Do i need to go to Canada for H1 stamping if im going to Nepal within a couple of months? I was working on OPT which expires in May but i got my H1 approved with effect from 1/31/07.Im going to vacation for Nepal in May.I was just curious to know why people go to Canada for stamping.Is there a greater chance of getting rejected in Nepal even if you are currently working on H1- B .I just want to confirm with you guys if its worth going to Canada for stamping before going to Nepal.

YOUR responses will be highly appreaciated.THANKS

good questions, sajhaites. Any answers?

anybody ??

I don't see a need of why you would go to Canada.

I was in H1B visa for 5 yeras and did go back home to Nepal every year.

They never gave me any problem

Good Luck and enjoy your vacation.........

If you are from KTM than you stamp in Nepal but if you are out of valley than it's better to get stamp in Canada otherwise you will spend most of the time in ktm to just get visa.
Both place you will get visa easily.

Saan Dai

Lutti,

If your OPT expires in a couple of months then you will be out of status. Had your OPT expired on 60 days before October 1st, then you would have been OK. Because, your H-1B is valid ONLY from 1st October. Therefore, if you go to embassy in KTM they wouldn't give you the visa right a way. They will tell you taht you have no business to go until; October because you simply CANNOT WORK LEGALLY. On what basis you will work? You can ask that question to yourself. You don't have valid OPT and h-1B. Going to Canada is not going to sole your problem, because it is still American embassy. The choice is yours. It's my logical view point. You are free to ignore my suggestion.

Luti...
Absolutely agree with explorer.BTW i am curios what will be your status till oct1 from the date of 60 days of expiration of your OPT.Any guys have idea??.He is not working and he does not have valid visa till october 1.

Luuti, it seems like you already on H1B since 1/07. Once the H1B start date kicks in your OPT expires eventough you have it until May. As far as going for visa stamping, you would need to make sure how good the work is. Are you getting enough salary listed on the H1B Petition? If you are working at American company in good standing, you should not have problem getting the visa from anywhere however if you are working for IT Consulting company and project is not yet assigned for you then i recommend you to go to Toronto - do not go to Calgary or Vancouver. If you work for Consulting company, then you would need to make to carry bunch of company related documentation addressed to Consulate. If working on the project, make sure to have a end client letter stating that you are currently a team member in the project working as whatever title designated for you on the H1b. This letter helps in great deal to get the visa.

In case if you work for direct client on H1B then you would just need to get a employment letter addressing to US Consulate general. Make sure to carry 2006 W2 as well as 3-4 most current pay voucher along with you. visa is pretty much sure for those professional who has US degree and Job in US.

Let us know when you go for the visa stammping and share the experiene for other users as well.

If you were not going to Nepal soon, I would have suggested you to go to Canada and get stamping since you never know what life throws at you and it is always good to be prepared.
But since you are going to Nepal, you can get the visa stamped there.

Also, explorer makes a valid point. When I stamped my H1B visa in Canada, they also put a caption saying not valid to enter US until 10 days ahead of my H1 starting date. Thankfully, I had valid F1 Visa.

Namaskar everybody,
I have a question regarding one of the things that I'm seeing on the H!-B checklist/application , it asks "If you are required to apply for a visa abroad, what US Consulate will you apply in (complete even if you do not plan to travel)?"
Do I have to put "Kathmandu Nepal" here or will it be ok if I leave this blank since I'm not sure if I'll be doing it from Canada or Nepal? Do you think it'll delay anything if I left this field blank?
Thanks guy.

I have valid F1 visa until 31 March then I will have two more extra months to stay in the United States. I am planning to apply H1b in April 07, someone told me my H1b will affect only from Oct 07. My question is how do I keep my status legal form June to Oct 07?
I will highly appreciate, if any one advice me what are the required documents to file H1b beside sponsorship.

I have valid F1 visa until 31 March then I will have two more extra months to stay in the United States. I am planning to apply H1b in April 07, someone told me my H1b will affect only from Oct 07. My question is how do I keep my status legal from June to Oct 07?
I will highly appreciate, if any one advice me what are the required documents to file H1b beside sponsorship.

I think if you pay a lil bit extra ($1000) to expedite your H1-b processing, it'll be done in 2 weeks and you don't have to wait until October for it to take effect.
Please correct me someone if I'm wrong.

kaamde, Consulate entry is mandatory. This is because in case if the change of status or change of employer can not approved by immigration then they will have to approve the h1b for consulate processing. If you already here in US, then you would need to put your home country's nearest consulate (for nepal its kathmandu only). If you choose not to travel to nepal for stamping, then you can put canadian or mexican consulate. It has to be filled out anyway

Kaamde,

Even you expedite your H1 case. Earliest starting date will be October 1st unless INS changes the rule. You will know the decision of your case in two week whether your case is approved or not by paying extra $1000 to expedite.

In terms of "less hassles" in getting the H-1 stamped, which one is better? The consulate in Toronto Canada or the one in Kathmandu Nepal? I am assuming that since the Kathmandu US embassy sees soo many Nepalese every day for visa issues, they might be a lil too strict with Nepalese (even though you have all the necessary paperwork).
What do you guys think?

If you have all the required documents (pay stubs, H1 approval, experience letter, offer letter) and all the taxes are clear. You won't have no problem anywhere you go. But if you missing documents they will give you hard time anywhere it may be Canada or Kathmandu...

K chha HImalayandude Halkhabar

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Beltran thanks for ur info.I am working on h1b from 1/31/07 though Indian consulting firm.I am planning to go home after I am done with my curent project in May.
I am trying not to go to Canada for stamping if it does not make any difference going to Canada or Nepal.Since I am going after the project I would not be able to produce a letter from the end client.Will my recent pay stubs be enough to prove that I was working until I left US.

Thanks to all Sajha folks.

Lutii