H1B visa appointment availability

[sriinn]

Hi, your emergency reason is something in the lines of H1 Spouse is in the US?

Yes, correct.

 

[Andyscm15]

Hi All, I have a H1 Visa appointment for May..does anyone have any information on Visa Stamping appointments in May getting Cancelled? I need to make travel arrangements from Toronto to Vancouver.
Last update from the Consulate is on March 18th - "The United States Embassy and Consulates in Canada have resumed certain non-emergency U.S. citizen and nonimmigrant visa services. " https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/consular-operations-updates/

I have also an appointment in April in India but due to travel restrictions I am trying to avoid travelling. Confused whether to wait for Vancouver appointment or take a risk for of travelling to India for stamping,,,,Anyone have any recommendations or suggestions.

 

[chetan8785]

There is no need of any attachment when you request for expedite appointment. I work in Canada. I am not sure if you request from outside canada, most likely they will not approve because its not essential travel to Canada. Usually, they provide appointment in a week from the date you requested. If you plan to come to Canada from USA, you need to quarantine for two weeks and then only you can request...But, i know Canada is not allowing anyone on visitor visa for this reason, they should be exempted based on some of the reasons.

Thanks Sriinn. I do have Canadian PR. I postponed my plan to move because of the pandemic. But I am thinking of moving this year in summer and If I do should I be able to setup an expedite H1 interview request after I move in there.

 

[AjeyaGupta]

Hi guys,

I am trying to schedule my H1 visa appointment in Canada. While filing out the DS-160, I am not sure about couple of questions, and wanted to gather your thoughts/opinions. I am a PR living in Canada, and have employment in USA. I have been travelling to US on as need basis using AVR. My questions are:

1. Home Address: My H1B LCA was filed using my US address, what should I put in my home address in DS160 form? Should I put my Canadian address or my USA address?
2. Address where you will stay in US : Considering that I am working from home (from my Canadian home), and have been travelling to US on as need basis, I am not sure what exactly should I enter under ‘Address where I’ll stay in US’. Would it be okay to enter the work address under this? Or put ‘Not Applicable’ or something else?

Thank you for your help in advance!

 

[canprofus]

Hi guys,

I am trying to schedule my H1 visa appointment in Canada. While filing out the DS-160, I am not sure about couple of questions, and wanted to gather your thoughts/opinions. I am a PR living in Canada, and have employment in USA. I have been travelling to US on as need basis using AVR. My questions are:

1. Home Address: My H1B LCA was filed using my US address, what should I put in my home address in DS160 form? Should I put my Canadian address or my USA address?
2. Address where you will stay in US : Considering that I am working from home (from my Canadian home), and have been travelling to US on as need basis, I am not sure what exactly should I enter under ‘Address where I’ll stay in US’. Would it be okay to enter the work address under this? Or put ‘Not Applicable’ or something else?

Thank you for your help in advance!

You can put your Canadian address for home address. Visas are usually obtained outside US, so foreign addresses would the valid entry there. For 2, I am not sure..

 

[swan0206]

Hi guys,

I am trying to schedule my H1 visa appointment in Canada. While filing out the DS-160, I am not sure about couple of questions, and wanted to gather your thoughts/opinions. I am a PR living in Canada, and have employment in USA. I have been travelling to US on as need basis using AVR. My questions are:

1. Home Address: My H1B LCA was filed using my US address, what should I put in my home address in DS160 form? Should I put my Canadian address or my USA address?
2. Address where you will stay in US : Considering that I am working from home (from my Canadian home), and have been travelling to US on as need basis, I am not sure what exactly should I enter under ‘Address where I’ll stay in US’. Would it be okay to enter the work address under this? Or put ‘Not Applicable’ or something else?

Thank you for your help in advance!

2. You can put it as not decided/Undetermined. Or you can give some friend's address if available.

 

[AjeyaGupta]

2. You can put it as not decided/Undetermined. Or you can give some friend's address if available.

Thanks @swan0206 and @canprofus for your replies.

In parallel, I also spoke with my company attorney. He suggested the following
1. Putting Canadian Address as Home address
2. Putting my MI address under 'Address where you will stay in US'.

