gcWudBeHere
Registered Users (C)
Booked an appointment on http://www.visa-usa.com.mx/ (started looking for an appointment around Jan 13th). At first, got a visa interview appointment on March 15 2006 at Nogales/Matamoras/Tijuana/etc. Needed a date sooner than that, and thus tried almost every hour for few days to end up with few appointments early in February at various consulates. Selected the one at Juarez for Feb 7 2006 as I knew Victor would help getting the Mexican permit and transportation (for less, $80.00).
I read visa-experiences from many other folks who been to Juarez in Jan/Feb 2006 and found that the visa process (visa interview and obtain the visa-stamped passport) took 2 days. Initially thought it was due to the heavy traffic at the consulate, that the visa-issuance process got backlogged. However, I feel that it would take 2 days anyway. So be prepared to stay in Mexico for 2 days.
Mailed documents to Victor 10 days before the interview date (around Jan 20 2006). He called me once he received the documents. (I guess he even checked the accuracy of information in the documents at the same time. If you are missing any document then he would intimate at the same time I believe!). He took care of the Mexican permit with the documents sent.
Booked a flight+hotel to El Paso (ELP). My stay was not at Econo Lodge as I already booked a hotel with my flight itinerary. Rented a car at ELP for 3 days, drive to Econo Lodge the day of interview (remember, Victor picks you up from Econo Lodge early in the morning on the day of interview). El Paso airport, an international airport however, was not the busiest when I arrived and departed (I should caution you that my travel times were little odd – arrived ELP at 10.00 PM local time and departed ELP at 6.30 AM local time). If you plan to stay in a hotel other than Econo lodge, I suggest you choose one that is near by (close to a 5 mile radius – you never know when you would be stuck in a traffic congestion and left behind!!). As with any place, there are some excellent food places to dine-in in El Paso. If you rent a car, get directions to restaurants before hand. There are some excellent eateries in the vicinity of Econo Lodge. Enjoy the food.
Drove to Econo Lodge around 7.10 AM on the day of interview, parked my car in the parking space for Econo Lodge (parking is free) and walked into the reception area to ask for Victor. Two H1-B visa guys were already sitting in the reception area which gave me the confidence that I was in the right place. To be even more sure, I asked the receptionist if that was the waiting area for Victor to pick up for Juarez. On his positive answer, sat down with the other guys and engaged in the conversation.
In our conversation we knew we were all attending the interview at 10.00 AM that morning. We were joined by one other person a few minutes later, which increased the total for our gang to four. Victor joined us a few minutes later. He picked us into the “International Limo” – a big van. He explained what the plan-of-action was and asked for his fees. We paid him the eighty dollars and started going towards Mexican border.
Mexican border is around 10 minutes drive from Econo lodge. Victor handed us the Mexican permits and the Banamax receipt for visa issuance fee for $100.00. He asked us to keep the passport and the Mexican permit handy at the Mexican border. Once we reached the Mexican border, Victor parked the vehicle at Mexican immigration office and asked us to get our passports stamped for entry into Mexico. The officers at the immigration officers looked at the Mexican permit and stamped our passports for entry into Mexico.
We then drove to the Holiday Inn in Mexico. We wanted to leave our baggage before attending the visa interview. Rate per room per day was about $80.00 including taxes. We checked-in into the hotel, left all our baggage and requested Victor to drop us at the US consulate.
US consulate is about 2 minutes drive (5-8 minutes walk) from the hotel. Victor drove us to a near by location at the US consulate. We all walked to the US consulate (yellow building and building number 1).
The security guy at the entrance checked visa interview appointment letter and passport before allowing us in. We passed through a security check point – shoes, belts, wallets, and all those. Then another guy verified if we had the required documents for the specified visa - DS-156/157 for H1-B, DS-156/157/158 for F1, etc. We then stood in a line to be called at a window. At this window, we submitted DS-156, DS-157 and passport (no other documents). We were given a token here. We then entered another covered area for one more security check. This time, it related to personal history, photographs and fingerprinting. After clearing this, we sat in a open arena for final interview. It took more than an hour for our names to be called. Remember to carry a winter jacket/coat/gloves/etc to protect you from the cold mornings. Waiting outside is not a pleasant experience.
Interview for me was as expected – Officer asked me to prove that I was in-status all the time in USA. I had to start from my date of entry in US through today. I used my MS degree certificate, transcript, OPT card, I-797 visa petition approval notice to confirm I was in fact in-status all along. I did not expect, I would need OPT card, nor the degree certificate. But, they were useful to prove my argument. Thus, you never know what documents you may need. Carry every document that you could think of and listed in various websites. Be prepared to support your statements using the documents. They would not accept anything that’s not substantiated by documents. Be aware.
