H1B Visa Stamping

I got this update from Shiv on Mar 24th, 2010 who emailed me his recent experience in Tijuana about H1B Stamping. Here is his experience in his own words. Shiv, thanks for your update and sharing your experience with others

Hi,

Your blog is too useful as I recently made a trip to Tijuana for H1B stamping and I got lot of tips from your blog. I would like to share my experience with Tijuana H1B stamping.

This is Shiv, went recently for H1B stamping at Tijuana. Looks like people are avoiding to go to
Tijuana(Mexico) for H1B visa stamping. H1B stamping experience at Tijuana is a piece of cake if
all the paper work is clean. I made the decision to go to Tijuana because of God's grace.

I booked the appointment on 18th March (Thursday) online. One other friend of mine from the same company where I work also booked the appointment along with me. Its easy to book an appointment online after creating a user account for $8. After the appointment is fixed, I printed out the confirmation page along with the appointment letter page. It gave a filled form of DS-15X (which is old one and not needed any more). After fixing the appointment there was a link to fill DS-160 online. It can be filled many times, and I myself filled it twice. No photo was uploaded and I got 'x' mark in the confirmation page for the form filling. I took the print out of the confirmation page. I fixed an appointment for March 23rd(Tuesday).

For PIMs, I had seen in the blogs that an email can be sent so I did sent a mail requesting for PIMs. However I received a mail after few hours stating that "unfortunately nothing can be done before appearing for the interview"

The very next day (March 19th,2010), went to the Mexico consulate in the downtown San Diego and got their visa for $36. They took one PP photo from me, however they took a photo on-spot and that was the one appeared in the visa. I was given visa for 30 days, multiple entry. It took just 15-20 mnts to get the visa. Downtown metered parking costed about $1-$3.

On 22nd March I called the US consulate at Tijuana between 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. They said did you send any documents? and I told them that I sent an email on thursday. They traced it and said that "Your informations have been received, you can come for the interview tomorrow".

On 23rd March, my friend and me started from San Diego at 7:36 AM towards Mexico. We reached the last exit and parked our car in the parking lot which charged $8 per day. After parking the car, we crossed the border and by 8:10 AM we were inside Mexico Tijuana. There are plenty of cabs (as you see in our cities railway station, airport, bus-stands). Took one cab and we reached Banamax bank near the Lincoln statue. Usually cabs charge $3 per person if more, for us they charged $6.

We reached Banamax bank at 8:17 AM.

We were the first people to stand in line around 8:30 one more person from our company joined us in the line at the Bank. Even at 9:00, the line had hardly 6-8 people standing in the line. Bank
opens at 9:00 AM. It took 5 minutes to get the cashier cheque for the H1B visa. The charge for the cashier cheque now is $146. We were out of bank by 9:05 AM.

From bank the Hotel where we planned to stay was visible. So we just crossed the road and went to the hotel (Real Del Rio) by walk. Checked in into our rooms and kept all the stuffs inside the
room except the needed paper works. Room costs $65 per day. Left the hotel at 9:20 AM and walked towards to US consulate and reached there by just 3 mnts walk.

We stood at the line. There used to be a separate line for H1B, but not anymore. We were allowed into the consulate with 10 mnts as batches of people are sent in. They verify the passport, previous H1B stamps, visa appointment letter, DS-160 barcode, H1B approval I797 on the entrance.

No electronics is allowed. They ask us to remove the belt, wallet and coins, metals before
entering the detecter door. They also give a number token. "Watch for this number on the screen" is the comment given. Then all of us were allowed to sit in 3rd row inside the a big square hall.

There are counters on all the 3 sides. First 4 rows are allocated for this purpose. Number is called within 5 mnts and I went to the respective counter.

The lady officer took my details I797, DS-160 barcode. She asked me to place the first 4 fingers
(except thumb) for the right hand on the finger print reader, and then the same thing for the left
hand. After that she asked me to place both the thumbs side by side on the reader. They she asked me to take a seat and she took a picture of me. Then she gave me the token and all the paper clipped to me and asked me to wait in the waiting hall. I exited the big hall through the same door in which I entered. The guard said please in the seat on the veranda (along with others) and look for your number again. There were about 2 sets of 8-9 rows of seats with each row having 9 seats. Front row of the first set is called inside and the first row of the second set is the last one to be called. People move from one row to other in an orderly fashion till they reach the first 3 rows of the first set. Every time first 3 rows from the first set was called in. We got
our call around 1:20 PM. We again entered the hall through the same door. There is water available for drinking and there are restrooms inside consulate.

Again after entering the room we were seated in the rows from 4-8 (as first 4 were allocated for
the earlier purpose). Then again one by one was called by the 8 counters on the right hand side of the hall. The front and the left side counters were for the initial entry. My number was called
around 2:05 PM. Interview took place for 5-6 mnts. Here is the details of the interview. I handed over the DS-160 barcode printout, passport and H1B I797.

How many stampings you had before?

Hi can I see your employment verification letter?

When did you join this company?

How long you were with the old company?

Looks like you quit the old company in 2007 and joined this new company in 2008 end. What did you do between that?

What to you do?

Please show me your Degree certificates

Please show me your Tax returns.

What is your green card status? For me through the first company I had I140 approved and the second company had filed I140 and I485 using labor substitution, but then after joining my recent comapany they cancelled it. Now I am back in labor state. I explained this to him and he nodded and it looked like he had all the information earlier and was doing just a cross-check.

Are you renting or own home? Married? Do you have kids?

Please sit for some time, I'll call you.

He came to the counter again in 5 minutes and asked me to come.

