H1B Stamping (renewal) in Merida, Mexico

[catchmeagain]

H1b renewal stamping - Merida

Hello Friends,

I am planning to go Merida for my H1B renewal stamping. Can any one please share recent experiences.

Thanks !

[Sky_Blue74]

Merida stamping allowed

Guys,

Have a question - Are we allowed to renew visa in Merida only if the previously valid/expired H1B visa was stamped for the same employer. Like I had my first H1 visa in matamoros (employer x), second H1 stamping in Ottawa (employer y), and now I with a third company (employer z) and planning to for stamping Merida. Is this allowed? Please reply. Thank You.

[Sky_Blue74]

Merida travel details

Suryare & Sumit,

Thank you for taking time and responding to the queries that are being posted here. Especially the step by step proceedure that you posted regarding your travel is very helpful.

ppantham,

Thanks for posting your recent experience. From Cancun to Merida, did u get the bus right at the airport, where did u book the bus ticket, do they understand english, where did you get mexican currency exchanged. If you can please provide some detailed information of the travel arrangements since you have recently travelled that will be helpful.

Thank you

[shervin143]

https://www.immihelp.com/usa-visas/visastampingcanadamexico/

My wife came on H4 in 2005 and then changed her status to h1 in 2006.

I heard first time h1b stamping people are not eligible in Mexico. Is my wife eligible for h1b stamping in Merida Mexico?

[Ragh1u]

h1b stamping in merida

Hi,

I am planning to go merida for h1b stamping in feb 3rd week 2011.

What are the chances of getting approval there? Any rejections so far?

Your answers would be appeicited.

[ppantham]

Recent experience for H1-Renewal in Merida

Hi .....

My wife recently got her H1 renewal visa stamped in merida(mexico). I would like to share our experience (a new application process for visa stamping).

First we had to fill the DS 160 form at the following site https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

Then we had to fill the application at this site http://www.usvisa-info.com/en-MX/sel...ountry_welcome , pay the visa fees (we did using credit card) and block the dates (yes plural). Now we have to block two dates, one is called ASC appointment (where photo of the candidate and finger printing is done) and consular interview date. ASC center is different from US consulate.

We blocked the ASC interview date on a Tue eve and consular interview date, the next day morning.

We flew to cancun over the weekend (since flight tickets for merida were double compared to cancun from our place and cancun is a good place to visit).

We went to the ASC appointment on Tue eve. After the picture and figure printing was done, they preponed the next day consular interview by 1 hr which was fine with us.

Next day we went to the US consulate 30 mins before the interview time, and the folks at consulate let my wife into the consulate immediately. The consular office asked her to show the I 797 and that was enough. Visa was approved and she came out even before her appointment time.

Travelling from cancun to merida is easy. We took a bus (ADO) that took about 3.5 hrs. Stayed in a hotel(there are couple of them) that was close to US consulate. To ASC center we had to take a cab which was like 10 mins drive from the hotel.

After the passport was delivered to DHL we went back to cancun stayed there for couple more days and flew back.

Visit the following site which has step by step process of what I described earlier - http://merida.usconsulate.gov/howtoapply3.html

I hope the above links are useful.

[jsonali]

H1 B stamping in Merida

Hi All
Thank you all for the postings.
I am planning to go to Merida for stamping.
I read in the posts that you are paying the visa fee after reaching Mexico.
But without paying a fee how do you schedule the appointment?
I am little confused.
Could you please let me know how and where can I pay the fee and how to schedule the visa-interview?
Thank you so much in advance

[sumit_immigration]

navyblue74 : Yes, there is an airport in Merida. you can just fly there directly.

You may consider flying to Cancun if you want to travel a bit too in Mexico.

[shervin143]

1) How do I ensure PIMS verification prior to my appointment in Merida?
>>> Write to the consulate with your petition number and might check the PIMS system and let you know.

2) Is Merida safer than other consulate locations in Mexico?
>>> All consulates are safe if you carry all the required documents and if you haven't violated the H1B regulations.

3) When do you get a new 1-94? When you land back in US?
>>> Yes. You need to make sure that you return all your I-94's when you leave U.S.

[ash_doc]

PIMS verification for Merida

I am planning to travel to Merida for H-1B stamping.
I had a few questions:
1) How do I ensure PIMS verification prior to my appointment in Merida?
2) Is Merida safer than other consulate locations in Mexico?
3) When do you get a new 1-94? When you land back in US?

