Rumors about an executive order that bans the entry H1b holders around.

[kubernetes]

Hello Everyone,

I also completed landing over the weekend at peace arch crossing (Blaine - Douglas).

1) Drove from SF Bay area (COPR approval date is June 2020)
2) Entered Canada and the lady asked if I am moving today and I said no, then she asked why are you not moving permanently today and I told her that because of COVID-19 I will need some time to arrange my permanent move and then she asked me to park my car. She also took our passports and COPR documents
3) Another officer came and took us inside the building and there was no one else in the building except the CBSA officers and us.
4) He asked us if we have any goods that we are taking today and any goods that needs to be followed. I told him we have goods to follow as I am not moving to Canada today and would return to US today. He made us sign the COPR document then and there.
5) He asked us to sit in the waiting area and when we were sitting in the waiting area, we could overhear the agents discussing if we need to quarantine or not. One officer said that now they are PR so they have to quarantine and then the another officer said logically we don't have to quarantine because we are returning back to US. After some time the officer called us to give us the stamped goods to follow list and our passports back with attached COPR document and told us you are PR now.
6) He showed us the way out and also told us from where to take the U-Turn.
7) At the US border post, I handed over the passports and I797 to the US border post agent.(We used AVR)
8) He pasted a yellow slip on the wind shield of our car and asked us to go the inspection area.
9) Another officer came and asked us the documents and I again handed over the passports and I-797 and then he went inside the building and came back after half an hour and handed over us the passports and I-797 and told us to proceed.

Thanks,

 

[bcpnpapplicant]

Hello Everyone,

I also completed landing over the weekend at peace arch crossing (Blaine - Douglas).

1) Drove from SF Bay area (COPR approval date is June 2020)
2) Entered Canada and the lady asked if I am moving today and I said no, then she asked why are you not moving permanently today and I told her that because of COVID-19 I will need some time to arrange my permanent move and then she asked me to park my car. She also took our passports and COPR documents
3) Another officer came and took us inside the building and there was no one else in the building except the CBSA officers and us.
4) He asked us if we have any goods that we are taking today and any goods that needs to be followed. I told him we have goods to follow as I am not moving to Canada today and would return to US today. He made us sign the COPR document then and there.
5) He asked us to sit in the waiting area and when we were sitting in the waiting area, we could overhear the agents discussing if we need to quarantine or not. One officer said that now they are PR so they have to quarantine and then the another officer said logically we don't have to quarantine because we are returning back to US. After some time the officer called us to give us the stamped goods to follow list and our passports back with attached COPR document and told us you are PR now.
6) He showed us the way out and also told us from where to take the U-Turn.
7) At the US border post, I handed over the passports and I797 to the US border post agent.(We used AVR)
8) He pasted a yellow slip on the wind shield of our car and asked us to go the inspection area.
9) Another officer came and asked us the documents and I again handed over the passports and I-797 and then he went inside the building and came back after half an hour and handed over us the passports and I-797 and told us to proceed.

Thanks,

Congrats! Exactly my experience. We did this on July 3rd. I guess we met the same lady officer on the Canadian side who took the initial documents
Only difference is we were not asked to go inside CBSA office. Everything happened while we were inside the car.

 

[Sri91]

I just called Peach Arch POE, they confirmed we can use AVR. He said going back to work in US is considered essential travel.

I have used AVR coming back after my soft landing at toronto pearson. Has no issues with obtaining boarding pass with delta airlines. When I used AVR, the officer has stamped my passport and written the the validity till Spetember 6th, 2020(end of my H1B Validity).

I want to travel to Canada again via Ambassador bridge (Since COPR can be used to travel by land) and return to usa after 14 days using AVR.

1. Will I have issues crossing in to USA via land?
2. What is the significance of that visa stamp and will it help the border agents to allow entry?
3. The officer did not take my white I94 card which I have when I came to usa on F1. She just stamped

 

[praveen07cse]

I have used AVR coming back after my soft landing at toronto pearson. Has no issues with obtaining boarding pass with delta airlines. When I used AVR, the officer has stamped my passport and written the the validity till Spetember 6th, 2020(end of my H1B Validity).

I want to travel to Canada again via Ambassador bridge (Since COPR can be used to travel by land) and return to usa after 14 days using AVR.

1. Will I have issues crossing in to USA via land?
2. What is the significance of that visa stamp and will it help the border agents to allow entry?
3. The officer did not take my white I94 card which I have when I came to usa on F1. She just stamped

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/pr-soft-landing-from-us-after-eo.693114/
AVR is still active. you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[Roshwarner]

Hello, can someone tell me how is the AVR process traveling with Air Canada to US? I will be taking the flight from Toronto Pearson Airport. Also, I’m already in Canada, is the AVR still a safe option going back to the US in the next 10 days? I have an expired F1 visa and my current status in the US is H1b. Both I797 and I 94 valid for the next two years. Appreciate all the response, thank you.

 

[DEEPCUR]

I have used AVR coming back after my soft landing at toronto pearson. Has no issues with obtaining boarding pass with delta airlines. When I used AVR, the officer has stamped my passport and written the the validity till Spetember 6th, 2020(end of my H1B Validity).

I want to travel to Canada again via Ambassador bridge (Since COPR can be used to travel by land) and return to usa after 14 days using AVR.