At last, officer was convinced and asked me to pay the $50.00 reciprocity fee. She asked me get a receipt after making the payment. I had to walk two blocks to pay the fees (no need to stand in the line here – directly go to the counter B (called Cashier) to pay the fees (credit card accepted, or US dollars)). Got the receipt from the payment and handed over to the officer. She was adamant and rejected all my requests to returning my passport the same day. I was asked to return to the US consulate the next day to obtain the passport.
It was around 1.30 PM local time I left the US consulate (10.00 AM – 1.30 PM). Met with rest of the folks and went to eat at the local restaurant (walk able distance). Food was excellent and cheap too. Enjoy the food. Spent time at the Mall, 24-hour Mart rest of the days and etc.
Next day, returned to the US consulate around 2.00 PM local time (does not allow in before that). Security check, queue and waiting to be called for passport – after receiving passport, checked for any errors in name, DOB and other information (Multiple Entry, etc). Exited consulate after receiving the passport (in about 25 minutes)
Returned to the Hotel, checked-out and took a cab to Cordova bridge on Mexican side. Victor told us not to pay more than $5.00 for the cab. We thought it was per person and thus paid $5.00 each. In fact, he meant $5.00 per cab per ride (irrespective of number of passengers). So keep that in mind.
Handed over the Mexican permit at the Mexican immigration, got the passport stamped for exiting Mexico. Crossed the road and got on to the other side of bridge. Walked across the bridge into the US immigration office.
As soon as I entered, I saw a long queue. At first glance, that seemed like the one to wait for US immigration related checks. But, the fact was that a new I-94 was to be obtained before standing in that queue in a room that was right across it. Handed the passport to an officer and requested for new I-94. He verified the information, visa, I-797, etc and issued a new I-94. Paid $6.00 fee for issuing the new I-94 at another window.
Stood in the line (same line that I talked about in the paragraph above) for final immigration security checks with the new I-94. Immigration officer checked the I-94, visa and other details in the passport and allowed me into US. This whole process took about 45 minutes (it seems we got lucky - it usually averages to few hours). This completed the big long journey to obtain a US visa from Juarez.
I wish you all good luck and suggest you remain confident while interviewing. All that the officer wishes, is to approve you for the H1/F1/other visa. All the best.
I read visa-experiences from many other folks who been to Juarez in Jan/Feb 2006 and found that the visa process (visa interview and obtain the visa-stamped passport) took 2 days. Initially thought it was due to the heavy traffic at the consulate, that the visa-issuance process got backlogged. However, I feel that it would take 2 days anyway. So be prepared to stay in Mexico for 2 days.
Mailed documents to Victor 10 days before the interview date (around Jan 20 2006). He called me once he received the documents. (I guess he even checked the accuracy of information in the documents at the same time. If you are missing any document then he would intimate at the same time I believe!). He took care of the Mexican permit with the documents sent.
Booked a flight+hotel to El Paso (ELP). My stay was not at Econo Lodge as I already booked a hotel with my flight itinerary. Rented a car at ELP for 3 days, drive to Econo Lodge the day of interview (remember, Victor picks you up from Econo Lodge early in the morning on the day of interview). El Paso airport, an international airport however, was not the busiest when I arrived and departed (I should caution you that my travel times were little odd – arrived ELP at 10.00 PM local time and departed ELP at 6.30 AM local time). If you plan to stay in a hotel other than Econo lodge, I suggest you choose one that is near by (close to a 5 mile radius – you never know when you would be stuck in a traffic congestion and left behind!!). As with any place, there are some excellent food places to dine-in in El Paso. If you rent a car, get directions to restaurants before hand. There are some excellent eateries in the vicinity of Econo Lodge. Enjoy the food.
Drove to Econo Lodge around 7.10 AM on the day of interview, parked my car in the parking space for Econo Lodge (parking is free) and walked into the reception area to ask for Victor. Two H1-B visa guys were already sitting in the reception area which gave me the confidence that I was in the right place. To be even more sure, I asked the receptionist if that was the waiting area for Victor to pick up for Juarez. On his positive answer, sat down with the other guys and engaged in the conversation.
