USVISAMEX Frequently asked questions

File a complaint for CBP (U.S. Immigration Office/ I 94) here: https://help.cbp.gov/app/ask/kw/complaint.

File a complaint against a US visa officer here:

http://answers.usa.gov/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1000&PARTITION_ID=1&CMD=VIEW_ARTICLE&ARTICLE_ID=9702&USERTYPE=1&LANGUAGE=en&COUNTRY=US

ALL CONSULATE TRIP UPDATES on FACEBOOK:

Like us on FACEBOOK HERE and stay up-to-date on the visa stamping process!

  FAQ'S HERE

 

09/14/19

- Stamping continues to go well here for those that manage to get appointments.  Our client this week was able to receive the passport on the same day, however, that was by special request that was granted by the VO.  We will continue to monitor the time it takes to receive passports and we can only hope that it goes back to same day issuance. 

09/05/19

- We are currently offering full service for the following locations:

Matamoros

Nuevo Laredo

Monterrey

Tijuana

09/03/19

- The US visa stamping process is taking an additional 2 nights after the USC interview since passports are being issued by DHL and not the consulate.  This may change, but for now, please plan accordingly.  Approval rates continue to be excellent!

11/01/2016

New Rates Effective Immediately!  Rates starting at $249.00.  Please call 956-455-3628 before making a payment.  Website will be updated shortly with new rates!

10/21/16

- All new updates are being posted on our USVISAMEX FACEBOOK PAGE to make it more interactive!  Please like our page, tag a friend who is going for stamping, or simply share with your friends!  Thank you!!!!

03/25/16

- Hello everyone!!!!  This update is to let everyone know that we are still in operation, and have been for the last 12+ years!  I apologize for not updating the site since last year.  I had been having issues with my updates being deleted etc, so I basically gave up.  It seems like things are working again with the server or whatever the issue was. 

Stamping has been going great for the last 2+ years, with very minor issues which have been resolved within 1-3 business days.  Visas have generally been issued on the same day as the US consulate interview (90-95% of the time). 

I'm going to start a Facebook page:  US Visa Mex to update the visa stamping process, share valuable information instantly, and post special offers.  Please find us, and Like Us!!!!

10/12/15

- So far we continue to have 100% success rate for H1b applicants.  With that said, we do have one client who is waiting on approval (221g).  I will update once we find out more information regarding that particular case and/or as information is received.  Also, we will need to start registering all clients with Mexican Immigration effective immediately.  I will need the following documents scanned and emailed:

- 1st page of the passport.  (name, picture showing)

-  Latest U.S. visa stamp on passort (even if expired)

- I 797 / I 20

Please call me if you have any questions regarding this.

09/10/15

- Things continue to go great with the US visa stamping in Matamoros!!  We continue to have 100% H1b applicant success!  So far everyone was approved and issued the passports on the same day this week.  No other issues to report.

09/06/15

- So far we continue to carry on with the 100% H1b applicant success rate!!!!!  Stamping is going as good as it can right now!  We hope the trend continues.  95% of our clients are receiving the passports on the same day this past 2 months. 

07/11/15

- So far things have been going great!  Passports have been issued mostly on the same day as USC interview and the 100% success rate continues!  No other issues to report.

06/26/15

- Everything seems to be back to normal with the US visa stamping in Matamoros.  The clients who were pending the passports due to the delay caused by server crash, have all received their passports.  Appointments are also available!

06/16/15

- Things have been going quite well with the visa stamping since last update.  All H1b's were approved and the majority, 85% or so, got the passport on the same day.  Some had to wait a day while a few had to wait 2-3 days.  

There is currently an issue with the system/server at the US consulate in Matamoros, and they have been telling people with appointments this week to reschedule.  While I feel / hope that it gets resolved sometime this week, there's a chance that it can go further.  Keep checking your email and notify me if you receive anythign from the consulate regading this.  We also had an F1 student with a visa denial.  That client was able to re-enter temporarily to U.S. and will need to return to the home country for stamping.  Reason is unknown.   Other than that, everything else is going great wtih the visa stamping and business as usual.  Nothing else to report at this time.

05/07/15

- Our clients today were approved.  One was asked by the consulate officer to return tomorrow to pick the passport up.  

EVERYONE:  

I had an issue to day with one of our clients.  An issue that is quite rare (thankfully) and one that I don't like to deal with:

It is VERY important to understand what exactly you are paying for before you decide to utilize our services.  We try our absolute best to be as cliear as possible to avoid any type of issues.  I particularly do not enjoy having difficult clients.

Well unfortunately today, we had one difficult client who did not get the passport back and was asked to return tomorrow to pick it up.  (This happens from time to time, and is COMPLETELY out of our hands).  

This client demanded that we pay the additional (3rd) night at the hotel.  

I politely refused making it very clear that we have fulfilled our end of the bargain with the 2 Night hotel accommodations.  2 nights is what the package includes and that is exactly what our client received, along with all transportation etc.  

Needless to say, this client continued to persist and request that I pay the additional night because that is what we are "supposed" to do.  I continued to explain that it is not our fault that the consulate did not issue the passport and therefore, we have no responsibility.  We are very clear with what our services include.  This client persisted to tell me that I should have to pay for his hotel because I'm operating this service and whatever else he could come up with to try and make his point.  This basically upset me very much.

I will be the first to say that I do not put up well with anyone who tries to tell me how to run this business and/or expects us to pay for things that is out of what our responsibilities are to our clients.  We are clear with what we offer for this EXACT reason!!!!!    

PLEASE, if you do not understand what our package includes, DO NOT PAY!!!!!  If you are not happy with what type of service(s) we offer, DO NOT PAY!!!!  ONLY pay when you fully understand what services you will be provided, and rest assured that we will gladly honor it! 

I have enjoyed working with all my clients since day one, with the exception of a few for the past 11 years.  Today was a day that I hope does not repeat itself again.

As always, we appreciate those who have used our service and will continue to do our best (in our capabilities) to make you safe, secure, and comfortable!

 05/06/15

- We had one F1 client refused a visa last week due to some issues.  That client successfully returned to the home country.  Other than that, H1b applicants are still at 100% success rate!  No other issues to report.

04/25/15

- SO FAR THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING GREAT!  100% APPROVAL SINCE LAST YEAR.  NO OTHER ISSES TO REPORT.

03/25/15

- Everything has been going great so far this week!  Everyone has been approved and issued the passports on the same day!  No other issues to report!

03/18/15

- Everyone that went for visa stamping today was approved and issued the passports on the same day.  No other issues to report.

03/16/15

- So far we continue to have 100% success rate for 2015!  Passports are generally being issued on the same day as the USC interview with the exception of a few clients.  Those who did not get it on the same day, got it the day after.  Other than that, no other issues to report.

02/13/15

- Everyone this week was approved and issued the passports on the same day.  We are proud to finally offer the returning client discount once again!!!  We will ask that you provide proof of being a previous MAS/ USVISAMEX client to receive the discount.  Discounts are being issued in the form of a partial refund after the full payment is made.  We will first verify it, then issue the partial refund within 5 business days. 

As always, we appreciate every single one of our previous, present, and future clients and will continue to strive to offer the best, most efficient manner of completing the US visa stamping for our clients!

02/05/15

- Everyone today was approved and issued the passport on the same day.

02/04/15

- Everyone that went for interview today was approved and issued the passport by 12:30 P.M.  All were back in U.S. by 2:30 P.M.

02/03/15

- And the 100% success rate continues!  Our client was approved today and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to receive the passport.  No other issues to report. 

01/28/15

- So far we have 100% success rate.  We have had some issues with short delays due to PIMS not being updated.  Delays can range between 1 - 3 days.  Some are still getting the passport back on the same day.  No other issues to report.

01/21/15

- Our client from today has been approved, but the officer did mention that the PIMS has not been updated.  Our client was asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to check and see if the passport is ready.  No other issues to report.

01/20/15

- The family from last week finally got the passports stamped today and returned to US by 5:00 P.M.  Last year we had 100% H1b success rate.  So far we have 100% H1b success rate for 2015!  No other issues to report.

01/16/15

- We had a family that were approved but did not get the passports printed in time, and were asked to return on Tuesday.  They were able to re-enter the US temporarily.  Other than that, everyone has been approved and issued the passports back.

01/13/15

- We have a client today who was asked to show the approved 140.  Our client did not bring anything for that so the consulate issued a 221g.  This client is working on getting it taken care of.  Everyone else was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M.  No other issues to report.

01/09/15

- We it was an interesting week.  We had one client that had to go to Mexico City for medical exam due to an alcohol related offense.  The visa was eventually cleared and stamped.  We also had another client who had a 221g get the passport stamped this week.  So overall, it was a good week.

01/08/15

- Everyone was approved today.  One client was asked to wait until the PIMS verification goes through.  Our other client was issued the passport with the stamp by 3:30 P.M.  No other issues to report.

01/02/15

We are going to try something new here:  $25.00 off your package if you book our services at least 10 business days prior to your ASC appointment. 

Discount will be issued in the form of a partial refund.  Offer valid throughout January!

01/31/14

- Well for the first time in USVISAMEX history, we can proudly say that we have had 100% successful H1b visa applicants this year!  We did have one F1 student who was not able to get a new visa, but that client was able to re-enter the US temporarily.  Economy has bounced back and unemployment is low!  Let's hope this trend continues for 2015!

I''d also like to thank everyone who used our services in 2014!  Without you guys, we can not make this happen....aside from a few minor hiccups, 2014 was an absolute amazing year over all! 

Our last group was all approved, except one client had to wait for PIMS verification.  She was able to re-enter US and wait over here until it clears.  No other issues to report.

12/23/14

- So far all our clients have been approved this week.  Clients from yesterday were asked to return today at 3:30 P.M. to receive the passports.  Clients from today were told to be back today at 3:30 P.M.  If you are planning on coming down before the end of the year, please go ahead and register ASAP.  We need to make all arrangements to ensure we have everyone ready to work during the holidays.  No other issues to report.

12/19/14

- And the trend continues!  We have 100% success rate for H1b applicants so far in 2014!  This past week was great, everyone approved, but some had to wait 1-2 extra days after the USC interview to receive the passports from the consulate.  PIMS was the reason for the delay.  Nothing can be done ahead of time to speed this up, so it's just a case by case thing and if it happens to you, well you have to wait.  Not a big deal as long as the visa is approved!  Other than that, no other issues to report...

12/16/14

- Everyone today was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to pick the passports up.  No other issues to report.

12/15/14

- There is a slight change in procedure with the ASC process.  Anyone with early appointments are being asked to submit I 797, I 129, and passport to the consulate after going to the ASC appointment  (ASC is only for fingerprinting and photograph).  Then you will need to return at 3:00 P.M. to pick those same documents up.  Not sure why they are doing it like this, but is what happened today.  Those with appointments in the afternoon are not being told to submit anything.  Time will tell what will happen and I will continue to update as I know more.

12/10/14

- So far we have had 100% success with H1b applicants this year!!!!  The absolute best record since we started the business back in 2004!  We only had one applicant (F1) who was not issued a visa this year.  We hope the trend continues now and throughout next year.  Also, we will be working on reducing the rates for 2015.  Please stay tuned for more details regarding this.  As always, our goal is to provide the BEST service at the BEST price.  If you are planning on coming down in January, please contact us prior to making any payments. 

11/28/14

- Well we had yet another successful week for visa stamping.  Some got the passports on the same day as USC interview, while others had to wait an extra day.  Other than that, no other issues to report.

11/20/14

- Well everything went very well this week!  Everyone was approved and most received the passport on the same day as USC interview.  No other issues to report.

11/19/14

- Everyone that went for interview today was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to see if the passports are ready.

WE ARE NO LONGER OFFERING THE ATTORNEY REVIEW SERVICE.  PLEASE SEEK LEGAL ADVICE WITH YOUR IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY.

11/17/14

- So far the trend continues....100% success rate for H1b applicants!  Everyone has been approved since the last update.  We did have one client who got 221g (administrative processing) and was finally cleared after 5 business days.  Stamping is going great!  Weather is much cooler down here these days.  Please make sure to check the weather before coming down.  It is predicted to be a colder/wetter winter down here, and so far that seems to be the case.  I highly suggest that everyone plan on arriving the day before the ASC appointment since history has shown that winter is the time of year that most people miss their flights to this area.  Other than that, no other issues to report.

11/03/14

- So far the trend continues...100% approval for H1b applicants and visas are still being issued directly from the consulate on the same day or following day of USC interview.  No other issues to report.

10/21/14

- Our client today was approvd and issued the passport on the same day.  No other issues to report.

10/17/14

- Everyone from yesterday received the passports today.  No other issues to report.

10/16/14

- Everyone was approved today and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to receive the passport.  

P.M. UPDATE:  Passports were not ready this afternoon.  Everyone was asked to return tomorrow at 3:30 P.M.

10/14/14

- So far things have been going great with the visa stamping process! We have 100% H1b approval rate so far this year.  All passports have ben issued directly from the consulate either on the same day or following day.  Some (few) have had to wait 2 days due to the system being down at the consulate.  No other issues to report.

09/30/14

- Well I have been having many issues with updating this site these past few months.  Not quite sure what the issue is.  So far we have 100% succussful H1b visa stamping this year.  Passports are still being issued by the US consulate directly on the same day for the most part.  Last week and the week prior we did have several clients who had 1 - 2 day delays with getting the passports back.  The weather has been stormy these past few weeks which is probably the reason behind the delays.  Over the years I have noticed that when the weather is bad, the "system" goes down at the consulate.  Not sure what exactly they mean by that, but it casues delays nontheless.  If you have any questions, please call us at 956 - 455 - 3628.  Thanks!!!!

