zephyrr
12-02 10:15 PM
From another thread on IV, I've read that you should keep a copy of
you approved 140 as proof that your 140 was approved. You should
definitely check with a lawyer before making a move. It is true that
you can get a 3 yr H1B extension based on your old 140. If the old
140 is revoked, according to the law, you are not allowed to get an
extension based on it - however, a memorandum issued by USCIS
says that you can. It would be best to get a 3 yr extension before you switch.
but employer keeps the LC and I-140. If I move to new employer
what is the proof that my I-140 was approved.
Thanks
you approved 140 as proof that your 140 was approved. You should
definitely check with a lawyer before making a move. It is true that
you can get a 3 yr H1B extension based on your old 140. If the old
140 is revoked, according to the law, you are not allowed to get an
extension based on it - however, a memorandum issued by USCIS
says that you can. It would be best to get a 3 yr extension before you switch.
but employer keeps the LC and I-140. If I move to new employer
what is the proof that my I-140 was approved.
Thanks
abhijitp
01-29 01:11 PM
you are awesome
NP, thanks for bumping this up.... I won't be spending any more time "bumping up" as guys who live and work around Fremont have heard this loud & clear by now...
Fremont BART station, 5 pm to 7 pm every weekday beginning today... BE THERE!!!
NP, thanks for bumping this up.... I won't be spending any more time "bumping up" as guys who live and work around Fremont have heard this loud & clear by now...
Fremont BART station, 5 pm to 7 pm every weekday beginning today... BE THERE!!!
thandan
03-17 11:33 AM
I am not sure I agree with you on that EAD will go invalid if the primary applicant stops working fulltime. This is because the greencard application and everything associated with it is for a FUTURE job offer.
What I am trying to see is the analysis of this situation from the point of view of an attorney. It would be great if one of the attorneys can chime in here!
Couple of more points in case it wasn't clear in my original post
1) I am the primary applicant for this greencard application.
2) The option of going to MBA after I get the greencard will not work. For one, it will take me (eb3 india) years to get it, at which point going for an MBA will be too late. Also I got this opportunity to attend a top-3 MBA after so much hardwork and I do not want that to go to waste.
What I am trying to see is the analysis of this situation from the point of view of an attorney. It would be great if one of the attorneys can chime in here!
Couple of more points in case it wasn't clear in my original post
1) I am the primary applicant for this greencard application.
2) The option of going to MBA after I get the greencard will not work. For one, it will take me (eb3 india) years to get it, at which point going for an MBA will be too late. Also I got this opportunity to attend a top-3 MBA after so much hardwork and I do not want that to go to waste.
cagedcactus
04-06 11:05 AM
while it is good to hear from USCIS, who pretends to be running smooth in law makers' eyes, it is also disappointing that nothing is being done to resolve. Numerous amounts of attempts have been made by pro immigration parties, but nothing has passed that can help the cause immensely. They just continue to run as they feel necessary, and regardless of how many senetors I have met, the outcome has been same. Lots of promises and no action.
This is huge moneymaking machine for USA that will continue to be so. Why the heck would they jeopardise their income on EAD and AP renewals? :rolleyes:
we are in for long ride.... have been in for a long time, and it is just getting longer....
This is huge moneymaking machine for USA that will continue to be so. Why the heck would they jeopardise their income on EAD and AP renewals? :rolleyes:
we are in for long ride.... have been in for a long time, and it is just getting longer....
more...
anilsal
07-16 07:21 AM
i guess I am going to be in trouble in case I have to get a new PCC. I will try and get a new one when I reach India. Also update to my status is that chennai consulate has sent a letter to my local address in India about the interview appointment date.
The reason consulates in the US take 50 days for PCC is that they send the request to regional Passport Office in India who take like 45 days. So you may probably apply at PP office in India and get the clearance.
