H1B stamping after activating PR

[uncertainity_queen]

Hello, I have a CoPR and am currrently residing and working in the US. I plan to visit Canada in the next month or two and get my PR activated. After that can I apply for US visa H1B stamping in Canada as a Canadian PR and become eligible for a dropbox? I had my H1B stamped first time from India and have more than 24 months left on my current H1B. The risk here is that currently I do not have H1B stamped on my passport, and I'd be leaving US with the hope that I'd be able to get it stamped in canada as a PR with dropbox option and then fly back to the US.

 

[jitheshani]

Looking at the current trend, plan on spending 3 months in Canada to get stamping via Dropbox.

Wait for a couple of months and book an in-person appointment before traveling to Canada.

 

[uncertainity_queen]

Thanks for the reply @jitheshani
Unfortunately, in-person appointments are not available until 2023 right now. However, there is a question in the visa profile "Are you traveling from another country to apply for US visa in Canada". If I select No for this, it shows a few appointments available in Sep 2022. If I travel to Canada to activate my PR, can I select "No" for this question?

 

[jitheshani]

I got only Dropbox option when selected "No". If you are able to book September appointment and can also wait then that's better rather than availing Dropbox now.

For interviews you can present COPR as proof of status. For Dropbox I'll know in the next couple of weeks if they are good with COPR.

 

[NNB18]

I got only Dropbox option when selected "No". If you are able to book September appointment and can also wait then that's better rather than availing Dropbox now.

For interviews you can present COPR as proof of status. For Dropbox I'll know in the next couple of weeks if they are good with COPR.

I am planning to do the same. Please keep us posted.

 

[zaid.ahmed23]

Hello, I have a CoPR and am currrently residing and working in the US. I plan to visit Canada in the next month or two and get my PR activated. After that can I apply for US visa H1B stamping in Canada as a Canadian PR and become eligible for a dropbox? I had my H1B stamped first time from India and have more than 24 months left on my current H1B. The risk here is that currently I do not have H1B stamped on my passport, and I'd be leaving US with the hope that I'd be able to get it stamped in canada as a PR with dropbox option and then fly back to the US.

If you are planning to return back to US after landing in Canada, then why not use the AVR option?

 

[uncertainity_queen]

Hi @zaid.ahmed23 thanks. I am not sure the Do's/Don'ts for AVR option. Is there a blog/official website you'd recommend I read that has details?

 

[uncertainity_queen]

Regarding "Are you traveling from another country to apply for US visa in Canada" question: If I do soft landing in Canada and silmultaneously book H1B stamping interview apppointment, can I select "No" for this question?

I feel since I am coming from the US and I am not residing in Canada, I should be selecting "Yes" but I have seen some posts in this forum where poeple report selecting "No" for similar situations.

If I do select "No" do I need to have a Canada resident address in my ds160?

 

[stscorcher]

Hi @zaid.ahmed23 thanks. I am not sure the Do's/Don'ts for AVR option. Is there a blog/official website you'd recommend I read that has details?

Here you go:

https://travel.state.gov/content/tr...ces/visa-expiration-date/auto-revalidate.html

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1218?language=en_US

 

[uncertainity_queen]

Here you go:

https://travel.state.gov/content/tr...ces/visa-expiration-date/auto-revalidate.html

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1218?language=en_US

thank you so much. Appreciate it. So would I be able to use AVR option for soft landing to activate my PR? Fly back to the US and worry about H1B stamping later?

 

[stscorcher]

thank you so much. Appreciate it. So would I be able to use AVR option for soft landing to activate my PR? Fly back to the US and worry about H1B standing later?

that’s pretty much the standard operating procedure!!

as long as you have covered the address where you need to ship your PR card and don’t have any pending cases with USCIS!!

And please dont say “soft landing” with CBSA they cringe at the word… just “landing”..

if you have a valid visa stamp then you are good.. but if your visa stamp expired take your I-797 approval which has the I-94 attached and reflects the new dates

 

[uncertainity_queen]

hey anyone knows how long it is taking to receive PR card after landing in Canada?

 

[stscorcher]

hey anyone knows how long it is taking to receive PR card after landing in Canada?

here is the thread where that conversation happens... you can get a guesstimate here
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-i...cessing-timeline.760981/page-24#post-10126302

 

[devanger]

Regarding "Are you traveling from another country to apply for US visa in Canada" question: If I do soft landing in Canada and silmultaneously book H1B stamping interview apppointment, can I select "No" for this question?

I feel since I am coming from the US and I am not residing in Canada, I should be selecting "Yes" but I have seen some posts in this forum where poeple report selecting "No" for similar situations.

If I do select "No" do I need to have a Canada resident address in my ds160?

I may be wrong here. Since you have PR, you should be able to select "No", because Canada is your "home" country at present. Even if it is India, you are still travelling to your home country for stamping, and you won't choose "Yes" for India right? Any thoughts?

 

[stscorcher]

I may be wrong here. Since you have PR, you should be able to select "No", because Canada is your "home" country at present. Even if it is India, you are still travelling to your home country for stamping, and you won't choose "Yes" for India right? Any thoughts?

exactly my thoughts on why i selected "no" for that question...and that is what i did too!!!