09/10/14

- Well things seem like they are back to normal now.  Kids are back in school which means that there will be less people at the consulate applying for visas and less people at US immigration applying for I 94s.  This equals faster processing times for the most part!

Also, this is the BEST time of year to visit South Padre Island, Texas!  Hotels are very inexpensive, waters are warm and clear, beaches are nice and calm, etc.  Please visit www.infopadre.com to get a glimpse of what you can see when visiting South Padre Island.  This location is in the U.S. and there is no immigration checkpoint to reach there. 

09/09/14

- Still do not understand why my updates are not posting.  I've never experienced these issues before.  I've posted several updates since August 26.

09/09/14

- Today was an EXCELLENT day at the consulate!  Everyone was approved and issued the passports by 3:30 P.M. on the same day today!  No other issues to report...

08/26/14

- Things are still going quite well down here.  Most of our clients are receiving the passports back on the same day while others have had to wait an extra day.  Kids are back in school now which means that the traffic at the US consulate and US immigration should be subsiding.  That in turn means better chances of getting the passports back on the same day and faster processing times at the port of entry for I 94.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or email us!  No other issues to report.

08/11/14

- I have absolutely no idea why my updates are not posting.  I've entered at least 4 updates since July 30, and nothing seems to pop up.  Just to recap on the last update here, everything has worked out for everyone!  We had two 221g cases and both were resolved with the passports/visas stamped.  The servers are back up too.  Everything seems to be going smooth now.  Passports are being issued on the same day, if not following day for most people. 

This is an excellent time of year to plan a vacation on South Padre Island if you are planning to visit for US visa stamping in Matamoros.  September is even BETTER!!!!  Hotel prices drop right after Labor Day (Sept. 1).  Please visit:  www.infopadre.com if you'd like to know more about South Padre Island.

07/30/14

- Well the last week has been quite interesting.  We had one client who was told she would not get a visa stamp because the officer interviewing her did not understand the law, and her case.  Yes, you read that right.  Quite absurd!  She returned to US on her current I 94 without any issues.  Well she got a call today saying that she should contact the consulate regarding her case and that a visa would be issued.  Also, the system/server at the US consulate has been down for the past 5-6 days and visas have not been stamped.  We have had clients waiting for almost a week now.  One person today did end up getting the passport/visa stamped and returned to US.  I will keep you posted on the status of the system at the US consulate.  Other than that, no other issues to report.

07/18/14

- We had another great week of visa stamping in Matamoros!  Everyone was approved and most had their passports issued on the same day.  No other issues to report.

07/11/14

- This was another great week of visa stamping.  Most clients got their passports on the same day and some had to wait an extra day.  Please keep in mind that it is summer time and more people are vacationing etc., which means you should expect more people applying for US visas and I 94's.  Delays can occur if the consulate is too busy to print on the same day as the visa stamping.  I 94's may also take a little longer than usual if there is a high number of people inside the immigration office.  Other than that, no other issues to report.

07/08/14

- Our client today was approved and issued the passport.  Client from yesterday also returned to US.  No other issues to report.

07/07/14

- We had a client today go for interview and was approved but the passport was not ready today.  Asked to come back tomorrow.  No other issues to report.

07/06/14

- And the trend continues with the 100% success rate of our clients going for visa stamping in Matamoros!  The majority of our clients are getting the passport back on the same day with the exception of a few who are being asked to return the following day.  Other than that, no other issues to report.

06/25/14

- So far things are going great!  Majority of our clients are getting the passports back on the same day with the exception of one client just recently.  That client got it on the following day.  No other issues to report.

06/17/14

- So far things are going very well with the US visa stamping in Matamoros!  All have been approved to date with 95% getting the passports back on the same day as USC appointment.  No other issues to report at this time.

06/03/14

- We had another successful visa stamping trip today!  Passport was issued and client was back in US by 5:00 P.M.  No other issues to report.

05/22/14

- And the trend continues!  Everyone has been approved since our last update.  We did have several clients who were asked to return the day after the USC appointment to receive the passports.  100% success rate YTD.  No other issues to report.

04/28/14

- So far things are going very well!!  All visas have been approved and issued on the same day since last update.

04/22/14

- So far things have been going very well since our last update!  Everyone has been approved and issued the passport on the same day as the USC interview 3:30 P.M.  No other issues to report at this time.

04/11/14

- Our client that had to travel to Mexico City for medical examining finally got back to U.S. today!  No other issues to report.

04/10/14

- It has been a good week so far with the stamping.  Everyone has been approved and issued the passport on the same day with the exception of one client who needed to go for additional medical exams in Mexico City due to a previous alcohol related issue in the U.S. 

Please remember that any type of arrest or conviciton in the U.S. will cause a delay in getting the passport issued and/or may involve extra travel within Mexico. 

Other than that, no other issues to report. 

04/03/14

- All our clients this week were approved and had the visas issued on the same day as USC interview!!!!  No other issues to report.

03/29/14

- The visa stamping in Matamoros has been going quite well this year!  Everyone has been approved and 95% get the passport back on the same day!  No other issues to report.

03/16/14

- so far things have been going great with the US visa stamping in Matamoros!  All have been approved and 9 out of 10 get the passport back on the same day as the USC interview.  Feel free to contact us is you have any questions and/or concerns!  It is always best to call from a cell phone in case I need the correct number to return the missed call.  No other issues to report. 

03/04/14

- More great news!  All is going very well with our clients' visa stamping trips.  98% get the passport on the same day as the interview with now issues to report.  So far we have 100% success this year with the visa stamping here in Matamoros.  No other issues to report.

02/26/14

- So far things have been going great with the visa stamping process in Matamoros!!!!  Most visas are being issued on the same day with the exception of one client yesterday who found an error on the visa (name) and had to return the following day.  That client ended up getting it corrected early this morning and is already back in the U.S. 

Other than that, no other issues to report.

02/19/12

- Our client today was approved but the passport was not ready due to the system being down.  Our client was asked to return tomorrow at 3:00 P.M.  No other issues to report.

02/12/14

We had another successful visa stamping trip.  Our clients all were approved and issued the passport directly from the consulate on the same day as the USC appointment.  No other issues to report at this time.

02/09/14

- The visa stamping process is still going very well!!!!!  Everyone has been approved and most are receiving the passport on the same day as the US Consulate interview at 3:30 P.M.  No other issues to report.

01/26/14

- So far things have been going quite well.  Everyone has been approved to date and issued the visa on the same day with the exception of a few who were asked to return the following day due to the PIMS not been cleared.  Other than that, everything is going great!!!  We have also made recent changes that allowed us to reduce our expenses and passing the savings on to you!  Check out our new lower rates for Matamros!!!  If you have any questions, please email us.

EMAIL FROM RECENT CLIENT:

Here is my experience… Feel free if you want to post it on your blog, but please don't mention the date for privacy purposes...

My appointment time was 10:00 am but, I entered the consulate at 8:10 am. The security guards had me remove my belt, wallet, jacket and documents and ran them through the X-ray scanner. After I walked throughout he metal detector, they asked me to go to the front desk to check-in. The lady at the front desk asked for my passport, DS160 Confirmation. She verified my name on the list of people for the day and signed me in. She then printed out a ticket with 4 digit number and stuck it to the DS-160 confirmation page and asked me to wait in the lobby for my number to be called.

As soon as I entered, my number was called and I ran towards "Counter -B" the last counter in the corner. The Officer was a Hispanic and BTW, this was not the visa interview!

Here is the conversation -

ME: Good morning Officer!
Hispanic Officer : Good morning

Hispanic Officer: Passport, Visa, DS-160 Confirmation and I-797 please. He saw my visa on old passport and said, is this your recent visa?
ME: Yes Officer

Hispanic Officer: Where is your employer located?
ME:XXXX

Hispanic Officer: Do you have an employer letter
ME: Yes Officer, here you go

Hispanic Officer: What is your title?
ME: XXXX

Hispanic Officer: Started typing on his computer and finally gave all the documents back to me. He asked me to wait for my number to be called one more time at the other end.

Within 5 minutes my number was called and I walked up the other counter with confidence and smile on my face.

ME: Good morning Officer!
VO: Passport, I-797 Please

VO: H-1B huh??
ME: Yes Officer

VO: What is your name?
ME : XXXX

VO: What is the name of your employer?
ME: XXXX

VO: What is your title?
Me: XXXX

VO: Do you have job letter?
ME: Yes Officer, here you go

VO: How long have you been working here?
ME: Since last 3 years

VO: Did you work anywhere else?
ME: Yes officer, three more places.

VO: Show me your W2s for all the years on H-1B
ME: Yes Officer, here you go

VO: Do you work for your employer directly?
ME: Yes Officer

VO: What is your current salary, and he started looking through the W2s
ME: XXXX Per year

VO: Why were you payed less in 2008 when compared to all the other years?
ME: There are two W2s for that year officer - They add up to the right amount.

VO: Where did you go to school
ME: XXXX

VO: Can you show your degree certificate
ME: Yes Officer, here you go

ME: Do you need transcripts??
VO: No

VO: Started typing on his computer and finally gave all the documents back to me. He got up from his chair and said, I'll be right back. He came back and said, your visa is gonna be approved, but you will have to come back and collect your passport at 3:30 tomorrow.
ME: No problem, Thank-you, have a good day..

Total interview time was less than 30 minutes and I was out by 8:30AM

01/17/14

- We had another great week for visa stamping!!!  All visas were approved and issued on the same day.  No other issues to report.

01/12/14

- So far things have been going pretty well!!!  All applicants have been approved and issued passports on the same day with the exception of 2 who had to wait an extra day due to the PIMS information not being updated.  No other issues to report.

12/31/13

- Well this year turned out to be one of the best since 2006 - 2007 in terms of visa approvals!!!!!  We only had 2 clients all year that did not get a visa stamp on their passport.  Both were able to return to US temporarily. 

All visas have been approved and most issued on the same day since last update!!!!

12/22/13

- So far things have been going great with the visa stamping in Matamoros!  Everyone has been approved since last update and passports were mostly all issued on the same day as the USC appointment.

EMAIL FROM CLIENT:

HI Mark



12/14/13

- So far things are going very well here in Matamoros!!!!  Everyone has been approved since last update and passports issued on the same day!

EMAIL FROM CLIENT:

Hi Mark,

My visa got approved.

In Brownsvile Alex came to pick up on time his friendly advise really helped us and latter in matamoros Chimo driver was friendly and took to nice restaurant for lunch and came us in time to pick up for interview.

Hotel stay in matamoros was really nice with good ambience and secured place.

I have good experience with Visa Interview.

1.  Show the W2?

2.  He asked about I-140 ?

3.  H1-B File petition

4.  When did you came to US

5.  Office address of your company  (Its nothing your employer address).

6.  Home address you stay in US.

7.  Why did you came here for Stamping? (Why could not you choose Toronto,Cannada)?

I have vacation now came to Matamoros also last time my visa got stamping at same place.

Visa got approved no issues got passport at same day got  I-94 same day back to US by evening 5.PM.

In evening Alex took us drive to South padre Island nice place with beach and hotels around.

So overall myself along with wife had nice experience without any hassles.

12/10/13

- BACK IN THE OFFICE!!!  I visited the US consulate in Guadalajara and found it to be in a very nice location with plenty of restaurants and accommodations nearby.  I'm currently working on getting a package for that location as well to add to our list of cities we currently work in.

Anyone planning on visiting that location should email me.

I will be getting back to all the emails and phone calls today.  Thank you for your patience!  Everything went very well in the time I was gone.  Everyone was approved but some did have to wait an extra day to get the passport back.  Overall, it continues to be an excellent year with US visa stamping in Matamoros!!!

11/24/13  EMAIL FROM PREVIOUS CLIENT I 94 TRIP

- Mark & Alex,

Thank you Mark & Alex for all your support and help. Please share feedback and I 94 trip experience on your website if you can.

I was tensed due to my status problem form L1 to H1B (COS) I had only two options either change to H1B or exit & re-enter US on L1 to continue working for L1 employer.  I was planning to go to my home country for this process (going to be very expensive trip) that is when I found about I 94 trip service from USVISAMEX. 

I Spoke to Mark, he explained me about service and what they do and clearly told me that it is up to me to decide. Promised me their team will only assist me. There was not much detail in website about the process & I was worried, but decided to give it a try before I go to my home country.

I paid my fee ($ 150 - you get more than what you pay) and sent him my flight details and requested for a child seat.  I was told that Alex will be coming to pick me & my family from Airport (BRO).

As promised he was at Airport sharp 6:30 pm waiting for us, he picked us from Airport and we headed toward POE at Brownsville, TX. He took us to the Burger king drive thru, as we were starving, didn’t eat anything during the flight. Finally went to POE.

I94 Trip Experience:

It is a normal Port of entry office (via Land entry) you have CBP officers who allow Mexico people into US and also offer I 94 extension services. We did not even enter into Mexico; we went thru US side entrance, Alex communicated in Spanish with the security officer, saying it was I 94 extensions which was indeed very helpful as we don’t speak Spanish.

Inside office we were tensed & waiting for CBP officer to call us. CBP officer asked us why do we need a new I 94 card (I had two I 94 cards L1 & H1) I explained her that I want to stay on L1 status and do not want H1B, she checked both I797 and as I had valid L1 visa she has given new I 94 with L1 status. It was a 20 mins process. Need to pay $6 for I 94 card. Officer was very professional and also helpful.

Alex patiently sat there in the office, waited till our work was completed and brought us out very safely. It was a very smooth process with his help.

