strange stamping SJC 06/30

[neeru]

went between 6-6:30
at 7:30 guard weeded out all approvals, claimed they were not appt letters and sent us all back to the end of non-appt line.
At 9:00 he called us back out of appt line and admitted us in. He explained that the letters were not appt letters, but that the officers inside told him that the pipeline for approvals was vacant and to send us in (what?!)
My token was 40 numbers off the current running number.
Exited and had breakfast etc
Lunch break was announced and all waiters were asked to leave and come back at 12:45
Went back at 1:10, my number passed, so I waited till some one was free and requested her service my case.
from then it was straight forward.

Bottomline:
Dont expect anything. CIS is adapting each day and this experience today may/may not happen tommorrow or ever.
Security considers itself on the frontline. They behave accordingly.
A rude bald guy checks out each waiter in the non-appt queue and generally enjoys himself. A guy behind me commented that he wished he had a video cameral right then (dont try this).
Plan to give up the day. Its just one more day in a long wait for many.
If you plan to spend much time waiting outside the facility, make sure your number is far out - otherwise you are looking at a tearful apology or a round trip home.

Approval link:
http://www.immigrationportal.com/showthread.php?t=131736

 

[i140wait73]

Hmmm we had a different experience at SJC

We had totally a different experience at SJC on June14,2004.
Went around the same time 6.00AM and stood in the appmt line.
They let us in around 7.30 AM.Also the security guard knew that we had just the approval letters and in fact told us that they will allow the guys with actual appmts and then will allow those with the approval letters.
We were out after the stamping at 8.30AM

It's strange how even these service centers are inconsistent.

 

[desi-bartender]

Actually this is interesting. But I was talking to the guard. He explained
the whole thing to me.

Technically, we cannot be in the appointment line with the approval
letter. But as a courtesy we are allowed to stand in the appointment
line.

The guards use their own judgement to see how many people are in the
appointment queue and accordingly try to adjust. If there are too less
people in appointment line then they allow all the people with approval
notices. If there are too many after some time they may tell those
people to stand in the other line.

Bottom line is to get there around 6am and stand in the appointment
line without asking the guard. If you are among the first 20 people
chances are that you will have no problem getting in through the
appointment line.

If you go late and there are too many people in the appointment line then
the guard can ask you to go to the other line.

 

[neeru]

well, its a different day. I am sure folks who went for stamping today would have a story to tell too.

Maybe we need a tracker for stamping by each day, so we can predict the guard's tendencies by day of week or day of month. Maybe he has a cycle, who knows?!

 

[goodsaint]

On the other hand, when I went to SJC they didn't look at my letter or even ID. I went straight to the appointment line. Went there at 7:30, there were around 10 people in front of me. I went right through the security. No question was asked and none answered by my.

When you go there, don't carry too many things on you. Don't carry camera phone, food, gun, knife ... better to leave the belt in the car (if your pants are no too loose) And, for god sake Indians, its summer time leather jacket is for heavy winters.

And don't ask the guard if you could stand in appointment line.