In addition to the above, I wanted to check and confirm with someone if travelling to US on AVR is still allowed even when DS160 and visa appointment is scheduled, and that the only time when AVR cannot be used is after giving visa interview (whether the result is approva/denial/221g).

Thank you.

 

[swan0206]

Thanks @swan0206 and @canprofus for your replies.

In parallel, I also spoke with my company attorney. He suggested the following
1. Putting Canadian Address as Home address
2. Putting my MI address under 'Address where you will stay in US'.

In addition to the above, I wanted to check and confirm with someone if travelling to US on AVR is still allowed even when DS160 and visa appointment is scheduled, and that the only time when AVR cannot be used is after giving visa interview (whether the result is approva/denial/221g).

Thank you.

That is right. And, came to know that 30days before the interview someone was denied entry into United States. That might/might not happen in your case, but just be prepared for that.

 

[canprofus]

Thanks @swan0206 and @canprofus for your replies.

In parallel, I also spoke with my company attorney. He suggested the following
1. Putting Canadian Address as Home address
2. Putting my MI address under 'Address where you will stay in US'.

In addition to the above, I wanted to check and confirm with someone if travelling to US on AVR is still allowed even when DS160 and visa appointment is scheduled, and that the only time when AVR cannot be used is after giving visa interview (whether the result is approva/denial/221g).

Thank you.

yeah, it's all up in the air and up to the agent whom you are encountering. CBP can see that you have an interview scheduled with the embassy. I know someone who was questioned now and then about the appointment, sent to secondary once and was cleared. But on the very next trip, they didn't let him saying that he cannot use AVR as he has scheduled the visa appointment. Only difference when he was denied was that his appointment was happening in next 30 days.. so we are kind of guessing that having an appointment in next 30 days may not work for AVR.

 

[AjeyaGupta]

yeah, it's all up in the air and up to the agent whom you are encountering. CBP can see that you have an interview scheduled with the embassy. I know someone who was questioned now and then about the appointment, sent to secondary once and was cleared. But on the very next trip, they didn't let him saying that he cannot use AVR as he has scheduled the visa appointment. Only difference when he was denied was that his appointment was happening in next 30 days.. so we are kind of guessing that having an appointment in next 30 days may not work for AVR.

Oh, okay. No usage of AVR within 30 days of visa interview date is a weird rule, and like you said, this seems to be CBP officer dependent (since I dont see such rule published anywhere on CBP's website).

Thanks for all your help though!

 

[greencard14]

Hi All, I have a H1 Visa appointment for May..does anyone have any information on Visa Stamping appointments in May getting Cancelled? I need to make travel arrangements from Toronto to Vancouver.
Last update from the Consulate is on March 18th - "The United States Embassy and Consulates in Canada have resumed certain non-emergency U.S. citizen and nonimmigrant visa services. " https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/consular-operations-updates/

I have also an appointment in April in India but due to travel restrictions I am trying to avoid travelling. Confused whether to wait for Vancouver appointment or take a risk for of travelling to India for stamping,,,,Anyone have any recommendations or suggestions.

There are a bunch of cancellations for May recently. Is your appointment still on? If they didn't cancel your appointment by now, I think you are good but let me know.

 

[AjeyaGupta]

Hi All,

Looking at the available visa slots in Toronto, the earliest availability is in December 2021. Should I reserve a slot in December 2021 now, and adjust to an earlier date as and when newer slots open up? What do you guys suggest? Have you seen earlier slots open up ever? Or it just keeps getting moved to a later date all the time?

 

[seaheart521]

There are a bunch of cancellations for May recently. Is your appointment still on? If they didn't cancel your appointment by now, I think you are good but let me know.

My appointment is in May and still there.... under the current ban, as long as you will go back to US for the same position and the same employer... you should be fine.
hopefully this ban will be lifted after 31-March

 

[rajas1234]

My appointment is in May and still there.... under the current ban, as long as you will go back to US for the same position and the same employer... you should be fine.
hopefully this ban will be lifted after 31-March

My appointment in May at Vancouver is also still there

 

[seaheart521]

My appointment in May at Vancouver is also still there

are you also planning to go back to US for the same employer and position? I