I would suggest people who want their I 94 to be extend with valid visa & I797 this is the best and easy process.

Whole situation before meeting Alex was tensed. Thank you Alex made our journey to POE very peaceful.

Post I94 trip:

Later when we got into car he proactively asked if we were staying next day and interested to visit Brownsville, and talked about The South Padre Island and about the food.  As we were staying next day, we agreed as it sounded interesting (Rates are very reasonable, you get more than what you pay). I suggest you stay for a day and explore SPI.  On our way to hotel, he took us to El Pollo Loco and Panda Express to get some dinner must say the chicken from El Pollo Loco was yummy  my son who is just 16 months old loved it a lot. It was not part of package to take us but Alex did help us J

Trip to South Padre Island :

Alex told he would pick us up 11.30am the next day and there he was ON TIME. Very IMPRESSIVE……..

We then drove Pirates Pier, good place to be for fishing clicked a few photographs, he clicked our family picture too. My son didn’t like to sit in his stroller but he listened to Alex very well and sat quietly when Alex made him to sit in it. I was really very happy to see my son getting comfortable with him. Later he took us to The South Padre Island via this Beautiful Bridge you get to see a very nice view from the bridge,  yes we did click pictures from the car. We been to the Souvenir shop and then to the Palm Resort on the beach side. Alex suggested this place for good sea food. Trust me we had the best sea food in our life. Then we walked down the beach to click picture near the waters. Then we started towards our room, it took us about 45mins because of the traffic. After dropping us at the hotel Alex had to pick up another client from the airport & drive for about 4 more hours to reach the destination. Alex was so tired but didn’t make us feel that he was sluggish n was getting late for his next client, which was really very professional.

Package was for like 3 hrs go to Island & have lunch and sometime @ beach and back to hotel. But we took more time to be back but Alex did not ask more money. He also gave a recipe to make roasted chicken BBQ.

We paid him & were strongly satisfied with our trip to Brownsville, TX & South Padre Island.

Thank you Alex for being with us all the time we were in Brownsville, TX. Appreciate your patience.

You Rock Alex. Thumbs Up & Thank you USVISAMEX for making our trip successful. 

11/21/13

- We are pleased to announce our newest package deals which include 1 - 2 night hotel accomodation and transportation to/from Brownsville, Texas!!!!  Please visit: ONE NIGHT PACKAGE or TWO NIGHT PACKAGE for Matamoros location.  It took us some time to figure it all out, but we were able to lower our transportation and escort service fees with rates starting at $200.00 per person for groups of 3 or more. 

Team USVISAMEX consists of 3 partners who are with you from start to finish!  We have been operating in this area for the past 11 years and have seen a wide variety of issues related to the US visa stamping in Mexico. 

When it comes to choosing an agent, choose one with experience, reputation, and most importantly, one you can trust!

11/20/13

- Today is another EXCELLENT day at the consulate!!!!  Everyone has been approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. for the passports.  So far this has been one of the best years since 2007 with regards to the approval rates!!!  We hope the trend continues!!!!

11/19/13

- Everything has been going great since our last update!  Everyone has been approved and issued the passport on the same day.  We have also begun our new rates which will include the first night's stay in Matamoros.  Our new rate will actually save our clients $15 - $25 per person!

OUT OF OFFICE NOTICE:  11/22/13 - 12/06/13

I will be traveling in Mexico from November 22 to December 6.  Anyone having appointments during this time must email me as soon as possible so I can make the necessary arrangements with all partners.  Since roaming charges can get quite expensive, I will not be available by phone during this time, ONLY email.  The sooner we get your information, the faster we can get everyting taken care of!

11/11/13

- Everything is back to normal in Matamoros!!! 

Changes Happening with USVISAMEX:

- new hotel in Matamoros

- new pakcage deal which includes one night stay in Matamoros

I am working on this right now and will update once everything is finalized.

11/06/13

- Well we are still getting reports that things are still good and back to normal.  I hope the cartels can find another location to fight each other like the desert, instead of nearby cities. 

Long story short, the drug cartels are fighting for rights of using certain territories where all drugs are funneled through to the U.S.  This has been an on going thing since 2006 when the president of Mexico decided he wanted to go after the cartels.  Basically he stirred the pot and now the result is various drug cartels trying to fight each other and kick the other one out.  Then on top of that, you add the Mexican military, and it's a three way battle that will surely end with some casualties.  It's just a big mess with no end in sight.  Mexico sure isn't what it used to be when I was a kid growing up, and all I can hope for is that all the cartels erradicate themselves because the whole country is suffering because of them. 

Aside from that, we will stay on top of things and make sure everyone is notified promptly if there is any further issue.

P.M. UPDATE:

Our client today was approved and received the visa at 3:30 P.M.  She was back at the hotel in the U.S. by 5:00 P.M. 

11/05/13

- Not too sure why my updates haven't been posting but instead of having to go back and re-enter each one, I will simply let everyone know that the US visa stamping has been going very well.  Everyone has had their visa approved and mostly all issued on the same day as interview since last update.  So far we have only had two people this year who were not issued a US visa stamp.  Both were able to re-enter the U.S. temporarily.

              UPDATE ON SECURITY RISK:

We crossed over today with a client who decided to go for interview.  Everything was normal and business as usual in and around the US consulate.  We have also decided to use a different hotel which is much closer to the consulate as well.  This was actually done because the BestWestern was booked up for an event, but now after visiting the hotel and meeting the staff, it appears that we will continue to use their hotel.  Rooms are very nice, wifi is offered, a business center, and restaurant on site open from 7 A.M. to 11 P.M.  As far as the security risk, everything is fine, and the city and its people continue on as usual.

11/04/13    POSSIBLE SECURITY RISK

- We had reports of a possible security risk in Matamoros and asked our clients for tomorrow to reschedule their appointments just to be on the safe side.  There were reports that two cartels were fighting each other on Sunday morning and the Mexican military also got involved.  This all happened in the outskirts of the city and not inside the city.  It is the first time we had to ask our clients to reschedule due to a security risk.  We need to see first how serious things are before we take clients across.

I will update once I gather more information.

11/01/13  - EMAIL FROM CLIENT:

Mark, Alex and your team,

I really enjoyed service you provided. With your service, I felt secure all the time. Sometimes we often think too much and come to Mexico with preoccupied mindset.

I want to share 2 experiences.

Myth: It is not safe and secure in Matamoros/Mexico.

Actual experience: I never felt insure through out my trip. There was not any incident which bothered me. Mark and his team keeps security as priority. Their team members - Alex and Chimo were knowledgable about Mexico and know where to go and where not to go. If you follow their guidelines, you are as safe and secure as your home country. In fact this time I have to stay one more night because my PIMS was not clear. I thought to see Matamoros, see Mexican pub and drink Mexican drink. I took service of Alex as a guide. It was very reasonable. He was my guide, driver, body guard and friend. We spent 6 PM to 11 PM in Mexico. I felt extremely safe with him - same as like Dallas, TX or my home town. He took me places which were safe only. Men, Women and children were doing grocery at 8:00 - 9:00 PM. It was really great experience. If you are staying night in Matamoros, it would be really fun to go out with Alex and spend some time in Matamoros. I tried Michelada drink - it was the best drink I ever had. We spent time at Alex friend's bar. It was really pleasant and relaxing to enjoy mexican music, playing dice poker and eating Goat curry.

Myth2: People in Foreign country might cheat all foreigners.

Actual experience: Generally when we visit foreign country, we are suspicious about everyone and we think they want to cheat foreigners. But this incident was an eye opener for me.

We went for a lunch at good restaurant adjacent to BestWestern Residencial Inn. We ordered food and asked for a check. I wanted to check whether we were charged correctly. So I checked prices of items we ordered. I did not know whether tip was included or not as it was in Spanish. I asked waiter whether tip is included or not. He told that tip is not included. We gave good tip and left for our hotel. My friend wanted to smoke so we were outside of BestWestern Hotel. To our surprise, we saw same waiter with bill and tip. He told that he figured out from his manager that tip was included so he wanted to return. We were shocked with his honesty. He run after us to find us and return the tip. As we were very happy with his honesty, we asked to keep 2nd tip as well. This incident was an eye opener. I decided that not to see all people with suspicion. My rest of trip become more pleasant and enjoyable. Go with open mind, enjoy, experience and then make a judgment.

If you really want to have more fun and enjoyment, learn few words and sentences in Spanish. My friend knew a bit about Spanish and he was speaking in Spanish with others. That encouraged me to learn and try few words. I really enjoyed that part. Here are few Spanish words:

Komastas - How are you?
Bonito diya - Beautiful day
Boinosdiyas - Good Morning
Boinostardes - Good afternoon
Boinosnoches - Good night
Amigo - friend boy
Amiga - friend girl
Ola - Hello
Tarketha - Phone card
Water - Agua
Me mucho Hamrey - I am very hungry
Tu - You

I am really thankful to Mark, Alex and Chimo for making my trip safe, memorable and fun. I recommend their service to everyone. Wish you good luck for your visa and Enjoy your time and experience in Mexico.

10/22/13

- Our clients today were all approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to see if the passports are ready.

10/17/13

- Our client today was approved and issued the passport on the same day.  All others who were pending also crossed back today.  No other issues to report.

EMAIL FROM CLIENT THIS WEEK:

Mark,

10/16/13

- Our clients today were approved and issued the passport on the same day except for one who was asked to return tomorrow. 

10/15/13

- Our clients today were approved and issued the passports on the same day except for one client who was asked to return tomorrow.  No other issues to report.

 10/10/13

- Our clients that had interviews today were approved and issued the passport on the same day.

CLIENT FEEDBACK

Mark,



10/08/13

- Our clients today were approved and issued the passport on the same day at 3:30 P.M. 

I will be out of the office with little to no internet access between October 13 - 20.  Anyone that is planning on coming down to Matamoros for visa stamping for the Month of October and would like to utlize our transportation/ escort service, should contact me as soon as possible to make all necessary arrangements with every USVISAMEX driver/partner prior to my departure.  We may still take new clients while I'm away if possible, but no guarantee.  As always, we appreciate your business and look forward to serving you soon!

BEST TIME OF YEAR!

The weather is finally perfect down in South Texas!!!!  Perfect time to plan a small get-a-way to South Padre Island after your US visa stamping.  Hotels are fairly inexpensive with rates starting as low as $29.99/ night!!!!  The beaches are relaxing and the water is warm.  Email me if you think you would like to make it to SPI and I will help you coordinate and give you all the best recommendations etc.

10/07/13

- So far things have been going great with the US visa stamping.  Everyone has been approved and issued the visa on the same day as of last our last update.

Things are also going normal with the whole government shut down.  Nothing has been felt down here because of that.  In fact, the US consulate has issued this statement:

All consular services provided at the U.S. Embassy and consulates throughout the country are proceeding as scheduled.  Applicants for immigrant and nonimmigrant visas should plan on attending their scheduled appointments . Both routine and emergency services to U.S. citizens are available during regular business hours and through the Embassy duty officer.  Protection of American citizens abroad remains our primary objective.

http://matamoros.usconsulate.gov/service-news.html

Anyone with appointments coming up should continue as planned. 

We may also be limiting our trips again this month as I will be out of the area for a week or so mid October, so if you have an appointment and plan on using our services, please contact us as soon as possible.  I have to schedule everything and make all arrangements before I leave.

09/25/13

- And the trend continues to date.  Everyone has been approved since last update and the majority of the visas have been issued on the same day as the USC interview.  No other issues to report at this time.

Here is a page that I'm working on right now to give you more information on getting to Brownsville/Matamoros.  Getting There  I will be adding more information as we move forward.  I hope this helps everyone when it comes time to book the travel.

09/12/13

- So far things have been going great with the US visa stamping in Matamoros!  All have been approved since last update and the majority of our clients have recieved the passports on the same day as their USC appointment.  Some did have to wait another night in Matamoros to receive the passport.  I 94 processing is also going pretty smooth with less traffic at the border posts since the school year has started all around.  

  08/29/13

- All is still well with regards to the US visa stamping in Matamros!  All have been approved to date since our last update and most got the passport back on the same day.  We have had clients who had to wait an additional day but that's it!  School is back in session which means less traffic returning to US, and hopefully faster I 94 processing. 

See you soon! 

Team USVISAMEX

08/17/13

- So far things have been going very well since our last update.  Everyone has been approved and most of our clients with the exception of a few got the passports back on the same day as the US consulate interview, 3:30 P.M.  Traffic has been quite high entering the U.S. and I 94's are taking a little longer to process. 

EMAIL FROM CLIENTS THIS PAST WEEK:

Mark,

I would like to thank your team for the wonderful service provided by you.

Logistics were perfect and everything went well. It would have been really tough without you.

Visa experience

ACS appointment :08/12/2013

Took 10 mins.was done before the actual visa appointment.

USC Appointment : 08/13/2013

Appointment was at 10:00 but chimo picked us up by 8:00AM.

They let you as soon as you get to the consulate . We were done and back to hotel by 10:00AM.

Steps: After security check ,  a lady at the counter checks your ds160 , I797 and gives you a token.

You go inside and wait for you turn.

Officer will call you and just check your documents again. This is not the actual interview.

He will ask you to wait for the visa officer to interview.

Interview questions:

good morning .can I get your DS160 and I797.

where do you work?

Where is your job located?

What is your salary?

Can I get the employer letter?

Who do you work for ? Are you sub contacting or anything?

Please make sure you be confident that your employer is the one who assigns and supervises your work and you are not sub contracting .

He checked some stuff and said visa is approved.

Here comes the worst part of my experience. They asked me to come next day and pick the passport and when I went they said passport could not issued today due to PIMS verification .

