H1B Stamping - 221g @ Matamoros, Mexico


Chris2013

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Hi All,

 

I came to US in 2008. After that, I got extension for my h1b multiple times. I never went out of US after 2008 as my parents or in-laws were always visiting us.

 

Finally, the time to go to India has come for my father's surgery. As I live in Houston, thought of getting stamping from Matamoros (5 hrs drive from my home).

 

Yesterday, I had finger prints and went fine.

 

Today morning at 10:30 AM, I had visa appointment.

 

I reached consulate on time and sequence of events happened in the following order:

 

Security checking of our belongings -> Personnel arranges our DS 160 conf. page, I-797 in order and provided a token. -> Waited for my turn and I went a VO (may be mexican) - he just validated my passport, I-797 and few questions and then asked me sit in the hall with others and check for my token number for another interview.

 

My main Visa Interview:

 

I went to VO counter after my token number is displayed. The VO was young and talked very casually.

 

Here are the questions from Officer 1:

1. Asked for Passport(s), I-797 documents

2. Where do you work?

3. Who is your employer?

4. Are you married? Any kids? Why didn't you bring them for stamping?

5. How did you get H1B extension as you have completed 6 years of stay? Do you have I-140 approval copy? -   My employer never gave I-140 copy even though I request him many time. Few months back, I submitted FOIA to USCIS to get I-140 copy. When I requested for I-140 copy, USCIS sent the application which was submitted by my employer. This application had Approved stamp also. That worked for me.

6. Few more general questions - how is the weather in Houston and so on..

 

Officer 1 told me that he will be back in few minutes. He came back in 5 minutes.

 

Again, started asking few questions in general..such as w2 and so on.

 

Suddenly, another personnel came and standing next to Visa Officer 1 and directly told me - "Hi.. I am from Anti-fraudulent department. I need to ensure the company is good and not performing any frauds. I need to validate complete information. So, I am sorry. I cannot issue Visa at this moment."

 

I am SHOCKED.

 

At that moment, I got lot of things in my mind. This is the first time, I got 221g on any US visa. I had couple L1 stampings earlier and one h1b stamping. So many ... "What if" questions.. I have my family, belongings, loans and so many other things in US, what next?.... 

 

The Officer 2 asked me to walk with this to another counter to further discuss on this. I was little happy that I was given a chance to talk to him and explain what he is looking for.

 

We both walked to counter 10 (seems to a small room with open door).

 

Officer 2 was very nice and polite in asking all the questions.

 

He asked me many questions as below:

a. Where do you work?

b. What do you do - role and responsibilities?

c. Who is your employer?

d. Where is your employer located?

e. How do you report to your employer?

f. How often you report to your employer?

g. How often you go to your employer's office?

h. How many employees working for your employer?

i. When you go to your employers officer, how many people you see?

j. Do you know, where are other employees of your employer working?

h. Who is your client?

i. Where is your client located? - Showed the client letter

j. Where do you stay? - Showed him my US driving license

k. Do you have any documents to share? - Provided I-129, Vendor letter, Old h1b documents, W2 document, Showed Company Tag and so on.

l. Do you want to share any other information? - Mentioned that I had USCIS site verification when I got my previous H1B Extension. Explained the details of verification done by USCIS personnel.

 

I provided complete and TRUTHFUL information to the visa officer.

 

Visa Officer 2 mentioned that "I know that Mexico is NOT your home country. Do you have any place to stay?". I told him that I am currently staying in a hotel but I don't have any other place to stay in Mexico.

 

Then, VO 2 told - "I am sorry but the process will take several days. If you want you can go back to India and come back to Mexico once we finalize on your case."

 

I saw the VO 2 was having my passports (old and new). I asked him, May I have the passports?

 

He immediately gave the passports.

 

I asked him, I have copy of the passports. Do you have to have them? He said, no. Thats fine. We have your information.

 

VO 2 gave me 221g (Spanish document) and explained in detail.

 

Not sure how long this process may take. I am still in Matamoros.

 

Note: Whoever going for stamping, please ensure you have all the documents and also prepare for the kind of situations I am going through.

 

Any suggestions are helpful to me at this time.

 

Thanks,

Krishna

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