Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

Any of you had H1 Visa stamping ( from initial H4 Visa) stamping in Mexico recently. In particular at US Consulate at Ciduad Juarez, Mexico ???

The initial H4 visa is assumed to have been issued in INDIA.

If so, please post your experience and the documents required for H4--->H1 visa.

Some people they will take help and after that they will spread bad about you.Please don't beleave if you doesn't know the person.Because of that i faced lot of problems.She took help from me .I gave her life when she suffred with problems i shown her job ,i gave her shelter , food and every thing.At that time she doesn't have a status.Now she got every thing why because she got married with one guy, before she is a widow and she had a son.

Hi All ,
   I had been to mexico matamoros on 24th Feb 2005 for H1B & H4 5th year extention.I went for an interview at my appointment time.I gave I-797 form ,DS-156 ,DS-156&DS-157 , my old ,new passports and my husband's passport.In this case before july 16th i sent for visa stamping in USA but i didn't get stamped.At that time my existing visa alredy expired (april 2004).In that visa i got stamped like canceled without prejudice in both passports(me & my husband).I got a letter like 221(g).I have to re apply for a visa out of usa any us consulate.Because of that reason i went for mexico matamoros.My interview time she didn't ask any documentation.What is this stamp and she asked her co worker ,she said put a stamp 221(g) and she wrote that letter you must apply in chennai.Before she asked one thing when your visa expired?I said april 2004.Then without visa how you are staying? I said to her i have a valid I-94 .She said It's right.only this thing happend.she put stamp 221(g) and she said i will give you travel visa for one month with in that period you have to go back to india and apply for visa in chennai.She took passports after some 10,15 minutes she called again and she said i need some information from chennai and If i get that information i will resolve the problem and i will give you H1B.But you have to wait till tomorrow.I said her happyly yes i will wait but i have tickets to go back tomorrow morning.Why you booked tickets you don't know what will happen.I will make an arrangemets for my ticketsi will change the time,she said ok come tomorrow.Next day morning we went she said i haven't get any information from chennai come after noon .again we went afternoon.we went afternoon she said i haven't get any information from chennai come tomorrow morning.same this process every day 24th feb 2005 to march 2nd 2005. times i changed my tickets after that i put into hold. March 1st we went and she said same thing i haven't get any information from chennai come afternoon.I gave an e mail to chennai consulate all my situtation and please give a response to her.We suffered a lot all these days.no food and we don't know spanish.That day afternoon i said to her i gave an e mail to chennai consulate with all my situtation.she asked what e mail id you gave e mail?i said .March 2nd morning she said come evening 3'O clock with all your documents .I thought she will give visa she got information from chennai.I asked her but she didn't say anything.Really she took 1hour 20 minutes interview and she asked about company .I said all the things.she asked all certificates and originals.then she asked pay checks i gave that.In that pay checks my address is where i worked that company address is there.What is this your company address is different and your home address is different.I explained her all the process.She asked after you come to us tell the all process how you will go to job?I explained her all the details.She discussed her co workers and she showed all documents to them . She asked about my skills.I told what i am doing.She asked company details and tax returns.Tax returns i don't have i will ask my employer thye will fax it to you.She gave fax number.but i don't know that number not worked .I took print outs and i went to consulate at 4.50p.m already closed come tomorrow.Again i went next day mornig i gave her all documents she asked.She took and come after 2'O clock.We went 2'O clock.after 45 minutes she gave C1 visa .She treated us like dogs. I said her i cleared my labour and i filed I-140.I have a son he is a citizen of united states.I spent lot of money for staying here i have not prepared like this much money i can spend like this amount i go to india for this C1 visa i no need to come to here.Why you are not giving visa why you took so long to give this visayou need any informatin i will provide.She said i can't issue H1B with this information .that's all.Really she showed what is hell.I don't know why she did like this.I have to go back to india now.If any one knows please give me a advice what i have to do in this situtation.Labour cleared I filed I-140. But i am waiting my prayarity date to appply for 485.Please help me in this conditation what i have to do?

