1-B status. In this way the immigration will have my new status as H1 and when my wife will go for her H4 she will not have any problem.
 
DesiCanadian said:
Yes, it does have I-94 attached to it. Does it mean I don't even have to change my status from TN to H1 and it will autometically be changed to H1-B in Oct (the H1 date is in Oct).
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Yes.

If that's the case then my understanding was even I do have I-94, but I still need to go and change my status, get the new I-94 with H1-B status.
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You misunderstand. As of October 1st, your new status will be H-1, and your I-94 will be the one at the bottom right of your approval notice. You do not need to do anything to change your status. It will change automatically.
 
This is a good news for me that I can save my trip to Thunder Bay just for stamping my visa. Actually, when I called consulate for the appointment (the first time when I was unaware that i don't need an appointment) the person told me that I need my H1 stamp first (change my status from TN to H1 by going to any POE) and then I can apply for my wife's appointment for H4.
 
DesiCanadian said:
This is a good news for me that I can save my trip to Thunder Bay just for stamping my visa
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Remember, as a Canadian you do not need a visa stamp, and anyways, you CANNOT get a visa at a border crossing, only a consulate or an embasyy.

the person told me that I need my H1 stamp first (change my status from TN to H1 by going to any POE) and then I can apply for my wife's appointment for H4.
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Ordinarily yes, but you have an I-94 attached to your approval notice so your status will automatically change come 10/1.

Cheers!
 
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