Hi Guys, just had my H1B stamping renewal from Nogales. Its payback time now as this has been a very useful website with nitty gritty's
Here is a detailed description of my trip.
- My appointment was on 17th july at 8:30 am. I took a flight @ 7:30am morning from Los Angeles to Tucson via southwest. Came out be around $150 return. Reached Tucson @ 9:00am.
- Rented a car from Dollar rent a car which is @ the airport terminal toward the right of Baggage claim for 2 days.
- Ate some food at Burger King before leaving for Nogales. Started driving to Nogales,AZ which is about 65 Miles from airport. Reached there at 12 noon. I had a booking at Best Western as mentioned on the same website for about $65 a night for 2 days as I wanted to keep some buffer and thank GOD I did. The owner is a very nice guy with pretty decent motel. Checked into room at 1 pm and had some rest till evening.
- Went out to meet some other folks just to get an idea of who else is going and met with the owner for minor direction details to the border and stuff.
Appointment Day:
- Got ready by monday morning to at 6:30am, had some coffee and lil breakfast at the motel which is pretty good and left for Border.
- About a mile I drove my car and found a Parking LOT across McDonalds, though McDOnalds had a parking too but Since I had a kid I parked at the other side which is lil' more closer to the border.
Parked my car, Took my Stroller which was a blessing and my family and crossed the Border. All you guys who are looking for agents for Permit and stuff, Dont waste ur money. U dont need no permit. No one is there and its perfectly legal. I had spent lot of sweat in thinking about the stupid permit and at the end didnt take it. I found some people had it but they paid $400 for nothing.
- Anyways after crossing border took a cab parked right as you cross the border. $7 Americano Consulato was the Buzz there so got a cab from there straight to Consulate and reached there at 7:45 am. Had about 30 people standing before me. Stood there. One thing guys make sure you fill all the forms irrespective of your status, or the website mentions or not. DS-156,157 and 158 even if you are h1b renewa/revalidation, f1 to H1 whatever. It sounds stupid but they still make us fill. I didnt fill and had to stand out to fill that.
- After filling the forms made my wife stand in the line and went to Banamex walking which is about 5 min walk. Reached the bank at 8:15am. There were about 10 people standing outside before me. I stood in line and waited for the bank to open. At 9am the bank open and all of us entered, took a token and sat on the chair, I had to get a receipt for me and my wife so I took copies of mine and hers passport, I also had original passport, but u dont need that, copies are fine too. they called the number and I paid $107 per head based on that day conversion rate and got the receipt.
- After getting the receipt @ 9:20 am, took a cab along with 4 other ppl as for about $7, just to avoid dust and walking. Reached back and put the receipt in my papers and went to the guy who was checking papers in the line. He checked our papers and told us to go to the gate and wait for our turn to be called inside the consulate. Immediately a guy came and told us to walk through the screening area. One more thing they dont allow any equipment so just in case if u have something there is guy who has a small place right ahead the consulate who takes ur bag.
- We took our stroller inside and went into the consulate. One lady checked our papers,
- all the forms, Petition (I797) and attached a number on the top and told us to wait for our finger printing .After 10 minutes our number came and me and my wife and kid went inside for the finger printing. took 5 mins and they told us to right next to other section for our visa interview. We waited for about 45 mins to an hours and our turn came. The lady asked for our forms, original Petition, I 129 and started putting some data in computer, She asked me how long I have been working for my co, and what position do I work for. She asked for my resume which I had current one with lot of technical stuff. But over all it was nothing, they just check the validity of what we are telling them. Be confident and dont sweat. Its verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry Easy.
- Gave us a receipt and told us to come at 3pm to pick our passport and told us to deposit the #50 reciprocatory fee at the counter on the left. We did that and came out at about 1pm. Took a cab from there to Burger King which is right next to Banamex, as I had a kid and didn't want to walk in the sun.
- reached there met some other folks there and chatted and ate some food to waste time. At 2:45 pm started walking back to the consulate as we had some folks with us so we preffered walking. Reached there at 3 had about 50 people before us and went inside the consulate 1 more time. One thing I would like to mention, u dont need to take ur wife again inside and they can wait outside as there is a shade for the people waiting outside. About 15 minutes we went into the window to collect passport and came out at 3:30pm. As far as I know everyone I saw got the visa.
- Took a cab again outside the consulate and went straight back to the immigration checkpoint.
