Urgent:: DS160 query reg Travel arrangements

[pyerragunta]

Hi all

I suppose, I am in a mess. Below are the details, please advice accordingly what my next steps should be. Thanks in advance for all replies.

Facts:

F1 visa expired in Jul 2012.

Have 3 years approved H1B expiring in 2015.

I have booked my tickets to India about 3 weeks back. Itinerary: Dec 24-Jan25.

Planned to visit Canada around Dec 13/14 for the stamping. Started filling out the DS160 yesterday.

Big Question:::

What should my answer be about the travel arrangements in the DS160? Should I provide the details about my India trip? or just say I have no travel plans?

If I provide my India travel details, I would obviously be asked for "why I came to Canada for the stamping when I am going to India and I can go for stamping in India too??"

What should my next step be? Would it be good if my cancel my tickets, get my visa date booked and then re-book my India ticket?

Does my India travel arrangements cause any problem? Or is it that am I over-thinking and this will not be considered at all?

Any kind of advice highly appreciated. Thanks for all the replies.

--PY

[4top455]

The DS-160 IMHO refers to travel plans related to you US VIsa .You should mention dates of travel to US (your planned return date etc. from Canda to United states).No need to mention India trip .The two are unrelated in my opinion!

[pbandi225]

Hi,

I am also in a similar situation. My F1 visa expired in June 2012 and my H1B got approved recently. I am not decided yet if I should go to Canada for H1B visa stamping. I am worried if I go to Canada for stamping and get 221g for some reason then I have to wait for a week or 2 (or may be more) to get it cleared as I won't be able to enter US without getting the stamp in my visa. Since you are planning to go to Canada in a similar situation, have you thought about this? Am I missing something in my reasoning?

P.S. About your question, I also agree with 4top455's response as they are only interested in your first entry after stamping. Once you come back from Canada with H1B stamping, you can go anywhere you like and enter US without any problem.

-Punit

[pyerragunta]

Thanks for the replies.

I was panicked for a while about my India travel arrangements, and was worrying if I have to cancel my ticket if that would affect any.

@Punit-- Your point is correct, and we can't enter US again without the stamping done, we should wait in Canada to take care of the 221g and then return to USA. I have talked to my employer's attorney about this and she advised Canada as best option over India, considering the time taken for handling the 221g's in India. I am kind of ready to take the risk going to Canada than going to India for stamping, seeing all the pending cases there.

--PY