Hi,

I want a suggestion from the sajha expert. I got H1 approved on last month and currently i am on OPT status. Can i go to canada for h1 stamping for the change of status from F1-H1.Has any one gone there on 2009. . I have heard that for the change of status i have to go back to nepal. If possible i am planning to go this october.please share you knowledge. Any Advise will be appricited.

Come on guys you can give your openions. Thanks.

I wouldn't suggest Canada for the stamping.

Why do you need a stamp? Stamp is only needed to come back to the country once you leave it temporarily. If you are just transferring the status from F1 to H1 then you don't need the stamp. In the  future if you are planning to goto Nepal, then you can get the stamp at the US consulate in Kathmandu. Canada suggests the same.

Hi stiffler,

Thanks for the suggestion. Actually i am planning to go to nepal. I heard from some of my frends that they take lots of time for stamping and sometime they rejects too. so i thought i will go to canda and get stamped. and later on i can go to nepal easily.

Is that a bad idea. please suggest.

Sanokancho,

Like Stiffler's suggested, you do not need to leave the US to just transfer your status from F1 to H1. With H1 documents in your hands, that should already have been taken care of. If not for any reason, talk to your company lawyer - but you do NOT need to leave the US or get any kind of stamp for just transfering your status from F1 to H1 when you already have received your H1 documents. Hope this helps!

Regarding visiting Nepal and getting a H1 stamp Visa to re-enter the US, you might also have heard, time is not very favorable right now with a lot of H1 Visa Stamp applications being denied. However, it surely also depends on what field you work at and the company that has sponsored the H1 for you. But even the most genuine H1s have been having difficulty at this time. So, I am sorry but leaving the country on H1 right is not a good idea unless you have to.

Good Luck to you!