The reason consulates in the US take 50 days for PCC is that they send the request to regional Passport Office in India who take like 45 days. So you may probably apply at PP office in India and get the clearance.
asanghi
02-09 12:39 AM
USCIS has been sued by Citizenship hopefuls for a reason which applies to us all. The process took longer time than expected.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/08/BAG7QO1AN18.DTL
What if we sue USCIS, if not USCIS then some other Fed agency. Least of all, it capture the nation's attention that IV badly needs and make it a mainstream issue just like illegal immigration.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/08/BAG7QO1AN18.DTL
What if we sue USCIS, if not USCIS then some other Fed agency. Least of all, it capture the nation's attention that IV badly needs and make it a mainstream issue just like illegal immigration.
more...
vedicman
11-30 09:00 AM
The Startup Case For Immigration Reform - Maureen Farrell - Scaling Up - Forbes (http://blogs.forbes.com/maureenfarrell/2010/11/23/startups%E2%80%99-case-for-immigration/?boxes=Homepagechannels)
It�s not just Google that�s worried about attracting and retaining top technical talent. However, the search giant�s recent 10% raise for all its employees is a leading indicator of the talent and compensation war surging through Silicon Valley, and among tech startups around the US.
�It�s the worst I�ve seen since the late 1990s,� says Bessemer Venture Partner�s David Cowan, who estimates that salaries for experienced engineers are up about 20% from before the crisis. Charles River Partners� George Zachary says it takes between $90,000 and $100,000 to land even starting engineers compared to $75,000 to $80,000 just six months ago.
Of the dozen venture capitalists and CEOs I spoke to who are seeing this trend, nearly all say a business-friendly immigration policy could help them find talent to help them grow startups.
�Everyone of my startups has an issue with trying to fill out their engineering headcount plan,� says Cowan. �There are lots of talented engineers around the world. If we invited them to participate in our industry here in the U.S. we would see more Googles and Facebooks.�
Large and small businesses are lining up behind an immigration policy that would make it easier for entrepreneurs and high-tech professionals to come or stay in the United States. Congress did not move forward on comprehensive immigration reform before the midterm election. It has also failed to pass several of the more specific immigration proposals made in recent years. One of these, the DREAM Act, would have allowed alien students who graduate from college or served for two years in the military to stay in the US. Another, the Startup Visa Act, sought to give a visa to anyone who�s received $1 million in equity investment in their company and would create 10 US jobs.
Expect a concerted push to reverse what�s seen as a brain drain from big business and the venture capital industry. Jim Turley, the CEO of Ernst and Young who serves on Obama�s National Export Council, advocates a policy of what he calls �staple diplomacy.� Explaining it he said: �Whenever there�s a student from anywhere in the world who is walking across the stage from a leading university getting his or her PhD or masters we should staple a visa there to him or her and say you�re welcome to stay.�
Immigration proponents cite studies by Duke Professor Vivek Wadhwa, who determined that immigrants created a quarter of all technology and engineering firms founded in the U.S. between 1995 and 2005. Foreign-born nationals residing in this country were part of nearly one-quarter of patents filed in 2006.
Right now entrepreneurs and businesses have two options to bring highly skilled international residents into the US: the EB-5 visa and the H1B visa. With the EB-5 visa, immigrant investors can obtain a green card if they invest $1 million into a new or existing business and create at least 10 jobs. Less than half of last year�s 10,000 EB-5 slots were filled. Eleanor Pelta, the President-Elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and a partner at the law firm Morgan Lewis in Washington says foreign nationals are wary of using these visas to start a new business because if a business runs into trouble and the company doesn�t employ 10 workers two years later, the investor will lose his or her provisional visa. �It�s a dicey proposition because you have to use your own money or secure it with your own assets and you might not get a visa at the end of it anyway,� she says.
