Visa Stamping Experience in Tijuana November 6th

[Mexican_Indian]

I arrived in TIjuana on Sunday evening to attend the ASC appointment on November 5th and the Consulate appointment on November 6th. This was for renewing my H1-B visa. My first visa expired on September 1st, 2012.

My appointment at the consulate was at 10am, although I showed up at 9am. There was a long line but I was inside at around 10am. My token number was called pretty quickly and in less than half an hour I was walking out the door with a visa approved slip. No documents were asked, other than passport, DS-160 confirmation and appointment letter.

I got back to the hotel and around 11:00am I received an email asking me to return for a second interview. This time the visa officer said the security and admin processing done during my first stamping in July 2010 in Hyderabad had expired and they have to redo it again. So I was given a white 221g form stating further administrative processing required.

By the way, the visa officer was always nice, courteous and during the second interview even apologetic that admin processing was going to delay me.

My background: I am a full time employee working in the bay area, my company is a large chemical company, I have a masters degree from a reputed US university in Chemistry.

If anyone else is in Tijuana do let me know. I am staying at the Hotel Real Del Rio until Saturday.

[k2sreddy]

Hi, thanks for sharing your experince. I have an appoinemnt on Nov 26th,2012. It would be great if you answer this. Is everyone getting white 221g form stating further administrative processing required. I have seen in some web sites its stating that the admin processing takes from 1 week to 60 days or beyond that. Is that ture? Did they say anyhting about this? One person was saying in Murthy forums, he went to India from Tijuana bcz of this query? I work for a helth care company and my job is full time. I am little scared after reading your post. It would be great help if you answer to this. Is it OK coming to Tijuana for visa staming on Nov 26th? Thanks.

[Mexican_Indian]

Hello k2sreddy,

From what I know, almost everybody working in the science/engineering related fields are being put in administrative processing. I believe it has something to do with the Technology Alert List. The typical time frame for this processing appears to be 2-3 weeks. I was put under 221g admin processing in 2010 at the Hyderabad consulate too. It took 3 weeks that time.

The visa officer informed me that the admin processing done by the state dept. is valid for only one year! So since mine expired they have to redo it. To me, the whole thing is absolutely ridiculous, but that's just the way the system seems to me.

Is this your first time for stamping? If you had a 221g experience before, you should assume you will have it again!

[k2sreddy]

Hi, Thanks for your prompt response. I just got relief after knowing most of the time only people that are having background which are listed under Technology Alert List may get administrative processing query. I had been to Tijuana in the year 2008. Didn't have any issue. Got the visa stamped on the same day. Now things got changed a lot. Bit worried little. I hope you will get things done successfully soon. Thanks.

[shyguy]

Hi, Thanks for your prompt response. I just got relief after knowing most of the time only people that are having background which are listed under Technology Alert List may get administrative processing query. I had been to Tijuana in the year 2008. Didn't have any issue. Got the visa stamped on the same day. Now things got changed a lot. Bit worried little. I hope you will get things done successfully soon. Thanks.

hey k2sreddy,

how did your stamping go ? Any issues ?

Please share your stamping experience.

Thanks!

Srikanth