We(me and my husband) have successful visa stamping at Nogales on May 22nd. It was very cool and easy. Initially I was on h4 and have changed to H1. After a year, I again changed to H4. My husband's case is H1 revalidation. I was little bit tensed regarding my H1, as I have less amount on my W2. but they didn't ask me about my H1. They checked previous stamping in my passport and current approval notice. Both are H4, so I have not been asked even a single question. We carried the following documents:
1)Passport with valid I-94
2)Original I-797, copy of LCA, copy of I-129
3)Two passport size photos
4)Recent paystubs, all years W2s, current year tax filing papers
5)Resume
6)All degree certificates, transcripts and other certifications, diplomas
7)Previous 6 months bank statement
8)Offer letter
9)Employment letter
10)Company brochure and photos
11)Completed DS-156, DS-157, DS-158 forms
12)Appoinment confirmation letter
13)BANAMEX bank receipt with passport number on it
Here is the info about our trip.
We reached Phoenix on Sunday afternoon. One guy joined us from Phoenix. We then drove to the Nogales,AZ and reached
there by 4.00pm. We stayed at BestWestern, it is just 1 mile from the border. The owners are very nice desi guys and really very helpful. You can have internet access in this hotel. The other hotels also have internet connection, but that's not good. Some people who stayed there told us when we met at the consulate on monday. So I strongly recommend you to stay there. We had breakfast on Monday morning and strated from the hotel at 7.15AM. You can park your car near the border or at McDonalds parking. The McDonalds parking is open 24hrs, so better to park there. It's $4 per day. We vacated the hotel and kept our luggage in the car and parked at the McDonalds. Do not worry abt your luggage or car, it is very safe. We then walked crossing the border. Go to the right side, you can look for the taxi. People know very little or no English, so we struggled little bit. The taxi fare is $7 to the consulate. We got the BANAMEX receipt from Mark Lehmann from www.mexico-assistance.com. You can get the receipt on the same day as appointment, the bank opens at 9.00am. We were then in the lane around 7.45AM. One person checks all the completed forms, appointment confirmation letter (pls make sure you complete all the forms including DS-156,157 & 158) and allows you to go in. If you didn't fill any of these forms, he won't allow you in unless you complete the forms. Then we need to pass the security scan, they won't allow you any electronic devices, food items etc. You can put all things in a bag with a person who stayed across the road at the consulate. After that, we went into another lane, one lady checked our passport, all the completed forms, approval notice and gave us a number. Here you can have a seat until your number comes. We waited 20 min and were called for Biometrics. They then took our finger-prints and photo. They do take both right and left index finger-prints, so keep them cut-free. Then we had seat and were waiting for the interview. We have waited around 1hr 30min and were called. We both went to the window, and after few minutes we were told that they were not getting any of our details and wait couple of minutes. So we again had seated and nearly after 15-20min, we were called to another window. At this time, the officer was a Lady officer and she also told the same, we are not getting any details. We were little bit tensed at that time but nothing had happenned. She tried few minutes and checked our passports for previous stamping and current approval notices and just asked my husband the following questions:
V.O.: Have you changed your employer?
MyHus: Yes mam
V.O.: This is the one who applied for your immigration?
MyHus: Yes mam
That's it. She took our finger-prints agian and told us both your visas are authorized. We said Thank you. She asked us to pay $50 fee for each at the counter and come back at 3.00PM to pick your passports. We then paid our fee and came out around 11.15AM. You have to fill your name, passport number, country etc in a system before leaving the building.
We had lunch at McDonalds and waited there only until 2.00PM. We then walked to the consulate and reached at 2.20PM. After waiting sometime, the guy came to us and asked us to come back at 3.00PM. So we crossed the road and waited there. And at 3.00PM went to the lane to pick our passports. They do allow only one person per family. So I stayed outside, my husband went in and picked our passports. We almost stood front of the lane(we were the 4th in the lane), so my husband came out within 15min. Then we took a cab and went to the border. Then we asked for new I-94, they took us upstairs and asked us to wait. We were again in one more lane. It took around 1hr 30min for I-94. It may take long also. We were the 5th or 6th in the lane, so we got our I-94 early. Then we crossed the border and entered US by 5.30PM. We then drove to the Phoenix.
Lot of people were asked their resume. So keep your resume handy. If your case is renewal, do not need to worry much. If your case is change of status, then you may be asked some questions. If you have all the documentation, then no need to worry. But be sure that you are confident and cool. Almost all got visas stamped, no one screwed up on the day. When you get your passport stamped, be sure to check you name, employer name and evrything before leave the window. You can feel the place like almost India. Do not worry much, it will go very cool. That's all about our journey. If you have any questions, pls post here.