The H-1B visa is for highly skilled foreign workers who will fill jobs that Americans can�t. US companies must sponsor these visas. The US caps this visa category at 65,000 individuals and it�s nearly always oversubscribed. Cleveland immigration attorney David Leopold and current President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association expects that this fiscal year�s (staring on October 1, 2010) visa slots will be filled by January of 2011. �So from January through next October, no companies can bring in skilled workers on these visas.�
The United States� Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra says President Obama has tried to lower administrative barriers for bringing foreign nationals into the US for professional development. �In his first year the President wanted to make sure scientists around the world who wanted to visit the US to participate in conferences and seminars could do that,� says Chopra. �We have streamlined that process and efforts so they can participate in ways that are a lot more friendly to their participation.�
Many in Silicon Valley question how well even that move has worked. New Enterprise Associates Scott Sandell who invests in companies in Silicon Valley and China says it�s hard to bring in top executives from Chinese firms to meet with executives from his US companies. �Immigration agents are more overwhelmed and seem to have more trouble processing applications than they ever have,� says Sandell, noting that it�s been worse in the past six months.
Still both Chopra and Undersecretary of Commerce Francisco Sanchez say that Obama will put political capital behind immigration reform in the next Congress. �We are obviously committed to comprehensive solution for immigration reform,� asserts Chopra. �There are clear areas of consensus in this country around reform, and areas of high-growth entrepreneurship clearly might be one that we can take action on sooner.�
It�s not just Google that�s worried about attracting and retaining top technical talent. However, the search giant�s recent 10% raise for all its employees is a leading indicator of the talent and compensation war surging through Silicon Valley, and among tech startups around the US.
�It�s the worst I�ve seen since the late 1990s,� says Bessemer Venture Partner�s David Cowan, who estimates that salaries for experienced engineers are up about 20% from before the crisis. Charles River Partners� George Zachary says it takes between $90,000 and $100,000 to land even starting engineers compared to $75,000 to $80,000 just six months ago.
Of the dozen venture capitalists and CEOs I spoke to who are seeing this trend, nearly all say a business-friendly immigration policy could help them find talent to help them grow startups.
�Everyone of my startups has an issue with trying to fill out their engineering headcount plan,� says Cowan. �There are lots of talented engineers around the world. If we invited them to participate in our industry here in the U.S. we would see more Googles and Facebooks.�
Large and small businesses are lining up behind an immigration policy that would make it easier for entrepreneurs and high-tech professionals to come or stay in the United States. Congress did not move forward on comprehensive immigration reform before the midterm election. It has also failed to pass several of the more specific immigration proposals made in recent years. One of these, the DREAM Act, would have allowed alien students who graduate from college or served for two years in the military to stay in the US. Another, the Startup Visa Act, sought to give a visa to anyone who�s received $1 million in equity investment in their company and would create 10 US jobs.
Expect a concerted push to reverse what�s seen as a brain drain from big business and the venture capital industry. Jim Turley, the CEO of Ernst and Young who serves on Obama�s National Export Council, advocates a policy of what he calls �staple diplomacy.� Explaining it he said: �Whenever there�s a student from anywhere in the world who is walking across the stage from a leading university getting his or her PhD or masters we should staple a visa there to him or her and say you�re welcome to stay.�
Immigration proponents cite studies by Duke Professor Vivek Wadhwa, who determined that immigrants created a quarter of all technology and engineering firms founded in the U.S. between 1995 and 2005. Foreign-born nationals residing in this country were part of nearly one-quarter of patents filed in 2006.
Right now entrepreneurs and businesses have two options to bring highly skilled international residents into the US: the EB-5 visa and the H1B visa. With the EB-5 visa, immigrant investors can obtain a green card if they invest $1 million into a new or existing business and create at least 10 jobs. Less than half of last year�s 10,000 EB-5 slots were filled. Eleanor Pelta, the President-Elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and a partner at the law firm Morgan Lewis in Washington says foreign nationals are wary of using these visas to start a new business because if a business runs into trouble and the company doesn�t employ 10 workers two years later, the investor will lose his or her provisional visa. �It�s a dicey proposition because you have to use your own money or secure it with your own assets and you might not get a visa at the end of it anyway,� she says.