They asked to come back next day and check.

We went next day and they made us wait for 2 hours and came back asked for I797 to do some verification .

Lady came back and asked us come in and issued the passport.

Luckily they issued the passport next day. It is really hard to stay in that city as it feels so unsafe.

I WOULD ADVISE EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE PIMS IS UPDATED BEFORE YOU GO FOR VISA APPOINTMENT AS THEY WILL NOT DO IT TILL THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW.
 

EMAIL 2:

Good Morning Mark,

Firstly I would like to thank you, Tony and Chimo for the great service your team provided during the entire VISA process. It would be become really difficult to manage in a strange country without proper assistance

Please share my experience in your website this would help the people planning to come to Metamoros. We were party of 3 attending the interviews on the following days 

1. ASC Appointment (8/12) : Biometrics was at 1 PM, but we went wound 12 PM and took only 10 minutes. Please carry only Passport and DS-160 Confirmation. No belts, Ear rings, digital Watch and no prohibited items

2. USC Appointment (8/13)  : Appointment at 10 AM, reached the consulate at 8.30 AM. Initially they checked passport/DS-160/I-797 and handed a token for the interview.   Our group was sitting in the first row and called by Mexican associates and checked passport and I-797 and asked basic questions like name, company name etc,. Then, they told us to wait for other interview.

 Main Interview was done by American officers and there were 3 officers doing the H1B interviews on that day. They called all 3 of us almost same time on different counters

Interview Questions

VO: asked is XXXX is your company?
Me: Told company name completely 

VO: What do you do to your company?
Me: Gave my designation and started telling responsibilities, VO said OK.

VO: Asked where I did Masters?
Me: Told university name and state

VO: Asked the place of living?
Me: XXXX

VO: Did your husband also came with you for stamping
Me: No

VO: Is your husband also from same place
Me: Answered. and told he works for different employer

Vo:How much does your employer pays you and checked the monitor
Me: told the LCA amount accurately. I guess he is cross verifying.

VO: Asked me to come and collect the passport at 3.30 PM
ME: they dint asked the single document. all he is having is my I-797, passport and DS160. But I advice to take all the possible documents just in case, if they want to check

 My interview took 10-15 minutes. Came to consulate at 3 pm along with other 2. they issued passport for 1 guy and we 2 were asked to come next day same time. That is the sad part as we were expecting to receive our passports on the same day. Came back next day with our ID's only. they asked us to get our I-797 as well. we went to Chimo car to get the rest of documents. They asked us to wait few more minutes outside and called us at last. gave our passports. That is the beauty of this place I guess. I am still not sure weather PIMS were updated or not. But they verified all our information and printed our VISA.

Crossing the border and I-94 took around 20-30 minutes. All 3 of us have similar kind of questions and they checked client letter for 1 guy. 

I highly recommend going to Metamoros with MAS services, as the process is quick and easy. Be safe and stick to MAS instructions.

Thank you.

07/30/13

- Everyone that went for interview today was approved and also issued the passport by 3:30 P.M. directly from the consulate.  No other issues to report.

07/24/13

- Everyone today was approved and issued the visa today!!!  No other issues to report.

07/23/13

- Everyone today was approved and issued the passport on the same day!!!

07/19/13

- So far things have been going quite well as far as visa approvals.  We did have two clients this week who experienced delays in getting the passports back.  Other than that, no other issues to report.

EMAIL FROM CLIENT:

Hi Mark,

I want to Thank you, your father and Chimo for the support you guys provided during our visa stamping process.
 
I want to share my experience at Matamoros with USVISAMEX. Hope this helps other folks who are planning to come to Matamoros.

I am working in EVC model. NO masters. Finished 5 years on H1. This is my second stamping(first in India) and I have a approved I-140.
 
1. ASC Appointment (07/15) : Took 10 mins. For the entire process. They just checked Passport and DS-160 Confirmation/Appointment
2. USC Appointment (7/16)  :
   
    Consulate person checked the passport/DS-160/I-797, handed a token for the interview.
    Our group was first called by Mexican associates and checked passport and I-797 and asked basic questions like name, company name etc,. Then, they told us to wait for other interview.
    Main Interview was done by American officers and there were 3 officers doing the H1b interviews on that day.

Interview Q's

VO: What's your name:
Me: XXXX
VO: Current Company name.
Me: XXX
VO: When did you first come to US and the company through which you came
Me: XXXX ( Current company same as initial company)
VO: Highest Education
Me: Answered
Vo: Do you work at client.
Me: Told my client name but they did not ask for my client letter
VO: What do you do there.
Me: Told my title as per LCA and few words on my duties
VO: Show your all W2's from the 2008(from the beginning)

They checked all my W2's and checked if my pay is greater than the minimum. During the entire process, between each question, they were discussing and typing something on their computer.

VO: Show me your I-140.
Me: Gave
 
I showed and he told the golden words that “Your visa is approved” and come and collect in the evening. My interview took 20 minutes. Came to consulate at 3 pm and received the passport and I-94 at the border took more than 2 hrs. That day a group of 4 people(3 H1B and 1 F1 extension) came for stamping and all got .
 
Please make sure that all your W2's are in order(I mean the pay is equal or greater than LCA).
 

07/18/13

- Our first client who experienced a delay got the passport today.  Our client from yesterday was told to return tomorrow. 

07/17/13

- We had another great visa stamping trip today.  All were approved in the morning and issued the passport today by 3:30 P.M., but one client was told to come back tomorrow. Our client from yesterday was also told to return tomorrow.  No other issues to report.

07/16/13

- Today was another great day at the consulate!  Everyone was approved and all but one received the passport today at 3:30 P.M.  One client was told that the passport would be ready tomorrow at 3:30 P.M.  No other issues to report.

07/14/13

GENERAL UPDATE - Well so far things have been going well for our clients visiting the U.S. Consulate in Matamoros.  Up until now, we have only had 2 people who were issued a 221g and asked to apply in their home country.  Both were successful in returning to the U.S. on temporary I 94s.  The majority of our clients have been receiving the passports between 3:30 - 5:00 P.M. on the same day as the interview. 

SUMMER IS HERE - We are in the peak of the hot summer days which will last until early September!!!!  Please make sure to pack cool comfortable clothing to wear after your US visa interview.  

I would personally advise against using any type of dress coat/suit during this time of year.  Not necessary, a little too much, and will be very uncomfortable!!!  Mornings can be quite humid too and having to wait in line outside the consulate can feel slightly warm and muggy.  Business casual is the way to go!

PIMS VERIFICATION - We have also had clients who encountered the PIIMS verification, and the majority also got the visa issued on the same day.  The only way you'll know if your PIMS is not yet cleared, is by the US visa officer telling you after your interview.  Don't worry too much though, it means a slight delay if any. 

ONE LAST NOTE - Don't forget to check your visa once they hand it over to you!!!!!  If there is an error on it, you will need to let them know immediately!  The sooner you catch it, the better your chances are of getting it back on the same day.  Some people have been told to wait until the following day to pick the passport due to an error.  It happens...

07/09/13

- Today was an excellent day at the consulate!!!!  Everyone was approved and issued the visa on the same day!  Please keep in mind that the months of July and August can be very hot!  Make sure to bring comfortable clothing!  No other issues to report.

EMAIL/UPDATE  FROM CLIENT THIS WEEK:

• Appointment was at 10 am. We went there around 8.30 am (both ASC and USC don’t care what time you have the appointment, all they check is do you have appointment on that day or not.)
• Consulate person checked the passport/DS-160/I-797, handed a token for the interview.
• There were 10 windows and windows 1 to 4 are handled by Americans and 5 to 10 windows are handled by Mexican associates. Our group was first called by Mexican associates and checked passport and I-797 and asked where do we live in USA and they filled something on the computers. This took 10 minutes, they told us to wait for other interview.
• Main Interview was done by American officer and only one officer was doing the H1-B interviews

07/05/13

- So far things are going very well down here in Matamoros!  Visas have been issued on the same day for most cases.  Make sure to check your visa stamp as soon as you receive it for any errors that may be on it.  The sooner you catch them, the better your chances are of getting it back on the same day.  I will be very busy for the month of July and may not be able to personally meet and greet every client this month.  Rest assured that the rest of the USVISAMEX team is fully capable of following through with the proper service for each and every client. 

Everyone that is involved with USVISAMEX has been hand-picked by me and understand why you are here!  Sunday evening/ Monday mornings will be the dates I can meet up with clients.

07/02/13

- Everyone got their visas approved today.  2 clients were told that the PIMS had not been cleared at time of interview.  They were told to check back at 3:30 P.M.

P.M. Update:  Everyone received their passports today!!!  One client had an error on the visa and had to return to get it fixed.  It was done on the same day itself.  Everyone was back in the U.S. by 6:00 P.M.

06/25/13

- Everyone got their visas approved and passports issued on the same day!  No other issues to report.

06/19/13

- Today was another great day at the consulate.  Everyone was approved but the passports were not ready today.  They were told to return tomorrow at 3:30 P.M.  No other issues to report.

06/18/13

- Everyone was approved and received the passports on the same day!  No other issues to report.

06/11/13

- We had a wonderful day at the consulate today.  All were approved and received the passport on the same day!  No other issues to report.

06/11/13

- Everyone today was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to see if the passports are ready.  No other issues to report.

06/05/13

- Everyone today was approved and received the passports back by 3:30 P.M.  Our client that was pending from yesterday also got the passport back and returned to U.S. today.  No other issues to report.

06/04/13

- Today was a pretty good day at the consulate.  Everyone was approved and one person was told that the PIMS has not been cleared.  Everyone got the passsport back today at 3:30 P.M. except the person who was pending the PIMS verfication.

06/02/13  CLIENT FEEDBACK

- HI

Arrived in BRO the night before and stayed in Holiday Inn Galleria. The next day, Tony met me and helped me cross the border. Chimo at this point took over and helped us with ASC appointment, which was approximately 10 minutes.He dropped us of at the Best Western, which was strictly OK (per US standards). Bennigans, which is right next to the hotel is a safe bet to have your dinner. The next morning Chimo arrived at 8 AM and took us to the consulate. I was let in as soon as I reached the consulate. after having waited for about 20 minutes, my turn came up

VO: Is your firm an outsourcing company?

Me: XXX

VO: Do you have an end client?

Me: XXX

VO: Then that makes it an outsourcing company

Me: Explained the business model in detail

VO: Edcuation details please, asked this twice

Me: Answered

VO: Who pays you?

VO: First H1B date

VO: Second H1B date

VO: Please pass on your petition

VO: Is your 140 approved?

Asked for finger prints and types something for a few minutes and said that my visa was approved. Was told that I Could pick the PP as 3 PM

Then Chimo took us back to the hotel and I checked out shortly. Got my pp at 3 PM and crossed the border back into the US before making a stop at the border office for a new I94

Tony was waiting for me to get me back to the hotel.

The best thing about the trip is that the logistics are very well laid out on both sides of the border. The things that may need some attention on MTM side are

- the hotel in MTM. If there is an option for a different hotel that will be great. Was locked out of the room for 1 hour as the key console ran out of battery; water pressure was so thin; room was too dusty; ac took 30 minutes to cool down the room

As said earlier, if there is an option for a different hotel, it could be switched, else it is OK (as nobody wants to stay there for extended periods)

- No AC in Chimo's car. It was too hot to handle.

Once again, thanks a lot for your services as it helps TCN's like me immensely

06/01/13-

So far everything has been going very well since our last update!  Everyone has been approved and no other issues to report.

05/22/13

- We had an excellent day at the consulate today!!!  Everyone was approved and asked to return at 3:00 P.M. to receive the passports. 

P.M. UPDATE:  Everyone from yesterday that was pending and today all received their passports today.  Some had to wait until 4:45 P.M. because the consulate had many passports to stamp.  We did have one client that found an error on the passport and was fortunate to have it fixed today itself.  The first group was back in the U.S. by 4:00 P.M. and the remainder were back by 5:30 P.M.  No other issues to report.

05/21/13

- We had a decent sized group today for stamping.  One of our clients was given a 221g due to negative information on a previous employer.  This client was asked to apply in the home country instead.  This client has already re-entered the U.S. temporarily beore having to return to the home country to re-apply.   Everyone else was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to see if the passports are ready.  Wait for a futher update.

T.J. Update:  we also had a client visit Tijuana and was successful.  This client was asked to return tomorrow at 2:00 P.M. to receive the passport.

No other issues to report at this time.

05/17/13 EMAIL FROM PREVIOUS CLIENT

- Hi Mark,

I stayed at the Holiday Inn in Brownsville (Too good for the price and I dont think you can find anything better. No reservation needed, just walkin) and at Best Western in Matamoros (was good too. Has internet and printer in the lobby)

You wont need a Mexican visitor visa if you have a valid I-94 (unexpired). But if you want to get it you can. It costs 36$ and is very quick (3 days max) compared to Canada.

Wanted to personally thank Mark, Tony Chimo, Johnny and the hotel folks in Brownsville and Matamoros for a great trip.

Hope this helps.

Thanks

05/16/13

- Client from yesterday did receive the passport today!

05/15/13

- Our client today was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to see if the passport is ready.  

P.M. Update:  Passport was not ready.  Told to return tomorrow.

-05/08/13

- Clients for today were all approved.  Same day and following day return to U.S. after passport was received.

05/07/13  FIRST 221g OF THE YEAR TODAY.

