Hi Mr. Narayana
I m sending you my visa stamping experience. Its rather long but I have covered it in detail. Hope this helps others. You can also find it at: http://murthyforum.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=1024039761&f=4724019812&m=1291035502
thanks
Mahesh.
This is the experience I had with a recent H1B stamping (3/29/2010) at Tijuana, Mexico. Overall it was a smooth ride.
My background: B.Tech from a reputed school in India and M.S from U.C at Irvine, currently working in bay area for one of the biggest software companies. I ve been with the company for 3.5 years. I have applied for GC in 2007 and currently in AoS stage and also got a I797 valid till Sep '12. I was going for a H1 restamping. My previous H1 was valid from 2006-2009. So I had a gap where I was working on EAD.
I got married in Oct '09 and my wife and me entered the US in Nov '09. She entered with H4 and I entered with AP. No questions asked at the PoE. After getting back into the US, my lawyer suddenly called me one day and said I need to get an H1 stamping ASAP. I wasnt sure why but he said I entered the country by luck and next time I may be stopped if I m on AP and my wife is on H4. Then I decided to go for stamping. I picked Tijuana consulate since I ve been there once in 2006 for H1 stamping with my previous employer and it was a very smooth ride and I was comfortable with it. And also I had a valid AP with me in case my H1 gets rejected. After doing a little research I realized that there have been some changes this time around.
First of all, I had to get a mexican visa this time to be on the safe side, where as last time I didnt get one. Its a very straight forward process and it only costs $36. So thought why not. And also this time I had to fill DS-160 online application but last time I had to fill DS-156 and DS-157. Filling of DS-160 was a big pain since the session keeps timing out. So always keep saving after every page, so you wont lose your changes. Also you dont need to upload the photo onto your online DS-160 and you dont have to take a photo to the Consulate either since they will take the photo inside.
Now I collected all the docs for the visa stamping. These are the docs I had:
1. Passport
2. I-797 and along with the original package sent by the lawyer
3. Previous immigration paper work
4. Employment verification letter
5. Taxes filed for last couple of years
6. Last 3 months pay stubs
7. Original education documents (B.Tech and M.S certificates and transcripts)
8. Took a few photographs (although not needed)
9. DS-160 confirmation page
I live in bay area and luckily one of my friends was driving to San Diego from bay area on 3/28. He offered a ride. I gladly accepted and went with him, I slept at his place on sunday night. We got up next day and left to the border at around 6:30 and we were at the border by 7. I crossed the border and went in and took a cab and asked him to drop me at the consulate. It was a 10 min ride and he charges $6 and he knows where to drop. Last time when I went for stamping I went to a different consulate but this time its a different one. I had my stamping appointment at 9:30 am. Banamex is very close to the consulate. So first went there and stood in the line. Bank opens at 9 am and went in asked to get a receipt for H1B stamping. It costed me $146 and got the receipt and came back to the consulate. Before joining the line, I went and dropped my bag and laptop at a small place next to the consulate, they charge $3 per day.
The person at the window verified the passport and DS-160 and gave me a token and sent me in. Then they take a photograph and finger prints and verify all the documents and asked me to sit back and wait for the number to be called. It took me almost 4.5 hours for my turn. I was really feeling hungry since I went without having any breakfast. So my advice is eat heavy breakfast before going in.
This was the converstation I had with the visa officer
VO:
ME: Hi good afternoon, I m not a Mexican :)
VO: Sorry. What kind of visa you need?
ME: H1-B
VO: Give me your employment verification letter and I-797
ME: I gave them
VO: Where is your wife
ME: She is in the US and she is on H-4. (no more questions on that topic)
VO: Your H1 visa was expired earlier?
ME: I said I was working on EAD since I have filed for my GC.
VO: Show me your original education docs
ME: Showed them
VO: Give me your tax documents and pay stubs
ME: Gave them
VO: ok, your visa is approved please come back tomorrow at 3 pm
ME: thank you
I went to the hotel real del reo after the interview, since many people suggested this. I didnt have a reservation before. They charge $64 per night. Its a very nice hotel with friendly staff. They also have a restaurant downstairs and they serve pretty decent food. They also have free wifi. Next day I went and collected my passport by 3:30 pm. Then took a taxi and went to the border and there was a long line to get I-94. It took about 2.5 hours to get I-94 and finally was back into the US by 6. My friend picked me up again at the border and dropped me at the SD airport and I flew back to the bay area.
Thanks again Mahesh;)
My background: B.Tech from a reputed school in India and M.S from U.C at Irvine, currently working in bay area for one of the biggest software companies. I ve been with the company for 3.5 years. I have applied for GC in 2007 and currently in AoS stage and also got a I797 valid till Sep '12. I was going for a H1 restamping. My previous H1 was valid from 2006-2009. So I had a gap where I was working on EAD.
