Any one going to Matamoros for h1b stamping?

[samreddy123]

Hi,

I have ASC appointment on Jan 28th and consulate interview on Jan 31st. Anyone is planning to visit matamoros for h1 stamping on same dates?

[samreddy123]

H1b stamping at matamoros

Hi,

I had my ASC appointment on Jan 28th at 5:00pm. I took assistance from Mexico assistance services(MAS). I have driven from Houston TX to brownsville. I reached Brownsville by 2pm on 28th. Mark arranged a cab driver to pick me up there at Mariott Residency Inn. You can park your car at Residency Inn. The driver took care of getting my mexican 7-day permit to enter into mexico and dropped me at Best Western hotel.

You should tell at the reception that you are with MAS so you get some discount ( i guess if you book it online also you get it for same price). The hotel offers very good breakfast buffet. You can take room with breakfast option also.

Mark has another cab driver (chimo) in Mexico. he would take care of transportation to ASC /consulate/DHL location. ASC/Consulate/DHL are located with in 1 mile radius from Best Western Hotel.

I was ready to go to ASC at 4.45pm and Chimo was waiting in the lobby to pick me up.

The ASC interview lasted for couple of minutes. They verified my I160 confirmation, took finger prints and photo...that's it. They gave me ASC interview confirmation. you need this confirmation letter to attend consulate interview. Again chimo picked me and dropped me back at the Hotel.


I met a few desi guys staying in the hotel for a week and waiting for their passports. I have to no option to kill time. We roamed around here and there to find new restaurants.

People have been staying in the hotel and waiting for passports because new system doesn't work properly. Sometimes DHL waywill(tracking) number doesn't show up for few people. You can go to back to consulate ask at the help-desk window about your passport, if you didn't get it in 5 business days.



I had my consulate interview on Jan 31st. A driver ( chimo) will be waiting in the hotel lobby for you 15 minutes before your interview. he dropped me at the consulate at 8.45am. I stood in the queue for 10 minutes. They allowed us inside at 9am. When you enter into the consulate they do normal scan and check your i797 and passport and was given a token number.

There are 7 counters where VOs are interviewing people. There were 3 small offices beside where I was asked to go and provide some information regarding i797 and other info. I don;t know its for only h1b or for other categories also.

Then I was asked to wait until i get my token number called.

VO: Good morning, How are you?
me: Good. Thanks . How are you doing Officer?
VO: Good

passed on passport, i797, petition and LCA

VO: give me your last two years w2s
me: I passed on last three years w2s as they were having good figures ( no issues)

I had two w2s for 2009 as I changed my employer. He was looking at one of them. I told him there was another w2 for 2009 with my current employer.

VO:he looked at the other one . Said Ok

he typed something in the system

VO: give me your employment verification letter?
me: I just passed on the employment verification letter

VO: what is your designation?
me: computer programmer

VO: were you on bench?
me: No

VO started explaining about new process about ASC and how long does it takes to get passport. He said that it would take atmost 5 days to get passport so he suggested me to let someone know in houston that I am ok in matamoros.

He gave me a white paper that says " **** **** visa is approved **** **** **" and instructions to track passport with DHL

me: Thank you Officer.


I came out of the consulate at 11am. Chimo was waiting outside to pick me up. He dropped me at the hotel.

.....................................
Still, I have been waiting for my passport in matamoros. Hopefully i get it in couple of days.

If you are coming to matamoros for visa stamping, please be prepared to stay for at least a week. As this is new process, it is obvious that there would be some problems like passport misplaced, DHL tracking number not updated...etc.

[Cheers2All]

What documents are required for the ASC appointment? what is I160? Did you mean DS160?