r/h1bvisa•
Miller-Guy

H-1B stamping in Canada as a third country national, is it worth the risk right now?

I am an Indian citizen on H-1B in the US. My visa stamp expired last year but my I-797 is valid until 2027. I need to travel internationally for a family wedding in December and I do not want to go back to India for stamping because the wait times are too long.

I am thinking about flying to Canada for my H-1B stamping instead. I have read that the US consulates in Vancouver and Toronto are generally faster and more efficient for third country nationals. But I have also heard stories about administrative processing taking months and people being stuck in Canada away from work.
My situation is fairly straightforward. I work for a large tech company. Same employer for 4 years. No change in role. No prior visa denials. I have all my documents including the I-797 approval notice, degree certificates, pay stubs, and employment verification letter.
I am trying to decide if the risk is worth it. Getting a Canadian visitor visa is not a problem. But if I get stuck in administrative processing or 221g for weeks, I cannot work remotely from Canada and my employer might not be happy.
Has anyone here done H-1B stamping in Canada as a third country national in the last 6 months? How was your experience? Did you get approved the same day or was there a delay? Also which consulate is better, Vancouver or Toronto?

I would really appreciate any recent experiences before I book flights and take the risk.

Posted May 12, 2026, 8:20 AM UTC

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