You cannot go to Mexico for first time H1B visa stamping or any kind of Change of Status. You can only go to Mexico for renewals only. People used to be able to get change of visa stamped before (I got my first H1B in Mexico too), but NOT now.
Full Answer
Is it right time to go for H1B visa stamping?
This date will help you find out when you should apply for the H1B visa stamping. The rule is that you should apply around 90 days before you have to begin working in the US. This means that if your employment starting date is on August 1 st, you can apply for the visa in the beginning of May.
Can you get H1B stamped in Mexico?
The following categories of Third Country Nationals cannot apply in Mexico: If you would like to get a visa stamped for a visitor, transit, diplomat, treaty trader, treaty investor, H-1A, H-2A, H-2B, or Q worker, you must apply for a visa in your home country if you are not a citizen of Mexico. A visa for crew is not available at Nuevo Laredo.
Can I transfer my H1B before stamping?
Yes, you can use premium processing when filing for the H-1B transfer. Moreover, you can use this option in both cases: when transferring your H-1B before or after stamping. Because you are filing a new petition, you need to get approval from the USCIS, which means that you can be denied.
Can we get H1B stamping either in Canada or Mexico?
US visa Stamping in Mexico is allowed. You can also visit the US embassy in Canada to get your visa stamps. Both Mexico and Canada are accessible from the USA through land borders. First H1B stamping in Mexico is allowed for third-country national (TCN) like India, China citizens. You cannot attend B1/B2 and H2 visa interviews in Canada or Mexico.
Do I need Mexico visa on H1B?
You can travel to Mexico with US H1B visa. Any nationality with a valid US H1, H2, H3 or H4 visa can enter Mexico without requiring a Mexican visa. Your US H1B visa must be valid for the entire stay in Mexico.
Can I go to Mexico for H1B stamping?
Visa renewal visa stamps can be obtained in Mexico as well as Canada. Many people visit Canada and Mexico for H1B renewal stamping including the H1B Amendment, Transfer, or extensions instead of visiting their home country.
Is US Consulate open in Mexico for H-1B visa stamping?
The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico are currently processing nonimmigrant visas. Applicants should expect a longer-than-normal wait time for this service and plan accordingly.
Does Indian need visa for Mexico?
Yes, according to the visa policy for Mexico, Indian passport holders must have a valid visa to enter the country. In addition, Indians must also have a valid FMM Tourist Card for Mexico. Both of these travel permits are required for visits for the purposes of tourism, leisure, or business.
Can Indians get visa stamped in Mexico?
You are eligible to get your visa stamped in Canada or Mexico if you have never been “Out of Status”. You can use the I-797 form, EAD card, I-94 form, pay stubs, etc. to prove your status.
Do I need a visa to go to Mexico from US?
US citizens are not required to have a Mexican visa to enter the country. However, all travelers, including Americans, must have a valid Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM), provided they travel for any of the following reasons and do not need to stay for over 6 months: Tourism and leisure. Professional meetings.
Do I need a visa in Mexico?
Everyone who is travelling to Mexico for tourism, visit, business or other short-term purposes (up to 180 days) needs to get Mexico Tourist Card, even if they don't need a Mexico Tourist Visa. You can get a Tourist Card at a Mexican point of entry upon arrival or you can get it online before you travel.
Can I go to other country for H1B stamping?
Once USCIS approves your change of status petition, you may travel internationally. Your H-1B status will take effect on the date that was requested. While travel, as outlined above, is permissible, you may encounter difficulties when re-entering the U.S. or when applying for a visa for your current status.
How do I book a Mexico H1B appointment?
Applicants who wish to apply for their visa in Mexico must visit http://mexico.usvisa-info.com to obtain information about how to start their application for a U.S. visa at a consular section in Mexico. Applicants will be required to pay their visa application processing fee prior to scheduling an appointment.
Can I go to Canada for H1B stamping?
Short Travel to Canada or Mexico under Automatic Visa Revalidation. A valid H-1B visa stamp (or H-4 visa stamp) is not required for reentry to the U.S. following a visit of less than 30 days in Canada or Mexico, as long as you have a valid H-1B approval notice. This is called automatic visa revalidation.
Can I get US visa stamped in another country?
You can get your visa stamped at the U.S consulate in a neighboring country to the U.S., but that involves more risk and processes. That's why it can sometimes be easier for you to go to your home country to do it.
Can I go for H1B stamping in Canada first time?
Can I have my first H1B visa stamped in Canada? There is an option to have your first H1B visa stamped in Canada. However, they do reserve the right to refuse to stamp visas in the Canadian consulate.
Where to go for visa stamping?
A person on a nonimmigrant visa has two choices for visa stamping: 1. Go to a neighboring country like Canada or Mexico. 2. Go to their home country for visa stamping. If they are eligible, many people prefer to go to Canada or Mexico because of their geographical proximity to the U.S.
How long does it take to get a visa in Mexico?
Please note that the visa stamping process in Mexico takes at least three days: one day for fingerprinting, another day for an interview, and a third day for passport pickup. However, it may take longer.
What to do if you are changing from non-F-1 to H-1?
If you are changing from a non-F-1 status (i.e. B-1, H-4, J-1) to an H-1 status, you should consult an immigration attorney before going to Mexico for visa stamping.
Can a third country national renew a visa in Mexico?
In general, Third Country Nationals (TCNs or non-Mexican nationals) who live in the U.S. may be eligible to renew their visas in Mexico if they are renewing within the same visa category (except for B-1, B-2, or H-2) and have never been out of status.
Can a nonimmigrant stay in the US?
A nonimmigrant status may allow them to stay in the U.S. and/or legally work if they possess a work visa. However, if the current visa stamp in their passport is expired or is about to expire, they will need a new visa stamp before entering into the U.S. again. This also applies if they were to travel overseas.
