H-1 B first time STAMPING Canada - help needed

P

PVK

Registered Users (C)
dear friends

I came to US originally on J-1 Visa and then converted to H-1 B, last year. Since then, I did not leave USA. My H-1 B visa for first year has been done for one year and then now I got my H-1 B papers approved till 2007. I work at University.

Now my question is :

1. Is going to Canada a right option for stamping my passport?. As informed, in my passport, there is J-1 Visa, which has been expired. Thus, it is first time Stamping.

2. If Canada is O.K, then which embassy do you guys suggest?. (Ottawa / Toronto, etc).

3. Further, all my degrees (including my PH.D) are from India. I am thinking to EVALUATE these degrees and take that report along with me. Does that help and is it necessary?.

4. What other documents are required, before I leave?.

Your suggestions on the above are highly appreciated and I thank you in advance for the same.


PVK
 
It's an option (not a necessaity). Although keep in mind, if your visa does not get approved, you are headed back to your home country.

I don't think the evaluation is necessary, if your Univ. believes, BCIS believes than should not be a problem.

Look through the forum for the list of documents to carry.
 
Hi Alren

Thank you for the reply.

Do you know any J-1 cases like mine, who did their stamping in passport for H-1 B at Canada?

Do you see it as a RIGHT OPTION?. Or do you suggest going to Mexico. Which ones is better?.

Thanks again for suggestion.

pvk
 
PVK said:
Thank you for the reply.

Do you know any J-1 cases like mine, who did their stamping in passport for H-1 B at Canada?

Do you see it as a RIGHT OPTION?. Or do you suggest going to Mexico. Which ones is better?.

Thanks again for suggestion.

pvk
Click to expand...
I don't know anybody, maybe these forums can have somebody.

I don't have an opinion of your options.
 
PVK,
I know about a similar situation but it was in year 2000. So pls keep in mind rules may have changed.

One of my friends who came to US on B2 changed status here to F1 and then to H1B. He drove to Quebec US consulate for H1B stamping. He was denied of stamping. Howeve he came back to US using the I-94 issued with his H1B approval. No problems. He said he did not even have to get off the car at the border post.

As far as I know you can come back to US using your I-94. But rules may be different now. So you are better off doing some research before going.
 
sam_sl said:
PVK,
I know about a similar situation but it was in year 2000. So pls keep in mind rules may have changed.

One of my friends who came to US on B2 changed status here to F1 and then to H1B. He drove to Quebec US consulate for H1B stamping. He was denied of stamping. Howeve he came back to US using the I-94 issued with his H1B approval. No problems. He said he did not even have to get off the car at the border post.

As far as I know you can come back to US using your I-94. But rules may be different now. So you are better off doing some research before going.
Click to expand...
post 9/11, unless the I-94 is valid, you cannot come back to US. Esp. in this case the status has chagned from J to H. I'm not sure that the H1 I94 will be considered valid to return to US
 
Eventhough the status was changed while staying in US, H1B I-94 is current with a future expiry date. So It should be considered as valid for entry. Anyway you will be better off checking with an immigration attorney who has lot of recent case experience. Some of them are not aware of latest rules.
 
sam_sl said:
PVK,
I know about a similar situation but it was in year 2000. So pls keep in mind rules may have changed.

One of my friends who came to US on B2 changed status here to F1 and then to H1B. He drove to Quebec US consulate for H1B stamping. He was denied of stamping. Howeve he came back to US using the I-94 issued with his H1B approval. No problems. He said he did not even have to get off the car at the border post.

As far as I know you can come back to US using your I-94. But rules may be different now. So you are better off doing some research before going.
-------- if you apply for Visa in Canada and it got rejected then you canot enter US even if you have valid I-94 becase your passport will be stamped"application recieved" and it simply means Visa applied and got rejected. you have to go directly from Canada to your home country to get Visa stamp and then enter US with valid Visa stamp.
Click to expand...
 
Wow! That means my friend got very lucky. A lady officer in consulate checked his application and told him it seems 'I wil most probably deny the application. If you want to withdraw do it now'. So he did not want to take chance. He picked up documents and came back. If rules were same at that time he was very lucky.
 
sam_sl said:
Wow! That means my friend got very lucky. A lady officer in consulate checked his application and told him it seems 'I wil most probably deny the application. If you want to withdraw do it now'. So he did not want to take chance. He picked up documents and came back. If rules were same at that time he was very lucky.
Click to expand...
I guess that's the difference between application denined and withdrawn .. :)
Also post 9/11 the rules have changed drastically.
 
canada stamping

dear friends

thank you very much for all your suggestions.

They were useful.

Further suggestions are highly appreciated.

pvk
 
J-1-h-1b stamping at India

Hi Guys

I am not sure whether this Canada stuff will workout or not, as I am still unclear and not getting enough replies of similar cases.

Now my question is :

1. Are there any guys out there, who got their H-1 B stamping at India, after J-1 to H-1 conversion?

2. If so, please provide your experience, especially at Chennai embassy.

Thank you for your valuable help.

pvk
 
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