J1 Visa restamping - Renewal or new visa issuance?

[manharnarang 0]

Hi,

I am completing my initial term (1 year) for J1 stay. I am getting an extension of 2 more years from my employer. I will be getting my new DS-2019 soon.

I want to travel during this extension period and hence want to get J1 visa re-stamped. I will be travelling to Canada and want to get the visa stamped there. Would it be a visa renewal case or a new visa issuance case?

Kindly help me with your inputs.

Thanking in advance.

[jan22 3,069]

Technically, there really is no such thing as a visa renewal. Each time is a new application and the applicant must qualify for the particular visa being sought. However, having had a visa that was used appropriately and was issued in your home country is strong support for being issued another visa.

[manharnarang 0]

Technically, there really is no such thing as a visa renewal. Each time is a new application and the applicant must qualify for the particular visa being sought. However, having had a visa that was used appropriately and was issued in your home country is strong support for being issued another visa.

Hi jan22,

Thanks a lot for your response. I called the National Visa Center and the lady on the phone told me that it will be a case of renewal in which the embassy might not even conduct an interview. The conversation I had with her is the source of my confusion.

Please advise.

[jan22 3,069]

I assumed you are not Canadian. If that is correct, they most certainly will require you ro attend an interview.

NOt sure why NVC would be going so far in what they tell people. Nobody can tell you what will or will not happen and what the procedures will be until you know where you plan to apply. Them, you need to follow the procedures of that visa operation.

Edited July 19, 2016 by jan22

[manharnarang 0]

I assumed you are not Canadian. If that is correct, they most certainly will require you ro attend an interview.

NOt sure why NVC would be going so far in what they tell people. Nobody can tell you what will or will not happen and what the procedures will be until you know where you plan to apply. Them, you need to follow the procedures of that visa operation.

Hi Jan22,

I will be applying in Toronto. I am an Indian Citizen. I am not sure why NVC told me about the RENEWAL thing. I could not find anything called renewal for J1 visa (correct me if i am wrong).

Can't I call the embassy directly for visa information?

[jan22 3,069]

Hi Jan22,

I will be applying in Toronto. I am an Indian Citizen. I am not sure why NVC told me about the RENEWAL thing. I could not find anything called renewal for J1 visa (correct me if i am wrong).

Can't I call the embassy directly for visa information?

Everything you need to know will be on the consulate's website. There really is no way (or reason) to call them.

[Unidentified 2,930]

Technically, there really is no such thing as a visa renewal. Each time is a new application and the applicant must qualify for the particular visa being sought. However, having had a visa that was used appropriately and was issued in your home country is strong support for being issued another visa.

Wrong. J1 can be renewed. I was on a J1 a few years back and wanted to extend it. Went back to Sweden and mailed all the required documents to the embassy including my passport and got my passport back with the renewed visa stamped into my passport.

[Unidentified 2,930]

Everything you need to know will be on the consulate's website. There really is no way (or reason) to call them.

Canada has the most confusing website of the embassies I've looked up information for posters on. And at least the one in Ontario have 3 different phone numbers and the rest of them has 2 so yeah there's a way.

OP: what I could find is that in 2014 they announced an extension to their Personal Appearance Waiver Program (PAW) for non-immigrant visa's. But apparently you won't know if your visa category is under the PAW until you actually apply. At least that's info I've managed to find.

https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-announces-changes-to-nonimmigrant-visa-program/?_ga=1.92842011.726804988.1468910413

[manharnarang 0]

Canada has the most confusing website of the embassies I've looked up information for posters on. And at least the one in Ontario have 3 different phone numbers and the rest of them has 2 so yeah there's a way.

OP: what I could find is that in 2014 they announced an extension to their Personal Appearance Waiver Program (PAW) for non-immigrant visa's. But apparently you won't know if your visa category is under the PAW until you actually apply. At least that's info I've managed to find.

https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-announces-changes-to-nonimmigrant-visa-program/?_ga=1.92842011.726804988.1468910413

Thanks Maria.

What I looked at a few websites is that i might be applicable for "Interview Waived" program and might not need to attend an interview. For this, i have read, that might use the interview waiver "Drop Box" program. http://www.***removed***/us-visa/visa-interview-waiver.html

My question is -

1. Is the drop box thing optional?

2. in how many days would i receive my passport back in case i need not to go for an interview. As i will be in Toronto for only a week, would it be possible to get a visa stamped in a week?

3. how do they return the passport - i suppose i need to pick it up from a pick-up center.

Thanks in advance.

[jan22 3,069]

Wrong. J1 can be renewed. I was on a J1 a few years back and wanted to extend it. Went back to Sweden and mailed all the required documents to the embassy including my passport and got my passport back with the renewed visa stamped into my passport.

That's why I said "technically". What you got was a new visa -- it wasn't a renewal per se....it was a visa officer deciding that you qualified for a new visa. A "renewal" would mean that the visa was re-issued based on the information of the first application; that does not happen.

[jan22 3,069]

Thanks Maria.

What I looked at a few websites is that i might be applicable for "Interview Waived" program and might not need to attend an interview. For this, i have read, that might use the interview waiver "Drop Box" program. http://www.***removed***/us-visa/visa-interview-waiver.html

My question is -

1. Is the drop box thing optional?

2. in how many days would i receive my passport back in case i need not to go for an interview. As i will be in Toronto for only a week, would it be possible to get a visa stamped in a week?

3. how do they return the passport - i suppose i need to pick it up from a pick-up center.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks Maria.

What I looked at a few websites is that i might be applicable for "Interview Waived" program and might not need to attend an interview. For this, i have read, that might use the interview waiver "Drop Box" program. http://www.***removed***/us-visa/visa-interview-waiver.html

My question is -

1. Is the drop box thing optional?

2. in how many days would i receive my passport back in case i need not to go for an interview. As i will be in Toronto for only a week, would it be possible to get a visa stamped in a week?

3. how do they return the passport - i suppose i need to pick it up from a pick-up center.

Thanks in advance.

Have you checked out the site for third country nationals already in the US applying in Canada or Mexico: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/general/nonimmigrants-present-visiting-canada-mexico.html?

You have no way of knowing whether you will be able to use the drop box until you finish the application process. Even if you do qualify, there is always the possibility that they will call you in for an interview. Plus, a week is not long enough at all -- a day to submit and usually arrives the next day to the consular section; depending on workload, a couple of days to process; if approved, another day before the visa is ready to be printed; at least a day to get back to the delivery office. And, those are business days, so unless you start it on a Monday, you will cross at least one weekend. Add into that the fact that they may call you in for an interview as part of the process...I wouldn't risk it.

In fact, a week is cutting things close even with an interview. There is always a chance for administrative processing to add a few days to an application. If you have an unexpired I-94, and a current DS-2019, you might qualify for automatic re-entry into the US without a new visa if the only country you are travelling to is Canada.

Edited July 19, 2016 by jan22

[Unidentified 2,930]

Thanks Maria.

What I looked at a few websites is that i might be applicable for "Interview Waived" program and might not need to attend an interview. For this, i have read, that might use the interview waiver "Drop Box" program. http://www.***removed***/us-visa/visa-interview-waiver.html

My question is -

1. Is the drop box thing optional?

2. in how many days would i receive my passport back in case i need not to go for an interview. As i will be in Toronto for only a week, would it be possible to get a visa stamped in a week?

3. how do they return the passport - i suppose i need to pick it up from a pick-up center.

Thanks in advance.

I did mine in Sweden so I am not 100% sure how it works in Canada. I could mail my stuff and I had to go pick it up at a pick-up place. I don't remember how long it took but I'd say at least a week.