F1 to H1 stamping at Toronto

sdrblr

Registered Users (C)
Hello all,

I am planning to go to Toronto in mid Nov to get my H1B stamped. I have a masters degree from US and am currently on F1 (EAD).

Can anybody let me know the pros and cons of getting stamped in India v/s getting it in Toronto.

I read in this forum about somebody on F1 getting his H1B stamped in July..
Did anybody convert their visa status to H1 and get it stamped in Toronto more recently say in sept '03...If yes can you please let me know the docs reqd in US consulate in canada, questions asked and also any other info in this process will be appreciated.

Thanks a lot in advance.
 
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My case is also F1 to h1 ...I am also planning to go to vancouver for stamping...

First You need to apply for Canada Visitor Visa. Following is the Link for Required Documents you can get this VIsa by post in 2 to 3 weeks)
(http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/visa.html)
************Required Docs****************

1. Offer letter from your employer stating date of employment and salary information.
2. Original degree and transcripts
3. Passport with I-94. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
4. EAD card
5. 156 application form with one passport size photo
6. Appointment letter for visa (If you don't have the appointment letter, reference number is OK too)
7. I-20
8. W2 and Tax return
9. Company information if available
*********************************
They won't ask for all these stuff .... but it is safe to carry them with you incase if they ask for more Documents.
***************************
1 Appointment letter for visa (If you don't have the appointment letter, reference number is OK too)
2 Passport with I-94 (Original I-94). . Passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
3 EAD card (Original EAD card(practical training document) )
4 OF156 application form with one passport size photo (Two OF156 and two photos for following country: Cuba, North Korea, People's Republic of China, Russia and Vietnam.)
5 Original I-20 from all schools attended
6 Original degree certificates(if not available, get a letter from your school stating a valid reason)
7 Original transcripts
8 Previous pay stubs
9 Tax returns and W-2 forms for all the years while your were in US.
10 The originals of your university diplomas, mark sheets and any certificates you may have. (Secondary school information is not required)
11 Pay slips from current or most recent place of employment
12 Names and contact information of two co-workers from past jobs
13 A complete resume/bio-data and cover letter describing current job duties in detail
14 Personal bank records for the last six months

15 Offer letter from your employer stating date of employment and salary information.
16 Company information
17 Employer certified copy of I-129 with cover letter that was submitted to BCIS for getting H-1B visa.
18 The complete petition submitted by your prospective employer including the Employer certified Labor Condition Application.
19 Original I-797 approval form (H1 visa approval, Notice of Action)

20 Original letter of employment verifying your salary, position, employment dates and duties.

21 List of petitions filed by your petitioner and the current whereabouts of them.

22 List of ongoing projects and the clients, with contact
Information in each case.

24 Employment letter (make sure it's current and shows your salary)

25 US company information: photographs of the inside and outside of the company's offices, prospectus, brochures, and annual report

26 Letter from petitioning employer confirming employer's intent to hire the applicant

27 Your work experience letters from your previous employers
28 Letter from the employer stating how long you have worked for the company

29 Names and current phone numbers of the personnel managers at the applicant's present and past jobs

30 Photographs of the inside and outside of current or most recent employer's place of business
31 Names and contact information of two co-workers from your current or most recent place of employment

32 Current Company’s W2s and Tax returns from last 2 years in a Sealed envelope.

33 The Consulate will not accept documents received directly from the company by mail or fax. If confidentiality is of concern, the applicant should bring the documents to the Consulate in a sealed envelope. The Consulate will not make this information available to anyone and will destroy the documents after review.
 
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I applied at Toronto consulate on september 8th 03 and my husband on september 11th 03. We both received the visa on the next day. In Toronto, They will give you passport back next day. Every thing was smooth and we didn't have any problem at all. My case was F1-OPT- H1(first time). (MS still in progress, not done yet)
Let me know if I can help you for some more
 
Thank you both for the reply

ssf:

Few Questions:

1) how early did u fix the appointment
2) Wot doc did they ask
3) did u talk to them or fax them ur info in advance..if yes how early

Thanks a lot for ur help
 
For US consulate at canada list of Docs Required for H1B visa.


