H1B Renewal Stamping in Dubai?

[cb0506]

Hello: I tried googling this issue but so far have been unsuccessful, hopefully someone will be able to answer my question.

I am a Indian passport holder and need to get my second H1-B (renewal) stamped on my passport. I have received approval for extension and have all the required documents. To give you some background, I worked 3 years with my previous employer on H1-B and also got them to process my renewal. After they renewed my H1-B, I changed jobs and got the H1-B transferred to my new employer successfully last October (2011).

I got my first H1-B stamped in Delhi. However, my parents are in Dubai, UAE and I will be visiting them this thanksgiving and was wondering if I can get my renewal stamping done in Dubai without any (known) issues or I MUST go to India to get the stamping done again. Also, I will be visiting dubai on a transit visa (14days) so not sure if that will cause any complications. Please advise and H1B renewal stories published online are all negative and that makes me very concerned even though I feel I should not have any issue getting the stamping done in Dubai as its just renewal stamping. Therefore any professional legal advise would be greatly appreciated.

[qesehmk]

cb, mine is not professional legal advice. But I can tell you that it is perfectly fine to stamp H1 in any country including India. I myself had planned to do it in Belgium since I was going to visit it but i had to cancel my trip and so didn't. But the point is - yes it is ok to do it. Many people i have heard go to Canada or Mexico to do it to avoid an expensive trip to India.

Hello: I tried googling this issue but so far have been unsuccessful, hopefully someone will be able to answer my question.

I am a Indian passport holder and need to get my second H1-B (renewal) stamped on my passport. I have received approval for extension and have all the required documents. To give you some background, I worked 3 years with my previous employer on H1-B and also got them to process my renewal. After they renewed my H1-B, I changed jobs and got the H1-B transferred to my new employer successfully last October (2011).

I got my first H1-B stamped in Delhi. However, my parents are in Dubai, UAE and I will be visiting them this thanksgiving and was wondering if I can get my renewal stamping done in Dubai without any (known) issues or I MUST go to India to get the stamping done again. Also, I will be visiting dubai on a transit visa (14days) so not sure if that will cause any complications. Please advise and H1B renewal stories published online are all negative and that makes me very concerned even though I feel I should not have any issue getting the stamping done in Dubai as its just renewal stamping. Therefore any professional legal advise would be greatly appreciated.

[cb0506]

Thanks guru! However, I am aware of Canada and Mexico but have not heard about anyone mention Dubai or any other country. The reason I am asking this question is because I will be in Dubai on a transit visa (14 days) plus it being in the Middle East hopefully doesn't create any red flags. Therefore was curious to see if anyone was 100% sure based on their experience or if were a lawyer. Thanks for your response though, make me a little more comfortable.

cb, mine is not professional legal advice. But I can tell you that it is perfectly fine to stamp H1 in any country including India. I myself had planned to do it in Belgium since I was going to visit it but i had to cancel my trip and so didn't. But the point is - yes it is ok to do it. Many people i have heard go to Canada or Mexico to do it to avoid an expensive trip to India.

[qesehmk]

You are welcome. Sorry I can't tell you with 100% certainty. Good luck!

Thanks guru! However, I am aware of Canada and Mexico but have not heard about anyone mention Dubai or any other country. The reason I am asking this question is because I will be in Dubai on a transit visa (14 days) plus it being in the Middle East hopefully doesn't create any red flags. Therefore was curious to see if anyone was 100% sure based on their experience or if were a lawyer. Thanks for your response though, make me a little more comfortable.

[gc0907]

Agree with Q. Even no lawyer can give you that assurance. It's just that they are simply scrutinizing the H1s more than before no matter where you apply. And if you are working with a consultancy they are more likly to get queries. Don't want to scare you as I know someone peronaly who easily got stamped last year working as consultant and another couple got query even working as full-time emp. Both in India.

Your only probleml is if your case goes into Admin processing. It might get cleared in a week or take month or more. In that case, you will have to go to India, if you can't wait in dubai that long. Also I am not sure how the case processing works once it resumes, if you are in India.

Thanks guru! However, I am aware of Canada and Mexico but have not heard about anyone mention Dubai or any other country. The reason I am asking this question is because I will be in Dubai on a transit visa (14 days) plus it being in the Middle East hopefully doesn't create any red flags. Therefore was curious to see if anyone was 100% sure based on their experience or if were a lawyer. Thanks for your response though, make me a little more comfortable.

You are welcome. Sorry I can't tell you with 100% certainty. Good luck!

[cb0506]

Hello All:

Just wanted to update everyone on my process for renewal to the question I posted above. I got my H1-B renewal process successfully done at US Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Everything went smooth and there were no issues. I was the last person for the day and the questions that were asked of me were:

What do you do in USA?
Where do you live?
What is your job title?

That's all, and was told that my visa has been approved and if I were travelling soon then request the mailing services to expedite my passport. The folks were very courteous and everything went really well.

Thanks to everyone who tried to help me answering my query and I figured I should update you all and remove any fears one may have of getting their H1-B stamped in UAE.

Good Luck!!!

[qesehmk]

cb0506 - glad you received your visa in a smooth manner. Even more glad - you shared it back on the forum so that it helps others.