- This is the most tedious task. There were about 100 people in line but they made a seperate line for people with H1b and F1 and stuff. they took us to a room above and made us stand there. About 50-100 people. Heard from someone that there system crashed and they were filing the I 94's manually. We reached there at 4:00 pm and got our I94's at 8:00pm adn we were the lucky ones as I came to know later that some folks got there I94's at 12am - 1am in the night. The sooner u go the better it is but DONT PUSH UR FELLOW HUMAN BEING AS THEY ARE THERE FOR THE SAME REASON. BETTER TO RESPECT EACH OTHER.
- No letter needed here as they need ur original petition and I 129's and give u a new I 94 with the visa expiry date.
One more suggestion dont have a same day flight back. some people had to cancel it. I took the same day earlier but few days before my appointment I postponed it to next day.
- After my Immigration went to the parking lot, Picked my car and went back to the motel. Met with the owner of the motel just to give my experience as he wanted to know what happened and went to my room and had a great sleep
- Next day, tuesday, woke up at 6:15 am and got ready, had some breakfast again. took my car and headed towards Tucson @ about 7:30am, to catch my flight at 9:55am to Los angeles. Also there is a checkpoint again where they stop you and ask you if you are an American Citizen. Kepp your passpport with Visa in ur Car to show them as you wont have to open ur trunk to show them like in my case.
- Finally Returned my car at the airport terminal and straight to southwest. Got my checkin done and back to LA by 1am.
Few points to mention.
- Dont sweat over Mexican Visa, Its not needed and no need to hire Agents.
- carry all documents, I was asked for my original petition (I 797) with the current co. as I had filed for my extension and took the latest one, and luckily i carried the original one.
- If family with kids take stroller.
- If small kids, keep them away from sugar, I mean coke and stuff. Some kids got real hyper and cranky there.
- Dont book same day flight.
- Book a flight to Tucson, instead of Phoenix if u r planning to fly which I think is better.
- Book 2 night stay as u will be at peace and wont be too much stress unless u have to appear before ur boss the next day.
- BE CONFIDENT AND BOLD. The country needs you and they cannot deny your visa.
- HAVE A SMILE ON UR FACE and enjoy the trip.
_ Dont ask me what documents I carried as there are enough threads on this forum. And also each situation is diffrent so carry documents to prove ur job and position.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks to all the guys before you shared there experience as I was looking for some fresh experiences but looks like people didnt care after they got there visa. Well I hope this would help some of you as this was July 17th 2006 appointment. God bless.
- Winner 1
Here is a detailed description of my trip.
- My appointment was on 17th july at 8:30 am. I took a flight @ 7:30am morning from Los Angeles to Tucson via southwest. Came out be around $150 return. Reached Tucson @ 9:00am.
- Rented a car from Dollar rent a car which is @ the airport terminal toward the right of Baggage claim for 2 days.
- Ate some food at Burger King before leaving for Nogales. Started driving to Nogales,AZ which is about 65 Miles from airport. Reached there at 12 noon. I had a booking at Best Western as mentioned on the same website for about $65 a night for 2 days as I wanted to keep some buffer and thank GOD I did. The owner is a very nice guy with pretty decent motel. Checked into room at 1 pm and had some rest till evening.
- Went out to meet some other folks just to get an idea of who else is going and met with the owner for minor direction details to the border and stuff.
Appointment Day:
- Got ready by monday morning to at 6:30am, had some coffee and lil breakfast at the motel which is pretty good and left for Border.
- About a mile I drove my car and found a Parking LOT across McDonalds, though McDOnalds had a parking too but Since I had a kid I parked at the other side which is lil' more closer to the border.
Parked my car, Took my Stroller which was a blessing and my family and crossed the Border. All you guys who are looking for agents for Permit and stuff, Dont waste ur money. U dont need no permit. No one is there and its perfectly legal. I had spent lot of sweat in thinking about the stupid permit and at the end didnt take it. I found some people had it but they paid $400 for nothing.
- Anyways after crossing border took a cab parked right as you cross the border. $7 Americano Consulato was the Buzz there so got a cab from there straight to Consulate and reached there at 7:45 am. Had about 30 people standing before me. Stood there. One thing guys make sure you fill all the forms irrespective of your status, or the website mentions or not. DS-156,157 and 158 even if you are h1b renewa/revalidation, f1 to H1 whatever. It sounds stupid but they still make us fill. I didnt fill and had to stand out to fill that.
- After filling the forms made my wife stand in the line and went to Banamex walking which is about 5 min walk. Reached the bank at 8:15am. There were about 10 people standing outside before me. I stood in line and waited for the bank to open. At 9am the bank open and all of us entered, took a token and sat on the chair, I had to get a receipt for me and my wife so I took copies of mine and hers passport, I also had original passport, but u dont need that, copies are fine too. they called the number and I paid $107 per head based on that day conversion rate and got the receipt.