The H-1B visa is for highly skilled foreign workers who will fill jobs that Americans can�t. US companies must sponsor these visas. The US caps this visa category at 65,000 individuals and it�s nearly always oversubscribed. Cleveland immigration attorney David Leopold and current President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association expects that this fiscal year�s (staring on October 1, 2010) visa slots will be filled by January of 2011. �So from January through next October, no companies can bring in skilled workers on these visas.�
The United States� Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra says President Obama has tried to lower administrative barriers for bringing foreign nationals into the US for professional development. �In his first year the President wanted to make sure scientists around the world who wanted to visit the US to participate in conferences and seminars could do that,� says Chopra. �We have streamlined that process and efforts so they can participate in ways that are a lot more friendly to their participation.�
Many in Silicon Valley question how well even that move has worked. New Enterprise Associates Scott Sandell who invests in companies in Silicon Valley and China says it�s hard to bring in top executives from Chinese firms to meet with executives from his US companies. �Immigration agents are more overwhelmed and seem to have more trouble processing applications than they ever have,� says Sandell, noting that it�s been worse in the past six months.
Still both Chopra and Undersecretary of Commerce Francisco Sanchez say that Obama will put political capital behind immigration reform in the next Congress. �We are obviously committed to comprehensive solution for immigration reform,� asserts Chopra. �There are clear areas of consensus in this country around reform, and areas of high-growth entrepreneurship clearly might be one that we can take action on sooner.�
smisachu
01-02 02:09 AM
See my answers below. Best of Luck!!
My new year begins with another immigration issue..need some urgent advice.
My wife went to the US Consulate in Chennai today for her first time H-1 stamping. She completed her Phd in Biology from the US and has been working for almost a year for a US biotech company. The consular officer has asked her to submit additional information -221(g); mostly about her job and the company. I can't understand it! Most of the information asked has already been submitted to the INS in reponse to a H-1 RFE.
My wife has an Advance Parole document and EAD based on my I-485 application.
Can you suggest options for her?
1. can she forget about the H-1, not respond to the 221(g) and travel back on advance parole and start working on EAD?
Yes she can. She need not respond and can travel back on AP. However consult an attorney on how to withdraw the visa application, so the record is straight.
2. If after submission of 221(g) her visa gets rejected, can she still use the Advance Parole to travel to US and work on her EAD?
Yes. AP and H1 have no relation to each other. She has an approved H1, so she can enter on AP and still work on H1. This is valid if she withdraws her H1 stamping application, if the visa gets rejected-consult an attorney about the use of H1 after rejection.3. Any other options/advice?[/QUOTE]
My new year begins with another immigration issue..need some urgent advice.
My wife went to the US Consulate in Chennai today for her first time H-1 stamping. She completed her Phd in Biology from the US and has been working for almost a year for a US biotech company. The consular officer has asked her to submit additional information -221(g); mostly about her job and the company. I can't understand it! Most of the information asked has already been submitted to the INS in reponse to a H-1 RFE.
My wife has an Advance Parole document and EAD based on my I-485 application.
Can you suggest options for her?
1. can she forget about the H-1, not respond to the 221(g) and travel back on advance parole and start working on EAD?
Yes she can. She need not respond and can travel back on AP. However consult an attorney on how to withdraw the visa application, so the record is straight.
2. If after submission of 221(g) her visa gets rejected, can she still use the Advance Parole to travel to US and work on her EAD?
Yes. AP and H1 have no relation to each other. She has an approved H1, so she can enter on AP and still work on H1. This is valid if she withdraws her H1 stamping application, if the visa gets rejected-consult an attorney about the use of H1 after rejection.3. Any other options/advice?[/QUOTE]
more...
hebron
08-16 02:50 PM
Hi Hebron,
I will get my money if i complain to DOL. But, do i have to stop working at the same client now. Will there be any problem if i continue working with the same client.