Thanks.

[navyblue74]

stamping in Merida

Hi Guys,

Isn't there an airport in Merida itself. Do we have to land at Cancun airport and then drive to Merida. Can we not directly go to Merida airport. Please advise.

Thank you

[sumit_immigration]

Hi Dhruv,

I don't remember exactly all the documents we took for Mexican visa, but it was pretty simple. regular stuff (passport, 797 approval, photos, etc). Costed us exactly 37$ cash, and we got it within the same day.

I would suggest checking out a mexican consulate website to get more and latest info.

Use of this information is strictly at your own risk.

[bdm_83]

Gettting Mexican Visa

Hi Sumit,

Thanks for all the information , I would like to follow the steps you took to get my visa stamped, however I need some clarification.

I have my H1B & I94 expired in September,10 with company A and now received the renewal and new I-797C and I-94 from U.S.C.I.S from same company A.

So as per your post I need a tourist visa to go to Cancun , mexico and for that can you please elaborate the requirements to get the Mexican visa or any other information that may be helpful in that regard.

Thanks.
Dhruv


P.S: Please help by providing information to get Mexican visa.

[sumit_immigration]

hi suman_d123,

I will put down two of my experiences -

- In my wife's case, we had almost the same scenerio. Just that the passport was still valid. We didn't show the most latest 797C when we entered LAX airport. So, it didn't get stamped till the entire validity of the latest 797C.
We went to the CBP office in SF, and got it fixed. It wasn't that easy, we had to request several times. It is worth a try because you can go to a local/nearby CBP office and might save an international trip.

- Next. When we went to Cancun, our I94 was taken by the airlines. And yes, we got a new one when we entered US again. I could be wrong, but my understanding is that when you go to Mexico/Canada by air, they always take your I94. If you go by road, they may or maynot take your I94.

Hope this helps.

Use of this information is strictly at your own risk.

[bdm_83]

Getting a mexican Visa.

Hi Sumit,

Thanks for all the information , I would like to follow the steps you took to get my visa stamped, however I need some clarification.

I have my H1B & I94 expired in September,10 with company A and now received the renewal and new I-797C and I-94 from U.S.C.I.S from same company A.

So as per your post I need a tourist visa to go to Cancun , mexico and for that can you please elaborate the requirements to get the Mexican visa or any other information that may be helpful in that regard.

Thanks.
Dhruv

I want to start with thanking Suryare for this comments on immihelp describing his experience at Merida. We used this comment to guide my wife's H1B stamping at Merida.

For others who might find this useful, I'm documenting my wife's experience.

My wife got her first H1B stamping in India back in Dec' 2006 with Company A. She switched to Company B here in US in 2008. Her initial stamping (with company A) expired Dec 2009. She got her H1B extended with Company B in June'2010.

As per the current rule for traveling to Mexico, if you have a valid US Visa, you don't need Mexican Visa. My wife's visa had expired, so she had to get a Mexican Visa. It was very easy to get one. We went to the Mexican consulate, and got it done within 3 hrs. It costed us $37 only. Since I've my GC, I didn't need Mexican visa.

We flew from Dallas to Cancun in July 2010. We rented a car at the Cancun airport, spent 3 days in Cancun and then drove from Cancun to Merida. We went to the Banamex bank in Cancun and got the fees receipt. There are several Banamex banks in Cancun (and several in Merida). Driving conditions in Cancun are like US, no problem. Cancun and Merida are connected by an awesome (and expensive) toll road. We paid about 40$ worth of toll, and it took us about 5 hrs to reach Merida. Traffic in Merida is like India, maybe a bit better and organized, but not like US.

We stayed at Haytt in Merida. This is really walking distance from the consulate. Right opposite to Haytt is Americana Fiesta Hotel. Both Hotels are awesome and totally safe.

My wife's appointment was at 10am. We reached the consulate at 9am, and stood in the line. She entered the consulate at 9.45am, and came out at 10.15am!! She was done in 30mins.

The consular showed a bit of a surprise to see a H1B stamping case. He mentioned that he hasn't seen one of those recently. He just asked my wife:

- where was her previous stamping ? (India)
- which company she works for ? (Company B)
- show 797C.

That's about it. Then he mentioned that her visa is approved, and she can pick it up next day at 4pm.

We went next day at 4pm, and got our passport with visa stamped.

We drove back to Cancun, stayed another few days and flew back to Dallas.