- After getting the receipt @ 9:20 am, took a cab along with 4 other ppl as for about $7, just to avoid dust and walking. Reached back and put the receipt in my papers and went to the guy who was checking papers in the line. He checked our papers and told us to go to the gate and wait for our turn to be called inside the consulate. Immediately a guy came and told us to walk through the screening area. One more thing they dont allow any equipment so just in case if u have something there is guy who has a small place right ahead the consulate who takes ur bag.
- We took our stroller inside and went into the consulate. One lady checked our papers,
- all the forms, Petition (I797) and attached a number on the top and told us to wait for our finger printing .After 10 minutes our number came and me and my wife and kid went inside for the finger printing. took 5 mins and they told us to right next to other section for our visa interview. We waited for about 45 mins to an hours and our turn came. The lady asked for our forms, original Petition, I 129 and started putting some data in computer, She asked me how long I have been working for my co, and what position do I work for. She asked for my resume which I had current one with lot of technical stuff. But over all it was nothing, they just check the validity of what we are telling them. Be confident and dont sweat. Its verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry Easy.
- Gave us a receipt and told us to come at 3pm to pick our passport and told us to deposit the #50 reciprocatory fee at the counter on the left. We did that and came out at about 1pm. Took a cab from there to Burger King which is right next to Banamex, as I had a kid and didn't want to walk in the sun.
- reached there met some other folks there and chatted and ate some food to waste time. At 2:45 pm started walking back to the consulate as we had some folks with us so we preffered walking. Reached there at 3 had about 50 people before us and went inside the consulate 1 more time. One thing I would like to mention, u dont need to take ur wife again inside and they can wait outside as there is a shade for the people waiting outside. About 15 minutes we went into the window to collect passport and came out at 3:30pm. As far as I know everyone I saw got the visa.
- Took a cab again outside the consulate and went straight back to the immigration checkpoint.
- This is the most tedious task. There were about 100 people in line but they made a seperate line for people with H1b and F1 and stuff. they took us to a room above and made us stand there. About 50-100 people. Heard from someone that there system crashed and they were filing the I 94's manually. We reached there at 4:00 pm and got our I94's at 8:00pm adn we were the lucky ones as I came to know later that some folks got there I94's at 12am - 1am in the night. The sooner u go the better it is but DONT PUSH UR FELLOW HUMAN BEING AS THEY ARE THERE FOR THE SAME REASON. BETTER TO RESPECT EACH OTHER.
- No letter needed here as they need ur original petition and I 129's and give u a new I 94 with the visa expiry date.
One more suggestion dont have a same day flight back. some people had to cancel it. I took the same day earlier but few days before my appointment I postponed it to next day.
- After my Immigration went to the parking lot, Picked my car and went back to the motel. Met with the owner of the motel just to give my experience as he wanted to know what happened and went to my room and had a great sleep
- Next day, tuesday, woke up at 6:15 am and got ready, had some breakfast again. took my car and headed towards Tucson @ about 7:30am, to catch my flight at 9:55am to Los angeles. Also there is a checkpoint again where they stop you and ask you if you are an American Citizen. Kepp your passpport with Visa in ur Car to show them as you wont have to open ur trunk to show them like in my case.
- Finally Returned my car at the airport terminal and straight to southwest. Got my checkin done and back to LA by 1am.
Few points to mention.
- Dont sweat over Mexican Visa, Its not needed and no need to hire Agents.
- carry all documents, I was asked for my original petition (I 797) with the current co. as I had filed for my extension and took the latest one, and luckily i carried the original one.
- If family with kids take stroller.
- If small kids, keep them away from sugar, I mean coke and stuff. Some kids got real hyper and cranky there.
- Dont book same day flight.
- Book a flight to Tucson, instead of Phoenix if u r planning to fly which I think is better.
- Book 2 night stay as u will be at peace and wont be too much stress unless u have to appear before ur boss the next day.
- BE CONFIDENT AND BOLD. The country needs you and they cannot deny your visa.
- HAVE A SMILE ON UR FACE and enjoy the trip.
_ Dont ask me what documents I carried as there are enough threads on this forum. And also each situation is diffrent so carry documents to prove ur job and position.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks to all the guys before you shared there experience as I was looking for some fresh experiences but looks like people didnt care after they got there visa. Well I hope this would help some of you as this was July 17th 2006 appointment. God bless.
- Winner 1