F1 to H4 stamping in Canada/Mexico

Hello all,

Thank you for taking time to read my post and for willing to help.

I am currently on H1B visa with approved I-140. I recently received approval for H1B extension for which I was planning to go to Canada/Mexico for stamping. My 1st H1B stamping was done in India, then my previous H1B extension stamping was done in Mexico couple of years ago. This will be my third time going for H1B (extension) stamping.

I am getting married in a couple of weeks here in USA. My fiancee is currently on F1 visa. Her F1 visa stamping in passport is expired but her i-20 is currently valid (as she extended her i-20). After marriage, she is planning to change her status for H4 and also apply for EAD. Considering the long processing times for H4 and EAD approval, she was planning to go to Canada or Mexico to get H4 visa stamped on her passport. We prefer having H4 visa stamping done rather than apply for change of status (due to some other travel plans for later this year). We were planning to do my H1B extension stamping and her fresh h4 visa stamp together.

Is it advisable to go for H4 visa stamping in Canada or Mexico instead of home country (India). We read on the internet that first time stamping is better to be done in home country and as she is applying for H4 for the first time. We are not sure if is risky to go to Canada or Mexico in our situation.

Thank you and Please Advise.

Uday

Hi Uday,

I’m also in the same boat. can you please let me know what you did ?