The U.S. Department of State updated its policy (effective September 6, 2025) and now recommends that nonimmigrant visa applicants interview in their country of nationality or legal residence. In practice, that makes routine third-country national (TCN) processing much harder, including in Canada. Interview waivers are narrower, and security checks are tighter.

For official guidance, review the U.S. visa policy resources on Travel.State.Gov, the List of U.S. Embassies and Consulates, and the embassy directory at usembassy.gov.

If you were hoping to combine H-1B stamping with a quick Toronto food tour, this policy shift made that route far less predictable.

Key Takeaways

Canada is no longer a reliable default for non-resident H-1B stamping.
Expect stricter interview and eligibility checks for third-country applicants.
Verify post-specific rules before booking travel.

Before recent visa policy changes, many H-1B workers living in the United States chose to get their visa stamped in a third country instead of traveling back to their home country. These locations were popular because they offered shorter appointment wait times, easier travel from the U.S., or efficient consular processing.

What This Means for H-1B Stamping in Canada

For many H-1B workers in the U.S., Canada used to be the practical shortcut. Now, consulates may limit appointments to people who can show Canadian residence. Under current DOS guidance, existing appointments are generally not canceled, but new scheduling for non-residents is more constrained. Non-citizens applying in Canada may be asked for residence proof, such as:

Canadian work permit
Permanent resident card
Canadian government-issued ID
Lease agreement or utility bills

Many applicants who previously expected dropbox processing now face in-person interviews. And if administrative processing under section 221(g) is triggered, the passport can be held, meaning an unplanned stay in Canada.

Important Exception: Canadian Citizens

Canadian citizens are generally visa-exempt for H-1B entry. They usually do not need an H-1B visa stamp to enter the U.S. Instead, they can present the approved H-1B petition (Form I-797) at the port of entry. That exception applies to Canadian citizens only.

The Popular TCN Country Era for H-1B Stamping

Here are 10 countries that have historically been popular for H-1B visa stamping as third-country locations. These were commonly used by H-1B workers living in the U.S. to avoid long waits at home-country posts.

Country	Why It Was Popular
Canada	Canada was one of the most popular destinations for H-1B visa stamping because it is close to the United States and has several U.S. consulates, including Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, and Montreal.
Mexico	Mexico was another common option due to its proximity to the U.S. and multiple consular locations such as Ciudad Juárez, Tijuana, Monterrey, and Guadalajara.
Dominican Republic	The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo has historically processed a high volume of visa applications and was sometimes used by third-country applicants.
Bahamas	The U.S. Embassy in Nassau was occasionally used by visa applicants seeking relatively quick appointments and convenient travel from the United States.
Barbados	The U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown serves several Caribbean countries and has been used by some applicants for visa stamping appointments.
United Arab Emirates	Dubai and Abu Dhabi host major U.S. consular offices and are often used by international professionals working in the Middle East.
Singapore	The U.S. Embassy in Singapore is known for efficient visa processing and clear appointment scheduling, making it attractive for some applicants.
Thailand	Bangkok’s U.S. Embassy has historically processed a wide range of visa applications, including some from non-resident applicants.
Panama	Panama City has occasionally been used for visa appointments because it is a major international travel hub in Central America.
United Kingdom	The U.S. Embassy in London is one of the largest consular operations in the world and has processed visas for applicants from many countries.

These locations were popular. They are no longer reliably practical for non-residents.

Bottom Line

Third-country stamping is no longer the “safe default” strategy it once was. If you are not a resident of Canada, plan as if home-country processing is the expected path, not the backup.

Always confirm current rules directly with the specific U.S. embassy or consulate before booking travel.

If you need to plan renewal timing around travel, our H-1B Extension and Renewal article explains when to file, what documents matter most, and how to reduce re-entry risks.

Official Website

To find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate that processes visas in your country of nationality or residence.

Designated Locations for Some Nationals

Nationals of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations must apply at a designated embassy or consulate, unless their residence is elsewhere.

DOS designated processing guidance was last updated on December 12, 2025. Check current designated processing instructions directly on Travel.State.Gov before making travel plans.

Nationals of	Designated location(s)
Afghanistan	Islamabad
Belarus	Vilnius, Warsaw
Burkina Faso	Lome
Chad	Yaoundé
Central African Republic	Yaoundé
Cuba	Georgetown
Haiti	Nassau
Iran	Dubai
Libya	Tunis
Niger	Lome
Russia	Astana, Warsaw
Somalia	Nairobi
South Sudan	Nairobi
Sudan	Cairo
Syria	Amman
Ukraine	Krakow, Warsaw
Venezuela	Bogota
Yemen	Riyadh
Zimbabwe	Johannesburg

Data shown as of FY 2026

Consult a qualified U.S. immigration attorney before making H-1B visa or travel decisions.

Useful Links

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Website

Social Media

Statistics

Annual Caps for H-1B for Fiscal Years: 85,000 visas

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