Hello All:

Just wanted to update everyone on my process for renewal to the question I posted above. I got my H1-B renewal process successfully done at US Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Everything went smooth and there were no issues. I was the last person for the day and the questions that were asked of me were:

What do you do in USA?
Where do you live?
What is your job title?

That's all, and was told that my visa has been approved and if I were travelling soon then request the mailing services to expedite my passport. The folks were very courteous and everything went really well.

Thanks to everyone who tried to help me answering my query and I figured I should update you all and remove any fears one may have of getting their H1-B stamped in UAE.

Good Luck!!!

[tendlya]

Guys,
I have one little urgent question. I would appreciate if someone can answer my question.
I am currently on India trip. I have EAD/AP combo card. I got H1B extension approval notice email from USCIS two days back. I want to get H1B stamping done in order to maintain H1B status along with EAD.
Question: Is it okay to go for visa stamping to Mexico/Canada after I come back to USA using AP (coming back on 7th Feb)? Will there be any issues if I do not go for visa stamping in India? The reason I want to avoid going for stamping in Mumbai, India is time crunch and no gurantee that I will get appointment dates after paying $200 fee here.

[qesehmk]

tendlya, First of all - that's perfectly fine you can do that.
But 2 more things for your consideration:
1. For Us based H1 - I think there is emergency ie. 48 hours or so appointments available. When you try to book ... just ask for emergency one based on your US status.
2. Even if you have to come back to US without H1B visa in your passport - your old H1 may still be valid to allow you to enter US on H1 rather than AP. If so - do it. I did it with my H1 to go barely 2-3 days and the officer was first puzzled that I wanted to enter only for 2-3 days. However I explained to him that I have an AP as well as an approved 797 extension.

Good luck.

Guys,
I have one little urgent question. I would appreciate if someone can answer my question.
I am currently on India trip. I have EAD/AP combo card. I got H1B extension approval notice email from USCIS two days back. I want to get H1B stamping done in order to maintain H1B status along with EAD.
Question: Is it okay to go for visa stamping to Mexico/Canada after I come back to USA using AP (coming back on 7th Feb)? Will there be any issues if I do not go for visa stamping in India? The reason I want to avoid going for stamping in Mumbai, India is time crunch and no gurantee that I will get appointment dates after paying $200 fee here.

[tendlya]

Thanks Q.
It looks like from US Consulate website that I will not qualify for emmergency appointment. Here is the link for that. http://ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-ex...ppointment.asp
My old H1B has expired long back. So if I don't get stamping done in India then I will be entering using AP. Is there any difference between stamping in India vs stamping in Mexico/Canada with respect to hassle or issues? If I do get stuck in Mexico/Canada during stamping then I can request my passport back and come back using AP right?

tendlya, First of all - that's perfectly fine you can do that.
But 2 more things for your consideration:
1. For Us based H1 - I think there is emergency ie. 48 hours or so appointments available. When you try to book ... just ask for emergency one based on your US status.
2. Even if you have to come back to US without H1B visa in your passport - your old H1 may still be valid to allow you to enter US on H1 rather than AP. If so - do it. I did it with my H1 to go barely 2-3 days and the officer was first puzzled that I wanted to enter only for 2-3 days. However I explained to him that I have an AP as well as an approved 797 extension.

Good luck.

[qesehmk]

tendlya i haven't done this ever ... but just recently somebody posted that they got it done from Abu Dhabi or something. Let me move this discussion to that thread.

Thanks Q.
It looks like from US Consulate website that I will not qualify for emmergency appointment. Here is the link for that. http://ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-ex...ppointment.asp
My old H1B has expired long back. So if I don't get stamping done in India then I will be entering using AP. Is there any difference between stamping in India vs stamping in Mexico/Canada with respect to hassle or issues? If I do get stuck in Mexico/Canada during stamping then I can request my passport back and come back using AP right?

[rajivshanmugham]

Hello.

This is great to know that you had your stamping done successfully. I also plan to visit my parents in Dubai on transit visa this Nov, and i hope to try my luck with stamping as well. Fingers crossed, hope it goes well.

I was worried since i had not heard of anyone else getting their stamping done there and i am glad i came across this.

Cheers.

[gundisrikanth]

Hello.

This is great to know that you had your stamping done successfully. I also plan to visit my parents in Dubai on transit visa this Nov, and i hope to try my luck with stamping as well. Fingers crossed, hope it goes well.

I was worried since i had not heard of anyone else getting their stamping done there and i am glad i came across this.

Cheers.

Hi All,

Could you please post if any one went to Visa Stamping in Dubai as I am also planning the same. In some of the forums, I see that Dubai residency is required to get H1B Visa Stamping. My case is I have applied for extension and got approved. I am planning to visit my relatives in Dubai and have taken 14 day visit visa. My visa stamping got expired in the current passport and planning for Visa Stamping in Dubai. Please let us know the pros and cons and can we do this? Thanks

[rajivshanmugham]

Srikanth,

My wife and myself has been going to Dubai on visit visa (My parents live there though) all the time (Last 8 years) for stamping and we have had no issues.

We have been for both H4 and H1 stamping and we have had no issues.

You might want to go for the stamping the very next day, just in case you get a query or possibly any mistake in the visa in your passport.

I had the issue where they wrote the wrong company name in the visa and to have that corrected, it took me an additional week.

However in case you get a query have a back up so that you can stay in Dubai longer until it is sorted out.

Gluck!



Gluck!