H1B Stamping Dropbox in Canada

[Ronak529]

Just an FYI, if you are a daily commuter and have filled out the DS160, you should refrain from entering USA till you get new stamp. I have confirmed this at border. They have denied me entry once because I filled out DS 160 and was still crossing

Now, does it matter whether you have a valid stamp or not? Because I have a stamp and not using avr, just curious. Thanks

 

[siddix16]

Now, does it matter whether you have a valid stamp or not? Because I have a stamp and not using avr, just curious. Thanks

So the incident when they denied me entry was when I was using AVR. so this time just to be sure I asked at the border. They said as soon as you apply for new VISA stamp the current stamp becomes invalid so one should only cross with new stamp.

I would like to add that they dont always check for that in system. but there is always a risk. So use your own discretion.

 

[Ronak529]

So the incident when they denied me entry was when I was using AVR. so this time just to be sure I asked at the border. They said as soon as you apply for new VISA stamp the current stamp becomes invalid so one should only cross with new stamp.

I would like to add that they dont always check for that in system. but there is always a risk. So use your own discretion.

I appreciate for sharing valuable information. Now under my case, do you know how to handle ds160? I surely can have new ds160 and confirmation page 2 days prior sending the application but I won’t be able to update the appointment. So should I send both DS160 in an envelope?

 

[Ronak529]

Hello everyone, I wanted to ask about courier-in-instruction
If the date is expired, can you regenerate the instructions?

 

[sid_chandy]

Hi guys, I currently live in the US, looking to get my H1B visa stamping done in Toronto(https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/niv/users/sign_in). But the earliest
Toronto appointment showing is 21 January, 2025 having checked as of June 13.

Calgary/Ottawa/Vancouver also show 2025 as the earliest available date. I did not receive a Dropbox option.

Is this accurate? Is anyone else facing such long wait times?

 

[Ronak529]

Hi guys, I currently live in the US, looking to get my H1B visa stamping done in Toronto(https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/niv/users/sign_in). But the earliest
Toronto appointment showing is 21 January, 2025 having checked as of June 13.

Calgary/Ottawa/Vancouver also show 2025 as the earliest available date. I did not receive a Dropbox option.

Is this accurate? Is anyone else facing such long wait times?

What is your status in Canada?

 

[sid_chandy]

What is your status in Canada?

I currently have my CoPR, looking to do a soft entry in Toronto, was hoping to get my H1B stamped as well

 

[Ronak529]

I currently have my CoPR, looking to do a soft entry in Toronto, was hoping to get my H1B stamped as well

What I understood is, you should have PR with you. Maybe that is the reason dropbox was not an option

 

[sid_chandy]

What I understood is, you should have PR with you. Maybe that is the reason Dropbox was not an option

Just to clarify, having/not having a Dropbox option is not my problem. I am perfectly fine with an interview. But I am getting conflicting information about the first available appointments. On the Canada consulate website(https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/niv/users/sign_in) I get the earliest available date as early 2025. But on other forums (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html), For temporary work visas(H), the wait time in Toronto is 53 days at the moment.

That's why I wanted to clarify whether other folks who choose interview (or Dropbox) in Toronto are getting appointments earlier than 2025?

 

[Ronak529]

Just to clarify, having/not having a Dropbox option is not my problem. I am perfectly fine with an interview. But I am getting conflicting information about the first available appointments. On the Canada consulate website(https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/niv/users/sign_in) I get the earliest available date as early 2025. But on other forums (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html), For temporary work visas(H), the wait time in Toronto is 53 days at the moment.

That's why I wanted to clarify whether other folks who choose interview (or Dropbox) in Toronto are getting appointments earlier than 2025?

I have seen other post where dates are not available for this year

 

[sid_chandy]

I have seen other post where dates are not available for this year

Thanks Ronak, would you mind providing some links to these forums that keep track of available H-1B dates?

 

[abdmuq11]

Sharing my timeline and experience in Vancouver for Dropbox. Dates maybe +/- 1

I went through a lot of pages and forums. Read all 160+ pages in the H1b dropbox in canada on this site. Please do your own research and not follow me as things could turn out differently for you. Hope this helps others.

1. To get Dropbox facility you have select when filling out the application for visa when asked If you're traveling from another country to apply for visa? You have to reply with No. If you reply with yes, you won't get dropbox as simple as that. I called the number from US multiple times and they said if you're canadian PR, you can write down as no. Even the help tool on that page says, Canadian permanent residents are considered as living in canada.

2. I completed my DS-160 in US itself and requested for instructions from US itself.

3. Got instructions in 2-3 days.

4. You can use your US license to pick up your passport. Whatever ID and information you put while filling out the application, you need that to pick up the passport. There is no connection at all with what you put in your DS-160. The address and name should match.

4. Flew to Canada on a Tuesday in May. Submitted documents on Wednesday before 12 PM because people said in this and other forum about when the delivery guy picks up your parcel. This didn't make a difference to me. It was only delivered and ready to pick up on Friday.

5. Next Monday, it showed picked up. At this point the visa status checker showed no status. In fact, putting in all correct details showed no profile or something like that. I typed in NA for two fields which was mentioned by someone and it still said no status. There's information below the fields which says if your application is before such and such date put NA.

6. Tuesday Visa status changed to Application received.

7. Wednesday it showed issued. I was surprised as there was nothing like Approved or something. Directly Issued.

8. Got email on friday about tracking information and that passport is picked up by canada post and estimated delivery was the coming Monday.

9. Passport was ready to pick up on Monday around 1 PM.

10. Not gonna say don't stress as all of us will but I feel if you're a canadian PR, might as well do it in Canada as it this point it looks like it is faster than doing it in India. Total business days for me from submitting passport and picking up were 8 days.

General remiders:

a. When you print in courier in certificate, it again asks for an address. But you can't put a US address there as country is filled as CA already. I used my brother's name and address who lives in vancouver. I thought it could be related to delivery of passport but it wasn't. I am not even sure why they ask for it. Use any Canadian address.

b. Address to send for embassy is written on the instructions. No other address. Canada Post people in Surrey knew the entire process and was helpful.

c. I paid 19 CAD for premium delivery to track application properly 28 CAD was for home delivery but didn't want to wait.

d. Documents I sent was same as documents mentioned in instructions. No additional documentation just for the sake of it. Just make sure all the documents are clearly visible.

e. Country of Permanent residence I kept it as USA. Some said to keep it as Canada and some as India. It was very ambiguous but the toolbar next to it when completing the visa application said country you are legally authorized to work. Personally I feel it could be US or Canada.

 

[tuhadapeo]

Sharing my timeline, hope this helps.

class: h1b renewal (previous renewal in Canada, w/ PR status)
location: Ottawa
delivered: Jun-3-24
application received: Jun-10-24
approved: Jun-11-24
issued: Jun-12-24
home delivery: Jun-14-24

 

[Ronak529]

Sharing my timeline, hope this helps.

class: h1b renewal (previous renewal in Canada, w/ PR status)
location: Ottawa
delivered: Jun-3-24
application received: Jun-10-24
approved: Jun-11-24
issued: Jun-12-24
home delivery: Jun-14-24

Thank you for sharing, when was tracking available for you? Also, did you happened to had 2 ds160 due to any update or only had one ds160?

 

[shiva181990]

My timeline so far for Toronto Consulate (Interview Waiver H1B renewal)

May 22: Application submitted DS-160
June 11: Received Instruction email
June 12: Sent documents
June 13: Document delivered, as per Canada Post

no update since then, not even changed to application received status, any body in the same boat? Is this the typical timeline?