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H1B visa appointment availability

j9lad

Star Member
Nov 24, 2017
79
8
Ok, so dropbox appointments are immediate they ask you to send documents as soon as you fill up questionnaire. But dropbox results take anywhere between 4-6 weeks as per few folks here in this forum. Also remember few were asked to attend interview after sending in documents(this would delay your process because they wouldnt give you slot, you need to book the appointment- also double check this with customercare as few people posted this concern but havent seen responses if consulate was able to provide them any slot later or they had to do it themselves).

In your case i would say either you travel to Canada temporarily for Visa(better check with customer care once) or applying from US its the first option because you are not residing in Canada. And if you select 1st option you would be asked to book an in-person interview and if you select 2nd option you will be asked to send documents i.e dropbox.
Thank you so much! This definitely helps clarify a few things. Great to know that it's possible to send documents immediately. Need to keep our fingers crossed about not being called for an in-person interview.

If the second option is selected, would you happen to know if there's a requirement to having lived in Canada for a certain period? We will be moving permanently in the next 2-3 months, but don't have a permanent residence at this point, so wanted to be sure if a temporary (friend's) address would suffice.
 

swan0206

Champion Member
May 14, 2019
1,163
226
Thank you so much! This definitely helps clarify a few things. Great to know that it's possible to send documents immediately. Need to keep our fingers crossed about not being called for an in-person interview.

If the second option is selected, would you happen to know if there's a requirement to having lived in Canada for a certain period? We will be moving permanently in the next 2-3 months, but don't have a permanent residence at this point, so wanted to be sure if a temporary (friend's) address would suffice.
There is no question or section where it would ask for your proof of residence if you are in Canada or not. As your plan is to move within next 2-3 months then you can go ahead with your friends address for now and select the 2nd option. But i am NOT sure on one point where it would ask you to send documents immediately after you are done filling the questionnaire, whether you can travel then or you need to be inside before. There is no check as such anywhere. But just giving a headsup.
 

krishnan3119

Member
Jun 1, 2022
10
5
Hello friends..
Currently i am on a work permit. Working from Canada.
To qualify for dropbox, Do we need to answer "yes" to the below set of questions, When registering on https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca ?
I called the customer care and they said, We are eligible for dropbox, On a work permit as well.
Qualifying statements applicable to citizens or nationals of countries that are NOT part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
  • Applicant is a national or permanent resident of the country in which the applicant is applying, and
  • Applicant has been previously issued a U.S. visa (any class of visa), and
  • Applicant submitted ten fingerprints when the previous U.S. visa was issued, and
  • Applicant answered 'NO' to all of the Medical and Health, Criminal, Security or Immigration Law Violation questions on the DS-160 visa application form
But, Below question is contrary to what we were told by the customer care. I am on a work permit. So, confused whether i should answer yes to this question and proceed with registration.
"Applicant is a national or permanent resident of the country in which the applicant is applying."

OR Can i answer No to these questions and still be eligible for dropbox?
 

Cedya

Star Member
Jun 1, 2022
121
47
Hi, My case doesn’t seem to be moving from admin processing for more than 10 days now!
Are there any ways to contact the embassy? Emails seem to be going unnoticed and apparently there isn’t an option to call them either for this matter .
Hi @RaghuR, did you get any updates, if yes could you please lmk how long it took?
 

swan0206

Champion Member
May 14, 2019
1,163
226
H1b Interview Experience:
Status : Approved
Status in Canada : PR
Consulate : Ottawa
Date: June 16th 2022
Total time taken : 30 Minutes
Booked Slot: A year ago, had cancellations from their end, rescheduled 3 times( I know thats a long wait but a good News :) )


Not too many people at Consulate, seems like only limited services. There were 2 Visitor visa people ahead of me followed by a H4 after mine.

Firstly Interviewed by American lady Officer at Counter 6. All generic questions. Have been handed-over to a Indian lady Officer for document verification at Counter 5.