- First 221g of the year.  We had our first client this year who was not issued the U.S. visa stamp due to a gap in employment of 3-4 months while in U.S. on H1b.  Our client was simply told that the visa application IS NOT rejected, but it would be necessary to apply in the home country.  I will try to gather more details on this particular case and post anything new as I receive the information.  We are currently guiding this client to apply for temporary re-entry into the U.S.  I will update on this later this evening.

Everyone else was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to see if the passports are ready. 

P.M. update:  client was able to re-enter the U.S. temporarily!

05/02/13

- So far things have been going GREAT!!!!!  We still have 100% success rate here to this day!  I hope the trend continues!!!!  PLEASE make sure to have all your proper documentation regarding your status in the U.S.  Anything that applies to you being here should be brought down in paper format to show in case they need to see documentation.  Copies for most cases is fine.  But still do your best to bring in original format. 

04/24/13

- Everyone that was pending from yesterday got the passports today!!!  No other issues to report.

04/23/13

- Today was another excellent day at the consulate!  Everyone was approved!  One person was able to get the passport today itself.  Everyone else was asked to return tomorrow at 3:00 P.M.

04/19/13

- Our client was finally able to get the passport today!  So far this client is the one that has taken the longest this year.  2 days after the US consulate appointment.  It is very important to prepare for a delay just in case it happens to you.  Passports have all been issued on the same day or following day in some cases directly from the U.S. consulate.  I would also like to ask everyone to pack as light as possible and only bring what you need for 3 days.  I have seen clients coming down with huge pieces of luggage.  I ask why so much, and they usually state that in case they have to leave back for their home country.  I think that from now on, I'm going to request that people only take what they need for 3 days.  Anything else can stay in the U.S., and if needed, will be sent to you in Mexico.  Either way, please pack light!!!!!!

04/18/13

- The system was down at the consulate today so no passports were stamped.  Our client from yesterday was asked to check back tomorrow.

04/17/13

- Our client today was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to receive the passport.

P.M. Update:  Our client that was pending from yesterday got the visa today.  Our client from today was asked to check back tomorrow at 3:30 P.M.

04/16/13

- Today was another excellent day at the consulate!!!!!  Everyone was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to see if the passports are ready.

P.M. Update:  Everyone except for one client received the passport today.  The client who didn't receive it was told to return tomorrow to pick the passport up from the consulate. 

Everyone seems to be very happy with the new hotel in Matamoros.  No other issues to report.

04/09/13

- Today was an excellent day.  Everyone was approved and returned on the same day.  The hotel is also great!  Definitely an upgrade from the previous hotel.  It takes approximately 15 minutes to reach the hotel from the US consulate.  There are several restaurants, grocery store, movie theater, and convenience store all nearby.  The hotel will provide our clients with transportation to nearby restaurants etc.  Bennigan's Bar & Grill is located right next door to the hotel as well.  All in all, this should be a smooth transition for us with regards to the logistics for our clients.   

Here is an email from a client this week:

Hi,

It was great support from you and your team. thanks to mike and chimo for their service.

Visa process went very well and smooth and completed on time with out issues.

I went with my wife and kid for my h1 and h4 for my wife stamping. all went well, and completed visa and passport collected same day.

04/03/13

- GREAT NEWS!!!  Our client from yesterday that was told to return today to present an extra document was approved!!!!  He was told to return at 3:30 P.M. to see if the passport is ready.  Our other client with appointment today was also approved and asked to return today as well.  I will update later this evening with the very latest!

04/02/13

- We had a great day so far.  Everyone was approved with the exception of one client who was asked to bring in further documentation (I 140) tomorrow morning before the visa could be approved.  Those who were approved today were asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to see if the passports are ready.

P.M. UPDATE:  All clients were asked to return tomorrow at 3:30 P.M. to receive the passports. 

HOTEL UPDATE:

- The US consulate has purchased the current hotel property that we have been using in Matamoros for the past 10 years which will force us  to use a different hotel in Matamoros effective 4/6/13.   This will actually end up being an upgrade in hotel for our clients!  The average rate at the new hotel is $93.00 per night plus tax. 

THE PROS:

- Newer hotel

- All USVISAMEX clients will receive a rate of $60.00 per night for one adult and $65.00 for two adults, tax and breakfast included! That is a savings of $38.00 + USD per night!!!!

-Nearby shopping, restaurants, and movie theater

THE CONS:

- Increased USVISAMEX rate.

- Longer distance traveled between the hotel and ASC/USC centers.

- This new change will cause an increase with the USVISAMEX rate effective immediately due to a change in logistics/distance/time that is required for each client.  We researched the area and city's different hotels and unfortunately we did not find any other hotels nearby which satisfied our requirement for safety, internet availability,  and hotel quality that we feel is essential for our clients and our endorsement.

03/28/13   EMAIL FROM ONE OF THIS WEEK'S CLIENTS

- Hi Mark:

Thanks for your assistance. Special thanks to Chimo. One bad thing is hotel is horrible.

All the best.

03/27/13    EMAILS FROM PREVIOUS CLIENTS:

- Thanks again for the wonderful experience during our stamping in Matamoros 

1. ASC Appointment: Took 10 mins. for the entire process. They just checked Passport/I-797/DS-160 Confirmation/Appointment

2. CSC Appointment: (3/26)

• Appointment was at 9 am. We went there around 8.30 am and had like 15 people in front of us in the line.
• Consulate person checked the passport/DS-160/I-797, handed a token for the actual interview.
• There were three windows but only one officer was doing the H1-B interviews
• Interview Q's
• Q1: Employer Name? Title?
• Q2: Asked for the Employer letter
• Q3: Asked if I-140 petition was files
• Heard the golden words, Visa is approved and come back at 3 pm
• Went at 3 pm and received the passport
• I-94 at the border took 15-20 mins and was straightforward

3. Logistics:

• Just go with Mark & MAS team and have less things to worry about
• Mark and his team in Matamoros did an SUPERB job of handling the logistics.

I would definitely recommend to anyone just use USVISAMEX services for your stamping needs in Mexico!

- Mark,

This was the second time visiting Mexico for my successful Visa Stamping and you and your team (Chimo etc.) were really really helpful.

Thank you very very much for your help second time as well for sorting out things at right time on all aspects and getting my US visa stamped.

03/26/13

- Today was another EXCELLENT DAY at the consulate!!!!!!  Everyone was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to receive the passpsorts. 

We are also now taking appointments for April...please contact us if you are planning to come down in the month of April and would like to use our services.

PREVIOUS EMAIL FROM A CLIENT:

Besides the confusion around the appointment, everything went fairly quick and smooth. I was in and out in 10 minutes ...

Questions asked :

• Who is your employer ?
• Have you had H1b stamping in past ?
• Why Mexico and not Canada ?
• Employer verification letter
• W2's

I was then asked to check around 3 PM to collect the passport in case it is ready today.

P.M. UPDATE:

- All but one person received the passport today.  The one person who did not get it today was told to go back tomorrow to pick it up at 3:00P.M.

03/26/13 NEW HOTEL WILL BE USED IN MATAMOROS BEGINNING APRIL...

- There is going to be some changes with hotel that is going to be used by USVISAMEX clients beginning April 4, 2013.  It appears that the hotel that is currently being used has been sold and will no longer accept reservations past April 4, 2013.  I will be working on choosing a different location within the next few days that is in a good location and works for our clients as well as ourselves in regards to the logistics part etc.  

What does this mean to you?  Not much, everything will still be the same and you can continue with your plans of coming down.  We will get everything squared away by the time you arrive...

03/17/13  WEEK 2 UPDATE

- Well I'm glad to report that everyone has been approved so far and all have received the passports on either the same day or the following day.  No other issues to report.

03/16/13  EMAIL/UPDATE FROM CLIENT

- Thanks a lot for your wonderful assitance throughout my visit. This is my second time with MAS and I am glad to say that I am impressed again. God bless you and your team. Below is my interview experience.

1) Did you visit Matamoros last time? YES
2) Are you with the same employer as your previous petition (I-797)? YES
3) Are you with the same client since your last visa stamping? YES
4) What do you do? Explained my responsibilities in 3 lines.
5) Can I see your employer letter? Gave him the letter.
6) What is your annual salary? Told him.
7) Did your emplyer apply for I-140 and if it is approved can I see it? Gave him a copy(Did not have original).

Thats it. Only 2 documents asked. But I had all the documents with me. Their main focus is on W-2's atleast for the last 3 years. Make sure the W-2 amount is greater than the LCA.

Once again thanks Mark and team.

03/09/13 - EMAIL FROM CLIENT

- Hi Mark,

03/07/13 - MARCH / WEEK 1 UPDATE

- All of our cliients for this week have been approved and are all back in the U.S.  Some got the passport back on the same day and the rest got it on the following day directly from the consulate. 

02/28/13 - ANOTHER 100% SUCCESSFUL MONTH!!!

- We had another successful month which brings us to 2 straight successful months with 100% success rate!  This has not happened in quite some time!  I have a feeling that it may have to do with the fact that everyone coming down has solid cases and hopefull we are filtering those who probably don't have solid cases.  Either way, make sure that you have all your documents with you.  I have been noticing that the officers are even asking for the contracts between employer and client etc. 

We are now accepting clients for the month of March. 

02/27/13

- We had another successful consulate trip today.  Our clients were approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to receive the passports. 

P.M. UPDATE:  Our clients who were pending from yesterday received the passports today and also one of the clients that went for interview today also received the passport.

02/26/13

- We had another excellent day at the consulate today!!!!  Everyone was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to see if the passports are ready.

P.M. UPDATE:  All passports were ready except for one person's.  That person will need to return tomorrow at 3:30 P.M.  No other issues to report.

02/18/13

- No consulate trips scheduled this week.  Here is an email from a previous client:

I would like to say 'Thank you' to you and your team for helping me and my family go through the visa process at Matamoros,  Mexico. Your transportation and timely help with other needs was spot on. I can share my experience I had with visa officer at the consulate. It might help other folks to get an idea how things go in Matamoros post.

Model: Employer/Client

Applicants: Myself H1B and my wife H4

VO: GM to all

Me: GM

VO: Are you here to renew your H1B

Me: Yes. Also, my wife has to renew her H4

VO: What is your job Title?

Me: XXXX

VO: How long are you working for your employer?

Me: 6 yrs

VO: How long are you working for your client?

Me: 7 yrs

VO: Have your employer applied for your GC?

Me: yes

VO: Is your I-140 approved?

Me: yes

VO: Did you study in the US?

Me: yes

VO: Which University did you study?

Me: XXXX

VO: What is the area of your study?

Me: XXXX (My area of study is not comp or IT related (working for an IT company now))

Thank you

02/12/13

- We had another EXCELLENT day at the consulate today.  Everyone was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to receive the passports.  One person was told that the PIMS was still pending.

P.M. UPDATE

- Everyone except the person pending the PIMS returned to the U.S. today.  The other client will return tomorrow at 3:30 P.M.  No other issues to report.

02/07/13

- Our client that was pending from yesterday was issued the passport today at 3:30 P.M.  No other issues to report.

02/06/13

- Today was another EXCELLENT day at the consulate!  Everyone was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to check if the passports are ready. 

P.M. Everyone except for one client received the passports today!  The other client was told to return tomorrow at the same time.

01/31/13  100% SUCCESS RATE FOR JANUARY 2013!!!!!

- We had an amazing month so far!  I hope this trend continues for the rest of the year.  It is always important to make sure that you have all your documents in order and fill out your DS 160 correctly.  We did have a minor issue with one of our clients this week who failed to enter some information correctly.  Fortunately he was given the opportunity to fill it out again and return for the interview. 

No one should EVER come down for stamping with the assumption that it is easier in Mexico etc.  Anyone who comes down for stamping should be following the H1b program accordingly. 

No other issues to report.

01/28/13

- Our clients that had interview today were all approved and asked to return tomorrow to receive the passports directly from the consulate.  No other issues to report.

01/25/13    EMAIL FROM A RECENT CLIENT

- Dear Mark, Here is my experience with Mark Services. You can use this to post on your site which helps other to come Matamoros for their visa renewals.



01/24/13

- So far things are going very well in Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, and Tijuana for those who have valid cases!  We hope that this continues from here on out!!!!   

We have teams set up in those locations ready to assist anyone going for US visa renewals.  Please keep in mind that the rates will vary depending on the location you wish to visit. 

We will not advise you to visit any particular location because that decision is ultimately up to our clients to make since everyone has a different plan/case. 

We do our best to give you as much information via this site to help you in making that decision.  All we can do is be ready to assist you once you have chosen a US visa stamping location. 

You may wonder what exactly we do and how we can help you.  It's pretty simple!  Our services offer you a safe, reliable, and efficient escort and transportation service that is designed specifically for TCN's who renew their US visas at the U.S. Consulates in Mexico.  From the moment you land to the moment you take off, we are here for you.  Every team member is carefully selected to ensure the highest quality of service! 

We are your local experts and people of contact in a foreign land so you don't have to go about this alone! 

01/23/13  EXCELLENT DAY AT THE CONSULATE!!!!!

- Our client from yesterday received the passport today at 3:30 P.M. and the clients that went for interview today received their passports today itself!!! 

We are now back in Tijuana as well for those who live on the west coast and don't want to travel as far.  I will be adding updates for TJ as time goes on.

No other issues to report at this time.

01/22/13

- Our client that went for stamping today was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. to see if the passport is ready.  No other issues to report.

01/15/13

- Our group that went for stamping today were all approved and asked to check back at 3:30 P.M. to see if the passports are ready.  No other issues to report.

01/13/13   HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

- Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone had a wonderful new year!  We are back and ready to work.  Everyone that had come down for stamping in Matamoros during the last part of December up until this point have been approved and received the passports directly from the consulate on either the same day or following day. 