Hi All ,
   I had been to mexico matamoros on 24th Feb 2005 for H1B & H4 5th year extention.I went for an interview at my appointment time.I gave I-797 form ,DS-156 ,DS-156&DS-157 , my old ,new passports and my husband's passport.In this case before july 16th i sent for visa stamping in USA but i didn't get stamped.At that time my existing visa alredy expires (april 2004).In that visa i got stamped like canceled without prejudice in both passports(me & my husband).I got a letter like 221(g).I have to re apply for a visa out of usa any us consulate.Because of that reason i went for mexico matamoros.My interview time she didn't ask any documentation.What is this stamp and she asked her co worker ,she said put a stamp 221(g) and she wrote that letter you must apply in chennai.Before she asked one thing when your visa expired?I said april 2004.Then without visa how you are staying? I said to her i have a valid I-94 .She said It's right.only this thing happend.she put stamp 221(g) and she said i will give you travel visa for one month with in that period you have to go back to india and apply for visa in chennai.She took passports after some 10,15 minutes she called again and she said i need some information from chennai and If i get that information i will resolve the problem and i will give you H1B.But you have to wait till tomorrow.I said her happyly yes i will wait but i have tickets to go back tomorrow morning.Why you booked tickets you don't know what will happen.I will make an arrangemets for my ticketsi will change the time,she said ok come tomorrow.Next day morning we went she said i haven't get any information from chennai come after noon .again we went afternoon.we went afternoon she said i haven't get any information from chennai come tomorrow morning.same this process every day 24th feb 2005 to march 2nd 2005. times i changed my tickets after that i put into hold. March 1st we went and she said same thing i haven't get any information from chennai come afternoon.I gave an e mail to chennai consulate all my situtation and please give a response to her.We suffered a lot all these days.no food and we don't know spanish.That day afternoon i said to her i gave an e mail to chennai consulate with all my situtation.she asked what e mail id you gave e mail?i said .March 2nd morning she said come evening 3'O clock with all your documents .I thought she will give visa she got information from chennai.I asked her but she didn't say anything.Really she took 1hour 20 minutes interview and she asked about company .I said all the things.she asked all certificates and originals.then she asked pay checks i gave that.In that pay checks my address is where i worked that company address is there.What is this your company address is different and your home address is different.I explained her all the process.She asked after you come to us tell the all process how you will go to job?I explained her all the details.She discussed her co workers and she showed all documents to them . She asked about my skills.I told what i am doing.She asked company details and tax returns.Tax returns i don't have i will ask my employer thye will fax it to you.She gave fax number.but i don't know that number not worked .I took print outs and i went to consulate at 4.50p.m already closed come tomorrow.Again i went next day mornig i gave her all documents she asked.She took and come after 2'O clock.We went 2'O clock.after 45 minutes she gave C1 visa .She treated us like dogs. I said her i cleared my labour and i filed I-140.I have a son he is a citizen of united states.I spent lot of money for staying here i have not prepared like this much money i can spend like this amount i go to india for this C1 visa i no need to come to here.Why you are not giving visa why you took so long to give this visayou need any informatin i will provide.She said i can't issue H1B with this information .that's all.Really she showed what is hell.I don't know why she did like this.I have to go back to india now.If any one knows please give me a advice what i have to do in this situtation.Labour cleared I filed I-140. But i am waiting my prayarity date to appply for 485.Please help me in this conditation what i have to do?

Hi Dear friends,
 I & my family had been to mexico to recently get his H1 B stamping done.Overall it was easy & no problems encountered that could not be dealt with.
1) we stayed at motel 8 in the border on the 13th jan night and started for
Mexico on the 14th morning by 7:00 am.
Firstly we did not know which exit to take so we got confused and by mistake landed near the exit of cars leaving for Mexico.(Never get into mexico via car without visa as you will land in trouble).We requested a cop to help us "back up" the car & take a u-turn.Trust me when I say he wasn't the most cooperative but finally complied with the request.(FYI:Take the exit that reads as"Last exit" to go to the border which is where you come to the point of the "bridge" into mexico).

2)we walked through into mexico.The orange cabs that are cheaper weren't around so no option but to take the yellow cab,paid him $10 & went to the consulate.

3)There is a place immediately next to the consulate where you can take up a locker & u must place all electronic equipment like cellphones etc out there as they are not allowed into the consulate.He will charge you $3/day.

4)we travelled with a baby(7 month old) so it got all the more difficult,esp because no matter what,you have to stand in those huge lengthy lines irrespective of what time your appointment was at.As baby was tired & restless I requested them to let us go in & after a few minutes they did let us go in.

5)Before stepping into the consulate,make sure you have the fees that needs to be paid in the consulate ready in the form of demand drafts from the bank which opens only at 9:00 am.if there is more than one of you,make sure that one of you stands in line while the other makes a trip to the bank.