I got married in Oct '09 and my wife and me entered the US in Nov '09. She entered with H4 and I entered with AP. No questions asked at the PoE. After getting back into the US, my lawyer suddenly called me one day and said I need to get an H1 stamping ASAP. I wasnt sure why but he said I entered the country by luck and next time I may be stopped if I m on AP and my wife is on H4. Then I decided to go for stamping. I picked Tijuana consulate since I ve been there once in 2006 for H1 stamping with my previous employer and it was a very smooth ride and I was comfortable with it. And also I had a valid AP with me in case my H1 gets rejected. After doing a little research I realized that there have been some changes this time around.
First of all, I had to get a mexican visa this time to be on the safe side, where as last time I didnt get one. Its a very straight forward process and it only costs $36. So thought why not. And also this time I had to fill DS-160 online application but last time I had to fill DS-156 and DS-157. Filling of DS-160 was a big pain since the session keeps timing out. So always keep saving after every page, so you wont lose your changes. Also you dont need to upload the photo onto your online DS-160 and you dont have to take a photo to the Consulate either since they will take the photo inside.
Now I collected all the docs for the visa stamping. These are the docs I had:
1. Passport
2. I-797 and along with the original package sent by the lawyer
3. Previous immigration paper work
4. Employment verification letter
5. Taxes filed for last couple of years
6. Last 3 months pay stubs
7. Original education documents (B.Tech and M.S certificates and transcripts)
8. Took a few photographs (although not needed)
9. DS-160 confirmation page
I live in bay area and luckily one of my friends was driving to San Diego from bay area on 3/28. He offered a ride. I gladly accepted and went with him, I slept at his place on sunday night. We got up next day and left to the border at around 6:30 and we were at the border by 7. I crossed the border and went in and took a cab and asked him to drop me at the consulate. It was a 10 min ride and he charges $6 and he knows where to drop. Last time when I went for stamping I went to a different consulate but this time its a different one. I had my stamping appointment at 9:30 am. Banamex is very close to the consulate. So first went there and stood in the line. Bank opens at 9 am and went in asked to get a receipt for H1B stamping. It costed me $146 and got the receipt and came back to the consulate. Before joining the line, I went and dropped my bag and laptop at a small place next to the consulate, they charge $3 per day.
The person at the window verified the passport and DS-160 and gave me a token and sent me in. Then they take a photograph and finger prints and verify all the documents and asked me to sit back and wait for the number to be called. It took me almost 4.5 hours for my turn. I was really feeling hungry since I went without having any breakfast. So my advice is eat heavy breakfast before going in.
This was the converstation I had with the visa officer
VO:
ME: Hi good afternoon, I m not a Mexican :)
VO: Sorry. What kind of visa you need?
ME: H1-B
VO: Give me your employment verification letter and I-797
ME: I gave them
VO: Where is your wife
ME: She is in the US and she is on H-4. (no more questions on that topic)
VO: Your H1 visa was expired earlier?
ME: I said I was working on EAD since I have filed for my GC.
VO: Show me your original education docs
ME: Showed them
VO: Give me your tax documents and pay stubs
ME: Gave them
VO: ok, your visa is approved please come back tomorrow at 3 pm
ME: thank you
I went to the hotel real del reo after the interview, since many people suggested this. I didnt have a reservation before. They charge $64 per night. Its a very nice hotel with friendly staff. They also have a restaurant downstairs and they serve pretty decent food. They also have free wifi. Next day I went and collected my passport by 3:30 pm. Then took a taxi and went to the border and there was a long line to get I-94. It took about 2.5 hours to get I-94 and finally was back into the US by 6. My friend picked me up again at the border and dropped me at the SD airport and I flew back to the bay area.
Thanks again Mahesh;)
6 comments:
The FMT (Mexican tourist visa) is unnecessary for visits up to 72 hours.
More tips, as well as a basic orientation and a map showing the two consular buildings, can be found on The Real Tijuana, a blog that describes northern Baja California from the inside.
People who actually live in the Tijuana-Tecate-Ensenada triangle address issues of local culture, recreation, cuisine, health care, travel, real estate, retirement, and history with the goal of making fronterizo tourism less intimidating and more rewarding.
The place is surprisingly peaceable, nothing at all like the bad press it receives.
Well, very good elaborate post. Only thing i am not noticing is no one who did visa stamping recently, not talking about PIMS verification. Is it not required now ?
Also, does anywhere during the application process it is said that visa fee to be paid via mexican bank ?
Thanks,
Niranjan
I have done my H1B renewal stamping on 28th August 2010 without issues. Would like to post my my experience for the benefit of the community. But i have no clue how to post in this community. Do i have to mail some one ? I am not sure. If anyone guides me how to post, i will write my exp down and send it.
Hey, The Real Tijuana, I don't have valid H1B visa on my passport. How do I obtain Mexican Visitor visa?
Hi,
I am Indian citizen with recently approved H1 oct 2010. Do i have to go back to my home country to get my visa stamping? Have the rules changed recently or this year?
Once you get your visa approval, the next step in the process is to get stamping. Visa stamping should be done in the US consulate mentioned in your approval notice. For more details call on our Toll Free Number 1-888-501-3133.H1B Visa Lawyer
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