Indian Officer: Had asked every document starting from Old I-129s, Old 1797s and new petitions. University Grad docs, Tax returns, W2's, Client letter(I had no client letter but gave her Vendor letter and all the list what i took as supporting documents related to Client). She seems like working on all Dropbox files and asked one document after another and reviewed everything real quick. Then after Indian officer went backside and spoke to American officer and handed over my complete set of documents to her.
Then, American officer came to her system typed for a while and called me back to the counter and said Visa is Approved.
She told i should receive Visa within 2 weeks.

Happy to answer any questions. thanks.
 
Last edited:

Nil007

Full Member
Mar 5, 2022
21
0
Hello @phanisrikanth @go4sacchi @mustufasshah

Need your advice, I just receive my status as below (Ottawa Consulate, for H1B & H4), same what you received previously but ais-usvisa website is yet to be updated (still showing 'Send Documents'):

"Your case is open and ready for your interview, fingerprints, and required documents. If you have already had your interview, please check your status after two business days."

Can you please let me know the below:
1. Did you get update in ais-usvisa website & received email communication too, to attend in-person interview?
2. How long it takes to receive official communication for attending interview after get the above status?
2. Did you book your appointment by yourself or any how you got help from consulate to book appointment faster as that was asked by you?
3. When you get your interview scheduled?
4. Any way to change consulate as Toronto & Ottawa are not having any slot available in near future.
 

Nil007

Full Member
Mar 5, 2022
21
0
H1b Interview Experience:
Status : Approved
Status in Canada : PR
Consulate : Ottawa
Date: June 16th 2022
Total time taken : 30 Minutes
Booked Slot: A year ago, had cancellations from their end, rescheduled 3 times( I know thats a long wait but a good News :) )


Not too many people at Consulate, seems like only limited services. There were 2 Visitor visas before me and next is me followed by a lady back of me waiting for her H4.

Firstly Interviewed by American lady Officer at Counter 6. All generic questions. Have been handed-over to a Indian lady Officer for document verification at Counter 5.

Indian Officer: Had asked every document starting from Old I-129s, Old 1797s and new petitions. University Grad docs, Tax returns, W2's, Client letter(I had no client letter but gave her Vendor letter and all the list what i took as supporting documents related to Client). She seems like working on all Dropbox files and asked one document after another and reviewed everything real quick. Then after Indian officer went backside and spoke to American officer and handed over my complete set of documents to her.
Then, American officer came to her system typed for a while and called me back to the counter and said Visa is Approved.
She told i should receive Visa within 2 weeks.

Happy to answer any questions. thanks.
Great news @swan0206 . I just received update & mostly called for interview. I might ask you for little guidance after get official communication on interview. Also, do you know any slot is available for Ottawa in near future or I can change consulate? And as they asked for interview so anyway they can help me.
 

swan0206

Champion Member
May 14, 2019
1,163
226
Great news @swan0206 . I just received update & mostly called for interview. I might ask you for little guidance after get official communication on interview. Also, do you know any slot is available for Ottawa in near future or I can change consulate? And as they asked for interview so anyway they can help me.
Thankyou. Sure. Last week i have seen dates in Nov 23rd 2022 for Ottawa, Toronto its in Feb 2023. I believe, you can try calling customer care and check if they can help scheduling one for you sometime soon.
 

santaguy

Star Member
Jun 6, 2018
68
18
Dropbox is pain unless you do not have any travel plans. They are taking crazy amount of time to process them.
True. However, My visa got issued.

My timelines are:
Vancouver Dropbox:
Shipped docs: 06/05
Delivered: 06/06
Admin Processing: 06/15
Issued: 06/16
Tracking number: 06/16
 
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swan0206

Champion Member
May 14, 2019
1,163
226
True. However, My visa got issued.

My timelines are:
Vancouver Dropbox:
Shipped docs: 06/05
Delivered: 06/06
Admin Processing: 06/15
Issued: 06/16
Tracking number: 06/16
Congrats !! Nice. This is something quick. Less than 2 weeks is a good timeline. Was yours H1b as well?