6)We went into the consulate and after the initial scanning & running the metal detectors they let us go in.There was a huge waiting line inside too.After you get through this line you get into the actual place where the interviews are conducted.

7) Finally we went in to the consulate where there were two separate sections
a)One where your passport check,Visa check,finger printing,etc was done.then you get to seat in another line that takes you "face to face" with the person that decides your visa status.She asked us a couple of questions like

a)what does your company do?
b)job responsibilities
c)where do you work
d)How long have you been working with this company.

After this the lady asked us to pay $50/- at the counter & collect the visa at 3:00pm .we were all done.We went out of the consulate paid the $50/-.

(FYI: there is a nice italian restaurant just across the street.I think it was called "Merlot bisque" but notvery sure.)We came back at 3:00 pm & collected visas.(FYI:Make sure u'r 797 is there in the passport or ask for it if it is not).Took a Taxi to the border & as our visa was valid we walked through.(FYI:if is has expired there is a building with flags just at close proximity to the main building where you have to get your new I-94 & then get into the main building where they will stamp it & Let you come back into the usa.)

We met another couple from VA(virginia)who had come for transfer from L1 to H1.He had no problems either.He told them that he had come to visit his Brother in law from VA when they asked him why he came here.
Well do not know much about what they had asked him but he had 5-6 min of interview in all that's all.

All they judge you is by your documentation & composure & confidence.If you project these then there should be no problem in getting through.

Good Luck!!

Hi Folks,
Just wanted to share my H1 stamping (renewal) experience (problem) at Tijuana. Eventhough this happend at Tijuana, it might be relevant to other consulates too.

I work as research scientist for a medical device company and my area is chemistry. Scientist profession / chemistry area falls under Technology Alert List (TAL) and that is one of the main reason for the trouble I had.

Just for your information, the bank at Tijuana opens only at 9 am. So, make sure your appt is at a later time (although they allowed me to report at 9 after getting the draft. Had appt at 8 am). I got called in at about 11 a.m.

The consular asked me what I do and I told her that I was working as a research scientist and I develop insulin formulations. She glanced at my wife and kids and asked me if they were my family, I said yes. She asked me if I had travel plans and I said yes. She then said " I am glad you are here because, your case will take a little longer to process". She said I needed a security check. I asked her if that meant that I will be stuck in Tijuana. She said that she is NOT cancelling my (expired) visa and I MIGHT be able to go into San Diego based on the valid I94. She said that she will call me once the security check is complete or I could call them after 5 weeks. My passport was stamped "received appln on 09-14-04" and was given back along with H1 papers. She took my job description and typed it in her computer (for security check).

I came down to the border. The person at the border who checked my documents said that I cannot enter the country as I do not have a valid visa. I tried to explain to him that the consular said that it is fine. He refused and refered me to OB Court (I don't know what that means). Basically I had to go to another office building and meet an officer. I had to wait about an hour (during which I was calling my travel agent to figure out how I can fly out of Tijuana to India!!). That officer looked at my childrens passport (US Citizens) and then looked at my Valid I94s and then said that "you are good to go!!". He took the new I94 stapled it on the passport and stamped "entered on 09-13-04" and then when I came back to the regular entry point again, I was allowed to enter the country.

Moral of the story, if your occupation is under TAL list the chances are that they might make a security check. This might happen at any consulate including India. (perhaps that is what the consular said that "I am glad you are here". Just prepare your backup plans, no matter where you go. One more thing, I saw her "log" for security checks, it had a lot of chinese names like lu, lee, etc. The log had about 25 names. Which means Tijuana is involved with at least 25 security checks. Now the issue is whether the 25 checks were ordered in 1 year, 6 months, ???? So, the frequency of these checks are unclear. As far as I could see, I did not see Indian names (just had a couple second peek at the log).

If you fly into Canada and Mexico, you will not be able to come back as they would collect your I94. If you drive, you have some chance especially if the consular does not cancel your expired visa. In my case everyone involved including the consular, immigration officer might have given me a break as I had my wife and two children aged 3 and 6.

The article at http://www.faegre.com/articles/article_1053.aspx and some other articles that I read suggest that "people listed under TAL MUST undergo security check". So, if you are in TAL don't try at Mexico or Canada. Go to India and be prepared for a longer wait.

I will try to update once my security check come through so you guys can have an idea as to how long it takes for the check.

Meanwhile, if any of you know the time it takes for security check, please let me know.

Feel free to ask any questions that you may have, I will try to answer.

ela