Payments and client registration can also be made via this site.  We look forward to another successful year with the visa stamping!!!!

12/10/12

- I still have not left so feel free to call me if you have any questions.  My next target date for departure is this coming Wednesday/Thursday.  This has been a an amazing year for us down here so far! 

WE CAN STILL TAKE ON ABOUT 5 MORE CLIENTS FOR THIS MONTH IF ANYONE IS STILL PLANNING ON COMING DOWN TO MATAMOROS!

The success rate has been MUCH better than expected based on how 2011 was.  Over all, I must say that 90-95% were approved this year!  Also, we have only been handling 3-5 clients per week which makes it much better when it comes to getting to know our clients.  Many have been previous clients and I truly appreciate everyone that decides to use our service! 

We all try to do our best to accomodate everyone with the most personal and professional service possible!  Thanks once again and I look forward to another amazing year in 2013!!!!

JANUARY 2013 APPOINTMENTS...

Please hold on booking/paying any USVISAMEX services for January until further notice.  We are going through some changes down here with the banking/ payment processing etc. and need to complete the transition before we can take any payments.  Clients for December can still register using the same method.

12/06/12

- Today was another EXCELLENT day at the consulate.  Our client was aprpoved and received the visa on the same day! 

12/04/12

- Today was an EXCELLENT day at the consulate.  Everyone was approved and got the visa on the same day!  No other issues to report.

11/28/12

- Everyone was able to return to the U.S. yesterday!  Those who are coming down in December, especially those with dates close to Christmas/New Year's, should expect longer than normal wait times at the U.S. Immigration office for I 94.  Holidays mean MORE traffic crossing the border and that can result in having to wait 1+ hours extra to return to the U.S. 

11/27/12

- Today was our first trip back after the Thanksgiving holidays and it went quite well!  Everyone was approved and asked to go back at 3:30 P.M. today to check and see if the passports are stamped. 

We did have one client who has to undergo a name/security check before issuing the visa.  This has happened twice before so it was kind of expected this time around.  This client will return to the U.S. to wait. 

Other than that, no other issues to report.

11/21/12  OUT OF OFFICE NOTICE 1

- I will be out of the office beginning November 29, 2012 and returning on January 7, 2013.  We will be taking only a limited number of clients during the time that I'm gone.  If you are planning to come down during this time and seek our guidance/assistance, please contact me right away. 

CLIENTS THAT HAVE REGISTERED ALREADY OR BEFORE 11/29 

You will be given a confirmation email with instructions on how to proceed.  You will also be given the contact information of our team in Brownsville/Matamoros.  I will have an assigned coordinator who will also assist you during your visa stamping process in Matamoros.  Please email me if you have any questions now or while I'm away.  I will do my best to get back to you as quickly as possible.

NEW CLIENTS REGISTERING BETWEEN 11/29 - 01/07

I may or may not have phone/internet access the whole time that I'm away and I will do my best to return all emails as quickly as possible.  If you plan on registering while I'm away, please check with me first via email, and PLEASE GIVE ME AT LEAST 5 BUSINESS DAYS TO PROCESS YOUR INFORMATION AND MAKE THE NECESSARY DRIVER ARRANGEMENTS!!!!! 

I may or may not be available to take on last minute clients or anyone with less than 5 days.  

11/19/12

- EMAIL FROM PREVIOUS CLIENT:

Intv was simple fast and straight forward. Hardly took 5 mins...

Thanks

11/15/12

- Today was another semi - EXCELLENT day at the consulate!!!!!!  Everyone but one was approved and issued the visas on the same day directly from the consulate!!!!  The clients that were pending also got their visas today!!! 

We had one client who was given a 221g and asked to return to the home country for stamping due to "negative information" on the employer.  This client was able to return to the U.S. on the same I 94 that is currently on the passport.

We are only pending the 221g client with the DWI to return from this week.  No other issues to report.

11/14/12      EMAIL FROM PREVIOUS CLIENT:

- EAD to H1b Stamping experience at Matamoros

Got the visa 11/13/2012 and passport at around 3:30 same day.
The only glitch was officer at the border had not seen EAD to H1b case before so it took him few minutes longer to clarify with his supervisor.

Words about USVISAMEX team
Mark and his dad Dad was extremely helpful.
They gave us good tips and was with me every step of the way after I reached Brownsville.
The cab arranged for us in Motomoros was always on time and was waiting for us outside the embassy when we got out.
To add a personal note.On my way back when my electronic car key battery went down Marks dad took me personally to the Radio-shack in Brownsville and got it replaced for me.
The service offered by USAVISAMEX is top class and it is worth every penny.

Thanks again.
11/14/12

- Our clients today were approved and asked to return tomorrow to obtain the passports directly from the consulate.  Our client from yesterday that had to go to Mexico City got the exams done today and will return to Matamoros tomorrow.

11/13/12

- Today was an interesting day at the consulate.  All but one was approved immediately.  One got a 221g and has to go to a special clinic for medical exams in Mexico City due to a DWI offense while in the U.S.  Of the ones that were approved, one had an error on the visa and was not able to get it today.  The others received the passports today and returned to the U.S. by 4:45 P.M.

Our client who has to go to Mexico City will depart later this evening.

11/08/12

- We had one client go today for visa stamping and received the passport today at 3:30 P.M.  We still have two that are pending the PIMS verification which should hopefully be done by tomorrow.

11/07/12

- Today we had one client (F1) who did not receive the visa due to issues related to the time spent in U.S./ current education level.  This is the first F1 student to NOT receive a visa in MAS/USVISAMEX history.  If you are on F1, please make sure you are following the F1 visa procedure correctly! 

Our other client H1b was approved and told to return tomorrow to receive the passport directly from the consulate.  Everyone from yesterday with the exception of one client received the passport today.  The one who didn't was told to return tomorrow.  No other issues to report.

- 11/06/12

- We had an EXCELLENT DAY at the consulate today!!!!  Everyone was approved and told to return tomorrow at 3:30 P.M. to receive the passports directly from the consulate. 

Also, PLEASE go through this site before calling with questions.  I am on the road most of the day and do not have time to answer questions pertaining to information that is clearly listed on the site.  Sorry but that is my policy and I'm sticking to it!!!!

  11/01/12  LETTER FROM A CLIENT

- Mark, Thanks once again for all the support and guidance from you and your team during the past 3 days.

Regarding the visa interview questions, the officer asked my last year's W2; if I am working for the same employer and on contract-basis; and my client name.  Others were asked to show all their W2s on H1.

And as you know, everything went well and we got our passports the next day.

And as always, I would definitely recommend MAS to all who wants to go through visa-renewal process.

Regards,

XXX

10/31/12

- Everyone from yesterday received their passports today.  No other issues to report.

10/30/12

- Today was an EXCELLENT day at the consulate!!!  Everyone was approved but told to return tomorrow to get the passports back.  No other issues to report.

10/26/12

- This was a slight hectic week for me as I was on the road quite a bit and was not able to answer many phone calls or return all the emails.  I kindly ask everyone to NOT call me asking for updates.  That is what this page is for.

Try to focus on your own case/ documentation and use this information to help you prepare and nothing else.  You can not base your success on someone elses' outcome.  This page is only to be used as a reference to give you an idea of what you should expect as far as questions being asked, etc.  

If you don't see an update, don't worry yourself too much.  It will be posted as quickly as possible.  Please remember that this is not a 9-5 office job where I'm behind a desk all day.  I'm out on the road more than I'm in the office.  That's just the way it is.

Also, please go through my site before calling with questions regarding the Mexican Visa, nearby airports/airlines, etc.  This will help me greatly since I won't have to be repeating myself 20 times a day.  Again, that is what this site is for!  Information!!!!  Just take some time and go through it and you will find it. 

Now if you still have questions, then call me, but if the answer is on my site, guess what?  9 times out of 10, you will be asked to go through it if I'm busy.   

10/25/12

- We had a successful H1b visa stamping today (CVE model).  This client received the passport today at 3:30 P.M.

We also had a client who was told that the visa could not be processed here in Matamoros.  I was not given any other information regarding this client. 

Another client was given a 221g and told it may take 1-3 weeks to process.  Everyone returned to the U.S. today by 5:00 P.M.  No other issues to report.

10/24/12

- We had a successful visa stamping today!  Both clients were approved and received the passports back by 3:30 P.M. on the same day.  Our successful client from yesterday also received the passport back today and returned safely to the U.S. No other issues to report.

10/23/12

- Today we had a successful H1b visa stamping.

We also had two clients who were told that the visa could not be processed in Matamoros due to issues with the employer, irregularities with the petition,and a 3-4 month bench period while on H1b. 

We had another client who was issued a 221g and was asked to provide further documentation (client/vendor contracts).  This client also had a 3-4 month bench period and the consulate wanted to verify the salary while on H1b.  This client is on the CVE model. 

The two clients from above returned safely to the U.S. in the evening.  No other issues to report. 

10/16/12

- Everyone that went for stamping today was approved AND received their passports today itself directly from the consulate!!!!!  No other issues to report.

10/12/12

- The last two that were pending finally received their visas today!  100% approval this week!!!!

10/11/12

- Our client with (221g case) was contacted by the consulate letting him know that the visa is approved!  This client will be returning to Brownsville/Matamoros tomorrow to go back to the consulate to get the visa stamped.

2 others who were waiting also got to re-enter the U.S. today after receiving the passport (yesterday's client and one with the PIMS delay).  We have only one client pending the passport which should be stamped tomorrow.  

10/10/12

- We had one client go today for interview and was approved!!! 

Our client from yesterday (221g case) returned to the U.S. on a temporary I-94.   

10/09/12

- Today we had a group of 4 go to the consulate.  1 was immeidately approved and told to return at 3 to obtain the passport.  This client was able to return to the U.S. later in the evening. 

2 others were told to wait an extra day due to PIMS, and to check back tomorrow to see if it has cleared. 

And 1, was told that a visa could not be issued today due to the fact that the current employer was acquired by another company and the petition had the old employer name and information.  This client was given a 221g and will wait one night in Mexico to see if there is any new information from the consulate. 

10/03/12

- We had our clients today get approved and also received their visas today as well!!!!!  They were back in the U.S. by 5:00 P.M. 

Our other client who was told to wait until today got an email from the consulate yesterday requesting a second interview.  Our client went to the second interview and was told that his case was put under administrative processing and that the consulate would notify once the visa is ready to be stamped.  This client returned back to the U.S. to wait for the call to come back down.

10/02/12

- Today we had two people go for stamping.  One was approved and issued the visa today itself, and the other client was told to wait until tomorrow to see if the visa can be stamped.

PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT COME DOWN FOR STAMPING:

- Anyone that has been on bench while in U.S. on H1b

- Anyone who has had a year salary below LCA while in U.S. on H1b.

- Anyone who has been out-of-status while in U.S.

As much as I'd love to have your business, it's not worth it for either of us to attempt to come down for a visa if you have any of the issues mentioned above, and therefore, it would be best to apply in your home country.  U.S. consulates are looking into these issues much more now and really focusing their attention on not just your case, but your employer's too!  They want to make sure that you have everything in order, following the H1b program guidelines as well as your employer.  We have had 5 people this year not get the visa stamp due to the fact that the employer had negative information reported by the Department of Labor. 

Now, I completely understand how my clients may not have had any idea that this would come up, but it has.  There really isn't much anyone can do that I know of right now to prevent this from happening. 

My objective right now is to let everyone know what is going on in hopes of helping the next person coming down to be as fully prepared as possible.  As always, we will stand by every client to ensure that he/she is escorted through the process safe and efficiently.  That is how we began this service and that is why we continue to providing it to this day! 

We wish everyone the very best and look forward to personally assisting you soon!

Mark Lehmann  

09/27/12

- We had a successful visa stamping today!  Our clients were approved and received the passport on the same day from the consulate.  No other issues to report.

09/26/12

Our client from yesterday received the passport today.  No other issues to report.

09/25/12

- We had two clients go today for stamping.  One was approved and told to go back tomorrow to pick the passport up at 3:30 P.M. 

Our other client was told that a visa could not be stamped due to the fact that there was negative information from the Department of Labor on the employer.  It is not a visa application denial, they just are not going to give the stamp here.  No other details were given.  This client was able to return to the U.S. on a 30 temporary I 94. 

09/19/12    

- We had two clients today go for stamping.  One was told that a visa could not be issued in Matamoros due to an issue with the employer, but also clearly specified that it is not a rejection of the application.  This client was advised that it would be best to apply in the home country instead.  This client returned back to the U.S. on a 30 day temporary I 94 today. That process took approximately 4 hours.

SAME DAY STAMPING!!!

Our other client that was approved, received the passport today itself at 3:30 P.M.!!!  This client made it back to the U.S. by 5:15 P.M.  No other issues to report at this time.  It is not all that common to have visas stamped on the same day but does happen from time to time.  Most passports lately have been issued on the following day. 

RETURN FLIGHT BOOKING

My personal suggestion is to book the return flight no earlier than 6:00 P.M. on the day after the USC appointment If you absolutely have to book a return flight.  Please don't take that as me saying to do this, just if you want to book your return flight, don't book it before that time.  I will never tell anyone direclty when to book a return flight since I am not the entity that issues the passports.  If it was up to me, everyone would have their passports back right after the interview!!!! 

HOTEL BOOKING IN MATAMOROS

For those who want to book your room at the hotel in Matamoros, don't do it online unless the rate you get is better than $65.00 per night (includes a full & amazing breakfast!) USVISAMEX clients will get the guaranteed rate of $65.00 when you walk in as our client.  