· One DS-156 application form per applicant (Citizens of Cuba, North Korea, the Peoples Republic of China, Russia, and Vietnam, over the age of 16, must provide two application forms).
· One DS-157 application form per male applicant. This is a mandatory form for all male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45, regardless of nationality and regardless of where they apply. Females from Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Sudan, Syria, Libya and North Korea, ages 16 or older, must also complete this application form.
· Valid Passport (valid for at least 6 months past the intended stay in the U.S.)
· Proof of legal status in Canada/Mexico: original or certified copy
· 1 Passport-size photo taken within last 6 months, 2 x 2 inches, color on white/light background, showing full face, no head cover. (Citizens of Cuba, North Korea, the Peoples Republic of China, Russia, and Vietnam over the age of 16 must provide two photos for each applicant).
· Older passports containing previous visas
· Documents substantiating previous legal status in the U.S.
· $100 U.S. non-refundable application fee
· Reciprocity fee (if applicable)
· I-797(either I-797Aor I-797B) ( I-797C is not acceptable) Must be original and full page . Appointment should be made ten days prior to the validity date on the I-797 or after the validity date has passed.
· Current employment letter indicating the nature of work , duration and salary
· Recent paystubs/payslips
· Copy of I-129B, petition completed by employer and filed with I.N.S.
· Copy of approved LCA, if applicable
· If previously under J-1 in U.S. applicant needs waiver of 2 year foreign residence rule
· Evidence of qualifications must original or certified copy. Consular officers (in Canada) may refuse to issue a visa to H-1B applicants if their education and /or work experience is solely or predominantly from a country other than the U.S. or Canada.
If you require additional information or have questions or concerns, please call the Visa Information Services Center:
From within Canada -1-900-451-2778 (There will be a $2.00 CND charge per minute.)
From within the U.S. -1-900-443-3131 (There will be a $1.65 U.S. charge per minute.)
 
Hi
Toronto consulate is very busy and you need to contact a month ahead and they will reply you back with the date. My case was processed by a canadian firm and they took care of every thing. I send them all the paper work that is mention on the consulate web page. We both have following documents with us:
Original I-797, approval notice, and bank deposit receipt
attorney certified copy of the entire petition,
original landed immigration document for canada
old and new Passport, original F1 visa stamps (although it was expired in jan 2000)
All original I-20s
Original mark sheets and Degrees
Proof of address (Bank statement)
Pay slips, business card (for me, my director and HR rep.)
Surprisingly they didn't ask me any thing except the old and new passport, and approval notice and bank receipt.
He looked at the old visa stamp and asked me about my job during filling out the officail left corner of the DS-156
Entire interview took less than 5minutes
Almost same for my Husband. The gentle man talk to him in very friendly environment and didn't ask any question, He jsut talk abot our family, kids, what he is doing etc, Probably about 5min during filling out the form
I guess main thing is to make sure that you are confident about what youa are saying and what is on your paper.
As long as you are in status throughout you stay in US, you will not have any problem.
Just for your info we belongs to the SR country (Pakistan) and we are under the age category also,
We both didn't have to face any problems, espacially my husband, since hfe is a male under 35 years of age and belongs to Pakistan.
Our case was handeled by an attorney's company at US and they hire a canadian firm to process our application. The frim help us for putting up all the paper work and arranging the appointment wiht the consulate. The rep went with us to the consulate, but on the interview window, you will be your own, even attorney can't accompany you there. Even during interview we didn't accompany each other as a spouse. Thats is right thier security is very strict and they don't like the un necessary prople if some one didn't have appointment.
Plus my employer also a multinational comapny.
I don't know whether these factors contribute towards getting stamps or not
Let me know if you have more question
Thanks
 
Sample EMPLOYMENT AND EXPERIENCE LETTER

hi

IF anyone have Sample EMPLOYMENT AND EXPERIENCE LETTER format please send it to me (pranavi_ch@yahoo.com).

I need this for my H1B visa stamping.

Thanks in advance
 
When we leave the U.S to enter Canada to get a first time H-1B stamping, do we need to surrender our I-94 to the immigration officials before boarding the flight to Canada? If yes, do we get a new I-94 when we enter the US with a fresh H-1B visa stamped on the passport?

Thanks
 
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Hi SDRBLR,
I am also planning to go to Toronto in December to get my H1B stamped. I was wondering if everything went smooth for you and any tips for me?
Also, is Ottawa consulate more efficient than Toronto?
Thanks,
Abhinav
 
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