Tweet
H1B Stamping (renewal) in Merida, Mexico
H1B Stamping in Merida is a breeze. Its small and usually there are only 20 people at most at the Consulate. Further you can see one of the wonder's of the world on the way.
My Case: My first H1B stamping is with company A. I got the first stamping from Tijuana. I changed employer last year (2007) and have been working on company B's I-797. Company B merged with company C in 2008. My new I-797 is with Company C.
Getting There: I flew to Cancun, Mexico. Took the Airport Shuttle (40 pesos) to the Bus Station. Took first class bus service (ADO) to Merida (260 pesos). There are two stops in Merida. One is the Bus Station and the other at the Americana Fiesta Hotel (limited service to this stop). I would recommend taking making reservation's at Americana Fiesta hotel or Haytt next to it. Its a 5 min walk from the hotel to the American Consulate. If you were to get off at the main station, the taxi to the hotel is 30 pesos.
Banamex: The American Fiesta Hotel stretches from Paseo de Montejo (street) to Calle 60 (calle=street). Walking out of the hotel, take a left at the signal and walk for a couple of blocks (5min) on Paseo de Montejo to the Banamex bank.
Consulate: Walking out of the hotel take a left and walk along the hotel to its back or Calle 60. Take a right at the signal. Its a five way street. Keep to the second right i.e, walk on the street keeping the Panamex (petrol station) on you right. The Consulate is 2 buildings after the petrol station.
You can get to the consulate from Banamex buy taking the street adjoining the bank. Its ends at the Panamex (petrol station). 5 minutes any direction. The consulate as a small locker facility where you can leave your cellphone. Or you can leave it in the hotel. I would not recommend to take your laptop or backpacks in there for the locker's are very small. Food and Drinks are also not allowed.
Interview: You will need your DS-156, 157 forms and appointment confirmation letter. The first room, the application is checked. In the second room, you finger print and picture is taken. I-797 will be reviewed here. Next you will have an interview with the Consular. Based on your case any documents can be asked. If your visa is approved, they usually ask to come back at 4pm to pick your passport up.
The consular first asked if I was with the same company and he looked at the previous and current I-797. I had to explain the situation of company A and them B and C. He looked at my Master's degree transcript and certificate. No other documents were asked. He went in and came back after 5 minutes. My visa was approved but PIMS verification was not done. He gave my passport back and gave me the pink slip (221g) and asked to call at the number or come back after 24 hours. I tried calling the next day. But the verification was not complete. So I went back at the 3rd day to the consulate. The PIMS verification was done and they asked be to come back at 12pm to pick up my visa and passport.
I sent a email to the consular 3 weeks before my appointment date for PIMS verification. They replied back saying, they cannot answer any questions before the interview date.
There was another Indian girl the same day to get visa stamping. The consular checked her Master's certificate and asked her to come back in the evening to pickup her visa and passport. She did not know about PIMS verification and luckily her's was already done.
Unlike the rest of Mexico, Merida and the Yucatan peninsula is filed with Mayan people. They are very friendly and helpful. If you can speak Spanish, it will be useful. After the visa stamping, there is plenty of things to see and do in area and on the way to Cancun. I stayed at hostels and back packed the Yucatan peninsula for another week. The girl I met at the Consulate came with her husband. They stayed for a week and enjoyed the beaches in Cancun before they returned. Enjoy your trip!
My Case: My first H1B stamping is with company A. I got the first stamping from Tijuana. I changed employer last year (2007) and have been working on company B's I-797. Company B merged with company C in 2008. My new I-797 is with Company C.
Getting There: I flew to Cancun, Mexico. Took the Airport Shuttle (40 pesos) to the Bus Station. Took first class bus service (ADO) to Merida (260 pesos). There are two stops in Merida. One is the Bus Station and the other at the Americana Fiesta Hotel (limited service to this stop). I would recommend taking making reservation's at Americana Fiesta hotel or Haytt next to it. Its a 5 min walk from the hotel to the American Consulate. If you were to get off at the main station, the taxi to the hotel is 30 pesos.
Banamex: The American Fiesta Hotel stretches from Paseo de Montejo (street) to Calle 60 (calle=street). Walking out of the hotel, take a left at the signal and walk for a couple of blocks (5min) on Paseo de Montejo to the Banamex bank.
Consulate: Walking out of the hotel take a left and walk along the hotel to its back or Calle 60. Take a right at the signal. Its a five way street. Keep to the second right i.e, walk on the street keeping the Panamex (petrol station) on you right. The Consulate is 2 buildings after the petrol station.
You can get to the consulate from Banamex buy taking the street adjoining the bank. Its ends at the Panamex (petrol station). 5 minutes any direction. The consulate as a small locker facility where you can leave your cellphone. Or you can leave it in the hotel. I would not recommend to take your laptop or backpacks in there for the locker's are very small. Food and Drinks are also not allowed.
Interview: You will need your DS-156, 157 forms and appointment confirmation letter. The first room, the application is checked. In the second room, you finger print and picture is taken. I-797 will be reviewed here. Next you will have an interview with the Consular. Based on your case any documents can be asked. If your visa is approved, they usually ask to come back at 4pm to pick your passport up.
The consular first asked if I was with the same company and he looked at the previous and current I-797. I had to explain the situation of company A and them B and C. He looked at my Master's degree transcript and certificate. No other documents were asked. He went in and came back after 5 minutes. My visa was approved but PIMS verification was not done. He gave my passport back and gave me the pink slip (221g) and asked to call at the number or come back after 24 hours. I tried calling the next day. But the verification was not complete. So I went back at the 3rd day to the consulate. The PIMS verification was done and they asked be to come back at 12pm to pick up my visa and passport.
I sent a email to the consular 3 weeks before my appointment date for PIMS verification. They replied back saying, they cannot answer any questions before the interview date.
There was another Indian girl the same day to get visa stamping. The consular checked her Master's certificate and asked her to come back in the evening to pickup her visa and passport. She did not know about PIMS verification and luckily her's was already done.
Unlike the rest of Mexico, Merida and the Yucatan peninsula is filed with Mayan people. They are very friendly and helpful. If you can speak Spanish, it will be useful. After the visa stamping, there is plenty of things to see and do in area and on the way to Cancun. I stayed at hostels and back packed the Yucatan peninsula for another week. The girl I met at the Consulate came with her husband. They stayed for a week and enjoyed the beaches in Cancun before they returned. Enjoy your trip!
Comment