H1B Stamping Experience

I got this update from Rakesh on Apr 10th, 2010 who emailed me his recent experience in Tijuana about H1B Stamping. He shares important information about how to get to the border from San Diego Airport. Rakesh, thanks for your update and sharing your experience with others


Hi -
Thanks for putting up the blog at - http://tijuanatrip.blogspot.com/
. It was very helpful. Here is my experience.

Had my appointment at 9:30 am on April 6th. Flew to San Diego the previous day and reached tijuana in the evening. There was a bus # 992 from SD airport ($5 - all-day pass) , that would drop off at the Trolley (Civic Center) station - the light-rail system at San Diego. Taking the blue line on the trolley to San Ysidro south (the same day pass purchased at the bus applies) , took about 45 minutes and it stopped right at the border. Crossed the border and came into mexico (
had a mexico visitor visa for 5 yrs, issued at SF, but nobody seemed to check at the mexico border though). Took a yellow-line cab from the streets in mexico for $6 and went to hotel real del rio situated right behind the consulate.

Hotel rate was $65 per night with a restaurant within.

Got into the room and went to banamex (right across the main street, near to the hotel) and purchased the receipt for the visa appointment ( $148.75) by cash. They do give changes in USD for small amount though.

Roamed around tijuana in the evening near the hotel.

Got up in the morning and reached the line around 9:00am hoping it to get over sooner. I was totally wrong. The line was pretty huge and it took around 45 min to get inside the consulate. There were 2 phases , one for checking the documents/visa purpose etc and the second phase
would be the actual interview with the consular officer.

Phase 1:

What are you here for ?
H1-B renewal

I-797 please?
...

Took a photo of mine.

"Please wait in the lobby" around 10:15am.

Then the long wait began, in the lobby. Obviously we cannot get out for breakfast / lunch from that place. There was a vending machine in the lobby that accepted pesos only and I had only usd in my wallet essentially making it useless. Could have asked for an exchange in the
crowd among there, but did not try that. By the time -I got to meet the consular officer, it was around 2:45pm.

Q: Have you been waiting for long ?
A: Yes.

Q: Sorry about that. Your renewal is for the same employer ?
No.

Q: Can I see the notice of action (i-797) ?
Here, it is ..

Q: What do you do ?

Q: How many people being led in your team ?

Q: What does the company do ?

"Your visa is approved. you can pick it up tomorrow at 3pm. "

Next day, again the queue starts forming at around 2pm . Waited in the queue to get there early. Did not allow us to enter until 3:15 pm actually. Got mine around 3:30pm. Went back to the hotel, got my stuff ( they have a place to store in the lobby while you are getting back the passport ), took the cab for $7 to the border.

pretty much empty at that time, around 4:15pm. There were no directions about getting a new I-94 until I was about to meet the officer in person about it. He directed me to go back to a building (which I passed through initially) that would issue a new I-94 and come back again. Walked back to the building , and not much of a big queue either - may be around 10 people . But we were made to wait for 10 minutes because the office was ' temporarily closed' (!!).


Talked to the officer there to get the I-94, after some informal chit-chats( "are cows considered sacred in india" ? , "will your spirit go away if I take your photo" ? ). Got my I-94, paid $6 in cash
in a separate counter in the same building and then walked back to the border. There was absolutely no queue , and I was let in within seconds of reaching the counter.

"do you carry alcohol/tobacco / any other contents for which you need to pay the duty " ?

put my stuff through the scanner , came over to san ysidro station around 4:40pm, trolley to sd downtown to airport and back home in northern california.

Overall experience, extremely cordial people in mexico with great food and good fun (a place called plaza del rio about 4 blocks of hotel contained some attractions, cinepolis etc.) and light on your wallet :)
If you are going for a renewal then it is a breeze , if you are in a emergency to step out of the country for business/personal purposes.

Good luck !!


--
RS

Thanks again Rakesh ;)

H1B Stamping

I got this update from Mahesh on Apr 1st, 2010 who emailed me his recent experience in Tijuana about H1B Stamping. Here is his experience in his own words.Mahesh , thanks for your update and sharing your experience with others


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;)

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;)