Posted on: 01-06-07 17:13:13
Hi,
Here is my current situation:
I'm currently on H1 visa here and my wife entered on H4 but later converted to H1 B. My son is US citizen. We last entered in US in Dec 2003. Our stamped visa has expired and we applied for renewal in US itself (while it was still possible in 2004) but missed the deadline and our passports were returned without the new visas and the old stamped visas with "Cancelled withour Prejudice" stamp on it. My I-94 on new H1 approval is valid till 2010 and wife's is valid till 2008. My passport expired last year and I got a new passport from Indian consulate in San Francisco. The new passport is completely blank and has no visa stamped on it.
I've received the approval of my case last week and have sent my passport for stamping to LA consulate. I plan to visit Canada as soon I receive my passports back. I plan to stay there for couple of days only.
Here are a few questions:
1. Will there be any problem while coming back to US using AVR? Please share your expertise / experience.
2. Is there a prefered way to enter Canada i.e via road vs air and location i.e. Vancouver vs Toronto. I'm in California and would prefer to fly to Vancouver but can change my travel mode and destination based on your experience / advise.
3. What documents will I receive from Canadian consulte along with my Passport?
4. If I enter through Vancouver, will there be any issue if I give the address of some other place (eg. Toronto) for my SIN, PR cards?
5. I want to return to US ASAP and would like to make the trip over the weekend only if possible. I know I won't be able to SIN card since the office will be closed and my understanding is PR card is applied at the border / airport on landing. If I come back without applying for SIN, could there be any issues?
I would really appreciate your response.
Thanks.
Assuming you are an Indian citizen, following are my answers -
Quote:It is safest to travel by road (esp. personal car, rather than Greyhound or Amtrak) and use your valid I-94 and all passports to re-enter USA.
Originally posted by hslucky
1. Will there be any problem while coming back to US using AVR? Please share your expertise / experience.
Airlines are becoming very strict about visas and you may face a problem.
I have heard cases where the H-1B holder actually had to apply for a US visa in the Toronto consulate because the airline won't let him board without a valid visa stamp, regardless of the valid I-94.
One big advantage of driving is that you don't have to give up your I-94.
Quote:As mentioned above, your safest bet is to drive by car - the actual Port of Entry doesn't matter - you can cross in Manitoba border if you choose
2. Is there a prefered way to enter Canada i.e via road vs air and location i.e. Vancouver vs Toronto. I'm in California and would prefer to fly to Vancouver but can change my travel mode and destination based on your experience / advise.
Quote:Stamped Visa and COPR attached to the passport.
3. What documents will I receive from Canadian consulte along with my Passport?
Quote:Any address except one in Quebec is ok.
4. If I enter through Vancouver, will there be any issue if I give the address of some other place (eg. Toronto) for my SIN, PR cards?
Quote:No, SIN is required only for working and tax purposes.
5. I want to return to US ASAP and would like to make the trip over the weekend only if possible. I know I won't be able to SIN card since the office will be closed and my understanding is PR card is applied at the border / airport on landing. If I come back without applying for SIN, could there be any issues?
You won't need it until you start working or have to file taxes i.e. 2008 Spring.
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