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Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico
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My experience @ Visa stamping at the US consulate, Tijuana, Mexico
My experience @ Visa stamping at the US consulate, Tijuana, Mexico
Disclaimer- The views/opinions expressed here belong solely my personal. I am neither a legal adviser nor an expert on immigration.
I had my ASC appointment scheduled for Feb 2nd, 2018 for my H1B visa renewal. I live in San Diego. So I preferred to drive my car to cross the border. I reached little early about 11am although my appointment was scheduled for 1pm. I parked my car near shops parking (although there is a paid parking place next to the ASC building). They allowed me to have my finger print and photo done as soon as I reached ASC at 11 am since no one was there at that time (although the website says "do not reach ASC before 15 min"). Mobile phones, laptops and other electronic items are neither allowed to ASC nor to the US consulate. There is no place where you can deposit them near ASC. It took just 10 mins to complete the ASC formalities. I drove back to San Diego after that since my current H1B visa was still valid until end of Feb 2018. Next my interview at the US consulate was on Feb 6th, 2018 at 8.30am. I just drove to consulate same day morning (It took about 50 mins to reach there from my place). The security allows you to enter 30min before your scheduled appointment. Once you enter to the consulate building, you need to pass the security. Then you need to proceed to 1st window to get a token, followed by another window to verify your DS160, followed by another window to verify finger prints. You need to be seated until your token displays. You will find restrooms next to the seating benches. I have to wait about 45 mins before my turn came. Then I rushed to the window (D29) where my token displayed. One lady visa officer took my interview. She asked me general questions, like where do I work, what do I do (I am an Aerospace engineer), where did I do my highest education and which field (I have a master degree in aerospace engineering from IITB), how much do I earn, where did I do stamping my earlier H1Bs (my 1st extension was in Tijuana in 2015 and this is my 2nd extension). Also she asked me if I carry a copy of I140 (and I showed her). While I was answering, she was typing in her computer. Then she gave me one white slip that says "your visa has been approved and please pick up your passport after one day at consulate building external window". Then she asked when you want to return to San Diego. I said today. She said if you want to leave now you can take your passport and cross the border with your existing valid visa. Also there is a possibility, you might get your new visa stamped at 3pm. She asked me to check at the delivery counter at 3pm. If not you will get your passport and new visa tomorrow 3pm for sure. I said fine. Then she said shall I cancel your existing visa. Upon my nod, she just wrote cancelled. She did not do anything in her system to cancel. Fortunately my visa was ready same day at 3pm and I picked up my passport and then crossed the border to the USA. I did not have to stay in hotel in Tijuana. Since I was driving, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer asked me to pull the car and get a new I94 right in their office by paying $6 cash. For those who cross the border by walk, have to get it right at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office before crossing.
I saw few Indians came for Visa interview and left with similar white slip (that says visa has been approved). When I was waiting to pick up my passport at 3pm, I met a Chinese student (F1) from UC Davis, who came for visa stamping last month and got an administrative processing query (221g but cleared in 2 days), went back to the US (they allowed since he had a valid visa) and now back to submit his passport for new visa.
In case you are flying to San Diego for visa stamping at Tijuana, you can take a trolley until US border at San Ysidro and just cross the border by walk. Once you enter the Tijuana, you will get Libre taxis to go to the Hotel. There are many medium range hotels (one called Real Del Rio, close to ASC center and we stayed in 2015), and just 6 miles away from the US consulate. There is couple of them nearer to the consulate too. Please feel free to contact me through email: [email protected] should you like to know more about my experience at the US consulate, Tijuana, Mexico.
Disclaimer- The views/opinions expressed here belong solely my personal. I am neither a legal adviser nor an expert on immigration.
I had my ASC appointment scheduled for Feb 2nd, 2018 for my H1B visa renewal. I live in San Diego. So I preferred to drive my car to cross the border. I reached little early about 11am although my appointment was scheduled for 1pm. I parked my car near shops parking (although there is a paid parking place next to the ASC building). They allowed me to have my finger print and photo done as soon as I reached ASC at 11 am since no one was there at that time (although the website says "do not reach ASC before 15 min"). Mobile phones, laptops and other electronic items are neither allowed to ASC nor to the US consulate. There is no place where you can deposit them near ASC. It took just 10 mins to complete the ASC formalities. I drove back to San Diego after that since my current H1B visa was still valid until end of Feb 2018. Next my interview at the US consulate was on Feb 6th, 2018 at 8.30am. I just drove to consulate same day morning (It took about 50 mins to reach there from my place). The security allows you to enter 30min before your scheduled appointment. Once you enter to the consulate building, you need to pass the security. Then you need to proceed to 1st window to get a token, followed by another window to verify your DS160, followed by another window to verify finger prints. You need to be seated until your token displays. You will find restrooms next to the seating benches. I have to wait about 45 mins before my turn came. Then I rushed to the window (D29) where my token displayed. One lady visa officer took my interview. She asked me general questions, like where do I work, what do I do (I am an Aerospace engineer), where did I do my highest education and which field (I have a master degree in aerospace engineering from IITB), how much do I earn, where did I do stamping my earlier H1Bs (my 1st extension was in Tijuana in 2015 and this is my 2nd extension). Also she asked me if I carry a copy of I140 (and I showed her). While I was answering, she was typing in her computer. Then she gave me one white slip that says "your visa has been approved and please pick up your passport after one day at consulate building external window". Then she asked when you want to return to San Diego. I said today. She said if you want to leave now you can take your passport and cross the border with your existing valid visa. Also there is a possibility, you might get your new visa stamped at 3pm. She asked me to check at the delivery counter at 3pm. If not you will get your passport and new visa tomorrow 3pm for sure. I said fine. Then she said shall I cancel your existing visa. Upon my nod, she just wrote cancelled. She did not do anything in her system to cancel. Fortunately my visa was ready same day at 3pm and I picked up my passport and then crossed the border to the USA. I did not have to stay in hotel in Tijuana. Since I was driving, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer asked me to pull the car and get a new I94 right in their office by paying $6 cash. For those who cross the border by walk, have to get it right at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office before crossing.
I saw few Indians came for Visa interview and left with similar white slip (that says visa has been approved). When I was waiting to pick up my passport at 3pm, I met a Chinese student (F1) from UC Davis, who came for visa stamping last month and got an administrative processing query (221g but cleared in 2 days), went back to the US (they allowed since he had a valid visa) and now back to submit his passport for new visa.
In case you are flying to San Diego for visa stamping at Tijuana, you can take a trolley until US border at San Ysidro and just cross the border by walk. Once you enter the Tijuana, you will get Libre taxis to go to the Hotel. There are many medium range hotels (one called Real Del Rio, close to ASC center and we stayed in 2015), and just 6 miles away from the US consulate. There is couple of them nearer to the consulate too. Please feel free to contact me through email: [email protected] should you like to know more about my experience at the US consulate, Tijuana, Mexico.
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