Thanks,
Srikanth
You have a valid H1 with the new employer (client), so there should be nothing wrong working with the client.
Have you or your client signed a contract with the parent company? If you have not signed a contract, there is nothing to worry. I would assume your client may have signed a contract with your parent company(old employer). If that's the case the issue is between you current employer (client) and you parent company (old employer).
You may also want to check with your attorney.
I will get my money if i complain to DOL. But, do i have to stop working at the same client now. Will there be any problem if i continue working with the same client.
Thanks,
Srikanth
You have a valid H1 with the new employer (client), so there should be nothing wrong working with the client.
Have you or your client signed a contract with the parent company? If you have not signed a contract, there is nothing to worry. I would assume your client may have signed a contract with your parent company(old employer). If that's the case the issue is between you current employer (client) and you parent company (old employer).
You may also want to check with your attorney.
gc_check
10-07 05:32 PM
Got an email from HR (Large US Based Tech company) sometime back that there is a possibility representative of the USCIS may come to work location to review an employees immigration petition and this appears to be part of USCIS standard procedure. Employees have been provided with HR contact details to contact, if it happens for anyone. This is not unusual and this could very well happen to any one. Just a routine procedure. Nothing to worry much on this as long as you provide the details and if you have not violated any laws, etc..
more...
amitkhare77
08-26 03:04 PM
Is this true? I think once you start using EAD your H status is imiidiately invalid. she needs to go out of the country and get the H1B stamped in order to work on H1b.
She can always have the H1 in her back pocket for back up
She can always have the H1 in her back pocket for back up
ursosweet
10-02 08:55 PM
so when is a visa no. allocated?
say, i filed in july when visa bulletin was current and now its retrogressed to 2004. my PD is 2006. so can it happen that if all runs smooth and application is complted, i can get my GC, even tough visa bulletin may not have yet cut past my PD? so in a nut shell, visa no. is given when 485 is recipted or when its approved?
say, i filed in july when visa bulletin was current and now its retrogressed to 2004. my PD is 2006. so can it happen that if all runs smooth and application is complted, i can get my GC, even tough visa bulletin may not have yet cut past my PD? so in a nut shell, visa no. is given when 485 is recipted or when its approved?
more...
shirish
02-23 02:32 PM
who really cares what they put up on those stupdi dates,
they can make up anything and call the that as a law, no body to question them, not checks and balances
Thats true, When my I-140 was approved, as per the site my date was atleast 2 months away, but i received the approval notice. :)
they can make up anything and call the that as a law, no body to question them, not checks and balances
Thats true, When my I-140 was approved, as per the site my date was atleast 2 months away, but i received the approval notice. :)
rajnag21
08-13 05:28 PM
Texas service center
nsc - nebraska service center
nsc - nebraska service center
more...
jasmin45
02-26 01:20 PM
If you go out of US and while you are out, if your GC is approved, then you can reenter US with that GC only if you have an AP. If you re-enter US with your H4, then USCIS assumes that you are abandoning your GC...This is what my attorney told me. So, it's better to talk to your attorney before going out of US.
This is correct as per my understanding. As soon as your GC is approved you will need AP to re-enter US. IO at POE will have the information about your approved GC. I do not think he will allow you to enter on H4 after the GC Approval.
This is just my understanding. Check with a attorney to get precise information.
This is correct as per my understanding. As soon as your GC is approved you will need AP to re-enter US. IO at POE will have the information about your approved GC. I do not think he will allow you to enter on H4 after the GC Approval.
This is just my understanding. Check with a attorney to get precise information.
iamlost
07-24 09:59 PM
Hi all,
My I-140 was approved 2.5 years back and I-485 was also approved more than an year back.