09/18/12

- Our client from yesterday got the passport back directly from the consulate at 3:30 P.M. and back in the U.S. by 5:00 P.M.  No other issues to report.

09/17/12

- Our client who went for interview today was approved and asked to return tomorrow at 3:30 P.M. to receive the passport directly from the consulate.  No other issues to report.

09/06/12

- Our client from yesterday was able to pick the passport up from the consulate.  No other issues to report.

09/05/12

- We had an excellent consulate trip today!  Both clients were approved and one was able to receive the passport on the same day directly from the consulate.  The other client was told to come back tomorrow at 3:00 to pick the passport up.  No other issues to report at this time.

09/04/12  CLIENT UPDATE/EXPERIENCE

- Hello Mark,

The whole process went smoothly without any hiccups and the interview was pretty straight-forward.

Here are the details

ASC Appointment: Aug 20, 2012 4:00 PM

USC Appointment: Aug 21, 2012 10:00 AM

When i handed over my documents, i gave

a. DS-160 Confirmation

b. I-797 Approval Notice

c. Employment Verification Letter from the employer

d. Passport

Here are the questions from the Visa officer.

1. Where do i work, company details?

2. What do i do, my job details?

3. How long have i been working for my current employer?

4. How long have i been on H-1B? in my case, i was on H-1B for the past 7 years.

5. Enquired if i have applied for my permanent resident card

6. How much do i make per month?

7. Asked, if i file for my taxes and asked me to show the tax returns for the year of 2011.

That's pretty much it. I was asked to come check in the evening of the same day to see if the passport would be ready with Visa stamp.

It was not ready that evening and picked up my passport the following day evening.

Thanks a lot for your help.



08/29/12

- We had one client today who was told that a new visa could no be stamped in Matamoros due to an "issue" with the current employer.  This makes for the third time this year that a visa is not issued here.  No other details were given.  Our client was asked to go apply in the home country instead and was able to return to the U.S. with the current U.S. visa and I 94.  Basically as if a trip to the consulate never occured.  Everyone else from yesterday received the passports today at 4:00 P.M. and everyone is back in the U.S. safe and sound!  No other issues to report at this time.  Please make sure to have the following documents:

1 year pay stubs

1 year bank statements

Client letter if applicable

Employment letter if applicable

All W2's since on H1b in U.S. 

Tax Returns

D.S. 160 Confirmation Page with bar code

Appointment Confirmation Page 

All other supporting documents

08/28/12

- Today was an EXCELLENT day at the consulate!!!  Everyone who went was approved and asked to return tomorrow at 3:30 P.M. to pick up the passports.  No other issues to report.

08/23/12

-  We had another successful consulate trip today!  Our client was approved this morning and was able to receive the passport today at 3:30 P.M.  Our other client from the 21st also received the passport today!  No other issues to report at this time.

08/22/12

- Only one passport was printed today.  The other was told to return tomorrow at 3:30 P.M. No other issues to report.

08/21/12

- We had another successful consulate trip today!  Both clients were approved and asked to return at 3:30 to pick the passports up directly from the consulate.  No other issues to report. 

P.M. Update:  Passports were not ready this afternoon.  They were told to come back tomorrow.

08/14/12 SAME DAY STAMPING TODAY!!!!

- We had a successful consulate trip today!!! Our clients all received the passports directly from the consulate today!

08/09/12

- Our client from the 7th received the passport today from DHL. No other issues to report.

08/07/12

- We had another successful visa stamping today. Our client was told to go to DHL to receive the passport.

08/02/12

- Our client from yesterday received the passport from the consulate today at 3:30 P.M.

08/01/12

- We had a successful visa stamping today. Our client was told to return tomorrow at 3:30 P.M. to pick up the passport directly from the consulate. No other issues to report.

07/26/12 SAME DAY STAMPING TODAY!!!!

We had a client go for interview this morning and obtained the passport on the same day directly from the consulate. We also have two clients who are still waiting on getting the passport back from the consulate. Apparently the consulate is waiting on some information to clear before stamping the passports. No other issues to report.

UPDDATE FROM A PREVIOUS CLIENT:

ASC Appointment: July 23^rd 2012 PM

CSC Appointment: July 24th 2012 AM

Location: Matamoros, Mexico

Employment Background:

MS - Aug 2002 till End of 2004

OPT - 2005

Employer 1 - Jan 06 - Oct 06 (In-house Project)

Employer 2 - Oct 06 - Dec 09 (In-house Project)

Employer 3 - Jan 10 - Sep 10 (Employer > Client)

Employer 4 - Sep 10 - till date (Employer > Vendor > Client)

Current status:

7th year of H1b with approved I-140 till end of 2014

Interview Questions:

ME: Good Morning, How are you doing today?

VO: <<-------- >>

VO: What Visa are you here for?

ME: H1-B

VO: Can I have your DS-160 Confirmation and your latest HIB Petition (I-797)

ME: <<Provided the documents>>

VO: How many H1b's have you had?

ME: so far i have worked for 4 employers on H1b and I have had 1 H1b stamping

VO: Can i have your prior I-797's?

ME: <<provided the documents>>

VO: Which Company are you currently working for?

ME: Employer 4

VO: Are you working at the employer location?

ME: No, at the Client location - XXXX

VO: How long have you been with Employer 4?

ME: Since Sept 2010

VO: How long are you working with this Client XXXX?

ME: Since Sept 2010

ME: <<Offered to show the Client letter and Client ID Card>>

VO: That should be ok.. not needed

VO: What is role in the company?

ME: I work as a YYYYY with Employer 4

VO: What are your job responsibilities?

ME: Explained briefly my responsibilities at the client location

VO: What was you role in 2006?

ME: I worked as a YYYY with Employer 1 in 2006

VO: Can I have your W2's for 2011 and 2010

ME: <<Provided the documents>>

VO: how long did you work with Employer 3?

ME: About 10 months

VO: Why did you shift to Employer 4?

ME: More aligned to my skill set, better pay scale and same client location

VO: Are you aware that there is a limit on # of yrs in H1B

ME: yes, I'm in my 7th year and provided the I-140 approval

VO: Where did you do your Master's and what was your major?

ME: <<-------- >>

VO: When was your last H1b stamping?

ME: I had my last stamping on Oct 2007

VO: Are you planning to travel to India after this?

ME; Yes

VO: Are you aware of any issues your employer had with H1B Employees?

ME: No, Not that I'm aware of

----

VO: You Visa has been approved; you can collect your passport tomorrow evening at the consulate

----

07/25/12 CLIENT UPDATE

Here is the update on my Stamping Experience.

The Intw on 17th went fine. But was stuck in PIMS check. Even though PIMS is done in a day, i never got a call back from the consulate. So based on another person's feedback, i booked a follow-up appt for 19th myself. Went and found that the PIMS was done. My Visa was approved and got the passport the same day from the consulate for me and my wife.

Greetings from both sides.

Why did you choose this consulate when you lived in upper states? - Answered

Where does your employer reside? Answered.

Where is your job located? Answered.

Do you have a contract with your employer? (I think he meant employer letter) - I said I am an employee of X and work at our client location Y. Then I gave the Employer letter. He glanced it.

Does your employer pay you well? And asked my W2 - gave it to him. Again glanced it.

Asked for my Marriage certificate - becos my last name and wife is different. Again glanced it.

On Jul 19th, After the PIMS was verified, the following q'ns were asked.

Who is your employer and where is he located.?

07/24/12 100% APPROVAL TODAY!!!

- Everyone who went for visa interview today was approved and told to return tomorrow to pick the passports up directly from the consulate. No other issues to report.

07/19/12 Our client who was pending the PIMS from July 17 received the passport today!!!!!

07/17/12 APPROVALS, NO VISA ISSUED, PIMS VERIFICATION TODAY

- We had 2 clients get the immediate visa approval, 1 client who was told that the visa could not be issued, and 1 client who is pending the PIMS. The 1 client who was told that the U.S. Consulate in Matamoros could not issue the visa and that it would be best to apply in the home country. This client returned to the U.S. on a temporary I94 and will apply in the home country.

We also still have a client from last week who is pending the PIMS verifcation.

07/12/12 221g Issued today

We had a client who was missing some W2's from 2008 & 2009 during the interview. The officer asked to have those faxed and also wanted to verify some other information. Our client was issued a 221g and case is pending. This client ended up returning back to the U.S. on a 30 day temporary I94 and will attempt in the home country instead of waiting in Mexico.

07/10/12 APPROVALS & PIMS VERIFICATION CASE TODAY

- We had a great day at the consulate today! Everyone who went for interview was approved. One person is only waiting on the PIMS to clear for the employer and two got their passports back on the same day from the consulate.

Below is an update from a client:

Mark is how it went at the Consulate.

06/19/12 - 07/01/12

- Every single client that has come down for stamping during this time was approved. All received their passports back directly from the consulate as well on either the same day or the following day. No other issues to report.

06/18/12

- Our client's visa was approved today and asked to return tomorrow to pick the passport up at the consulate itself. No other issues to report.

QUESTIONS ASKED:

come tomorrow at 3:30 pm and take your passport with approval

06/08/12

Our client who had appointment on the 4th finally received his passport back today from the consulate. It is understood that the delay was caused by PIMS verification. Delays due to PIMS are not that common but do happen. NO other issues to report.

06/07/12 VISA DENIAL TODAY

- We had one client today who was told that the US visa can not be issued in Matamoros due to a possible "bench" period that can not be verified. This client was able to return successfully to the U.S. on a temporary I 94 for 2 weeks. No other issues to report.

06/05/12

We had another successful consulate trip today! Both our clients were approved and got the visa from the consulate today itself! This doesn't happen that often so please don't expect your visa to be stamped on the same day as your USC appointment. No other issues to report.

06/04/12

- We had another successful stamping today. Our client was told to check at 3 P.M. for the passport however, it was not ready. Our client was advised to return tomorrow at 3 P.M. No other issues to report at this time.

05/30/12

- Our client from yesterday got the passport back today directly from the consulate. No other issues to report.

- 05/29/12

- We had another client go for stamping today and was approved. He was told to go back at 3:30 to pick up the passport. However, it was not ready at that time and told to go back tomorrow.

05/28/12

Anyone going to the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo should contact Mr. Guillermo Santos directly at 956 - 744 - 3549. The USVISAMEX branch in Nuevo Laredo is individually owned and operated.

05/23/12

- The remaining two visas were printed and issued today! No other issues to report.

05/22/12

- We had another successful consulate trip today! The family's visas (H1b category) were approved and one was issued today. The other two will be printed tomorrow.

04/26/12

- We had another successful client come down this week to Matamoros. Here is an email from another previous client this month:

Below is my experience during my H1 renewal:

VO (Visa Officer): Asked my employment letter

Myself: Provided to VO

VO: When did you need your visa?

Myself: Can I get it today?

VO: mmmm may be tomorrow, let me ask!! and he asked another VO and came back saying it will take 1 week

Myself: laughed and said it's fine

VO: He didn't understand something when he pulled my details in the system and called the other VO-2

VO-2: Asked like...who is your employer?

Myself: XXX

VO-2: Did anyone filed I-797 other than your current employer?

Myself: No Sir

VO-2 to VO-1: Let's ask him more documentation and see if we can issue...

VO-2: Sir, your visa expired on May'2010 and it's been two years...how come you stayed in US

Myself: I have my extension approved and had valid I-94

Vo-2: Why did you came now?

Myself: Next month I am going to my home country

VO-2: Then why don't you apply from your country

Myself: I have tight schedule next month and will be having only 1 week vacation

VO-1: Even now you will be staying here in Mexico for 1 week

Myself: I will work from here

VO-1: Then why don't you work from your home country that time?

Myself: Really I will be very busy next month, major implementation and traveling itself will take four days and will be left with 2 days stay in my country

VO-2: You have client letter?

Myself: Provided

VO-2: Since from when you are working for your current employer and do you have W-2's showing your current employer?

Myself: Provided last 4 years

VO-2: Tax returns?

Myself: Provided last 4 years

VO-2 to VO-1 (looking at my client letter and W-2's): Looks he is fine, the employer is paying him and he is direct vendor to the client. And he is fine as long as his employer is supervising him...

and VO-2 left from there

VO-1: Ok!!!! so where are you staying

Myself: Dallas

VO-1: Heard there were tornadoes last week in Dallas and did it effected your area?

Myself: ...no it didn't effected where I stay,

VO-1: Ok you are done and did you provided the address to the courier to get your passport

Myself: I will collect at the DHL office

Said Thanks and left.

04/17/12

- Our client who was pending his passport did receive it on Friday April 13 and crossed back into the U.S. on that day. It appears that Matamoros may be working again since appointments are now available. No other issues to report.

04/10/12

- We had another client appear for interview today and was approved. He was told to wait for the passport to be issued by DHL. I will update once he receives it. No other issues to report.

03/26/12

- We had our first client since November of last year and everything went very well. The visa was approved and issued on the same day! No other issues to report at this time.

01/20/12

- I just heard from a client this morning that dates have opened up once again for the US consulate in Matamoros. I will keep updating this section with the very latest information.

01/11/12

- The only services we have been providing for this location are the I 94 renewals trips. We have had 6 in the last two months and each was successful. No other updates to report at this time.

12/31/11 HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!!

- Well I'd like to thank everyone who has used MAS in the years past! This year was quite a learning experience for us here at MAS due to the new ASC procedure. We also saw an increase in 221g's as well as visa denials. 2011 was definietely NOT the best year for MAS and it's clients but we sure do hope that things will change in the near future! We are also proud to say that we expanded our services to Nuevo Laredo and Tijuana due to the fact that Matamoros is no longer the place of choice for visa stamping. It was quite a year let me tell you! I would like to wish everyone a happy new year and keep us in mind if thinking of going for your US visa renewal in Mexico!

