Timelines for H1b (first-time stamping) at the
Toronto US Consulate
My Status: Canada PR (with visitor visa taken from Toronto US consulate with in-person interview 3 years ago). Even though its first time stamping, I had worked in US on an H1b for 1 year in the past but never stamped an H1b in my passport, moved to Canada as a PR, and started working for a new employer (applied for US B1/B2 visa). Got hired by a new employer in Nov 2023 and technically this is an H1b transfer.
19 Dec 2023 – 4 PM: Submitted the DS160 and Scheduled an appointment with the US consulate on AIS website for Canada.
Note 1: AIS website for Canada visa appointment:
https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/niv/users/sign_in
Note 2: Once I applied, I was added to the virtual queue with a wait time of 5 weeks.
Note 3: Soon you get your H1b approval apply to AIS website, don’t wait!
No updates for 3-4 weeks (Christmas holidays and huge backlog)
10 Jan 2024: around 12:30 Request to send documents email arrived with instructions. The status on AIS website changed to “Send documents”
10 Jan 2024: Sent document around 1:50 PM via Canada Post
Note 1: I had all the necessary documents labelled and photographs taken ready to be sent waiting on the shipping label only at this time
Note 2: If you send the courier before 5 PM, generally all Canada Post send the document within 1 business day which is the next business day (11th Jan in my case)
Note 3: Documents submitted:
- Passport old (with B1/B2 visa stamp)
- Current passport
- Form DS 160 Confirmation page
- Email Instructions (pdf) printed. “GDIT/United States DoS Nonimmigrant VisaInstructions” (4 pages document)
- 3rd page from the Courier in instructions (which clearly states at the bottom in bold “Include this page in the courier envelope that contains your required visa application documents”)
- One 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 inches) color photo
- Copy of PR Card
- Offer letter (optional not required but still sent)
- LCA (this is not required for H1b but still sent)
11 Jan 2024 (Thursday around 12:40 PM): Documents were delivered to the consulate and received confirmation via Canada Post.
12 Jan 2024 (Friday, around 12:30 PM): The status on CEAC website (
https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx) changed to “Application received”
15th Jan (Monday) was a US holiday
Note 1: The “AIS” website (where you scheduled an appointment for Toronto) will have 'send documents' as your status until your return shipping label is created. so check your visa status via your DS-160 (
https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx)
Note 2: The statuses go this way on CEAC. Case created -> Case approved -> Issued
18 Jan 2024 (Thursday around 10:40 AM): Case approved
22 Jan 2024 (Around 12:30 PM): Status changed to “Issued”
23 Jan 2024 (Around 10:30 AM): Email with subject “U.S. DoS Visa system return travel document shipment notice” Label created for shipping and Passport ready for Purolator pick up
23 Jan 2024 (Around 2:30 PM): The passport was picked up by Purolator
24 Jan 2024: Out for delivery by 8:40 AM and delivered by 12:35 PM at the door since I chose the premium delivery option instead of pick-up
Note I am not an immigration expert/attorney, this is purely my personal experience. Please reach out to your immigration lawyer for lawful advice.