But, today the status on my I-140 got changed to "REQUEST FOR INITIAL EVIDENCE SENT, CASE PLACED ON HOLD". I am not sure, why did they reopen the case again. I checked with my company and they assured me that they didn't revoke my I-140.
Could anyone suggest me what's happening to my case. Has anyone seen an similar kind of an issue and suggest me how to proceed ?
Thanks in advance !
My I-140 was approved 2.5 years back and I-485 was also approved more than an year back.
But, today the status on my I-140 got changed to "REQUEST FOR INITIAL EVIDENCE SENT, CASE PLACED ON HOLD". I am not sure, why did they reopen the case again. I checked with my company and they assured me that they didn't revoke my I-140.
Could anyone suggest me what's happening to my case. Has anyone seen an similar kind of an issue and suggest me how to proceed ?
Thanks in advance !
more...
makemygc
06-22 11:18 AM
Due to time contraints doctor sent me for a chest x-ray and skipped the TB skin test. Chest x-ray came back negative. Question: Is a TB skin test required if a chest x-ray is negative? No remarks were made as to why TB skin test was not given. Should suggest, to a reasonable person, that no active TB is present
My civil surgeon advised me against by-passing skin test. He said, he has done that in the past but peope got an RFE.
My civil surgeon advised me against by-passing skin test. He said, he has done that in the past but peope got an RFE.
rcr_bulk
07-23 11:22 AM
as folks mentioned above it is totally ok to not renew AP...do it if u travellin in the next few months...
on a side note...do people here know the average time it is takin to renew AP nowdays....TSC......paper and/or electronic..?
I had put in EAD renewal at TSC and got the approved EAD in hand within a month ...that was really good speed...anyone has info on AP approval timelines???
My AP got approved in about a month. I applied some time between 7-10 of last month and I got it on 10th of this month.
on a side note...do people here know the average time it is takin to renew AP nowdays....TSC......paper and/or electronic..?
I had put in EAD renewal at TSC and got the approved EAD in hand within a month ...that was really good speed...anyone has info on AP approval timelines???
My AP got approved in about a month. I applied some time between 7-10 of last month and I got it on 10th of this month.
rsdang1
06-24 03:47 PM
I understand where you are coming from but more awareness and publicity will only help and hopefully drive action...
Go Mayor Go... get us CIR...:D
Go Mayor Go... get us CIR...:D
dealsnet
09-04 02:36 PM
If at this rate the people are dying, In 1-2 years every one will be finished.
Do they die because of RAT FEVER, SLUM DOG FEVER, MONKEY FEVER or SWINE FLUE ???
Guys,
Here is the list of people who recently died in my village. Let us all pray for their soul to rest in peace. Please understand that when we can pray for YSR..we can do for these people also. Every life has the same value...dont you agree..
1. Rasu Devan
2. Kenkai ammal
3. Gandhi mathi (lady only).
Please all do pray for the poor souls. From today onwords I will post all the dead people list in IV and let us all pray for them. Thanks for your support and prayer. Please let your freinds and family know about this and ask them to join in our prayer. Once again thanks guys.
You are more than welcome to give red dots.
Do they die because of RAT FEVER, SLUM DOG FEVER, MONKEY FEVER or SWINE FLUE ???
Guys,
Here is the list of people who recently died in my village. Let us all pray for their soul to rest in peace. Please understand that when we can pray for YSR..we can do for these people also. Every life has the same value...dont you agree..
1. Rasu Devan
2. Kenkai ammal
3. Gandhi mathi (lady only).
Please all do pray for the poor souls. From today onwords I will post all the dead people list in IV and let us all pray for them. Thanks for your support and prayer. Please let your freinds and family know about this and ask them to join in our prayer. Once again thanks guys.
You are more than welcome to give red dots.
prem_goel
12-03 10:15 PM
Many congratulations. I will appreciate if you can share your experience in detail.
1)The documents you carried along with you.
2)Hotel where you stayed
3)Did you have the tourist visa for mexico?
