Hi,
This board helped me a lot in preparing for my stamping so thought I should put down my experience here as well.
One major point was that for couples going together where both are on H1B, try get 2 appointments. They only do PIMS check for primary H1B so the spouse who also is on H1B may not get their PIMS check done by them as soon as an appointment in made. This happened to 1 couple there. The guy got his passport back in 1 day but lady was asked to return in 3-4 days after her PIMS verification was done.
Otherwise there process was quite painless wrt to PIMS. No one else got stuck and everyone received passport the same day.
Some points I thought would be useful:
1) I drove from Tucson to the border and parked car in a lot there. Walked across the border, surrendered my I-94 and took a taxi to counsalte.
1) I had an appointment at 8am, arrived there at 8am and then went to Banamex to pay fee and get receipt. The Banamex is 15 mins walking distance from consulate and opens at 9am. I left the counsalate at 8am and reaches Banamex around 8:15-8:20am. I waited there in line ( I was first :) till 9am. As soon as the bank opened they took my fee, gave me a receipt and I was out of there in 5 mins flat.
2) Went back to counsulate, had my car remote and cell phone which I left with a lady in a mobile truck taqueria for $1-2. I also bought a taco from her (optional:) Seemed trustworthy. Ogf course, had just keys and a cheap cell phone and 1 book. Books not allowed inside either, how to entertain oneself..?
3) The process inside was very straightforward, yes DS-156,157 and 158 all reqired for everyone , male or female.
4) They said visa is approved and please return next day 3pm, but guard told us to just come back the same day itself.. Everyone got their passports back that day itself at 3pm.
5) Went to the mal next door on foot and sat there with my book (a good thriller) for 3 hours and went back to pick up passport which i dule received back. When you go back, again leave your items with taqueria lady as you have to go in again without the above mentioned items (cell, remote, book etc).
6) Got out around 4:10 ish, one of the guys who was also there in the queue offered me a ride back to US. Coming back, they took the H1Bs out of line upstairs to get I-94. That was the tiring bit, took about 30-40 mins
7) walked back to US side, picked up the car and
drove back to Tucson.
Do not worry about PIMS here if you have made an appointment atleast 7-10 days in advance. I had made my appt 10 days before. Please see caveat for couples above>
if any questions please email
snailkarma@gmail>com
good luck>