ME:
1. B.E from India and M.S from USA. On OPT for a year after M.S
2. This is the 3rd H-1B I have but never traveled on H-1, so this was the first H-1B visa stamping
3. Valid F-1 and one expired B1/B2 in PP
4. One rejected B1/B2 visa application stamp in PP
5. Live and work in San Diego
6. Work at a very large corporation. This is just letting you know the situation because some one else might have to carry company tax filings, etc.
7. Set up an appointment on Sept 1 for Oct 6th
8. Cash: $105 DD + $50 reciprocity fee + $16 cabs + $10 food + $6 immigration fee = $200.00 – I carried $500.00 and kept the wallet in the front pocket at all times
9. No criminal record – a couple of speeding tickets because of a heavy foot!
APPOINTMENT:
1. Got on to NVARS – https://www.nvras.com (note that it is HTTPS)
2. Filled in my details and got the reference # that is important for getting the date
3. My advice – if the date you seek at your choice of consulate is available online, do it online – that is the simplest way
4. BUT – if you are having issues getting the dates, waking up in the morning and seeing that the dates are all take up – here is what you should keep in mind:
a. Check the NVARS website at 10.00pm PST and see what is available
b. Call the # 1-888-840-0032 at 4.00am PST next day and book your appt.
c. You cannot go online and do it at 4.00am because not all consulates are open at that time – but you can over the phone.
DOCUMENTS:
1. DS-156 – mark N/A for empty spaces
2. DS -157
3. Passport
4. 5 2x2 size photos – 1 is stapled to DS-156. The other 4 were backup.
5. I-797 (Documents 1 -5 are the essentials; should be together)
6. LCA + I-129
7. Employment letter
8. All previous I-797
9. All previous I-20s
10. EAD card (Important if you were on OPT and now moving to H-1)
11. All previous employment/offer letters
12. All paycheck – I went back 1 year but had just 1 from the present employer since I just started with them
13. All previous tax filings (W2 + tax return papers)
14. B.E and M.S. degree certificates and transcripts
15. Proof of residence (lease + utility bills)
BIG DAY:
1. Drove my car down to the border at San Ysidro; reached at 7.15am and parked on the RIGHT side of the bridge in the $8.00/day lot. The right side makes it easier to cross over to Mexico, just that when you come back you have to war some more.
2. Walked through 1 revolving gate and then another a short distance up and was in Mexico. No one was there, there were no officials, and I just walked through.
3. You go in and BAM – you feel like you are in India; just with a different language. The sounds, the heat, the dust, the dirt is all reminiscent of good ole home!
4. The taxi stand is right there – it is the yellow taxis that are predominant. You could wait for a white LIBRE taxi and pay just $5.00 to the consulate but I didn’t want to wait so I took the yellow one. The guy said 10, I said 8, he agreed and we were on our way.
5. Takes 15 mins to get there; the consulate is a 2 level white building with barricades and a cop car out front. Perpendicular to the consulate is the BANAMEX bank; half a minute walk.
6. I was there at 7.30 – had to wait till 9.00 for the damn bank to open so sat in the shade and ate biscuits and read the newspaper!
7. You will see a line outside the consulate that seems to get bigger every minute – don’t worry, when you get back from the bank, the line will be gone OR if the line is there, go and tell the guard that you have a 10am appt.
8. At the bank I paid $105 and got the receipt for the DD – they will check the PP; make sure that when you get the receipt, it has your PP # on it.
9. Got to the consulate; some one will check your essential documents and you will be let in soon.
10. You go through security screening – make sure you have NO electronics. They made me open my bag and checked the pens too! In fact I had used my valet key for the car and left the electronic key at home. Paranoia serves us well sometimes! So no cell phones, no flash drives, mp3 players, etc.
11. You go up to a semi covered seating area where after a 30 min wait you go into the consulate
12. This is NOT the interview; you are directed to one of four tables where your documents are verified, information entered, fingerprints taken and you are photographed. They verify your identity and some essential information
13. Thereafter you come back to the semi-enclosed area and await your actual interview turn – another 30 mins wait.
14. When you are sent back inside; a 15 minute wait will take you to the interview window. DAMN NERVE RACKING PROCESS!
15. At the interview window be polite, straightforward and CLEAR!
16. She asked me to verify the type of visa, the company I work for, my degree, the completion of my education – she then stamped my F-1 visa as CANCELLED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
17. She then asked me to place my left index finger on the reader for verification
18. I was asked for the employment letter and LCA – she merely glanced through it and then told me to pay the reciprocity fee and collect the visa at 3pm. For a minute there when she was checking the LCA – my heart skipped a beat. Only speak when spoken to and answer short and sweet – just an observation. What seemed like a 10 minute interview was in reality a 120s one!
19. I went out; turned right from the gate and walked 50 feet to another window. There you enter, get screened again and go in and pay the $50.00. Please keep the receipt that you are given, it is your proof of payment when you collect the PP.
20. I finished this at 11.15am. That gave me 4 hours to do NOTHING.
21. Went to the small restaurant next to the consulate and ate a burrito – tell the guy NO SPANISH and he will give you an English menu with dollar values.