4)Did you get H1B for 3 years or less?
5)Questions VO asked.
Thanks.
1> just carried the usual documents required, job letter, tax returns, I-129, LCA, Paystubs etc. I also carried whatever documentation I could find for my previous employers like experience letter, last few paystubs etc. Also original of degrees/transcripts.
2> I stayed at Hotel Real Del Rio which is less than a minute walk from the consulate. It's right behind the consulate infact. Very nice hotel; courteous staff. Recommended you do booking through expedia ($70), although expedia will not charge your credit card but you can carry the printout which will get you that rate. If you book directly with the hotel, the rate's much higher (close to $100)
3> YEs, I got the tourist visa for mexico. Although nobody checked it anywhere, but I believe entering any country without valid visa/paperwork is illegal. Getting a mexican visa was very easy. You just go to the consulate/embassy, tell them you want to go to the US consulate in Tijuana for H-1b stamping. They issue you within the hour stamped. Cost about $36. Just get your H-1b petition with you for proof, and the appointment confirmation.
4> The validity of H-1b depends on the validity of the petition I-797. Whatever period you have that for, will be stamped.
5> He just asked me for job letter, asked me if I've applied for GC (I have), asked me that don't I have to work with them for a certain time (to which I replied I did and after I was eligible I changed employers using AC-21). He just read the job duties in my H-1B petition (most likely to check for any TAL related stuff). He remarked that inspite of my experience, my close-to-six-figure salary is a bit above slavery (to which I replied that I do get other benefits such as 401k, paid time-off, health/medical insurance etc.). He just asked some other questions such as what was my major in masters, how long I've been in US, had I worked in India, if so how long. I replied all of them. It appears he put that in the comments screen on his PC. And then he said he's approving it.
It was basically a bar-like casual conversation I had with him. Within a few seconds of my start of the interview with IO, I knew he'll approve my visa. so it was pretty cool all along the way.
1)The documents you carried along with you.
2)Hotel where you stayed
3)Did you have the tourist visa for mexico?
4)Did you get H1B for 3 years or less?
5)Questions VO asked.
Thanks.
1> just carried the usual documents required, job letter, tax returns, I-129, LCA, Paystubs etc. I also carried whatever documentation I could find for my previous employers like experience letter, last few paystubs etc. Also original of degrees/transcripts.
2> I stayed at Hotel Real Del Rio which is less than a minute walk from the consulate. It's right behind the consulate infact. Very nice hotel; courteous staff. Recommended you do booking through expedia ($70), although expedia will not charge your credit card but you can carry the printout which will get you that rate. If you book directly with the hotel, the rate's much higher (close to $100)
3> YEs, I got the tourist visa for mexico. Although nobody checked it anywhere, but I believe entering any country without valid visa/paperwork is illegal. Getting a mexican visa was very easy. You just go to the consulate/embassy, tell them you want to go to the US consulate in Tijuana for H-1b stamping. They issue you within the hour stamped. Cost about $36. Just get your H-1b petition with you for proof, and the appointment confirmation.
4> The validity of H-1b depends on the validity of the petition I-797. Whatever period you have that for, will be stamped.
5> He just asked me for job letter, asked me if I've applied for GC (I have), asked me that don't I have to work with them for a certain time (to which I replied I did and after I was eligible I changed employers using AC-21). He just read the job duties in my H-1B petition (most likely to check for any TAL related stuff). He remarked that inspite of my experience, my close-to-six-figure salary is a bit above slavery (to which I replied that I do get other benefits such as 401k, paid time-off, health/medical insurance etc.). He just asked some other questions such as what was my major in masters, how long I've been in US, had I worked in India, if so how long. I replied all of them. It appears he put that in the comments screen on his PC. And then he said he's approving it.
It was basically a bar-like casual conversation I had with him. Within a few seconds of my start of the interview with IO, I knew he'll approve my visa. so it was pretty cool all along the way.
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