I went to Tijuana to apply H1B visa and succeed.
Many friends helped me by giving their experience. Specially Thanks to my
friend Dennis, during most of the time I just followed his advice. Also thanks
to a very helpful article
http://www.colorado.edu/StudentGroups/cu-cssa/Information_Center/TJ_Visa.htm
I promised myself that I would share my experience to everybody if it succeed.
When I prepared paperworks,I believed my case is a little bit different from
other H1 petitioner:
I don't have US education degree
My original visa is B1
My college major is very different from my current job position.
So I prepared more evidence to show that I am qualified for the position.
These are what I brought:
The Appointment Letter (go to www.nvars.com to make an appointment,
Only "day" matters, they don't check "hour")
Passport with I-94
Employment letter stating Job Title, salary, start date, etc.
Original H1-B approval Notice (I-797) with I-94
Labor Conditioning Document
I-129 (Petition by lawyer for a non-immigrant worker)
All the forms required ( should be listed in the appointment letter)
3 latest pay-stubs
Degree Certificate (Original) and transcripts
education and working experience evaluation report issued by a organization
RESUME
W2 forms and tax filing
Company brochures
Bank’s statement
All the field in forms should be filled, You should use "None" or "n/a" if
necessary. The consular official at the gate will check your form to be sure
there is no blank field.
Go to Tijuana:
I drove down to san diego border and stayed at travelodge motel on the first
night.
San Diego South/ San Ysidro Travelodge
643 East San Ysidro Blvd
San Ysidro, CA, 92173 US
Before I went, I checked yahoo map, and printed out some information about
food places, ATM...
you can take 5 or 805 freeway, BE CAREFUL, don't miss the LAST US EXIT.
The next morning, I parked my car in a parking lot ( $7 per hour), which is
at the west side of 5 freeway. The man working in the park lot showed me the
direction of border gate. I walk across the border. There are no officials
at the border gate.
I took a yellow cab($10), it took me 20 mins to get to the US consulate.
Bank:
The bank is very close to consulate ( 5 mins by walking)
The bank opens at 9 AM. You shall take a number, and wait for service.
The total amout I payed was $103, they checked my passport.
They gave me 2 receipts.
Waiting outside:
At 9:10AM, I came back to consulate. There were many people waiting outside
in the line. You CAN take you bag in, but you cannot bring any electronic
device inside. I had a very small electronic dictionary, I asked a male
offical where to keep it temporarily. He kept saying "no electronic",
Actually he didn't understand my question. Then a man showed me the place
where I pay $1 for asking for keeping my device. The place is just next door
of consulate, That place closed at 3PM. I lost my electronic dictionary
because when I came back its already closed. :-<
If you think the waiting line is too long, don't worry, there will be enough
time for everyone to get interview.
Interview:
After security scan, we went in and waited in a large room.
After 10 minutes, I went in another room. First is for pre-interview
preparations such as finger-print, photos...,
Then waited for interview. A yong man gave me the interview.
Me: good morning
Official: morning
Me: I am applying for H1 visa ( handing in the papers)
Offical: OK (checked every page of my passport, review my application form)
Offical: Do you have the package for your H1 filed to INS?
Me: Yes. (I gave him I129, company's letter and some other papers as well)
Offical: resume?
Me: Yes. (I gave all the papers about my education and working experice
including resume)
Offical: Can you have a seat and I will call you.
so I just sit in the room. I got a little bit nervous, because I saw most of
people got approved or rejected right away. I am the one of 3 people who were
asked to wait in the room after interiew. I waited for 2 hours! during that I
just pray, pray and pray. Finally the same guy called me. "Your visa is
approved, come back 3PM to take visa"
Get visa:
I made a phone call to my wife at next door store "fast market", $1.25 per
minutes to L.A. The store owner is very nice,and she knows english.
Your visa and passport will be returned back to you outside the building. I
got back my passport at 4:30PM.
Back to US:
I asked the store owner where to find taxi, she said usually there would be
taxi right this coner, so I just waited. after 10 mins, I found a white-color
taxi. the driver did not understand "border", so I showed him a map "here is
san diego, here is mexico, here is 5 freeway, I am going to here". He dropped
me off somewhere very close to the border gate. But I still did not know
where the gate is until I asked an american. When I passed the gate,
the gate offical did not stamp my passport.
Hope this article can help you.