22. Spent the next hour eating and reading.
23. You could take a cab to REVOLUCION and walk arnd and do a little shopping but if I did that without my significant other – I’d be shot back home!! That reminds me – you should bring along some one or your wife/gf etc. It is safe arnd the consulate, no problems whatsoever. Off course the other person should have a valid visa and documents to re-enter the USA!
24. So I basically hung arnd and read for 4 hrs!!
25. Around 2pm a guy sets up a cart outside with fresh fruit. It is amazing!!! All the fruit you can think of with masala and lime on top – MMMMM YUMMM!!!
26. At 3pm a guard calls out each name and you go to the entrance window, show your receipt and collect the PP. Make sure everything is correct on the visa and you are given back your original I-797 (usually in an envelope stapled to the PP).
27. Take the cab back to the border.
28. At the border, when walking to the checkpoint, on the right is the immigration office. It is yellowish with blue tiles with 3 flags out front. Stop there and get in to line. You will be called inside in around 15 – 30 mins depending on the crowd and the officers inside.
29. Inside you get the new I-94, he will staple it to the PP, and you pay the $6.00 fee.
30. At the checkpoint they’ll ask if you are getting anything back and then herald you to the luggage scanner. That takes all of 2mins.
31. Walk to the parking lot- make sure you have kept the parking ticket carefully!
HOME SWEET HOME!!!
MISC:
1. Buy only closed water/soda bottles
2. The Peso sign is similar to the dollar one.
3. You can buy a calling card from a shop near the consulate – I bought a 30 peso one which works out to $3.00. Put the card in the public phone and leave it there till the end of the call. Dial 001- 10 digit US #. The amnt remaining on the card is on screen
4. People at the consulate are surprisingly polite and very helpful; any issues you have will be handled well
5. Restroom in the consulate is near the interview windows; ask the guard
6. I did not get the Mexico visa/permit. To be absolutely bullet-proof, you might want to – it takes 3-4 weeks.
7. Did not use ANY service; personally I feel it is a waste of good money. I admit I did consider using someone but decided against it; and on hind sight I think it is smooth sailing on your own.
8. Keep a cap and shades – there is no cover anywhere unless you are inside.
9. Only soda vending machine inside – no food.
10. Keep your drivers license handy; you are required to show ID a couple of times
Thank you everyone for posting your experiences, the information helped me prepare well for all contingencies. A lot of people ask questions here that I wouldn’t have thought of myself; helped me a lot. All the best to those on their way to get the visa. My email is at yahoo and username is snubasu.
1. B.E from India and M.S from USA. On OPT for a year after M.S
2. This is the 3rd H-1B I have but never traveled on H-1, so this was the first H-1B visa stamping
3. Valid F-1 and one expired B1/B2 in PP
4. One rejected B1/B2 visa application stamp in PP
5. Live and work in San Diego
6. Work at a very large corporation. This is just letting you know the situation because some one else might have to carry company tax filings, etc.
7. Set up an appointment on Sept 1 for Oct 6th
8. Cash: $105 DD + $50 reciprocity fee + $16 cabs + $10 food + $6 immigration fee = $200.00 – I carried $500.00 and kept the wallet in the front pocket at all times
9. No criminal record – a couple of speeding tickets because of a heavy foot!
APPOINTMENT:
1. Got on to NVARS – https://www.nvras.com (note that it is HTTPS)
2. Filled in my details and got the reference # that is important for getting the date
3. My advice – if the date you seek at your choice of consulate is available online, do it online – that is the simplest way
4. BUT – if you are having issues getting the dates, waking up in the morning and seeing that the dates are all take up – here is what you should keep in mind:
a. Check the NVARS website at 10.00pm PST and see what is available
b. Call the # 1-888-840-0032 at 4.00am PST next day and book your appt.
c. You cannot go online and do it at 4.00am because not all consulates are open at that time – but you can over the phone.
DOCUMENTS:
1. DS-156 – mark N/A for empty spaces
2. DS -157
3. Passport
4. 5 2x2 size photos – 1 is stapled to DS-156. The other 4 were backup.
5. I-797 (Documents 1 -5 are the essentials; should be together)
6. LCA + I-129
7. Employment letter
8. All previous I-797
9. All previous I-20s
10. EAD card (Important if you were on OPT and now moving to H-1)
11. All previous employment/offer letters
12. All paycheck – I went back 1 year but had just 1 from the present employer since I just started with them
13. All previous tax filings (W2 + tax return papers)
14. B.E and M.S. degree certificates and transcripts
15. Proof of residence (lease + utility bills)
BIG DAY:
1. Drove my car down to the border at San Ysidro; reached at 7.15am and parked on the RIGHT side of the bridge in the $8.00/day lot. The right side makes it easier to cross over to Mexico, just that when you come back you have to war some more.
2. Walked through 1 revolving gate and then another a short distance up and was in Mexico. No one was there, there were no officials, and I just walked through.
3. You go in and BAM – you feel like you are in India; just with a different language. The sounds, the heat, the dust, the dirt is all reminiscent of good ole home!
