H1B Stamping Dropbox in Canada

[coolusa]

Currently Canada is prioritizing visa for residents and citizens. All others are not eligible for dropbox too. Until you don't do landing, you are not a PR. Visa interview or dropbox is for people outside US. H1b extension is for people inside US. So you cannot send docs from US to Canada, you should be present in the country where visainterview/dropbox happens.
Do the softlanding, then book for appointment as PR status, you will get dropbox (other dropbox conditions also need to meet). Travel to Canada, stay there, do the dropbox and comeback with stamped visa.

 

[wink]

What I know is even as a resident, not everyone is given dropbox option.

 

[coolusa]

Thats what,

What I know is even as a resident, not everyone is given dropbox option.

Thats what, you must satisfy other requirements of dropbox eligibility too (like any previous visa, no previous refusal,48 months visa expiry rule etc. etc)

 

[Smartypreet24]

@coolusa
Can we get appointment in person for H1b and H4 stamping in canada from USA And also if We do activate our COPR. Would that work?

 

[coolusa]

Can we get appointment in person for H1b and H4 stamping in canada from USA And also if We do activate our COPR. Would that work?

You can schedule visa stamping while sitting in USA.

If you search now for dates,

A. If you are not a PR, your sooner date will be Jan 2023.

B. If you are a PR (after landing), your sooner date will be 2022 March or April. System will decide whether dropbox or interview. You can not select. Unlike India, no appointment required for dropbox.

 

[Smartypreet24]

@coolusa
Actually my H4 visa is pending. My husband’s H1b is approved. If I first activate my COPR , I can not make USA return. If my husband only activate his COPR , can he get H1b and H4 stamping appointments or Dropbox for both of us?

 

[coolusa]

Actually my H4 visa is pending. My husband’s H1b is approved. If I first activate my COPR , I can not make USA return. If my husband only activate his COPR , can he get H1b and H4 stamping appointments or Dropbox for both of us?

If your (current H4) i94 is valid, you can do softlanding and return to US using AVR without stamping. Once you comeback, schedule for US visa in Canada.Then go to Canada do dropbox/Intervew and return with stamped visa.

 

[Smartypreet24]

@coolusa
Actually that’s the main issue, my i94 is expired.new h4 is pending, can’t use AVR.

 

[coolusa]

@coolusa
Actually that’s the main issue, my i94 is expired.new h4 is pending, can’t use AVR.

Then you can not do AVR. There is a risky route
1. If you(H4) is 100% sure you will get dropbox, do softlanding and prepare to stay in Canada. One day after or same day you become a PR, book US Visa appointment while sitting in Canada. If you are eligible for dropbox, submit the required docs in Canada dropbox and wait for approval (7-10 working days Toronto).

 

[coolusa]

@coolusa
Actually that’s the main issue, my i94 is expired.new h4 is pending, can’t use AVR.

Another risky route (shared by a fb member, not my case).

Hello Everyone,

I got H1B stamping on Jan 7th, 2022 through expedite request.

While applying for appointment in Oct 2021 my status in US (H1B approved in September) and Canada (had visitor visa), therefore I got my first appointment in Toronto for Dec 2022. After continuously checking slots and rescheduling the appointment for at least three times, the last one I got was for April 12th, 2022.

Received CEC ITA in September 2021, got Canadian COPR during 2nd week of December (EE, CEC, main applicant was my husband).

Raised expedite request during last week of December 2021, stating that I am a Canadian PR holder and need stamping to work in US (I was in US when I raised this request). Got approval for expedite request on Jan 5th for appointment scheduled on Jan 7th. Flew from US to Canada on Jan 6th and attended interview next day in Toronto.

Consulate verified: Canadian COPR letter (didn’t receive the card yet), 2*2 passport photo, I797 form, DS-160 and few questions about study, school and job role. Everything went smooth and got approval. Received my H1B visa yesterday.

Good luck.

 

[swan0206]

@coolusa
Actually my H4 visa is pending. My husband’s H1b is approved. If I first activate my COPR , I can not make USA return. If my husband only activate his COPR , can he get H1b and H4 stamping appointments or Dropbox for both of us?

Is your husband primary applicant? If he is the primary applicant, he can atleast softland and return. Later after you get your H4 approval you can do your landing. Without primary applicant, the dependants cannot land. If you are the primary applicant and your coPR date is closer its time to take decision now.

Fyi:
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/can-dependent-land-alone-after-main-applicant-short-landing.495880/

 

[wink]

https://www.state.gov/expanded-interview-waivers-for-certain-nonimmigrant-visa-applicants/

"We are pleased to announce that consular officers are now temporarily authorized, through December 31, 2022, to waive in-person interviews for certain individual petition-based nonimmigrant work visas and their qualifying derivatives in the following categories: Persons in Specialty Occupations (H-1B visas) "

Per this news, in-person interviews are waived for 2022. But not sure it will be of any help in your case.

 

[prasmiranjan]

Hi.
I am Indian citizen and staying in Canada on work permit. Want to schedule H1B stamping. Will I be eligible for interview waiver ?


Please let me know if Q1 below holds true for me(Q3/4/5 are YES for me). If I choose NO to this, its asking me to pay fees on next page and shows earliest available dates for scheduling of interview. Does that mean I need to have interview ? If so, after scheduling interview(first available at Toronto is Dec 5, 2022), is there any process to get earlier dates or get a interview waiver ?

Qualifying statements applicable to citizens or nationals of countries that are NOT part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
1.Applicant is a national or permanent resident of the country in which the applicant is applying, and
2.If applying for J visa class, the applicant is applying for an academic J visa (secondary or university student, professor, research scholar, short-term scholar, or specialist), and
3.Applicant has been previously issued a U.S. visa (any class of visa), and
4.Applicant submitted ten fingerprints when the previous U.S. visa was issued, and
5.Applicant answered 'NO' to all of the Medical and Health, Criminal, Security or Immigration Law Violation questions on the DS-160 visa application form

 

[welpure2]

Another risky route (shared by a fb member, not my case).

Hello Everyone,

I got H1B stamping on Jan 7th, 2022 through expedite request.

While applying for appointment in Oct 2021 my status in US (H1B approved in September) and Canada (had visitor visa), therefore I got my first appointment in Toronto for Dec 2022. After continuously checking slots and rescheduling the appointment for at least three times, the last one I got was for April 12th, 2022.

Received CEC ITA in September 2021, got Canadian COPR during 2nd week of December (EE, CEC, main applicant was my husband).

Raised expedite request during last week of December 2021, stating that I am a Canadian PR holder and need stamping to work in US (I was in US when I raised this request). Got approval for expedite request on Jan 5th for appointment scheduled on Jan 7th. Flew from US to Canada on Jan 6th and attended interview next day in Toronto.

Consulate verified: Canadian COPR letter (didn’t receive the card yet), 2*2 passport photo, I797 form, DS-160 and few questions about study, school and job role. Everything went smooth and got approval. Received my H1B visa yesterday.

Good luck.

Hi, If we have PR status, we give the details in DS 160. Do they expedite interview appointment if we have PR status and state that we have a Job offer? ready

 

[shr89]

How does dropbox in Canada work? Do we have to go handover the documents in person or can we mail it?
I am currently in the US. If I meet all requirements and get eligible for dropbox I am wondering if I can mail all documents from the US or do I have to go to Canada to do dropbox?