Hi,
I went for my H-1 stamping to Nogales some time in May and I got it sucessfully stamped. This site and the people posting threads in it were extremely helpful, especially one lady who had posted her entire A-Z experience in the form of a pdf file.
So now its payback time!
I drove to Nogales with my brother who also needed to get his H-1 stamped and who flew in to Phoenix from NY. I live in Phoenix, so I chose Nogales though a lot of people scrared me about there. But I read the threads in this forum and knew that my fears were unfounded.
I drove really late in the night (I think we started only around 11:30pm on Sunday) and so reached there around 3 in the morning. I was a bit worried about finding my way to Nogales as I am not very good with directions unless I have mapquest printed directions in front of me..but there are big sign boards all alogn the way as you near Nogales and you can easily take on of the exits and stay in a cheaper motel about 10 miles from the border. Thats what we did..we stayed in Motel-8 ..payed about 60$ (I think) for the night.
We left for the border at about 6:30 in the morning. Near the border there are big sign boards posted everyhwere pointing to places where you can park you car for I htink about 5$s. There is a Mc and BurgerKig where you can eat your breakfast (if you are not too nervous to eat that is!
).
Then there aare hand written boards pointing to the direction where you can walk to reach the border. If incase you havent taken enough cash on you ( I would suggest you need about 200$ max), then there is a bank(BOA) nearby where you can take money out.
The border is just a turnstile kind of a thing . Noone is around. You can just walk across. I had heard conflicting reports about the need for a entry permit. So I called the counslate before hand. Someone there told me you dont need a permit if you are planning to be there less than 3 days. Later on people told me that they were told just the opposite when they called then counsulate. But still, my vote is that you dont really need an entry permit.
You walk across the border and you can find cabs driving around. Just ask a cab to take you to the US counsultate. IUt takes you about 6-8$ to get there. Once there we saw this long line of people who had already ocme there bfore us. I was suprised by the no. of indians there. They make you fill out ALL the forms even if you are a female fill out the form tagged only for males (i forgot which one was that)., Basically all three forms on the visa site (DS 156,157,158). IT saves you a lot of time. Also leave everything but your basic essentials behind. They didnot even let me take lipsticks/combs/mirror/perfume..etc etc which are there in almost every female's handbag. Even your cellphone is not allowed inside. But there is a place outside the counsulate( a small shop ) where you can elave everything and not worry about it.
Then they do a total security check on you. CHeck you r belongings ...make you walk thru scanners..much like an airport..probably more secure!
ONce pass that, we were asked to stand in another line in front of a smaller window. There they just check your docs and make sure you have the petition, passport,.etc. Then they give you a no. and ask you to sit among a row of chairs facing a series of windows.
ONce your no. is called you are asked to go to a counter and ask for your fingerprints and they take a photo. HEre they just make small talk with you..so dont get nervous. They might ask you where you are coming in from and where you work and stuff like that. But its all very casual.
Then you go back to your seats and wait for your no. to be called again. Then you go to adifferent counter and there they ask you for diffrerent forms and ask you questions like where you work? what does your company do? They asked me for my MS degree certificate. Asked me where I did my masters and wht did Istudy. That was basically it! They asked my bro for his I-129 and employment letter.
Then they tell u to go and come back at 3pm for your docs. We took a cab and went to a nearby MExico market where I proceeded to shop like crazy for mexico stuff. My bro has still not forgiven me for making him lug all those bags back and forth
When you go back you are either given your docs right off or made to wait. But ppl who waited were also alomst imeediately with us when we went for the I-94 stamping at the border..so no sweat!
The I-94 stamping takes very long..esp it feels like that since you feel as though u are alsmot done!
Tips: Donot take much stuff with you. You will be asked to remove watches, cellphone ,etc,etc outside the counsulate and keep it there. So if you dont need something really badyl..I owuld suggest dont take it with you!
Take all possible docs. Gp thru the site and list down all docs. Then make a folder with tabs so that you can take out any docs they ask immediately!.
Smile..be very confident!! Dont sweat over the interview! Its very cool believe me!
