Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

My background: FTE and direct employee with US education and this was my 4th extesnion.

Mexican visa: I got one because my H1B visa had expired. Please see this link for visa requirements: https://consulmex2.sre.gob.mx/washington/index.php/visas?id=182
The visa appointment process and getting the visa was easy. You can also get a 7 day permit at the border.

Agent: I picked Mr.Salvador as my agent and he is also the general manager of the Best Western in Matamoros. His services are excellent! He or his staff will pick and drop you off for all the visa related requirements. He is a humble 72 year old man with good knowledge of Matamoros and the Visa process but he will avoid answering any legal questions.
https://mexicovisaservice.appspot.com/. The Whatsapp group on the webpage is helpful.

Visa fees: After you fill out the DS-160 you can ask Mr.Salvador to pay the fees. I sent him money via MoneyGram and then after he paid the fees I got a confirmation number. This number you would then use to book your slots for ASC (fingerprints) and interview.
https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-mx/niv

Timeline: Second week in December.
Day 1: Arrived at Brownsville airport. I took a cab to the Greyhound bus station where Mr. Salvador was waiting for me and he drove me across the border to Matamoros. There are no delays when driving across the border and they don't check your passport or visa. It's good to have a visa or travel permit because the hotel can get audited or you could stopped by the Mexican military or police in Matamoros who may want to see your papers.

Day 2: Along with other applicants I was dropped for fingerprinting at the ASC center in the morning. For H1Bs you only need DS 160, I797 and passport.

Day 3: Interview. This was a quick an easy process for me. I heard that others were asked for letters and W2 forms but the day I went everyone's visas was approved. I was asked to come the next day to collect my passport. There were some who got it at the same day at 3pm.

Day 4: Collected passport at 1pm. Got dropped at the border crossing. Be prepared to spend at least 60 minutes here ( times vary) and you will be asked questions by CBP officials before you are given a new I94. I then walked over to the US side and took an Uber to the Brownsville airport.

I had a very good experience and would definitely recommend the services of Senor Salvador. Good luck to all of you!

Tips:
1) Have exact change of $6 for I-94
2) Carry 4 quarters for the turnstile to enter the CBP office. There is a change machine there too.
3) You don't need Mexican pesos or dollars but do carry a good amount of 1 and 5 US dollar denomination bills.
4) Do meet up with other applicants at the hotel. All are in the same boat and people are helpful.
5) Book only one way flights or give yourself a few more days just in case there is a delay.
6) The US State department has issued a travel warning for visitors to Matamoros. Avoid travelling out late at night and always check with the Best Western hotel staff who are extremely helpful.

11/28 Tue: Interview and got yellow 221g. Vancouver consulate kept the passport.
12/15 Fri: Online status changed to Issues (and that it will take 5 business days)

Others who went through 221g, and consulate kept the passport from interview-
1. When did you get the tracking # after status changed. Does consulate send a mail
2. How long did it generally take to collect passport after status change
3. Has anyone had any luck collecting from consulate vs via post.

Thanks.

Hi all

Our status has been Administrative Processing for the last 4 days where it gets updated every day but with the same status.
Has anyone been in this situation before? I'm panicking as I have a wife n kid with me

We had our interview in Vancouver on 12th Dec, and it was approved without too many questions. VO said that we will get passports back 3-5 business days. But so far the status is Administrative Processing and has not been updated at all

Someone said that there were issues with systems and so visa printing was delayed. Anyone in the same boat? It's really nerve wracking without knowing what's going on, and getting very difficult to extend hotel stays

I attended my interview in Ottawa on Dec 1st and after a few questions the VO said my visa was approved. I would get my passport in 3-5 working days. I was not given a 221g (even though I have criminal charges which were dismissed in US court). I have been waiting to get any updates but the status has not changes from "Administrative Processing" since the date of the interview.

I have read similar cases where the visa is issued within 10 working days. I have not been asked to provide additional documentation. I have had previous renewals in Ottawa in 2014 and 2016. In 2014 i got my passport back in 3 days. In 2016 I got a 221g (was not carrying paystubs). I got my passport back in 10 working days.

I am not sure what is going on this time. I am leaning to thing it may the be the charges which put it under admin processing, but the visa officer clearly told me it was approved, tore off the old I-194 and kept passport.

I was hesitant to come to Canada this time but had to do so because of time constraints. But it looks like Ottawa is a bad place for renewing work visas.

Any insights are appreciated.