You are good, please collect your passport tomorrow after 3:00 PM.

Then we came out, went to the room and kept all the paperworks. Took our cell phone and went for lunch. There are decent eating places in the hotel basement, near the Lincoln statue, ofcourse non-vegetarians have various choices. Each time it costed $10 (max)

We stayed in the hotel and spent time browsing, doing some work logging remotely etc., We did not go out. The next day we went and stood in the line to collect the passport at 2:35 PM. There were already 3 people before us. By 3:00 PM there were about 40 people standing after us in the line. We gave our name and we got our Passport stamped along with I797.

We took a cab from consulate to border. Luckily the queue was less in border and we entered the gate within 5 minutes. There is i94 office on the side and we entered it. Got ourself new I94s by paying cash $6. After that we stood in the line entering US through US customs. Fortunately it was also quicker. By 3:40 PM we were inside US. I heard that the line for crossing the border is huge and it takes like 3 to 6 hours in the queue. But we were fortunate.

Hope this is useful to people thinking about getting H1B stamped at Tijuana. Quick points which I observed in the trip are as below.

1. Getting H1B stamping at Tijuana is 'piece of cake' if you have the necessary documents with you.
2. Its safer in Tijuana (ofcourse near the consulate). There are tales of gang war, drugs, but they are present everywhere
3. Getting the stamping in Tijuana is faster (you get the passport next day itself)
4. PIMs verification is simpler and very convinient.
5. No photo was asked from us.

Hope more people benefit from your blog.

Thanks & Rgds.,

Shiv

Thanks again Shiv;)

H1B Stamping Experience

I got this update from Ram on Mar 01st, 2010 who emailed his recent experience in Tijuana about H1B Stamping. Here is his experience in his own words. This is a little different than most of the comments the experiences posted so far. Ram, thanks for your update and sharing your experience with others

Hi All,

I am Ram, here is m experience at Tijuana

I have attended for my H1-B visa renewal at Tijuana on 24rd Feb 2010.

My background
I work as a consultant. My H1-B company is an product based company and they also provide consulting services Their main nature of business is not consulting.
I applied for my H1-B 7th yr extension with the same employer in Jan 2010 in premium processing based on my approved I-140 and got extension for 3 yrs.
I had my prevous visa renewal for Tijuana.

Appointment at consulate was at 9:30AM. Had the interview around 2:00PM.

VO: Hi
ME: Hi Good Afternoon

VO: Is this a renewal with the same Employer ?
ME: Yes Sir

VO: Can I see your passport and I 797 ?
ME: Gave my I 797C and passport

VO:From how long you are been with this XXX company ?
ME: From MM/YYYY (I am with the same employer for past 6 yrs)

VO: What does your company do?
ME: Gave a brief explanation of my employer business

VO: Do you work at your employer location ?
ME: No, I work at the client location.

VO: Who is your client and whats the nature of the business ?
ME: Gave a brief explanation of my client business nature.

VO: Can I see your employment letter ?
ME: Gave employment letter and client letter (letter from my boss at my client location).

VO: Can I see your latest paystubs, W2's Tax returns ?
ME: Gave all the requested documents (6 months paystubs, 2yrs W2's and 2008 tax returns)

VO: What is your role and responsibility ?
ME: Gave a detailed explanation of my day to day activity.

VO: Where did you worked before you worked for this client ?
ME: Gave the details of my previous client and duration of work.

VO: How many employees does your company have ?
Me: XXX employees

VO: Where is your company located ?
ME: Gave the location details

VO: Do they have any other offices ?
ME: Yes Sir, and gave the other offices details

VO: What is your highest level of education ?
ME: Gave the details

VO: Where did you graduated from ?
ME: Gave the details (India)

VO: We need to do some further verification. Come back again tomorrow morning around 10:30 AM and gave me a white slip.
ME: I said thanks to the VO officer and left the consulate.

The white sheet has 221g, and under comments section he wrote Administrative Processing. The VO gave my passport back. He kept my employment, client letters, W2's, tax returns and paystubs.

Next day I went to the consulate around 10:00 AM and informed the security that I am asked to come today at 10:30 AM. He allowed me talk to the initial appointment checking counter, which is next to the security. The lady asked me if the VO officer send any email or called me to come. I said I was asked to come directly at 10:30 AM. The lady spoke to someone and allowed me inside.

I went through the security and informed another consulate associate about my 10:30 AM appointment. He took the 221g letter and asked me to take seat. After a while about 30 mins later, VO (Same guy who interviewed me the previous day) announced my name. I went to the VO counter and greeted him.

VO:Your visa is approved.
Me: Thank you

VO:Took my passport and gave other documents except I797 and small white slip which states to pick the passport on the next business day after 3:00 PM, but the VO strike out the next business and wrote TODAY with a pen. And he said since you are already here yesterday we will try our best to give your passport today evening if not you need to collect tomorrow.
ME: Thank you Sir.


I was out of the consulate by 12:15 PM. I went to the consulate again in the evening around 3:00PM to collect my passport. The lady at the counter searched for my passport and could not find it. I told her that I have attended for my second interview today. She said she will check with the back office and call me again. After 45 mins security guys announced my name to go to the visa pick up counter. The lady at the counter gave my passport. Checked all the information on my Visa and left the consulate.

At the CBP, I went to I-94 office and got my new I-94 and entered SanDiego.

After I came back to my client place, I spoke to my boss, He said he got a email questionnaire from Tijuana consulate on 24rd Feb 2010, the day I had my first interview.And he responded to the the email on the same day. I am not aware of what the questionnaire was about.

Thanks again Ram;)