Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

I had my visa stamped recently(Aug 4th 2009). It was straight forward process. No questions asked. But prepare to stay in Tijuana for 1.5 days to get the visa. Consulate will issue the visa on next business day only.

-BK

Hi All,

I am going to Tijuana for H1B stamping on August 17th. Can you share your experiences if you are going before that? Really appreciate your help.

Thanks,
--Rajani

Hi All,

I'm going to Tijuana on Aug 03rd for H1-B stamping.
Anyone else going there too around the same date, please lets get in touch and share notes. It will be very helpful.

thanks,
vikram

[email protected]

Hi all I got my h1 approoved in 2008. Can I go to canada for H1B stamping. Previously I am on F1.

Hi
I am planning to for visa stamp on June 18 to Tijuana...anyone planning to go on the same date please contact me...we can plan together.

Helo, if anyone has an appointment in Tijuana on 23rd March do let me know, we can plan it together.
email: [email protected]

Ravi

I got my H1B extension stamped in Tijuana on 23 Feb 2009. In my experience, it is straightforward if you're well prepared and have all the right documents. Here are some tips that you may find helpful, and not covered in other posts:

1. The consulate does not do PIMS verification before the appt. date anymore, but make sure you email/fax your I-797 to them a few days before the appt.

2. I recommend taking the trolley (SDMTS) to the San Ysidro/Intl. Border crossing station and then walking across the border. It is cheaper than parking your car at the border, especially if you have to stay an additional day or two in MX. It also gives you options to stay at a hotel near one of the trolley stations further north.

3. For stay before the appt. date, I recommend Chula Vista or National City. I stayed at the Comfort Inn in Chula Vista, which is a few blocks from the E St. station. There is also a Best Western right next to this station and a Days Inn as well.

4. If you're flying in to San Diego, there is a bus connection to Downtown from where you can take the trolley Blue Line. Alternatively, take the Budget rental car shuttle, and the Middletown Blue Line station is right next to their facility. You don't need to rent a car for this trip.

5. I had to stay overnight in Tijuana and pick up my visa the next day. (Another person had to wait two days, but this is not common.) Be prepared for this. For this reason, I do not recommend booking an appt. on Friday as you could get stuck there for the weekend.

6. There are a bunch of hotels near the consulate (walking distance). I stayed in the Camino Real, which seems to be a popular place. (walk towards the Lincoln statue, turn right on Los Heroes - it is at the next roundabout, before the Rio Tinto mall). You can get better rates if you book online through Expedia (~$75) than if you walk up (~$125). I was able to use their PC room to go online, make a reservation and then go up to the front desk. They have wifi, so if you have a laptop, you can book right from their lobby.

7. They have a good restaurant - Bice Bistro that you can have dinner/ lunch in for a reasonable charge. The hotel's "complimentary" breakfast is a con - they'll end up charging you for it, so watch out.

8. Other hotels in the area - City Express (advertises 775 pesos, which at 15 pesos to the US$ at the time of this post is pretty reasonable). del Rio - around $60.

9. The wait time at the Consulate is likely to be long - my appt was at 9:30 and I had my interview at 2pm. There's nothing to do or eat inside, so taking a book and some snacks may be a good idea.

10. The shop next door will hold your bag for $5, or items like a cell phone for $3.

11. Taxis from the US border to Banamex near the consulate cost $5 and back to the border $6.

12. When you walk back, you need to stop in the "US Immigration Special Cases" building to get a new I-94 for $6 even if you have a valid I-94 from your approved petition. If you go to the Officer at the border without the new form, he'll send you back to this building.

13. The trolley station is right there when you walk out of customs, and you can get back to San Diego on the Blue Line trolley.

Hi,

If any one going for stamping on feb23 at tijuana,mexico,plz contact me..so that we can gotogether..

Successful stamping in Tijuana.

But make sure you need to prepare stay atleast one night in Tijuana MX. better to prepare worst is always good.

It was little pain in the port of entry(I-94) office. It will hurt ur feelings especially in this market situation. But other than that every thing is smooth. But overall comments is not bad.

Hi

I got US visa stamping appointment in Tijuana on Feb 09 2009. if any one have the appointment same day please email me to [email protected]. we can plan together.