Recent Tijuana, BC, MEXICO – H1B VISA Stamping Experience: 12/11/2017: I took the help of Agent – Jorge Gonzalez (a very reliable guy from San Diego)
I didn’t had a valid US visa stamping in my passport, I had to get Temporary visa – valid for 6 months – multiple visits.
Getting MEXICO temporary visa: 1 day process – Walk-in to the Mexican Consulate. No appointment required for Sacramento Mexican Consulate.
Fee: $36.00
Download visa application online from the website and fill in appropriately
Checklist Docs to carry to Mexican Consulate:
Employer Verification Letter
DS 160 Confirmation page
Receipt for payment of visa fee @190.00 (This fee has to be paid only in Mexico Banks in Pesos). No online payment is allowed. You can get the help of Agent for this Service.
Paystubs – 6 months
Bank Statements – 6 months
Original copy and photocopy of I-797(petition)
For me, they only asked for Paystubs, Bank statements.
We can pick up the passport with VISA in the afternoon between 2:00 PM till 3:00 PM same day.
Reaching San Diego:
Reach San Diego airport and Agent Jorge Gonzalez will pick us from Airport
Reaching Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico:
Jorge will take care of this. He will pick you in car and reach border in about 15 min. He will help us to go through Mexican port of entry and you have to fill a form called FMM form. Easy and security will check your passport for Mexican visa and stamp the date of entry and ask for how long you wanted to stay in Mexico. As the VISA process is 3 day process, just mention 7 days. We should be good.
Jorge will help with Hotel and give us tour of local nearby amenities, restaurants etc.,
I stayed in Hotel Real Del Rio which is in a good locality and Ambience. Tijuana is a very nice and safe place.
Day 1: Finger Prints and Bio Metric at ASC Tijuana:
This process does not take much time. May be 20-30 minutes based on the queue.
Day 2: VISA Interview at US Consulate, Tijuana
At the entrance, the officials verify your DS-160 and Passport and allows you to go through Security check.
After that you will directed to another building. Then you go thru Scanning of your passport in one window and directed to go thru Bio-metric one more to ensure our finger prints match and you would be handed a token attached to your DS-160.
You have to sit along with all other people and wait for your turn on the screens to go to appropriate window.
Visa officers will take around 10-15 min time to ask any questions or verify any required documents.
VISA Interview questions asked for me:
Make sure you answer precise and crisp to question. Do not give any additional information
Type of VISA you applied for?
Are you working with same client since your last stamping?
What job duties do you perform?
What does your client do?
What does your client do?
Who appraises you?
What is your annual salary?
On what visa did you first enter US?
Which client did you work prior to current client? Where?
Do you get to do any over time at work?
Where do you live?
Documents asked for verification:
Client Letter (Mine was E-V-C model)
Employment Verification Letter or any support letter from Employer mentioning your job duties?
Approved timesheets from Client/Employer – I said we are not allowed to carry any physical copies of time sheets from client, So I can provide with my paystubs. She said OK.
Pay stubs (I carried for about 12 months)
Original copy of I-797 (H1-B petition)
Latest Resume
That’s it.
My case, On that day, Systems were down – They asked me to wait and keep me waited for 1 hour 45 min and finally called my name and she said sorry to keep you waiting, our systems were down and finally golden words along with white piece of paper that says – Your Visa has been approved. You can pick your passport tomorrow at 3 pm.
Day 3: Picked my passport in the same consulate building entrance by showing the white slip and your ID card (Driving license)
Reach the Border at Otay and walk back to US. Pay $6.00 towards your I-94 that you made to port of entry to US. They will take your finger prints, ask your address you live, Put the date stamp in the passport and hand over the I-94 physical copy.
That’s it!!!
It will be very convenient and easy process at Tijuana, Mexico.
Good Luck to you!!!

Interview date: 12/8/2017
Consulate: Vancouver
Case: H1B stamping for 2nd time. First was also at Vancouver

Interview was very short and visa officer hander me green sheet and said approved. My case has not been updated in ceac since 12/8 and status is "Administrative processing". There is no communication/email from consulate

Anyone else from same day?

Hi everyone,
Following is my experience till today:
Interview date: 11/28/17
Consulate: Toronto
Current status:221(g) under admin processing

This is my fourth H1B visa and 3rd stamping interview (i did not go for stamping during my last H1B). My previous stamping's were in Mumbai but this time around i decided to go for Toronto.

Interview was straight forward, and general questions like What do you do? How long have you been working with the company? What did you go to school for? Highest level of education?
Then a weird question, have you ever been arrested? At end of it, officer said I am approving your visa and you should receive your passport and I797 within 5 - 10 days.

Went out partied, next afternoon I receive an email from consulate saying my case is being "put on legally mandated adminstrative processing" and asked me to submit answers via. email to following questions:
· Specific travel itinerary and Port of Entry into the United States.
· Your travel history over the last 15 years.
· Country of Issuance and numbers of all previously held passports
· The full names and date of births of any living and deceased siblings/children/former spouses/domestic partners
· Addresses during last 15 years, if different from your current address;
· Phone numbers used in the last 5 years, including work, home and mobile numbers
· Email addresses used in the last 5 years, including work, personal, and educational addresses
· Your unique user name for any websites or applications you have used to create or share content (photos, videos, status updates, etc.) as part of a public profile within the last five years.
· A full description of your employment history in the last 15 years.

I replied to them within an hour on 11/29, they acknowledged the receipt of my responses on 11/30. I sent an email on 12/6 asking for updated on my status, i received a response on 12/8 saying its still under review and they have not heard back.

Anybody has similar encounter,Currently i am stuck in toronto where i drove and my license is about to expire on 24th of december. I am getting anxious as I have to drive back.

Appreciate your responses.
Thanks.

I came to Vancouver Canada for my F1 stamping renewal. I initially came to the US for a Masters and the started my PhD in the same university. I came for F1 stamping renewal and had my visa interview on December 6, 2017. I was handed the 221g and told to email my resume and a letter with detailed description about my area of research.
Timeline:
December 6, 8:00am: Interview at the embassy;Fingerprinting done, kept my passport and I20. Given 221g yellow form.

December 6: 12pm Submitted the 2 documents I was asked to email.
Status: Administrative Processing.
December 12: Still the same status: Administrative Processing.
Anyone who has F1 stamping experience in Canada, how long did it take? Or is anyone else waiting in Canada since past week for 221g to get resolved?
Thanks!

I am planning to go to Canada for my H1 stamping (Status change from OPT - H1).

Can anyone guide me the process for applying for Visa stamping and do they have slots available in Jan 2018.
Also how to apply for Canadian Visiting visa if needed while going for stamping.