Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

Hi,

I was recently issued a 221(g) slip at my H1B visa interview. It has been a few weeks already but I still haven't heard anything. Now I am planning to travel to India while my 221(g) is pending. Does anyone know how much time the consulate gives us to submit the passport back once they are ready to issue the visa? Will they give us atleast 2 weeks? I am asking because I need enough time to plan my travel back from India to Canada once they send the passport request.

I have applied for H1B Dropbox at Vancouver in Canada. I am on closed Work Permit and hold previous H1b visa stamping. My DS-160 status is Application received from more than one week now. Is this normal?

20 July - Courier with Documents Dropped of at Canada Post
21 July - Documents Delivered
21 July - 28 July - No Status
29 July - Application Received

No updates after that.

Just obtained my J-1 visa through an expedited appointment at Toronto. Here is my timeline and and some tips:

Wed July 27 - interview around 9am - after approval, online status changed to 'Administrative Processing'
Thu July 28 - status changed to 'Issued' in afternoon
Fri July 29 - received shipment notification in morning - Canada Post picked up passport around 3pm
[Saturday, Sunday, Monday were all postal holidays due to the long weekend]
Tue Aug 2 - Passport available for pickup at Atrium Bay St at 2.30pm

The questions asked at the interview were pretty expected, with one exception:
- Why are you applying in Canada instead of [home country]?
- Why do you sound like an American/Canadian and not like you're from [home country]? (lol ok)
- Have you had this kind of visa before?
- Where did you do your PhD? What subject? What is your research about?
- What is the position you're applying for the J-1 for? Who is funding it?

Tips for the consulate:
- Read the interview instructions carefully and follow them *precisely*, including the parts about security. I saw multiple people turned away at the consulate door because they hadn't paid attention. You cannot bring your phone. You cannot bring your handbag or backpack. Leave them in the car, in your hotel room, wherever. There is also a convenience store at the north end of the block (next to Tim Hortons) where you can pay for a storage locker.
- Note that one of the documents that you need to bring is proof of your legal status in Canada. Yes, they do ask to see this.

Tips for picking up at the post office:
- They will not accept expired IDs. A guy in front of me got turned away because his ID was past its expiration date.
- They will not let you open the envelope, take out the passport, and use that as the ID. You need identification *other than* your passport.
- The ID needs to match the name and address that you entered in the passport pickup section of the interview scheduling website.
- I showed my US driver's license with address. They also asked for a second proof of address, which was a surprise to me, not clearly indicated anywhere on the website. He let me pull up a bank statement on my phone.

Canadian PR holder here. Work in US for a company Full time on H1B for last several years.

- July 17- Arrived in Quebec (from US).
- July 18- Monday morning Dropped off docs in Quebec Post Office
- July 19- Docs reach Ottawa (All Dropbox applications are going to Ottawa). Status updated on Ds 160- Application Received.
- July 20- DS 160 tracking automatically changes location to Ottawa even though my DS 160 location in the form was Quebec. There is no info about this anywhere- I just happened to Discover it by chance. - DS 160 Status: Application Processing.
- July 21: DS 160 status: Application Processing
- July 22: DS 160 status: Visa Issued
- July 25: Passport shipped.
- July 27: Passport Arrived in Quebec.

My L1 petition was approved on July 27, 2022. The same day I tried to get an interview appointment and the earliest I could get was Dec 13, 2022.

I was on F1 and then on H1B in the US for over 10 years, I also have a current B1 visa and I have Canadian PR.

How does one qualify for in-person interview waiver? Does anyone have experience with this?
Can I apply for an emergency appointment stating my son's (US citizen) school start date?

Thank you and appreciate the help.

Here is my timeline:
---------------------------
07-06-2022 -> Shipped via Canada Post
07-07-2022 -> Delivered by Canada Post
DS-160 status is still: 'No Status'
07-20-2022 -> DS-160 status changed to 'Application Received'
07-23-2022 (Saturday) -> DS-160 status changed to 'Administrative Processing'
07-26-2022 -> DS-160 status changed to 'Issued'

Documents submitted:
------------------------------
Passport
DS160 Confirmation page
Confirmation and Instructions page
Photo
Proof of Legal status and residency in Canada - PR Card, Ontario Driving Licence
H1B Approval email notification (I did not include copy of I797 as I hadn't received it in the mail yet. Also, they only need the Receipt number, though it is probably a good idea to include the I797 copy)
Offer Letter

Hello,

I have Canada PR and I sent my documents for stamping. I received an email for follow up interview but no appointments are available.

My father has a liver transplant surgery next month and I need visa stamping appointment asap. Can someone help me with what can be done and if there is a way to request for emergency appointment?

Thanks!

Dear Friends,
I need your help. My son is in USA. He has done his undergrad and Master’s in USA. He has applied for the first time H1-B visa stamping in Canada. He has mentioned his interview location as Toronto in his DS-160 application. Now he got an early interview date in Vancouver. Will he be allowed to appear for interview using the same DS-160 by US Consulate in Vancouver? Please guide. Thank you in advance.

Hi All

Looking for early appointment at Toronto/Ottawa location but couldn't find the slots.
1. Please share your experience how to find the early date and how frequently I need to check (timing/days).
2. Here, I am on close work permit and I have travel history for US on B1/B2. Can I apply for drop box as visa slots are not available.

Thank you in advance...

Hi,

Me(H1) and my wife(H4) applied for dropbox as we both are PR holders. After one week status changed "Interview Required- Passport Returned".

1) Is this coommon to ask to come for interview for PR holders.
2)I recived only my passport but my wife's passport is not there in the package. Will they send each applicant's passport separately?