I-94 extension in San Ysidro border

[v_k]

Hello folks,

 

My I-94 is expiring on October 13,2014 though my H-1B visa is expiring on May 14, 2015. My old passport was expiring on Oct 13,2014 thus the CBP officer gave me the I-94 dated upto Oct 13,2014 when I entered U.S. on Feb 2014. Since then I've renewed my passport.

 

I plan to cross the San Ysidro border by walk and apply for the extended I-94(to the date of my H-1B visa expiry) in the 'permits' CBP office in the Mexico side of the border. I would like to hear from the forum members if anyone recently tried this approach and if there is anything to be concerned about?.

 

I've read the past forum posts and see that people have been successful with this approach, but just checking if the same process applies in 2014 also.

 

Thanks!

[pkumar2014]

Hi, I am in similar situation. My I-94 expiring on October 31 but have H1 till Dec 2015. I am also planning to get I-94 extension in Mexico San Ysidro border by walk. Can you please suggest the steps to drive to the location and documents we will have to carry. Thanks and appreciate the responses in advance.

[mdeva14]

Hi Guys,

Anybody planning to go to border. please let me know i will also join with u guys.

 

Thanks,

Deva

[vikipedia]

For the documents of I-94 trip :

 

Passport expiry : You would need latest original H1B Approval notice, Old Passport (keep it handy), new passport, Copy of approved LCA (keep it handy)

 

H1B Extenstion without I94 : You would need latest original H1B approval notice, along with your passport that has an unexpired visa. Copy of approved LCA (keep it handy)

[tonu2u]

Dear All,

 

I got my I 94 extended at San Ysidro Tijuana border. My I 94 was valid till Nov 2014 because my old passport was to expire in Nov 2014. My L1 visa was valid till 2017. I was initially asked by my company to apply for Visa extension with USCIS ( the name of the process is a misnomer, it actually extends I 94). It takes about 3-4 months to get this done, and about 2 months if you pay extra for fast track processing with USCIS. The  problem is there is a chance of rejection. In which case the L1 visa ( which is valid for a couple of more years) also becomes void. Which means once the I 94 extension petition is rejected one cannot go back to India and travel on the same visa which is valid.  So after considering all these options i decided to travel to San Ysidro to get the  I 94 extension till my visa validity date I referred the link below to plan my trip. There are several experiences on this link

I referred the link below on this website to plan my trip.thehttp://forum.murthy.com/index.php?/topic/3204-urgent-is-i-94-extension-after-passport-renewal-happening-at-tijuana-mexico-or-stopped/

http://forum.murthy.com/index.php?/topic/3204-urgent-is-i-94-extension-after-passport-renewal-happening-at-tijuana-mexico-or-stopped/

 

Summarising things to be again. 

Documents to carry

1. I-129 S + I 797 

2. Old and new passport

3. Transfer letter / Deputation letter with salary and designation details

4. Latest Pay slips

5. Employment ID card

6. Proof of Employment from HR

7. Print out of current I 94

( I also kept an address proof with me)

 

What to do after reaching San Ysidro

1. Park your Car in Jack in the box address is  

Jack In the Box

721 E San Ysidro Blvd

San Ysidro, CA 92173

 

2. Walk towards the border, you cannot get confused here as  there are too many people walking to the border and there is a sign board for direction at every 10 steps

 

3. Once inside Mexico walk straight till you see the start of a ramp ( that leads to somewhere  inside Mexico) . Don't go on the ramp. Just turn around at the start of the ramp and walk back on the same path you came from, to US. you will see a  queue along this Path. Don't stand in  the queue. Walk straight till the end of the queue to a building that says I 94 permits. 

 

4. At this building,  I was asked to wait outside the gate. I got  a  little confused here.  I wasted some time trying to explain the Security guards, what I wanted to do. They did not speak english very well or were not understanding what I was saying. There was no need to do this, One needs to simply wait for a go ahead from the security to go inside. I realised later that they were just releasing people inside the  building in groups. So after a wait of 10 minutes I was let inside the  building. There were about 30 people waiting along with me

 

5. Once inside the building we stood in a queue in a small room to pay a 6  dollars processing fee. Across the payment counter,  there were several CBP officer desks ( like in the airport )  reviewing the requests. After a wait time of about 10 minutes inside the building, I explained my case to the  CBP officer. They were all quite friendly. They started  telling me I  should explore San Diego while I was there. The CBP officer at the desk I had approached consulted his senior for a minute and extended my  I 94 till my Visa validity. I realised this is not an issue they  encounter every day and not  all officers  at  the  desks know that they can help in this situation. The only documents I was asked to show was my Passport and my I 129 S + I 797.

 

6. Once the I 94 got extended, we headed out of the  building into a queue. There are 3 rows of queues. Visa holders need to stand in the "general" queue. The crowd in these queues was quite interesting. 2 people got arrested in front of us.

 

Please leave me a message in case you have nay further questions and I will hopefully be able to help answer

 

[mdeva14]

Hi Guys,

Anybody is planning to go to san diego border to renew i94. I am planning to go on September mid. Please let me know i will join with you guys.

 

Thanks,

Dev

[viskid]

Hi all

 

I got my I-94 (extended/reissued) at San Ysidro port of entry today. Thanks to all the kind folks who posted their experiences and tips in here. It wasn't complicated at all and was as quick as it can be. From parking my car (on the US side of the border) to back to my car, it took me 30 minutes. As some one else posted before there are detailed steps listed on a related forum. 

 

Just a quick glance of the what I did 

 

I have a valid H1B (till July 2015; I-797 the same)

 

At SFO POE I-94 was issued till Sept 30,2014 (Old passport expiry date)

 

Got my new passport and after repeated unsuccessful attempts at CBP at SFO, SJC, Seattle and USCIS, decided to take the trip to San Ysidro.

 

Reached San Ysidro at 8:45 AM, parked at the parking lot behind Jack in the box ($7 for 8 hours).

 

Walked the pedestrian path to Mexico (There are clear and legible signs everywhere), entered the Mexican side.

 

As soon as I got down on the street,  I took a right (Checked and confirmed with a kind lady (Mexican border officer?) and saw the entrance to US (Literally a handful of people at 8:50 AM (Wednesday 09/24/2014)) went into the building that was clearly marked Permits.

 

The board on the outside says not to wait for I-94, however, the officer at the entrance asked me to wait. I was the first one on the line. After 2-3 minutes, they asked me to enter the building and pay at the cashier counter $6 towards I-94. I took the I-94 form (We don't have to fill anything on it) to the officer and after a customary question like what do you do for a living? I was issued an I-94 with the expiry date matching my petition date (visa date). 

 

Got out the building and walked towards the line (took the document ready lane) and I was with a CBP officer in 2 minutes. Checked the passport and let me in.

 

Great thanks to all who chipped in here and the other forum.

[sonam]

I'am in the same situation renewed my passport now I have to extend my i94. I live TX can I visit nearest border or do I need to have mexico visa in order to extend my i94 on my new passport, my old passport has h1b visa valid till 2016 feb. Any tips how many days before I should go the US-Mexico border my current i94 is expiring on feb 2015.

 

 

Thanks