Successful Stamping Experience in Matamoros Nov 6th/7th 2017

[f1_2006]

Went to get my H1 Extension stamping in Matamoros Nov 6th/7th 2017.. My old stamp expired long back in 2010 so little nervous about going to stamping. After reading so much on this forum and couple of others, decided to go to Matamoros.

On Day-1: Arrived in Brownsville, TX and parked car at duty free shop. Salvador met us with in 15-20 min and picked us in his car and we went to cross the border. If you don't have valid US VISA stamp at the time of border crossing or if you don't have MEXICAN visa then we need to get temporary Mexican permit that allows us to stay 7 days in mexico. Since I don't have either of these, Salvador took me to Mexican immigration counter at boarder. There is one page form to fill with passport/names/address information. We need to hand over current passport and any old passport that has expired US visa along with form to them and $30 USD. They will issue permit and stamp the passport with "entry stamp/date"

On Day 2 - For finger printing - all the needed was, DS-160, Appointment Letter, I-797 approval notice and Passport. Initial check-in receptionist guy verified these and then sent through security check then directly to a counter. The lady at the counter scanned DS_160 and verified all details matched between application/passport/797. Then finger printed and took a passport photo. After that she generated a barcode stamp and affixed it to passport. This contains visa interview date/name/place etc. This is very important as consulate people scans this at least 4 different occasions!! Entire process took about 15 min and we are back out of the office. Salvador dropped us at the office and waiting for us outside. BTW, no electronics/bags are allowed inside this office or to consulate office. Just files/folders/documents..

On Day-3 Morning - For VISA interview .. all of us has 8AM appointment and I think that's the only timeslot everyone of us gets .. we reached there by 7:40AM .. some local people are already in line ..

• they started calling at about 7:50AM and asked us to stay in formal line.
• Initial guy just needed passport and he scanned barcode on the label printed by ASC office and affixed on back of passport.
• Then at the entrance door another guy scanned the same again and verified details.. he needed to see the DS-160 as well.
• After that they let 2 people at a time inside the building for security check. Need to remove belts etc .. standard airport style check. They asked us to open file folder and make sure no objects other than documents.
• Then they ask us to sit and wait for our turn of interview. Again at this step before getting seated another guy will scan the same barcode and verify details mark on a paper that we came for H1 interview and hands over the passport along with that paper.
• Next is waiting for interview.. Here is how interview went for me after initial greetings

VO: Asked me to hand over I-797/passports

VO: What do you do for <my employer name> by looking at I-797 and how long I have been working with him

I: Told my title  and apparently in a very low voice .. 

VO: asked me to repeat as he couldn't hear properly

I:  Told the title again and explained my duties in couple of sentences.

VO: Asked if I have employment letter

I: Answered yes and about to take it out from my file .. he said not needed.

VO: Asked my highest qualification

I: MS in CS from XYZ University

VO: Then looked at his computer and my old passport and asked so do you have extension with this employer as I am seeing your old visa long back

I: Told him yes and told I have 3-4 extensions all with same employer

VO: So you have all the period covered?

I: Answered affirmatively.

VO: Then he asked me if my employer has started GC process

I: Told him yes and mentioned I have I-140 approved .. i was about to grab I-140 approval notice but he is not interested in  though

VO: Then he checked his computer for 30-40 seconds and took out yellow slip wrote batch number and told all right ..you can come back around 3PM with photo ID and hopefully we will have your passport ready for pickup.

I: Thanked him and exited the building and Salvador is waiting to pick us up..

Day 3 Afternoon - We checked out from hotel around 2:30PM and reached consulate around 2:50PM .. they asked for ID and the yellow slip that VO gave and sent us through security check two people at a time .. again we have to remove belts etc and standard airport screening follows.. after that one guy took yellow slip/id and picked passport from pile and handed it over .. then after cross-checking stamp/details we needed to sign pickup confirmation there. After that we exited the building

Right after that Salvador dropped us at the border in Mexico .. we need to walk about 1/4th of mile to reach the bridge and CBP immigration offices. Prior to that I needed to visit MEXICO immigration office to return permit and get exit stamp in my passport from them .. then crossed the road and entered US Immigration/CBP office.

• Here we need to go through security line where they ask us to show visa and standard custom questions etc .. They didn't do airport style security screen but equipment is there in case!!
• Asked why I visited and then seeing stamp he himself asked "so you came to get H1 renewed" I said yes and told him I need to get I-94
• Then he took out an orange slip and wrote I-94/H1B/1 bag etc information and asked me to hand it over to the officer in next room
• This is the room where we spent next 4 hours and as everyone mentioned worst part of whole process.. we cant use phones so all we have to do is sit there miserably and chat In low voice among ourselves.
• 1 or 2 Officers there seem to be handling all passports/I-94 issue process and they seem to be picking passports one at a time and probably randomly!!
• Immigration officer finally picked my passport around 7:50 PM and I entered that room around 4:10PM so imagine the scenario .. I suggest you guys to get some paper books/newspapers to pass time
• Here is list of questions asked by Immigration officer:

What do I do for XYZ company

What does my XYZ company do

Asked if I have employer letter

Where do I work currently - told her I work at client site in ABC city

Asked me to show W2 and paystub - showed most recent ones she looked at them very closely and matched with employer details etc from letter and visa stamp

She asked where am I going now and asked to show ID as proof of address - told her place and gave my DL

She then noticed my passport getting expired before the visa and explained its my responsibility to get it renewed and mentioned that I will be out of status if I don't have passport did not get renewed before expiry

Then she took $6 USD and issued I-94 & stamped the orange slip that initial security guy gave

• Then I have to go back to the first security line and show the guy passport/I-94/orange slip .. he verified and let me out of the building and to the streets of land of opportunity :)

 

 

-----------------------Here are some more observations from others experiences ------------

VO who interviewed me seem to be very experienced and couple of guys he interviewed were also asked similar 4-5 questions before approving

There are couple of VOs who were more detailed and asking a lot more questions and documents it seems .. like degree certificates, client letters,  work address, salary information, old I797s from extensions, I-140 copy etc ..

All in all everyone got (7 of us) H1s approved that day and almost all finished with in 45-50 min

 

Immigration officer at CBP asked more questions and documents than VO for most of us!!

 

 

 

[Kingston]

Congratulations ... Thank you for the post.. its very detailed and helpful ... can you please let me know how to pay fees for appointment and to book Salvador service??

[sudheer339]

Hi,

I am also planning to go for visa stamping at Matamaros. Could you please provide me your contact info if any,so I can I get in touch with you and get more information. I got few questions on Mexican permit and travel information.

[venkatramrm@gmail.com]

Send an email to my username, I can help with providing information.