{NEED HELP}H1B visa approved during interview in Tijuana - stuck in Admini Processing

[dreamhigh]

First I wanted to thank everyone in advance for any input or advice you could provide. 

I had my h1B visa stamping interview on Monday (12/12), which was an easy and pleasant experience. The interview with the visa officer was less than one minute and I was told that my visa was approved and I should be able to pick up my passport the next day (12/13). When I went to pick up my passport on Tuesday I was told it was still processing and to check back on Wednesday (12/14) Around noon today, I received a phone call from the consulate informing me that the passport “definitely” wouldn’t be ready yesterday, and to try again today. I went to the consulate anyway in the afternoon hoping to find out more information. The lady asked me that whether the visa officer told me about security check during interview and I said no. She said it happens sometime....... I checked my visa status and it's showing "Administrative Processing". 

Has anyone had or seen same/similar experience before? Seeing almost everyone gets their passport back the next day after interview here at Tijuana and knowing now i'm stuck is really frustrating and this freaks me out.....

Any input and advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[premkalyan521]

6 hours ago, dreamhigh said:

First I wanted to thank everyone in advance for any input or advice you could provide. 

I had my h1B visa stamping interview on Monday (12/12), which was an easy and pleasant experience. The interview with the visa officer was less than one minute and I was told that my visa was approved and I should be able to pick up my passport the next day (12/13). When I went to pick up my passport on Tuesday I was told it was still processing and to check back on Wednesday (12/14) Around noon today, I received a phone call from the consulate informing me that the passport “definitely” wouldn’t be ready yesterday, and to try again today. I went to the consulate anyway in the afternoon hoping to find out more information. The lady asked me that whether the visa officer told me about security check during interview and I said no. She said it happens sometime....... I checked my visa status and it's showing "Administrative Processing". 

 

 

Has anyone had or seen same/similar experience before? Seeing almost everyone gets their passport back the next day after interview here at Tijuana and knowing now i'm stuck is really frustrating and this freaks me out.....

Any input and advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

dont panic. stay calm and enjoy your stay. this type of check is routine.

 

Kindly kindly update your findings once you clear the process so that others like you will be benifited from ur response

[JoeF]

There always is a risk with stamping in a 3rd country. One of the reasons why it is best to go to the home country for stamping. But people just don't seem to want to listen, until they are stuck in that 3rd country... At that point, it is too late to do anything about it.

Administrative processing can be a few days or weeks. You just have to wait it out, or go to your home country from there.

 

[tellhammer]

I usually heard that they are pretty smooth. Are u a full time employee? Do you have mexican visa stamped?

Not sure if that matters but just curious about ur situation. I am also planning to do the stamping in couple of weeks over there. 

[premkalyan521]

4 hours ago, JoeF said:

There always is a risk with stamping in a 3rd country. One of the reasons why it is best to go to the home country for stamping. But people just don't seem to want to listen, until they are stuck in that 3rd country... At that point, it is too late to do anything about it.

Administrative processing can be a few days or weeks. You just have to wait it out, or go to your home country from there.

 

This is not applicable all time . Not sure about this .rarely in mexico consulate they issue 221g.

 

Going to visa stamping at 3rd country has many factors and reasons why the candidate has gone to the 3rd country other than home country.

 

 

[dreamhigh]

16 hours ago, premkalyan521 said:

dont panic. stay calm and enjoy your stay. this type of check is routine.

 

Kindly kindly update your findings once you clear the process so that others like you will be benifited from ur response

Thank you!! I'll for sure update this once everything gets cleared. 

[dreamhigh]

15 hours ago, JoeF said:

There always is a risk with stamping in a 3rd country. One of the reasons why it is best to go to the home country for stamping. But people just don't seem to want to listen, until they are stuck in that 3rd country... At that point, it is too late to do anything about it.

Administrative processing can be a few days or weeks. You just have to wait it out, or go to your home country from there.

 

Definitely lesson learned this time. I was aware of the potential risk (even though all the cases I read about Tijuana are all pretty smooth) but thought I would not be that unlukcy considering I'm not on EVC model, I'm not working in any sensitive area, and plus this is my second time getting H1B visa stamped (had the first one back in my home country). However, the reality is that anything could happen. It didn't happen to others doesn't mean it won't happen to me. I hope that my experience would help other people plan accordingly before going to a 3rd country. 

[dreamhigh]

15 hours ago, tellhammer said:

I usually heard that they are pretty smooth. Are u a full time employee? Do you have mexican visa stamped?

Not sure if that matters but just curious about ur situation. I am also planning to do the stamping in couple of weeks over there. 

yea... same here. A couple of my friends came last year and it was just a short 3 day trip for them. sigh.... 

I'm a full time employee and I got my mexican visa in San Jose. Definitely get your mexican visa before you come. It was only $36. 

[US_H1_Stamping]

@dreamhigh - This may be a cosmetic delay. You will be good soon. Below is my experience. Is it the renewal with same employer or new employer ? 

 

[dreamhigh]

wanted to quickly update my H1B stamping experience.. I got my passport on 12/16 (had my interview on 12/12 with no 221g issued). Finally I'm back in the U.S. 

Good luck to everyone! 

[JoeF]

22 hours ago, dreamhigh said:

wanted to quickly update my H1B stamping experience.. I got my passport on 12/16 (had my interview on 12/12 with no 221g issued). Finally I'm back in the U.S. 

Good luck to everyone! 

Great to hear that it was only a few days.