1. Will I have issues crossing in to USA via land?
2. What is the significance of that visa stamp and will it help the border agents to allow entry?
3. The officer did not take my white I94 card which I have when I came to usa on F1. She just stamped

on which did she stamp? on visa or on separate page?

 

[Roshwarner]

I know, its crazy. If i were you, i would enter thru the border that has most H1's going back and forth.
Its more than likely you will be sent to secondary inspection if the agent at the booth is not aware of AVR or wants to run some checks (this is pretty common).

Hello, can someone tell me how is the AVR process traveling with Air Canada to US? I will be taking the flight from Toronto Pearson Airport. Also, I’m already in Canada, is the AVR still a safe option going back to the US in the next 10 days? I have an expired F1 visa and my current status in the US is H1b. Both I797 and I 94 valid for the next two years. Appreciate all the response, thank you.

 

[Roshwarner]

Thank you for keeping us posted on this topic.
Just to make sure , you have expired visa and travelled using approved I797.
do you commute regularly for work from Canada to US .

Did you travel by air? What airport?

 

[kp549]

Hi Guys, Quick update on my soft-landing experience.

Flight to Canada:
We took flight from Boston to Toronto Pearson (06/26/2020 - after EO was announced)
- The flight was smooth, usual temperature check, plus CoPR doc check at the counter to receive boarding pass (Air Canada). The only question asked was the purpose of travel to Canada, for which we replied: we are immigrating to Canada.
- After landing, we heard the golden words "Welcome to Canada, Welcome Home" and given a printed document with instruction for mandatory quarantine. We had to provide our destination address and phone number.
- The immigration officer was very polite, took our CoPR+Passport, and asked for the address where PR Card needs to be sent. He also asked about our quarantine plan. We mentioned, we will be taking uber straight to XYZ hotel and will be ordering grocery and food using online Apps, etc.
- Next at the customs, We were asked for Goods to follow list (They didn't check or ask for Goods at arrival list). They added the final sum of all items on GTF list and provided the receipt with $0 tax for all the items on the list ( Make sure to collect the receipt before leaving the customs)
- At hotel, we received the same instructions and remained indoors for 14 days. We received multiple calls from the Government of Canada to ensure our stay/quarantine.

Flight back to USA (expired H1B but valid I-94) on (7/12/2020):
- We reached 5 hours early to the airport to allow airline staff to figure out AVR and issue boarding pass. The lady behind the counter was calm and was on the call with the helpdesk for 45 mins to complete our check-in and issued us boarding pass.
- Next at CBP, everything was quick and smooth, they asked for I797/I-94, passport and employment verification letter. They asked below questions:
-Where are you coming from?
-Where are you heading to the USA?
- How long you stayed in Canada?
Once answered the questions, they stamped the passport and allowed us to go to the gate.

Feel free to IM me if you have any questions.

Big thanks to this forum and @raxx.cater for all the information and help.

 

[harirajmohan]

Do you think that they would entertain the H4 for the H1 guys in US?

Jul 16 2020: News at travel state gov:
The Department of State will continue to issue H, L, and J visas to otherwise qualified derivative applicants who are otherwise currently excepted or where the principal applicant is currently in the United States.

Anyone understand what this means?
"spouses and children of certain visa class holders, such as H, J, and L visa holders who are already excepted from, or not subject to, P.P. 10052. "

 

[harirajmohan]

Did not understand your first statement...

Based on today's news at state.gov, I am asking if consulates will issue H4 visas if the principal applicant resides in US.
"The Department of State will continue to issue H, L, and J visas to otherwise qualified derivative applicants who are otherwise currently excepted or where the principal applicant is currently in the United States. "

 

[praveen07cse]

Based on today's news at state.gov, I am asking if consulates will issue H4 visas if the principal applicant resides in US.
"The Department of State will continue to issue H, L, and J visas to otherwise qualified derivative applicants who are otherwise currently excepted or where the principal applicant is currently in the United States. "

Yes. H4 will be now issued for H1's who are already in US as long as consulate is operational

 

[harirajmohan]

Yes. H4 will be now issued for H1's who are already in US as long as consulate is operational

Seems so. Will ask my lawyer to see what he says and will post here.

 

[harirajmohan]

Do you think that they would entertain the H4 for the H1 guys in US?

Jul 16 2020: News at travel state gov:
The Department of State will continue to issue H, L, and J visas to otherwise qualified derivative applicants who are otherwise currently excepted or where the principal applicant is currently in the United States.

Anyone understand what this means?
"spouses and children of certain visa class holders, such as H, J, and L visa holders who are already excepted from, or not subject to, P.P. 10052. "

Murthy site: Seems that existing H1 whoever are in US can bring their family. Dont know if commuters (whoever planning to move to US) can get their family's H4 visa - i dont know how they are categorized.

NewsFlash! DOS Announces Limited Exceptions to Trump’s Order that Targets Nonimmigrant Workers
16 Jul 2020
Today, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced a short list of exceptions to President Trump’s April 22 and June 22, 2020 executive orders that prevent admission of certain foreign nationals. Notably, the announcement excepts “… spouses and children of certain visa class holders, such as H, J, and L visa holders who are already excepted from, or not subject to [the June 22nd executive order].” In other words, if the principal spouse is in H1B, L-1, or J-1 status and is exempt from the executive order (e.g., H1B worker who was in U.S. as of the June 24, 2020 effective date of the executive order, while dependent family was stuck abroad) that person’s dependents will not be prevented admission based on the executive order.

 

[harirajmohan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1284114721759735814