Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

Does it matter when you get your H1 visa stamped from the time you got it approved, if its been over 1 year since you got your H1 (before OPT expired) and F1 expired 2 years ago (OPT)?

Thanks.

Anybody going fo visa stamping to Tijuana on Oct 18th? plz let me know
VJ

Does anyone has appointment at Tijuana on Oct 31st?

First off, thanks to all of you for documenting your experiences online. It was a invaluable help and a confidence builder for me. This is my time to payback!

Since carl and others have already documented the whole process step by step in painstaking detail, I will try only to mention the points where I had a slightly different experience. I went alone to Tijuna but later met up with 5 other Indians and all of them had successful stampings.

- Parking in San Ysidro - There is $4/8hr parking right next to Jack in the Box. It is a motel. Lots of parking spots available.

- Like many others have mentioned, ask the cabbie for the price before you get in. I asked the cabbie on how much he wanted to go to Banamex. He was thinking on how much to charge me but I interupted him and said $5. He said ok immediately and we went on. $5 is almost double fare for them so dont let them charge you more. While coming back, all six of us car pooled in a cabbie and still payed only $6 in total. If you want to - u can ask your cabbie to wait for you or come back at 9am to Banamex to take you to the embassy - again $5 (irrespective of the number of people).

- Irrespective of the time of your appointment, you can go join the visa line as soon as you get there. I had a 10 appointment, but joined the line at 9:15 and was out by 9:45.

- When talking to the VO keep your job descriptions very simple to avoid TAL

- There are restrooms inside the embassy which you can use while waiting for the interview

- The only document I was asked for by the VO was my offer letter. They kept it with them. They also asked for the offer letter in the 1-94 issuing office. Have multiple copies of it with you. The Border office can request any document, address proof, SSN card etc from you. The line to getting the I-94 is small but very very slow. It took us 3 hrs. Better use a restroom before you join the line - there are no restrooms around that office.

- The place where you store your bags before the interview also involves bargaing. Confirm $3 before you drop ur bag. They will say ok. If not they jack up the price later upto $10.

- The plaza is ok. If you want to watch a cinema - go immediately after the interview else you wont have time to catch one. It is def hard to spend 5 hrs doing nothing - luckily I had 5 others with me. We spent time in McD chatting.

- Everyone has to get an I-94. We tried going straight ot customs but were sent back. This is coz the embassy puts ur 1-797 in a white cover addressed to CBP officer. Same as in a US consulate in India.

- In case you are unfortunately rejected visa or put on security check you might have to stay back in TJ. I noticed that there are couple of hotels in the area. One was just behind the embassy. Couple of others on the same road. I had also checked one way tickets on sidestep.com before going to TJ (just in case). They were about $1200. Thankfully all went well but thought will the info along anyways.

- Go back to the emabassy by 2:30, the start issuing visa's earlier, if they get done that is. We got our visa and were at the border by 2:50.

- Everything else went normally. Everybody was friendly and nice. Aside from the wait for I-94 -everything else was fast.

Again, thanks a lot for the people who went before me for posting their detailed narratives. Please contribute back your experiences, so that all of us can benefit.

Thanks

Does Anyone have appointment on sep27th in Tijuana, so that i can travel along to consulate from the border????

Does anyone have appointment in tijuana on 25th of september 2007

During our L1 visa interview, the consul officer asked the plastic folder that i'm holding, while all the necessary papers is already on her hand. i have no choice but to give it to her and then she found inside the single sheet of paper that i prepared for as a sample visa interview. she asked me what's the purpose of that sample question and answer and i said that it's just my preparation because i'm having a hard time in constructing correct grammar during interviews, and then because of that she became hesitant to approve our visa and she give me a 221(g) letter instead.

is it a ground for a possible refusal or denial of my visa for my L1 petition? what are the possible outcome for what she found out that i have a sample interview questions? is it illegal? though it's never been states on their immigration laws or embassy interview rules or law.

First off, thanks to all you guys for posting your experiences while you were going for visa stamping.I came to know a lot from this web site.

The procedure i followed might be the same shared by others in this forum. I will share the questions asked by the VO here:

1)How long have you been working with your current Employer
2)Is he paying you right on time ( He insited on this question by asking it twice).I was about to show him the paystubs when he asked this for the second time, but when i answered the question, he didnt even look at the paystubs.
3)Show me your I129
4)Where was your first H1 Visa stamped
5)Why was it done in Frankfurt(As i said it was in Frankfurt,Germany)
6)Why did you choose that place to do your MS
7)So, You know to speak German(when i said something in German, he smiled and said that he doesnt know to speak german but one of his colleague speaks german)
8)Are you going to work with your current employer for a long time
9)what do you do at the client site
10)How many programming languages do you know
11)Do you have anything from your client site( I showed him my office ID/Access card)
12)Are you planning to Immigrate to the US
13)He saw the passport and told me: We are opening up a consulate in Hyderabad soon.I said it would be helpful for the Andhrites if they do so by reducing the travel to Chennai.

Finally he said "Your visa is approved and you can collect it by 3pm. We will try to process it by 3pm if not you can pick it up tomorrow"
==================================================

You shouldnt carry any electronics or even the badge holder in side the Consulate. There is a small shop beside the consulate which says " VISA LASER" where you can keep your bag for $3. I needed to return to this shop from the security check, as i had the badge holder in my file and the security wanted me not to take it inside.