All the best to all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went for my H-1 stamping to Nogales some time in May and I got it sucessfully stamped. This site and the people posting threads in it were extremely helpful, especially one lady who had posted her entire A-Z experience in the form of a pdf file.
So now its payback time!
I drove to Nogales with my brother who also needed to get his H-1 stamped and who flew in to Phoenix from NY. I live in Phoenix, so I chose Nogales though a lot of people scrared me about there. But I read the threads in this forum and knew that my fears were unfounded.
I drove really late in the night (I think we started only around 11:30pm on Sunday) and so reached there around 3 in the morning. I was a bit worried about finding my way to Nogales as I am not very good with directions unless I have mapquest printed directions in front of me..but there are big sign boards all alogn the way as you near Nogales and you can easily take on of the exits and stay in a cheaper motel about 10 miles from the border. Thats what we did..we stayed in Motel-8 ..payed about 60$ (I think) for the night.
We left for the border at about 6:30 in the morning. Near the border there are big sign boards posted everyhwere pointing to places where you can park you car for I htink about 5$s. There is a Mc and BurgerKig where you can eat your breakfast (if you are not too nervous to eat that is!
). Then there aare hand written boards pointing to the direction where you can walk to reach the border. If incase you havent taken enough cash on you ( I would suggest you need about 200$ max), then there is a bank(BOA) nearby where you can take money out.
The border is just a turnstile kind of a thing . Noone is around. You can just walk across. I had heard conflicting reports about the need for a entry permit. So I called the counslate before hand. Someone there told me you dont need a permit if you are planning to be there less than 3 days. Later on people told me that they were told just the opposite when they called then counsulate. But still, my vote is that you dont really need an entry permit.
You walk across the border and you can find cabs driving around. Just ask a cab to take you to the US counsultate. IUt takes you about 6-8$ to get there. Once there we saw this long line of people who had already ocme there bfore us. I was suprised by the no. of indians there. They make you fill out ALL the forms even if you are a female fill out the form tagged only for males (i forgot which one was that)., Basically all three forms on the visa site (DS 156,157,158). IT saves you a lot of time. Also leave everything but your basic essentials behind. They didnot even let me take lipsticks/combs/mirror/perfume..etc etc which are there in almost every female's handbag. Even your cellphone is not allowed inside. But there is a place outside the counsulate( a small shop ) where you can elave everything and not worry about it.
Then they do a total security check on you. CHeck you r belongings ...make you walk thru scanners..much like an airport..probably more secure!
ONce pass that, we were asked to stand in another line in front of a smaller window. There they just check your docs and make sure you have the petition, passport,.etc. Then they give you a no. and ask you to sit among a row of chairs facing a series of windows.
ONce your no. is called you are asked to go to a counter and ask for your fingerprints and they take a photo. HEre they just make small talk with you..so dont get nervous. They might ask you where you are coming in from and where you work and stuff like that. But its all very casual.
Then you go back to your seats and wait for your no. to be called again. Then you go to adifferent counter and there they ask you for diffrerent forms and ask you questions like where you work? what does your company do? They asked me for my MS degree certificate. Asked me where I did my masters and wht did Istudy. That was basically it! They asked my bro for his I-129 and employment letter.
Then they tell u to go and come back at 3pm for your docs. We took a cab and went to a nearby MExico market where I proceeded to shop like crazy for mexico stuff. My bro has still not forgiven me for making him lug all those bags back and forth
When you go back you are either given your docs right off or made to wait. But ppl who waited were also alomst imeediately with us when we went for the I-94 stamping at the border..so no sweat!
The I-94 stamping takes very long..esp it feels like that since you feel as though u are alsmot done!
Tips: Donot take much stuff with you. You will be asked to remove watches, cellphone ,etc,etc outside the counsulate and keep it there. So if you dont need something really badyl..I owuld suggest dont take it with you!
Take all possible docs. Gp thru the site and list down all docs. Then make a folder with tabs so that you can take out any docs they ask immediately!.
Smile..be very confident!! Dont sweat over the interview! Its very cool believe me!
All the best to all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!