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H1B visa appointment availability

kng90

Full Member
Oct 5, 2021
40
13
Hi everyone, I am currently on a work permit in Canada and trying to get an appointment for H1B stamping. What did non-PR folks answer to this question section?

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
  • If applying for J visa class, the applicant is applying for an academic J visa (secondary or university student, professor, research scholar, short-term scholar, or specialist), 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

If I select yes, then I am eligible for dropbox otherwise no? But I thought if you are inside Canada, you are eligible for dropbox. So I don't understand why this is differentiating between work permit holders and PRs. Can any work permit holder advise please?

Thanks
 

benali

Star Member
Sep 18, 2018
129
27
no you cannot change ds-160 number without canceling appointment/losing date. Hence why you have to inform the new embassy by email for them to change OR fill out another ds 160 and take both confirmations so they change day of.

I have the same issue. I put the wrong DS 160 number for my appointment. Now it says you must cancel your appointment to change the information. My appointment is on Monday and if I canceled its at least another year to get an appointment. Any help please?
 

swan0206

Champion Member
May 14, 2019
1,172
227
I have the same issue. I put the wrong DS 160 number for my appointment. Now it says you must cancel your appointment to change the information. My appointment is on Monday and if I canceled its at least another year to get an appointment. Any help please?
Did you try reaching out to customer care?? See if they can help you in anyway.
 

saitejk

Newbie
Jul 6, 2021
4
0
Detroit
Category........
Other
I have the same issue. I put the wrong DS 160 number for my appointment. Now it says you must cancel your appointment to change the information. My appointment is on Monday and if I canceled its at least another year to get an appointment. Any help please?
don't worry, right now you don't need the same DS 160 number as the consulate. They are accepting all DS 160s. Though I expect a delay during processing. I spoke with the Calgary consulate and they told me this information. Please check with your consulate for the same.
 

benali

Star Member
Sep 18, 2018
129
27
Did you try reaching out to customer care?? See if they can help you in anyway.
yes I called them and they gave me an email address, and told me to shoot them an email describing the issue and they would be able to change the DS-160 number for me but I haven't heard anything back. Its been 3 days now
 

benali

Star Member
Sep 18, 2018
129
27
don't worry, right now you don't need the same DS 160 number as the consulate. They are accepting all DS 160s. Though I expect a delay during processing. I spoke with the Calgary consulate and they told me this information. Please check with your consulate for the same.
My issue is not the location but I put a wrong DS-160 number when I booked the appointment.
 

saitejk

Newbie
Jul 6, 2021
4
0
Detroit
Category........
Other
My issue is not the location but I put a wrong DS-160 number when I booked the appointment.
I would suggest you wait for the consulate's reply and not cancel the appointment that you already have. The appointments are hard to come by and if you cancel to update your number you might not find an appointment immediately.
 

benali

Star Member
Sep 18, 2018
129
27
I would suggest you wait for the consulate's reply and not cancel the appointment that you already have. The appointments are hard to come by and if you cancel to update your number you might not find an appointment immediately.
Yes that's why I tried to contact them because I didn't want to cancel. the thing is my appointment is on Monday.
 

mustufasshah

Newbie
Sep 5, 2018
8
5
Hi, I and my wife are PR holders of Canada. I also have an active H1B (expiry May 2022). There was an amendment/extension to my H1B and I need to get stamping done for the new amended H1B. The employer has applied for amendment/extension in premium processing and I am waiting for my approval from USCIS. Can I submit my DS-160 with the receipt number from the case? or will I need to submit my DS-160 only after I receive my approval notice?

Also - given I am a Canadian PR holder with prior active H1B stamping - will I be eligible for dropbox stamping in Canada? Can anyone please help me with the processing time for dropbox stamping (and is it as late as interview options?).

Thank you very much in advance!! :)
 

swan0206

Champion Member
May 14, 2019
1,172
227
Hi, I and my wife are PR holders of Canada. I also have an active H1B (expiry May 2022). There was an amendment/extension to my H1B and I need to get stamping done for the new amended H1B. The employer has applied for amendment/extension in premium processing and I am waiting for my approval from USCIS. Can I submit my DS-160 with the receipt number from the case? or will I need to submit my DS-160 only after I receive my approval notice?

Also - given I am a Canadian PR holder with prior active H1B stamping - will I be eligible for dropbox stamping in Canada? Can anyone please help me with the processing time for dropbox stamping (and is it as late as interview options?).

Thank you very much in advance!! :)
Hi,
1)yes you can book with the receipt number. You can start ds-160 but you needn’t submit it untill you wanna make any changes . Bht make sure you keep it opening for every 30days to retain that ds-160 application.

2)If you are a resident of Canada, yes you have high chances of getting dropbox, but if you are going to travel from US for your stamping you need to book a slot.

Question: Are you in US now? Or you have been commuting from Canada during your amendment is in progress? Please let me know.
 

mustufasshah

Newbie
Sep 5, 2018
8
5
Hi,
1)yes you can book with the receipt number. You can start ds-160 but you needn’t submit it untill you wanna make any changes . Bht make sure you keep it opening for every 30days to retain that ds-160 application.

2)If you are a resident of Canada, yes you have high chances of getting dropbox, but if you are going to travel from US for your stamping you need to book a slot.

Question: Are you in US now? Or you have been commuting from Canada during your amendment is in progress? Please let me know.
Thank you! this is very helpful.

No - I am actually in Canada right now. I worked in the US and had my H1B. Then had an internal transfer with the same employer to Canada and had to resign from US. Now I am moving back to the US (while my old H1B is still active) with an amendment in job title and extension to recapture time. Hoping to get my stamping done here for this change in H1B (while I am still based out of Canada) before I move back to the US.
 

swan0206

Champion Member
May 14, 2019
1,172
227
Thank you! this is very helpful.

No - I am actually in Canada right now. I worked in the US and had my H1B. Then had an internal transfer with the same employer to Canada and had to resign from US. Now I am moving back to the US (while my old H1B is still active) with an amendment in job title and extension to recapture time. Hoping to get my stamping done here for this change in H1B (while I am still based out of Canada) before I move back to the US.
Oh got it. Wasn’t it any necessary to be inside US when you file a h1b extension or amendment? asking this as i am still with my employer in US(not canadian entity) but doing amendment so was thinking that i need to be inside, even im planning to go with premium.
 

mustufasshah

Newbie
Sep 5, 2018
8
5
Yes - if you have an H1B amendment application while you are employed in US - then you have to be in US while they file for your amendment. For my case - I will termed as a new hire as I resigned when I moved to CA and now joining back.

Once your application is filed and is in processing with USCIS - you can travel outside if you have a valid stamped visa to come back in (this was always termed risky by my attorney though).
 
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