In our conversation we knew we were all attending the interview at 10.00 AM that morning. We were joined by one other person a few minutes later, which increased the total for our gang to four. Victor joined us a few minutes later. He picked us into the “International Limo” – a big van. He explained what the plan-of-action was and asked for his fees. We paid him the eighty dollars and started going towards Mexican border.
Mexican border is around 10 minutes drive from Econo lodge. Victor handed us the Mexican permits and the Banamax receipt for visa issuance fee for $100.00. He asked us to keep the passport and the Mexican permit handy at the Mexican border. Once we reached the Mexican border, Victor parked the vehicle at Mexican immigration office and asked us to get our passports stamped for entry into Mexico. The officers at the immigration officers looked at the Mexican permit and stamped our passports for entry into Mexico.
We then drove to the Holiday Inn in Mexico. We wanted to leave our baggage before attending the visa interview. Rate per room per day was about $80.00 including taxes. We checked-in into the hotel, left all our baggage and requested Victor to drop us at the US consulate.
US consulate is about 2 minutes drive (5-8 minutes walk) from the hotel. Victor drove us to a near by location at the US consulate. We all walked to the US consulate (yellow building and building number 1).
The security guy at the entrance checked visa interview appointment letter and passport before allowing us in. We passed through a security check point – shoes, belts, wallets, and all those. Then another guy verified if we had the required documents for the specified visa - DS-156/157 for H1-B, DS-156/157/158 for F1, etc. We then stood in a line to be called at a window. At this window, we submitted DS-156, DS-157 and passport (no other documents). We were given a token here. We then entered another covered area for one more security check. This time, it related to personal history, photographs and fingerprinting. After clearing this, we sat in a open arena for final interview. It took more than an hour for our names to be called. Remember to carry a winter jacket/coat/gloves/etc to protect you from the cold mornings. Waiting outside is not a pleasant experience.
Interview for me was as expected – Officer asked me to prove that I was in-status all the time in USA. I had to start from my date of entry in US through today. I used my MS degree certificate, transcript, OPT card, I-797 visa petition approval notice to confirm I was in fact in-status all along. I did not expect, I would need OPT card, nor the degree certificate. But, they were useful to prove my argument. Thus, you never know what documents you may need. Carry every document that you could think of and listed in various websites. Be prepared to support your statements using the documents. They would not accept anything that’s not substantiated by documents. Be aware.
At last, officer was convinced and asked me to pay the $50.00 reciprocity fee. She asked me get a receipt after making the payment. I had to walk two blocks to pay the fees (no need to stand in the line here – directly go to the counter B (called Cashier) to pay the fees (credit card accepted, or US dollars)). Got the receipt from the payment and handed over to the officer. She was adamant and rejected all my requests to returning my passport the same day. I was asked to return to the US consulate the next day to obtain the passport.
It was around 1.30 PM local time I left the US consulate (10.00 AM – 1.30 PM). Met with rest of the folks and went to eat at the local restaurant (walk able distance). Food was excellent and cheap too. Enjoy the food. Spent time at the Mall, 24-hour Mart rest of the days and etc.
Next day, returned to the US consulate around 2.00 PM local time (does not allow in before that). Security check, queue and waiting to be called for passport – after receiving passport, checked for any errors in name, DOB and other information (Multiple Entry, etc). Exited consulate after receiving the passport (in about 25 minutes)
Returned to the Hotel, checked-out and took a cab to Cordova bridge on Mexican side. Victor told us not to pay more than $5.00 for the cab. We thought it was per person and thus paid $5.00 each. In fact, he meant $5.00 per cab per ride (irrespective of number of passengers). So keep that in mind.
Handed over the Mexican permit at the Mexican immigration, got the passport stamped for exiting Mexico. Crossed the road and got on to the other side of bridge. Walked across the bridge into the US immigration office.
As soon as I entered, I saw a long queue. At first glance, that seemed like the one to wait for US immigration related checks. But, the fact was that a new I-94 was to be obtained before standing in that queue in a room that was right across it. Handed the passport to an officer and requested for new I-94. He verified the information, visa, I-797, etc and issued a new I-94. Paid $6.00 fee for issuing the new I-94 at another window.
Stood in the line (same line that I talked about in the paragraph above) for final immigration security checks with the new I-94. Immigration officer checked the I-94, visa and other details in the passport and allowed me into US. This whole process took about 45 minutes (it seems we got lucky - it usually averages to few hours). This completed the big long journey to obtain a US visa from Juarez.
I wish you all good luck and suggest you remain confident while interviewing. All that the officer wishes, is to approve you for the H1/F1/other visa. All the best.
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