Candaian vistor visa stamping

[arunkumarhere]

Hi,

I applied for Visitor visa online exactly a week back (04/03/13). I'm currently residing in Seattle, WA and not sure if my request is submitted to NY or LA office. Canadian consulate in Seattle stopped operations a while ago, so bit confused which office is processing my application. Is there any way we could find out? Reason, is I'm curious to know the processing times, I made all my travel arrangements to fly to India on May 15 and hoping that I will get my Canadian visa + passport back by atleast by May 1st (because I'm planning to schedule appointment at US consulate in Canada for my H1 stamping before I fly to India). I understand this so tight schedule, but wanted to get an idea from the folks who applied before so that I can change my plans if needed. I really appreciate your help in clarifying these.

- If I get notification from CIC that my visa is ready and send the passport by mail, since it will take a week to get back (based on answers in this forum), can I choose to fly inperson to canadian consulate office in LA or NY to get my stamping done on the same day? Has anyone done this before?

- Once my visitor visa is confirmed, is it possible to get the stamping done at the Port of entry?

- Can anyone suggest better plan in this situation (someone was mentioning that we will get 90 days visa if we land on any Canadian airports with a return ticket), is it true? This way, I can avoid waiting for Canadian visa and go for US stamping sooner,

Thanks in advance.

[Rational1]

Just to give you an idea: I applied online on feb 19th. I got a request to send my passport almost a month later i.e march 18th.

sent it the same day and it reached canadian consulate in NY on march 20th morning. You can send a prepaid USPS envelope along with the passport. So effectively, that (USPS tracking number) is the only way you know if your passport has been shipped with the visa stamp on it.

My USPS tracking got activated on April 3rd night. so, i got the passport on April 4th.

Feb 19th to April 4th. you do the math.

In your case, I am pretty sure your application will be directed to the LA consulate since it is the closest one. If you are particular about going for stamping to Canada before your India trip, then I would suggest you go and drop off all the paper work for Canadian Visa personally at the LA consulate (which effectively means you should be ready to lose the $75 you paid for the online application). Or the other choice would be to go for stamping in India.

[arunkumarhere]

Just to give you an idea: I applied online on feb 19th. I got a request to send my passport almost a month later i.e march 18th.

sent it the same day and it reached canadian consulate in NY on march 20th morning. You can send a prepaid USPS envelope along with the passport. So effectively, that (USPS tracking number) is the only way you know if your passport has been shipped with the visa stamp on it.

My USPS tracking got activated on April 3rd night. so, i got the passport on April 4th.

Feb 19th to April 4th. you do the math.

In your case, I am pretty sure your application will be directed to the LA consulate since it is the closest one. If you are particular about going for stamping to Canada before your India trip, then I would suggest you go and drop off all the paper work for Canadian Visa personally at the LA consulate (which effectively means you should be ready to lose the $75 you paid for the online application). Or the other choice would be to go for stamping in India.

Thanks for quick reply. When I checked on their website seems it seems that either apply online or mailing package are ONLY options available. Can you forward me the source where they said walkins are welcome in LA consulate. That would really help me expedite the process.

[Rational1]

I did not read it anywhere but I have heard from people who have dropped it off personally at LA and NY consulate and got it much quicker than other means of applying. Why dont you call the LA consulate and find out. Google LA canada consulate and it should give you the link to their website. I know NY consulate accepts applications monday, wednesday and friday only from 8.30 to 10.30 in the morning. I got this information first hand from the consulate worker on phone. I don't see a reason why LA consulate will not do the same.

[aratishr]

Hi,

I had sent my passport to Canada Consulate in NY for visitor visa along with the email i received for online application and USPS express return envelope on April 2. Could i get some solid estimate on when i will get my passport back? Also, the email did not say it specifically that the visitor visa is approved. It just said that a decision regarding my online application has been made. Should I be optimistic and think it has been approved?

Thanks for your time.

[Rational1]

your USPS tracking should be activated early next week.

Yes it is approved.

[arunkumarhere]

Hi,

I had sent my passport to Canada Consulate in NY for visitor visa along with the email i received for online application and USPS express return envelope on April 2. Could i get some solid estimate on when i will get my passport back? Also, the email did not say it specifically that the visitor visa is approved. It just said that a decision regarding my online application has been made. Should I be optimistic and think it has been approved?

Thanks for your time.

Hi, Have you received your passport yet?

[New022024]

Hi,

I had sent my passport to Canada Consulate in NY for visitor visa along with the email i received for online application and USPS express return envelope on April 2. Could i get some solid estimate on when i will get my passport back? Also, the email did not say it specifically that the visitor visa is approved. It just said that a decision regarding my online application has been made. Should I be optimistic and think it has been approved?

Thanks for your time.

Hi ,

Did you recieve your passport or did you tracking number got activated?

[arunkumarhere]

I received email from CIC on April 25th afternoon to mail my passport along with return envelope. I mailed the passport as per instructions on April 26th morning (using Express mail) and it was received at CA consulate on April 29th noon. Till now I haven't received my passport, and I'm worried as we have trip planned to India on May 17th noon. I can wait till this Friday 05/10 (that will be total 10 business days since I sent them passport), if still didn't notice the return package activated in usps website, I'm planning to fly to LA (just to get my passport back). When looked at the website, they provided Monday, Wednesday & Friday are the only days they allow public, that too between 9AM to 10.30AM window. So wondering if anyone has done this before? If I go on Monday or Wedensday, can I expect my passport back on the same day, at this point of time, I'm not even worried about CA visa, it doesn't matter, i just need my passport back to fly to India on time, I can reapply for CA visa (if needed) once I come back to US from vacation. Thanks in advance.

PS: My personal suggestion on whom so ever planning to apply for visitor visa online to CA consulate, please plan 3 months (or atleast 2 months) in advance to have some peace and good night sleep. Seems that processing times shown on CA website (currently 15days for LA) is just to come to confirmed decision whether to approve or reject visa, but note that there will be extra time involved once they received the passport and send it back (which was given as 30 days in their website). Give some buffer especially during Spring/Summer season as the amount applications will be more during that time.