4. The taxi stand is right there – it is the yellow taxis that are predominant. You could wait for a white LIBRE taxi and pay just $5.00 to the consulate but I didn’t want to wait so I took the yellow one. The guy said 10, I said 8, he agreed and we were on our way.
5. Takes 15 mins to get there; the consulate is a 2 level white building with barricades and a cop car out front. Perpendicular to the consulate is the BANAMEX bank; half a minute walk.
6. I was there at 7.30 – had to wait till 9.00 for the damn bank to open so sat in the shade and ate biscuits and read the newspaper!
7. You will see a line outside the consulate that seems to get bigger every minute – don’t worry, when you get back from the bank, the line will be gone OR if the line is there, go and tell the guard that you have a 10am appt.
8. At the bank I paid $105 and got the receipt for the DD – they will check the PP; make sure that when you get the receipt, it has your PP # on it.
9. Got to the consulate; some one will check your essential documents and you will be let in soon.
10. You go through security screening – make sure you have NO electronics. They made me open my bag and checked the pens too! In fact I had used my valet key for the car and left the electronic key at home. Paranoia serves us well sometimes! So no cell phones, no flash drives, mp3 players, etc.
11. You go up to a semi covered seating area where after a 30 min wait you go into the consulate
12. This is NOT the interview; you are directed to one of four tables where your documents are verified, information entered, fingerprints taken and you are photographed. They verify your identity and some essential information
13. Thereafter you come back to the semi-enclosed area and await your actual interview turn – another 30 mins wait.
14. When you are sent back inside; a 15 minute wait will take you to the interview window. DAMN NERVE RACKING PROCESS!
15. At the interview window be polite, straightforward and CLEAR!
16. She asked me to verify the type of visa, the company I work for, my degree, the completion of my education – she then stamped my F-1 visa as CANCELLED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
17. She then asked me to place my left index finger on the reader for verification
18. I was asked for the employment letter and LCA – she merely glanced through it and then told me to pay the reciprocity fee and collect the visa at 3pm. For a minute there when she was checking the LCA – my heart skipped a beat. Only speak when spoken to and answer short and sweet – just an observation. What seemed like a 10 minute interview was in reality a 120s one!
19. I went out; turned right from the gate and walked 50 feet to another window. There you enter, get screened again and go in and pay the $50.00. Please keep the receipt that you are given, it is your proof of payment when you collect the PP.
20. I finished this at 11.15am. That gave me 4 hours to do NOTHING.
21. Went to the small restaurant next to the consulate and ate a burrito – tell the guy NO SPANISH and he will give you an English menu with dollar values.
22. Spent the next hour eating and reading.
23. You could take a cab to REVOLUCION and walk arnd and do a little shopping but if I did that without my significant other – I’d be shot back home!! That reminds me – you should bring along some one or your wife/gf etc. It is safe arnd the consulate, no problems whatsoever. Off course the other person should have a valid visa and documents to re-enter the USA!
24. So I basically hung arnd and read for 4 hrs!!
25. Around 2pm a guy sets up a cart outside with fresh fruit. It is amazing!!! All the fruit you can think of with masala and lime on top – MMMMM YUMMM!!!
26. At 3pm a guard calls out each name and you go to the entrance window, show your receipt and collect the PP. Make sure everything is correct on the visa and you are given back your original I-797 (usually in an envelope stapled to the PP).
27. Take the cab back to the border.
28. At the border, when walking to the checkpoint, on the right is the immigration office. It is yellowish with blue tiles with 3 flags out front. Stop there and get in to line. You will be called inside in around 15 – 30 mins depending on the crowd and the officers inside.
29. Inside you get the new I-94, he will staple it to the PP, and you pay the $6.00 fee.
30. At the checkpoint they’ll ask if you are getting anything back and then herald you to the luggage scanner. That takes all of 2mins.
31. Walk to the parking lot- make sure you have kept the parking ticket carefully!
HOME SWEET HOME!!!
MISC:
1. Buy only closed water/soda bottles
2. The Peso sign is similar to the dollar one.
3. You can buy a calling card from a shop near the consulate – I bought a 30 peso one which works out to $3.00. Put the card in the public phone and leave it there till the end of the call. Dial 001- 10 digit US #. The amnt remaining on the card is on screen
4. People at the consulate are surprisingly polite and very helpful; any issues you have will be handled well
5. Restroom in the consulate is near the interview windows; ask the guard
6. I did not get the Mexico visa/permit. To be absolutely bullet-proof, you might want to – it takes 3-4 weeks.
7. Did not use ANY service; personally I feel it is a waste of good money. I admit I did consider using someone but decided against it; and on hind sight I think it is smooth sailing on your own.
8. Keep a cap and shades – there is no cover anywhere unless you are inside.
9. Only soda vending machine inside – no food.
10. Keep your drivers license handy; you are required to show ID a couple of times
Thank you everyone for posting your experiences, the information helped me prepare well for all contingencies. A lot of people ask questions here that I wouldn’t have thought of myself; helped me a lot. All the best to those on their way to get the visa. My email is at yahoo and username is snubasu.