Which US embassy in Canada allows visa stamping?
All US embassy in Canada allows visa stamping including Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Toronto, and Vancouver.
How long does it take to get a passport back from Mexico?
The form 221g admin processing after visa approval can still take anywhere between 7 days to 8 weeks.
Can an H4 visa holder visit Mexico?
Example: An H4 visa holder can visit Mexico to get a first time H1B stamp. An F1 student cannot get first time H1B or H4 stamping in Mexico. Canada allows a change of visa class though.
Where is the US embassy in Mexico?
US embassy in Mexico are located at Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Mexico City, Monterrey, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana. Check out our recommendations to choose the Mexico location based on visa type and approval chances in Mexico. Source: travel.State.gov.
Can you change your visa class in Mexico?
Mexico: US embassy in Mexico does not allow change of visa class stamping. This means that the F1 class of visa change to H4 or H1B is not allowed in Mexico.
Do I need a visa to stamp in my home country?
You must go for visa stamping in your home country i.e. nationality or passport.
Can I work on an H4 visa?
You should answer the question as “ I will not work on an H4 visa ” if asked, “ do you plan to work in the USA ” as you are applying for H4 at this time. H4 is not allowed to work until you have H4-EAD.
Why Cannot you go for First time H1B visa stamping to Mexico ?
People used to be able to get change of visa stamped before ( I got my first H1B in Mexico too), but NOT now. The Mexican Immigration website of Tijuana and Matamoros clearly says that Third Country nationals (TCNs) cannot apply for change of status visa stamping.
Can a spouse renew a TCN visa?
A renewal is a case where an applicant for the same type of visa is made and does not include persons who seek to change from one visa category to another or who are seeking any other type of “change of status” even if that change has been authorized by the Department of Homeland Security.”
Can I travel to the Bahamas?
Yes you can. There is no rules as of now like Mexico. I know few of my friends who went to Bahamas for Visa stamping last year. One went for F1 to H1B visa and other for L1 to H1B visa. They had to get Bahamas visa to go there too. You should call the Bahamas Embassy under the new rules they mention on their site before you book an appointment. You can read the details below
Is H1B visa stamping a hurdle?
With the ever changing H1B visa petition rules, getting H1B approval notice from USCIS is one hurdle and then getting H1B visa stamping is another big hurdle. This article explains few scenarios and helps you throw some information about visa stamping in Canada, Mexico, Bahamas or your Home country. This article assumes you are in US on a visa and did a change of status to H1B visa and worked in US or plan to work in US after re-entering US.
Where to schedule H1B visa interview?
Scheduling the interview may be conducted at the closest U.S. consulate or embassy. The H-1B visa stamping process should be implemented in the following order:
How to secure a visa payment?
To secure payment approval, create a user profile with the U.S. Visa Service website. Select ‘Schedule Appointment.’ A payment confirmation page should appear. This page will allow the applicant to select the best-fitted payment information for the individual. The payment is only valid for a year, so it is important to schedule the appointment within that time.
What is a POE visa?
When you get to the port of entry (POE), you will have to undergo security clearance before you can be allowed to enter the country. Your visa stamp is one of the requirements to prove that you have valid authorization to travel to the United States.
Does the USCIS suspend visa stamping?
It also does not guarantee that your visa will be approved in the H-1B visa stamping process. There are times, however, when the USCIS will suspend premium processing to give preference to long-neglected petitions. This is true for all H-1B petitions during the 2017-2018 season.
Does premium processing increase chances of lottery?
A: Usually, premium processing is a service that only speeds up the time it takes for the USCIS to process your I-129 petition. It does not increase your chances of being selected in the lottery nor does it make you cap-exempt. It also does not guarantee that your visa will be approved in the H-1B visa stamping process.
How long can you stay in Mexico with a visa?
As Aravind says, as long as you have a valid visa for the USA you can enter Mexico as a tourist and stay for up to 180 days. If the USA has cleared you as ok, who are we to argue? :)
Can a company hire employees overseas?
A company based in the U.S. will have a few options in front of them when deciding to hire an employee overseas. The first option is to set up a foreign entity in that specific country, which is the best option if you’re looking to hire more than a handful of employees and have plans to st
Can you cross the border from California to Mexico?
if you are in Southern California then you can simply cross the USA via gate but still keep the Mexico visa otherwise there is a risk if something goes wrong
Does Mexico require a visa?
It depends on your citizenship, as Mexico requires visa for many countries.
Can I work if I have a tourist visa?
i.e., even if you have other visa (L1, TN or other) if you use your tourist visa for entry, you are saying that you won’t work, you will only be around. So
Can I travel to Mexico with my H1 visa?
I went to Mexico once with my h1 visa …. The purpose of my visit was visa stamping for my travel to Japan ….So I can answer your question…… you can go to Mexico once you get Mexico visa at your passport and when you come back you need US Visa Stamping in your Passport so that you can enter USA without any issue so make sure you have both visa’s are stamped properly with your name
Do you need to travel to Mexico City to exit Mexico?
Also you need to travel to Mexico City to exit Mexico and this is not at all a very pleasant experience if you do not know anybody over there.
Can I work if I have a tourist visa?
i.e., even if you have other visa (L1, TN or other) if you use your tourist visa for entry, you are saying that you won’t work, you will only be around. So
Can you go to Mexico for DUI?
If you commit any offenses, such as DUI then do not go to Mexico because there are high chances that you do not visa or consulate might ask to obtain additional evidence or medical tests that would be very difficult to obtain in foreign country.
Can I change my consulate for visa stamping?
So by reading this particular text in your I-797B, you may indeed change the consulate for visa stamping but you need your petitioner (employer) to file for the change.