After the interview we ( i met with another Indian guy and two chinese guys who came there for H1 stamping) took a cab and drove to down town (Revelucion ave--we asked the help of a guy who was in the cafe nearby the consulate and he talked to the cab driver and told him to drop us at this particular location)and killed some time there until 2.15 pm and returned back to the consulate. I didnt find anything stange there in downtown. People are welcoming and nobody caused any problem to us. They will call you to see the merchandise in the shops, as people do in some places in India. After going to this place my impression of Tijuana changed a lot.We returned back to the consulate @ 2.30 pm.

After picking up the passport, we went to the border and stood in line at the port of entry office( Be prepared to stand in line for atleast 2 hrs. If you are lucky, the line would be short).We stood there for about 2.5 hrs.After all that is not a big deal as the visa is approved. Thats what i felt..

ok guys, Best of Luck for your visa stamping. Shoot me an email if you feel you need more info.I will reply back ASAP.
ID: [email protected]

Essentials:

0. Interview Questions preparation *
1. Passport*
2. $108 fees for each applicant – Banamex Receipt *
3. Photographs 2x2 inches. Check photograph requirement here. * (Not needed but still you can carry)
4. Appointment letter from consulate.*
5. Filled out ORIGINAL DS156 and 157 application form (electronic copy).*
6. I-797 (H-1 approval from INS) - top and bottom part in ORIGINAL.*
7. Employment verification letter from your employer.* + Client Letter (if possible)
8. Offer Letter.*
9. Pay stubs last few months.* + Include latest
10. Copy of I-129 (petition filed by your lawyer on your behalf).*
11. Copy of LCA (Labor Condition Approval).*
12. Latest Resume.*
13. ORIGINAL bachelor's, educational certificates.*
14. Copies of tax returns, W2, FORM 1040.*
15. Company Literature
15. Latest bank statement– include snapshot just before going
16. Marriage Certificate
17. Marriage Photos
18. Copies of all documents
19. Driving License
20. Utility Bill


Additional:

1. Social Security Card
2. Pictures of workplace
3. India Ties – bank, pan card, vote id

We had a successful H1B/H4 stamping in Matamoros, Mexico on 26-JUL-2007.Thanks a lot to Chanda
for the post you made below under the name CV.It was very helpful and also your time in replying my queries.


Steps were:

1. Booking the appointment date thru the website - http://www.usvisa-mexico.com/visa-web/index.jsp?locale=es_MX
   Took the appointment date on Thursday just to keep Friday as a backup.Heard from CTS (Alberto) that the
   consular officers are taking off Fridays also so my suggestion is try to book on Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday.


2. Filling up the forms DS156 and DS157 (only for male above 18) in the same website and keeping saved copies
  (and backups).Photos not needed though we carried some.

3. If your kid is US citizen carry his/her passport/Birth Certificate.They allow kids even if they don't have
   any stamping.There is a play area inside the consulate.Also if the queue is very long please request the security
   to allow inside and they do.We requested and they allowed us otherwise it is very diff. as it is very hot and humid
   outside.Please carry a stroller for the baby.You will need it in airports / consulate/ I-94 office.

4. We took the service from CTS.Sent all the docs/cheque to CTS (Alberto).He will ready the draft/mexican permit.

5. Arrived previous day evening at brownsville,TX and checked in at Days Inn.Rented a car at the airport itself and visited
   South Padre Island.It is simply superb.Zoo is another place where you want to take your kid.All went to bed early.

6. Woke up early at 5 am.Kids need to be fed properly to make them ready for atleast 6-7 hours.You can carry milk inside
   the consulate.Carry some biscuits/ other foods and keep in the CTS van.Once stamping is done you can feed the kid again
   at I-94 office (it is a long and boring wait there).

7. Manuel picked us at 7.15 AM.Verified the docs, Drove to border, we got the drafts there (IMP - If you have to claim the
   visa fee from your company ask Manuel to give copies in advance), then straight to consulate.Our appointment was at
   8.30 am.But there time doesnot matter much.The line was big.Went in.

8. Consulate - i> submit drafts and get a token
              ii> token called for pictures and DS156/157.
             iii> interview (company name, how long working, paystubs,employment letter,
                  did you have any police/immigration problem ..i think he was just double checking.
              iv> i asked the officer to return me the visa fee receipt and he gave :-) as manuel had given only 1 copy
               v> visa approved and got the stamped passport within 20 mins

IMPORTANT : If your kids are indian citizens be prepared for additional 2-3 hours wait as they do some additional check
            in their stolen children database.ASK ALBERTO/Manuel in details about time taken or any other questions on this.

9. Manuel dropped us to US border - keep some 25/5 cents changes.walk to the I-94 office.

10. I-94 Office - MUST CARRY AN ADDRESS PROOF (DL, Electric bill ).
 
               i> officer took the passport/I-797/DL after verification of passport/i-797/address proof
              ii> called inside for fingerprints
             iii> waited for 70 minutes
              iv> called for I94 issuance - only question was 'designation'
               v> paid 6$ each and got the I94 for us

11. Walked to US side, no need to stand in long line, just push in and called Alberto.He came and drove us to hotel.

12. Rest, South Padre, Good Food, Sleep and came back happily to Durham,NC.