Visa Stamping

[a_to_z_gc]

I have my 7th Year extesnion approved by USCIS. My current H-1 visa stamping expires on May26th and I have an appointment in Nogales on May 8th.

Could you please let me know if,in worst case, they do not grant me H-1 re-validation in Nogales on May 8th, I can still re-enter US based on my current H-1 visa validity till May 26th?

If they do not allow me to re-enter US, then I may as well get it done from VFS, Mumbai. But if they do let me come back I would rather drive down to Nogales and avoid going to India.

Appreciate your help!
Thanks,

[harsh]

If you apply for a visa in canada or mexico and your application was rejected for whatever reasons then you will not be allowed to re-enter US. You will have to go to your home country and re-apply for a visa there.

[a_to_z_gc]

Harsh,

Thanks for your views. What if I still some time remaining on my current H-1 visa stamp in my passport after the day of rejection? Won't the border post guys let me enter based on my un-expired visa stamp?

Please let me know as I need to decide on this quickly.

Many thanks!

Originally Posted by harsh

If you apply for a visa in canada or mexico and your application was rejected for whatever reasons then you will not be allowed to re-enter US. You will have to go to your home country and re-apply for a visa there.

[abhishek101]

Few things:

f you go to a Canadian Consulate and they reject your visa they usually cancel all your other visa stamps on the passport also(just to avoid confusion) (it might vary but this is usual procedure) so you cannot enter US if your visa is rejected.

If you have a H1b stamped on your passport and you are going for restamping Canada is not a bad option I got it done last year and the process was really smooth. I got it done at Vancouver.

[jkays94]

Some individuals are reporting they have gotten their visa approved in minutes subject to an IBIS check. A name match on the IBIS check has led to some applicants being stuck for months at a time in Canada while they await security clearance. It is worse when you are not a Canadian PR as one may be forced to return to their home country if the visitor's visa runs out. Please see the article in this post for an idea of how this is afflicting some. If you do not have a commonly used name, you should be ok.

http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/sh...&postcount=389

[lagsam]

Originally Posted by TSUSA

My visa expired on Aug 2004. (around 2 years) After that I didn't go for stamping any where. Now I am in 8th year extension. Can I go to Canada or Mexico for stamping or I have to go only in my home country.

Please clarify me.

Thanks

You have to go back to your home country and get your visa stamped there. There is a risk if you go to Canada.

I was in the same situation last year and I spoke to two immigration lawyers and both advised me to go back to Australia and get my new visa there.

That what I did and got my new visa.

[GCBy3000]

If you have any US Masters degree,then there is a chance of getting VISA stamping outside your home country. Otherwise you HAVE to go to your home country and get it stamped.

[popoye]

Hi I am travelling in June to chennai to get my visa stamped. Howver my passport expired in march 2006 and i got a renewed passport , with a new passport number. However I did not use the new passport number to book the appointment in chennai consulate as I did not have hte new passport at the time i booked the appointment.

Will this be a problem. Any experience.

THANKS

[snallini]

Originally Posted by popoye

Hi I am travelling in June to chennai to get my visa stamped. Howver my passport expired in march 2006 and i got a renewed passport , with a new passport number. However I did not use the new passport number to book the appointment in chennai consulate as I did not have hte new passport at the time i booked the appointment.

Will this be a problem. Any experience.

THANKS

please tell me how to book visa appointment at the chennai consulate. they are asking HDFC bank receipt number which i can not get from USA. i have nobody in india. is there any online payment to HDFC?/
For your new passport- you dont have to worry.now you have renewed your passport. you have to take the old one with you to the consulate. they would have made entry in your files by now, at the consulate that you have renewed. so you will not have any problems in getting stamped.
thanks,
Jc_gc

[like_watching_paint_dry]

I have a passport that will expire next year and I'm currently set to get my first H1 extension stamping done in Vancouver this June. If anyone has ever been in a similar situation, is there any reason I should be concerned about something here? I dont believe I can renew my passport yet until the later part of this year.

[ajmalnasar]

You can go ahead and get your stamping done on your existing passport, even if it is going to get expired. Once you get the new passport, the visa in the expired passport would still be valid. The only thing you should take care of is, always carry both the passports when you get the new one, after the expiry of the old one.

[bheemi]

HI,
What is the procedure to apply for new passport if current one is getting expired..How early we can apply for new passport....how long will it take to get new passport..can we aply for new passport from here itself.

Aprreciate if somebody can asnser the above questions...

[ajmalnasar]

If you are indian, you get your passport from US itself by sending an application form,with required fees and your old passport.

It takes about two weeks to get new passport along with the old one.

You can apply for six months in advance. That means if you have six months left in your passport for expiry, you can send it for new one.

It is not complicated, I got it done here in Washington DC, Indian Embassy.

Please refer to the Indian Embassy web site

ISSUE OF NEW PASSPORT

Application for a new passport can be made six months before date of expiry or within one year of the expiry of the passport. Requirements for issuing new passport are:
(a) Duly completed application form filled in BLOCK LETTERS in expanded form using black/blue ink only (see Application Form for an Indian Passport)
(b) Four latest identical passport size photographs depicting the applicant’s facial features against a light background;
(c) In cases, where the passport has already expired beyond a period of one year, the Applicant should submit an affidavit (see Annexure) and may have to appear personally before the Consular Officer;
(d) Two proofs of residence/mailing address in USA (photocopy of Driving license/ Lease agreement/ Utility Bills etc.);
(e) Alien Status (photocopy of US Visa/Green Card/ Work authorization card);
(f) Current Passport;
(g) Proper Fee (see fee schedule for details)
(h) Applicants for a new passport or additional booklet are required to submit a photocopy of marriage certificate, in case, the name of their spouse have not been included in their respective passports.
If the application is found to be in order and no prior reference is required to be made to the original Passport Issuing Authority, a new passport will be issued within 5 working/business days from the date of receipt of the application.


http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/instructions.asp#1

[like_watching_paint_dry]

thanks for the responses guys. I have another question and i figured some of you may have gone through this.

The DS-156 form ask in question 36: "Has anyone ever filed an immigrant visa petition on your behalf? If yes, who:"

The first time I got my stamping done, my labor certification was still pending and I responded "No" to this question.

But if your I-140 is filed for or approved at the time you go for the visa stamping, I believe you would have to respond "Yes" to this question on DS-156 (since I-140 is called "Immigrant petition for alien worker"). Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Does answering "Yes" to this question raise any additional queries by the consular officer? Do I need to carry any additional green-card related documentation if I have to respond affirmatively to that question?

thanks,
lwpd

[yabadaba]

have any of the people who were asking the questions gotten it stamped...if so please post experiences.

i too am F1-opt-h1 never gotten it stamped i140 approved..stuck in retrogression

i have 8 months on my first h1...can i stamp it now or should i wait till i apply/get the renewal