Good Luck! Thanks for all and this forum who helped me a lot.
Santhi.
1)Passport with valid I-94
2)Original I-797, copy of LCA, copy of I-129
3)Two passport size photos
4)Recent paystubs, all years W2s, current year tax filing papers
5)Resume
6)All degree certificates, transcripts and other certifications, diplomas
7)Previous 6 months bank statement
8)Offer letter
9)Employment letter
10)Company brochure and photos
11)Completed DS-156, DS-157, DS-158 forms
12)Appoinment confirmation letter
13)BANAMEX bank receipt with passport number on it
Here is the info about our trip.
We reached Phoenix on Sunday afternoon. One guy joined us from Phoenix. We then drove to the Nogales,AZ and reached
there by 4.00pm. We stayed at BestWestern, it is just 1 mile from the border. The owners are very nice desi guys and really very helpful. You can have internet access in this hotel. The other hotels also have internet connection, but that's not good. Some people who stayed there told us when we met at the consulate on monday. So I strongly recommend you to stay there. We had breakfast on Monday morning and strated from the hotel at 7.15AM. You can park your car near the border or at McDonalds parking. The McDonalds parking is open 24hrs, so better to park there. It's $4 per day. We vacated the hotel and kept our luggage in the car and parked at the McDonalds. Do not worry abt your luggage or car, it is very safe. We then walked crossing the border. Go to the right side, you can look for the taxi. People know very little or no English, so we struggled little bit. The taxi fare is $7 to the consulate. We got the BANAMEX receipt from Mark Lehmann from www.mexico-assistance.com. You can get the receipt on the same day as appointment, the bank opens at 9.00am. We were then in the lane around 7.45AM. One person checks all the completed forms, appointment confirmation letter (pls make sure you complete all the forms including DS-156,157 & 158) and allows you to go in. If you didn't fill any of these forms, he won't allow you in unless you complete the forms. Then we need to pass the security scan, they won't allow you any electronic devices, food items etc. You can put all things in a bag with a person who stayed across the road at the consulate. After that, we went into another lane, one lady checked our passport, all the completed forms, approval notice and gave us a number. Here you can have a seat until your number comes. We waited 20 min and were called for Biometrics. They then took our finger-prints and photo. They do take both right and left index finger-prints, so keep them cut-free. Then we had seat and were waiting for the interview. We have waited around 1hr 30min and were called. We both went to the window, and after few minutes we were told that they were not getting any of our details and wait couple of minutes. So we again had seated and nearly after 15-20min, we were called to another window. At this time, the officer was a Lady officer and she also told the same, we are not getting any details. We were little bit tensed at that time but nothing had happenned. She tried few minutes and checked our passports for previous stamping and current approval notices and just asked my husband the following questions:
V.O.: Have you changed your employer?
MyHus: Yes mam
V.O.: This is the one who applied for your immigration?
MyHus: Yes mam
That's it. She took our finger-prints agian and told us both your visas are authorized. We said Thank you. She asked us to pay $50 fee for each at the counter and come back at 3.00PM to pick your passports. We then paid our fee and came out around 11.15AM. You have to fill your name, passport number, country etc in a system before leaving the building.
We had lunch at McDonalds and waited there only until 2.00PM. We then walked to the consulate and reached at 2.20PM. After waiting sometime, the guy came to us and asked us to come back at 3.00PM. So we crossed the road and waited there. And at 3.00PM went to the lane to pick our passports. They do allow only one person per family. So I stayed outside, my husband went in and picked our passports. We almost stood front of the lane(we were the 4th in the lane), so my husband came out within 15min. Then we took a cab and went to the border. Then we asked for new I-94, they took us upstairs and asked us to wait. We were again in one more lane. It took around 1hr 30min for I-94. It may take long also. We were the 5th or 6th in the lane, so we got our I-94 early. Then we crossed the border and entered US by 5.30PM. We then drove to the Phoenix.
Lot of people were asked their resume. So keep your resume handy. If your case is renewal, do not need to worry much. If your case is change of status, then you may be asked some questions. If you have all the documentation, then no need to worry. But be sure that you are confident and cool. Almost all got visas stamped, no one screwed up on the day. When you get your passport stamped, be sure to check you name, employer name and evrything before leave the window. You can feel the place like almost India. Do not worry much, it will go very cool. That's all about our journey. If you have any questions, pls post here.
Good Luck! Thanks for all and this forum who helped me a lot.
Santhi.