Applying for Canadian visiting visa

Plan ahead before you apply, as we need proper documentation and enough funds for your stay in Canada.

Documents Checklist
1. Application for Temporary Resident Visa [IMM 5257] (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5257E.pdf) - This is the primary form where you enter your personal information, purpose of your visit, duration etc. Please have your passport information and the academic information ready before starting this form. Fill electronically and take a print out.
Under the section "Details of Visit to Canada", if you are visiting for tourism enter your trip details. But, if you are visiting for H1 B Stamping, please fill in the following:
1a) Purpose of Visit: Other
 b) Other: Visit US Consulate in Canada
2)  Indicate how long you plan to stay: Please indicate the duration of at least 15 days
3)  Funds available for my stay(CAD): Please provide funds at least to cover your travel, stay and food. I would say something between $4000 to $8000 should be more than enough.
4)  Name, address and relationship of any person(s) or institution(s) I will visit:
     Name: Consulate general of United States
     Relationship to me: US Consulate
     Address in Canada: 1075 West Pender Streer Vancouver, British Columbia V6E2M6, Canada (If attending in Vancouver, if not find your consulate address at http://vancouver.usconsulate.gov/locations.html). 
Upon completion of the form, please make sure you validate it. This will ensure that none of the mandatory fields were left unanswered. (Incomplete applications will be sent back to the applicant).
2. Family Information [IMM 5645]  (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5645E.pdf) - Enter your complete family information though your family members are not traveling along with you.
Type of application is "Visitor"
3. Schedule 1 - Application for Temporary Resident Visa [IMM 5257 - Schedule 1]   (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5257B_1.pdf) - This form has more of the background information questions for security purposes.
4. Visa application photographs: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/photospecs.asp
5. Application fees (http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/seattle/visas/fees-frais.aspx?lang=eng&view=d#a4): The link provides the fee structure for different types of visas. Applications mailed within Unites States should contain DD or money order in US dollars.
6. Proof of legal status: I-797 and I-94.
7. Copy of bank statement and two recent pay stubs.
8. Letter of employment (This should contain the date from which you are employed to your employer, till how long your employment is valid, your gross income and your supervisor details).
9. US consulate appointment letter - This is needed ONLY if the purpose of visit is to attend H1 B visa. Please refer to the guidelines of how to obtain the US Consulate appointment letter.
10. It is good to include the itenary of travel, but is optional.

Mailing you application: There are four locations for submitting TRV(Temporary resident visa) packages in US. Please select a location nearby as the consulate may request the applicant for personal interview in some cases. If submitting the application to Seattle WA branch, please use the below as your mailing address:

Canadian Consulate General
Immigration Section
1501 Fourth Avenue,
Suite 600, Seattle,
WA, 98101

Mailing instructions:
1. If your mailing address is in the USA: Please purchase a prepaid, 9" x 12" USPS Express Mail or USPS Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation envelopes.
2. We will use this envelope to return your passport and documents. Add the documents you wish to send to us. 
3. Complete the mailing label on the return envelope showing your full mailing address in the "Deliver To" field and the address of the Canadian Consulate General in Seattle in the “Return Address” field (see address below).
4.  Enter a daytime telephone number on the mailing label above the recipient address.
5. Make a note of the tracking number for each envelope.
6. If you chose to not provide us with a return envelope, we will mail you via regular mail (US Postal Service First Class Mail).
7.  Please note that we will not send mail to U.S. addresses using any commercial courier service.
8.  If you have already provided us with a return envelope do not send us a 2nd envelope if you mail us more documents later.

Guideliness for obtaining US Consulate appointment letter:
1. You need a DS-160 application number in order to book an appointment. Start a new application at https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/. Save your application id and use it while booking visa date.
2. http://usvisa-info.com/en-CA/selfservice/login - Fill out the application, pay fee and enter select your loomis. If your are planning to visit the US Consulate in Vancouver Canada, the nearby loomis is Richmond.

H-1B Application and Extension Checklist

Checklist for the Employee:
  1. Copies of all pages of your passport.
  2. A copy of your prior Notice of Approval of "H" status (I-797), if any exists.
  3. A current resume including your a detailed history of your employment for the last six years. This should specifically include the name of your employers, addresses, and dates of employment.
  4. Original I-94 Card or copy on the front and back.
  5. Original college degree and any certified transcripts from your school.
  6. Any W-2 forms for the past five years, if any exist.
  7. A record of any awards you have received as part of your education and employment career.
  8. The most recent pay stub from your current employer(good to have last 3 pay stubs).
  9. Your present address and previous foreign address.
 10. Copies of your social security number.

Checklist for the Employer:
  1. Name, address, telephone number, and fax number of Employer.
  2. The year the company was established.
  3. The IRS tax identification number.
  4. The total number of employees.
  5. The gross annual income for the previous year.
  6. The net annual income for the previous year.

  7. Do full-time employees receive any type of compensation other than salary, i.e. health insurance, dental insurance, etc. If so, what type of compensation and what is the annual value of such compensation?

  8. The name and title of the person form your company who will be signing the INS petition.

Note: For the employee, you don't have to worry about the checklist for employer, your employer will be taking care if it.

STEM Extension for OPT Students

Prerequisites before applying for OPT Extension:
 1. The degree of the student must in STEM designated degrees. Verify it in: http://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/stem-list-2011.pdf.
2. The employer must be registered with E-verify . Website to search for Everified Companies: https://www.numbersusa.org/everify.

Checklist for applying OPT Extension:
1. New Form I-20 (issued by the International Services Center during OPT application).
2. I-765 (Please visit and Files > Application for Employment Authorization or www.uscis.gov>Immigration Forms, Fees, and Fingerprints.).
3. Letter from Employer
4. All immigration documents (I-94, valid passport, and visa).
5. Any correspondence with the Department of Homeland Security.
6. All previous I-20s.
7. Previous and current Employment Authorization Documents (EAD Cards).
8. Two recent 2 in x 2 in full frontal color passport photos with your name and I-94 card number written in pencil on the back(see the US Department of Homeland Security specifications at www.travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotos/index.html).
9. Check/Money Order/Bank Check for $380 made out to the US Department of Homeland Security and indicate I-94 number for identification reasons.
10. Official Transcripts and Copy of Degree Certificate

Mail your application to the appropriate USCIS lockbox.
If you live in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Guam, or the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, be sure to mail your application to:

USCIS Phoenix Lockbox

USCIS
PO Box 21281
Phoenix, AZ 85036

 

 For Express Mail and Courier Deliveries

USCIS
Attn: AOS
1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85034

If you live in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, or West Virginia, be sure to mail your application to:

USCIS Dallas Lockbox

USCIS
PO Box 660867
Dallas, TX 75266

 

For Express Mail and Courier Deliveries

USCIS
Attn: AOS
2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business
Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067