PR Landing Experience and H1B Stamping

[VOBuckeye]

Hello,

Thought I'd share my experience to help others.

- The intended destination in my COPR was Windsor, Ontario.
- I landed in Vancouver, BC Oct 16th, and there was no problem at point of entry. My passport was stamped and I gave a friend's address who lives in Ontario for my PR to be sent. Was not asked POF but had it just in case.
- If you have Goods to follow MAKE SURE YOU LET OFFICER KNOW. I had to inform the officer so he could stamp my list.

- I landed in Vancouver because I wanted to get my H1B stamped for the 1st time and that was the only consulate that had availability for what I was looking for.
- Interview was on a Tuesday 10/17 but didn't get my passport back till Monday 10/23. Processing was slow , so please plan on being there for 1 week or more. I'd recommend booking interview on a Monday so you can leave on Friday. Don't book return flight until you get email from consulate. I had to cancel my Friday flight back because I didn't receive passport back in time.
- You can apply for SIN, bank account etc. once you land using your COPR and passport.

 

[satish1947]

Hi,

Thanks for sharing your experience, I am in the same situation as you were (as in 1st time H1b stamping and also claiming the PR). I stay in Michigan, so Toronto is nearby so I am planning to go there for stamping but hesitating a bit because it's my first h1b stamping.


Any suggestions?

Thanks!!

 

[VOBuckeye]

Hi,

Thanks for sharing your experience, I am in the same situation as you were (as in 1st time H1b stamping and also claiming the PR). I stay in Michigan, so Toronto is nearby so I am planning to go there for stamping but hesitating a bit because it's my first h1b stamping.


Any suggestions?

Thanks!!

Hi,
No need to worry, just take all your documents and be confident during the interview. the US consulate did not ask me about my Canadian PR, but actually waived my visa fees so it shouldn' be a problem. I live in Michigan too but went to Vancouver as they had open slots. Good luck!

 

[satish1947]

Thank you so much, my main issue is I am not working as a full-time employee. So, that's the reason, I'm hesitating.

Any immigration lawyer, you would recommend?

Have a good day!!

 

[toronto h1b boy]

Hi, thanks for sharing.
Quick question- I never got my H1b stamped. My h1b is valid till 2020.
When I go to Canada for landing, do I need to get h1b stamped? Heard abt an alternative called AVR but not sure if it applies to me.

Please help.

 

[VOBuckeye]

Thank you so much, my main issue is I am not working as a full-time employee. So, that's the reason, I'm hesitating.

Any immigration lawyer, you would recommend?

Have a good day!!

Oh ok, I'm not familiar with part time h1b status.
Are you in the Detroit area? Dhade and Associates deal with both US and Canada immigration. You could schedule consultation.
How about your company's lawy

 

[VOBuckeye]

Hi, thanks for sharing.
Quick question- I never got my H1b stamped. My h1b is valid till 2020.
When I go to Canada for landing, do I need to get h1b stamped? Heard abt an alternative called AVR but not sure if it applies to me.

Please help.

You can't use AVR if you switched visa classes. If you came to US as F1, and now you're H1b you will need a fresh h1b stamp to come back. That was my case. I had to get h1b stamp before coming back as I had been F1 before.

 

[greencard14]

You can't use AVR if you switched visa classes. If you came to US as F1, and now you're H1b you will need a fresh h1b stamp to come back. That was my case. I had to get h1b stamp before coming back as I had been F1 before.

I don't see that visa class should be same anywhere on USCIS AVR section. Can you point to source? I see you got your H1b stamped but I don't think it was necessary. Kind of in the same boat, so wondering.

 

[VOBuckeye]

I don't see that visa class should be same anywhere on USCIS AVR section. Can you point to source? I see you got your H1b stamped but I don't think it was necessary. Kind of in the same boat, so wondering.

According to this link below it looks like you may use AVR if you switched visa classes. I would still consult with an attorney.

http://www.immigrationlawgroup.net/the_automatic_visa_revalidation

 

[travelmate]

Hello,

Thought I'd share my experience to help others.

- The intended destination in my COPR was Windsor, Ontario.
- I landed in Vancouver, BC Oct 16th, and there was no problem at point of entry. My passport was stamped and I gave a friend's address who lives in Ontario for my PR to be sent. Was not asked POF but had it just in case.
- If you have Goods to follow MAKE SURE YOU LET OFFICER KNOW. I had to inform the officer so he could stamp my list.

- I landed in Vancouver because I wanted to get my H1B stamped for the 1st time and that was the only consulate that had availability for what I was looking for.
- Interview was on a Tuesday 10/17 but didn't get my passport back till Monday 10/23. Processing was slow , so please plan on being there for 1 week or more. I'd recommend booking interview on a Monday so you can leave on Friday. Don't book return flight until you get email from consulate. I had to cancel my Friday flight back because I didn't receive passport back in time.
- You can apply for SIN, bank account etc. once you land using your COPR and passport.

I think my case is pretty similar. I have my canada PR approved and I am planning to go canada for 1st time H1B stamping as well as landing. I just have PERM certification done. Will that cause any issue while entering back to US ?

 

[VOBuckeye]

I think my case is pretty similar. I have my canada PR approved and I am planning to go canada for 1st time H1B stamping as well as landing. I just have PERM certification done. Will that cause any issue while entering back to US ?

Hi,

I don't think it should matter if you don't have a pending change of status. Has your I140 been approved?
Honestly I would check with a lawyer just to be completely sure.

 

[travelmate]

Hi,

I don't think it should matter if you don't have a pending change of status. Has your I140 been approved?
Honestly I would check with a lawyer just to be completely sure.

I-140 is not yet filed. I am planning to get my H1B stamping & Canada landing done in next 1-2 months and then ask my employer to file I-140. But as you said, its always good to double sure with lawyer.

 

[checkmimails@gmail.com]

Hi,
No need to worry, just take all your documents and be confident during the interview. the US consulate did not ask me about my Canadian PR, but actually waived my visa fees so it shouldn' be a problem. I live in Michigan too but went to Vancouver as they had open slots. Good luck!

Question: Why did they waive your VISA fees.

 

[VOBuckeye]

Question: Why did they waive your VISA fees.

Based on my country of citizenship, I would have had to pay the Visa reciprocity fees, but because I had the Canadian PR they waived it.

 

[sahil9385]

Hello,

Thought I'd share my experience to help others.

- The intended destination in my COPR was Windsor, Ontario.
- I landed in Vancouver, BC Oct 16th, and there was no problem at point of entry. My passport was stamped and I gave a friend's address who lives in Ontario for my PR to be sent. Was not asked POF but had it just in case.
- If you have Goods to follow MAKE SURE YOU LET OFFICER KNOW. I had to inform the officer so he could stamp my list.

- I landed in Vancouver because I wanted to get my H1B stamped for the 1st time and that was the only consulate that had availability for what I was looking for.
- Interview was on a Tuesday 10/17 but didn't get my passport back till Monday 10/23. Processing was slow , so please plan on being there for 1 week or more. I'd recommend booking interview on a Monday so you can leave on Friday. Don't book return flight until you get email from consulate. I had to cancel my Friday flight back because I didn't receive passport back in time.
- You can apply for SIN, bank account etc. once you land using your COPR and passport.

Hey,
Thank you for sharing your experience, I am in the same boat. I have a Canadian PR and am looking to enter Canada and do the H1 stamping (first time) as well as get the PR card made. Can you or anybody who recently went through this process tell me what documents were needed ? Will the landing papers do ?