12/15/11

- No updates for this location at this time.

12/01/11

- This location is no longer recommended by MAS for U.S. visa stamping due to the following facts:

1. High rate of 221g's

2. Long wait times for receiving passports (those who are approved)

I am currently recommending the U.S. Consulates in Nuevo Laredo and Tijuana due to much better success rates and MUCH faster issuance of passports.

11/17/11

- We had one client go for interview today and was asked to return to the home country for stamping due to negative employer information.

10/29/11

- People who should consider Matamoros for stamping:

1. Students F1 Applicants

Passports are issued directly at the consulate.

2. Applicants that work full-time for employer

Passports are issued by DHL. May take 3-5 business days after USC appointment to receive passport.

3. Applicants who have an emergency and need the first appointment available regardless of location.

Passports are issued by DHL. May take 3-5 business days after USC appointment to receive passport. I'm am encouraging everyone to seek other alternative locations and not automatically assume Matamoros is the best location for stamping. If anything else changes, I will update this page immediately! Please email me if you have any questions.

10/25/11

- We had one client today go for visa and was asked to go to the home country. The visa officer told our client that there is nothing wrong with the case, however she had some questions regarding the employer that she could not get access to any answers. She also told our client that it is not a visa denial nor 221g, she basically said they don't have the capabilities there right now to look into it any further. This client returned to the U.S. on the current US visa.

So basically it is my understanding that if there are questions on cases that can't be answered during the interview process, they will not look into it any further nor issue a US visa.

I'm urging anyone who intends on going to Matamoros for stamping to look at either Nuevo Laredo or Tijuana first.

Passports are also taking some time to be released and delivered.

We may have to give this U.S. Consulate a break for a good while. Matamoros should be used for emergency purposes only right now.

10/24/11

- Well the 2 clients that we had waiting finally got their passports today at 2:30 P.M. No other issues to report.

10/22/11

- We still have two clients who are waiting on their passports in Matamoros. They finally got the waybill number yesterday but the passports will not be delivered until Monday. It is very important to be aware that the passports take longer to be issued in Matamoros at this time. Please plan accordingly!!!!!!

10/18/11

- We had 4 clients go for visa today. 2 were asked to return to the home country. According to our clients, the visa officer stated that they could not verify some information and simply asked them to apply in the home country. They will both attempt to re-enter the US today.

1 Client was approved and the other one too, as long as the PIMS comes back OK. No other issues to report.

10/14/11

- Our clients who were approved on 10/12 got their passports back today!!!! No other issues to report at this time.

10/13/11

- We had two clients today who were asked to return to their home country (221g) for stamping due to negative information on the employer. They re-entered the U.S., one with a temporary I 94 and one with an I 94 stamp until 2012. Both only paid $6.00 for the I 94. This is definitely not the case for everyone as some have had to pay up to $585.00 for the temporary I 94. Please note, there NEVER any guarantee of a temporary I 94 to be issued and the only location that has successfully issued them so far is the Matamoros/Brownsville Port-of-Entry.

My suggestion to everyone regardless of the location chosen is not to go anywhere in Mexico for stamping automatically assuming that you can re-enter if a visa is not issued.

10/12/11

- We had one client today who was asked to return to the home country for stamping. This client will re-enter the U.S. this afternoon. Two other clients were approved and asked to wait for the passport from DHL. No other issues to report.

10/06/11

- We had one client today who was asked to return to the home country due to negative information on the employer's history. This client will re-enter the U.S. this afternoon. Our other client was approved and asked to wait for the passport from DHL.

10/05/11

- Our clients who went for visa stamping today were approved and asked to wait for the passports to be delivered by DHL. No other issues to report.

10/04/11

- Our clients who had appointment today were approved and asked to wait for the passports to be delivered by DHL.

09/30/11

- Our two clients who were waiting on their passports finally got them in today!!! Their USC appointments were on the 26th and 27th.

09/26/11

- We had one client today who was asked to return to the home country due to some previous personal issues in the U.S. Our other client was approved and asked to wait for the passport to be issued by DHL. No other issues to report.

09/25/11

- Just a reminder to everyone, ONLY people who have straightforward cases should come down for stamping. It is not advisable for anyone who has been on any kind of bench period, having gaps in employment, arrests in the U.S., or have been out-of-status at any point while in the U.S. to go to any U.S. Consulate in Mexico. Some clients with gaps or other issues have had success but the number is smaller as compared to those who were asked to go to their home country.

So far the success rates overall are still much better than the "denial rate" but the "denials" have increased dramatically this year overall as compared to any other previous year. They are really looking for applicants who have not been following the H1b program by comparing salaries etc. Even employers who don't follow the H1b program properly can affect an applicants visa application.

09/24/11

- Everyone who was waiting for their passports this week all got them today!!!! No other issues to report!!!!

09/23/11 - 1 Denial for the week of 09/18 - 09/23

- Well this week was pretty good overall. Approvals were much better than the past few weeks. We did have one client who had an issue but that client was fortunate to have a valid US visa that wasn't canceled by the consulate. Everyone else was approved!!!!

The main issues for Matamoros right now:

Issuance of the passports. It can take 2-3 business days to get the passport back from the consulate after it has been released to DHL. This is pretty much standard even though some people get them back faster than that. There is also not much to do around the consulate area so people tend to get bored, anxious, and frustrated. Those who come down for stamping in Matamoros need to be prepared for just hanging out at the hotel and wait for passports. If you feel you have a problem with that, please visit another location.

Gaps in employment. People with gaps in employment will face extra scrutiny from the VO. The VO may also not want to listen to any reasons for the gaps. Those who waited an extended period of time (3 months +) before entering the US on the new H1b stamp from the home country should also consider another location. Those who were on bench should also visit another location.

Negative Employer Information. People who work for employers who have issues with the Department of Labor may also face issues at the consulate. This is the most difficult because most people who come down have no idea about any negative information about their employer(s).

Bottom line: Everyone planning on visiting ANY US Consulate in Mexico should prepare carefully. You MUST be patient with the new ASC/USC stamping procedure. You MUST be flexible with your travel plans. Finally, you must be ready for the worst case scenario no matter what. We are here to assist those who get their visas promptly and those who face issues, we can not work miracles!!!!

09/22/11

- Everyone who went for stamping today were approved and asked to wait for the passport from DHL. No other issues to report.

-09/21/11

- We had one client today who was asked to apply in the home country. Fortunately he had a valid US visa that was not canceled and came back to the U.S. Everyone else got approved and asked to wait for the passport from DHL.

09/20/11

- So far everyone has been approved this week!!!!! Students that come for stamping in Matamoros will get their passports on either the same day or following day from the consulate directly. Everyone else needs to wait for the passport to arrive from DHL.

09/16/11

I will be in the TIjuana/ San Diego area starting from 09/18 - 09/23. Please email me if you have any questions as I will have very limited phone access.

09/14/11

- We had another client today asked to apply in the home country due to negative company information. 3 others were approved and asked to wait for the passports from DHL.

09/13/11

- We had one client today who was asked to return to the home country to apply for the H1 visa.

1 client was missing the 2007 W2 and was told to either bring it back to the consulate for review or apply in the home country. This client is trying to locate that W2 at this time and plans on returning to the consulate to present it.

3 other MAS clients were approved and asked to wait to for the passports from DHL.

It is very important to bring ALL your W2's and pay stubs to your USC appointment. You don't want to be missing any documents!!!! No other issues to report.

09/12/11

- Everyone who went for stamping today were approved and asked to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL. Please note, the US consulate my not stamp/release the passport to DHL on the same day as the approval. Sometimes they will and others they won't. There are many factors that can cause a delay of 1-2 days to release the passport; i.e. printer/systems failure, PIMS verification, too many passports, etc.

09/10/11

- The MAS clients who had appointments on the 8th got their visas today from DHL. No other issues to report.

09/09/11

- The MAS clients who had appointments on the 7th got their passports today. No other issues to report.

09/08/11

- We had one client today who was asked to return to the home country for stamping due to a 7 month gap in employment. Our client was involved in an accident while home on vacation and was not able to return to the U.S. immediately. Our client had supporting documents to show the reason but the V.O. was not willing to look over them but rather advised to return to the home country for stamping. This client

Everyone else was approved and asked to wait for the passport to be issued by the DHL.

09/07/11

- We had one client who was issued a 221g and asked to apply in the home country due to a 3 month gap in employment. 3 others were approved and asked to wait for the passport from DHL.

09/06/11

- We had one client today asked to go to the home country for stamping due to negative company information/complaints with Department of Labor. This client returned to the U.S.

09/02/11

- Everyone who was pending the passport got it today!!! Our client who was pending the PIMS and our clients who had their appointments yesterday!!!! No other issues to report...

09/01/11

- Everyone who went for visa stamping today were approved and asked to wait for the passport from DHL. No other issues to report.

08/31/11

- Everyone who was waiting on the passports all got it today with the exception of one client who is pending the PIMS clearance. Even the ones who had their appointments yesterday got their passports today!

EVERYONE, PLEASE BE PATIENT!!!!

It is very important to be patient during the process of your visa stamping and when waiting on your passport. I have had several clients in the past get very impatient and constantly call me throughout the day and night to see if I have any information on the passports.

Everyone should know that passports take time to be delivered from DHL, especially MAS clients who are supposed to read this site prior to registering. If I receive any information, I will contact you via phone or email as soon as I receive any information. If I do not call or email you, that means I have not received any information.

This past week was somewhat of a hassle for me as well as for those who were waiting on the passports. Apparently there was an issue with the printers or system at the consulate last week which caused a delay in releasing the passports for those who had appointments last Wednesday and Thursday.

Now the consulate clearly states on their website how long the process takes, now I'm not saying that it will take as long as they say, but they are simply protecting themselves from having to deal with constant phone calls or visits for any updates regarding passports.

If you feel that you can not be patient or have immediate plans after going for your interview, please don't come down for stamping!!!! Wait until you can be flexible or try in your home country! You and your employers need to understand that the process has changed and everyone needs to be on the same page. We have very basic ways of getting more information on the passports, but nothing can be done until the consulate releases them!

I do what I can to be as much help as I can, but please understand that I am very limited as to what I can do and I only do as much as I can! I will also contact you if I find out any information regarding the whereabouts of your passport. It is not necessary to call me 10 times a day asking if I have any updates. PLEASE BE PATIENT!!!!!!!

08/30/11

- Everyone who went for stamping today was approved and asked to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL. No other issues to report.

08/29/11

- We had another client be asked to go to the home country for stamping due to negative information on the employer. This client returned to the U.S. on a temporary I 94. We also had two clients from last week receive their passports today.

08/26/11

- We should have more passports back later today...

08/25/11

- Today was a decent day at the consulate. We had 3 successful applicants and only one person get a visa denial.

The applicant with the visa denial had a 6 month gap between visa stamp and entrance into U.S. According to our client, the gap resulted in part from a delay with the SSN and not being able to get paid for work. This client had documents to show the delay but the V.O. asked this client to return to the home country. This client still has a valid U.S. visa which was not canceled so he will return later today on the current visa. It is extremely important that EVERYONE come down fully prepared!!!

Please make sure to bring the following:

All W2's since working in U.S.on H1b

All pay stubs since working in U.S.on H1b

All applicants please note the following:

You must not have a gap in employment!

- gap in H1b stamp and start date for work in U.S.

- gap in employment while in the U.S. (bench period)

You must not have been out-of-status while in U.S. (overstay I 94)

08/24/11

- There are still issues arising for people who applied for their US visas in their home country and had a gap of 2 months or more before entering the U.S. Those of you who have a similar situation, please email me to discuss your case further.

I will be in the San Diego/Tijuana area next month, September 18 - 24. Anyone planning on visiting the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana during that time should email me as soon as possible!

CLIENTS WHO HAD APPOINTMENTS ON MONDAY GOT THEIR VISAS TODAY!

08/19/11

- GREAT NEWS!!!! So far everyone just got their passport right now except for those who had their appointments yesterday.

08/18/11

- Everyone who went for stamping was approved today and asked to wait for the passports from DHL. No other issues to report.

08/17/11

- We have had 3 clients this week who have been told to apply in their home country due to the fact that they waited anywhere from 2 months to 2 years to enter the U.S. after their H1b's were stamped. Apparently the visa officers are automatically assuming that they were on bench. Neither one of them thought that would be an issue and I really have not had too many of these cases before.

So far these have been the major issues in 2011:

1. Being on a bench period while on H1b in the U.S.

- Salaries are being verified with all W2's and should be at or

above what the LCA states.

- gaps in employment/ waiting on entering to the U.S. after getting

the H1b visa stamp.

2. Issues with the current employer and Department of Labor

I am not an immigration attorney so I do not know the law and what is allowed when it comes to H1b stamping. I do highly suggest that everyone start taking the attorney Ben Huynh's comprehensive review to make sure that everything looks clear. All I can do is update this site and give everyone an up-to-date account of how things are going.

Everyone else who has gone for stamping this week has been approved and asked to wait for the passport to be issued by DHL.

08/11/11

- Our client who went for visa stamping today was not approved. This client was attempting to convert from H4 to H1. According to our client, the company and attorney said it would not be an issue. I was not aware of this otherwise I would not have taken this client across. It is very important that everyone read very carefully who can and can not come down for stamping! YOU CAN NOT CHANGE YOUR VISA CATEGORY AT ANY US CONSULATE IN MEXICO OR CANADA. ONLY VISA RENEWALS!!!!

08/10/11

- We had one client get the passport yesterday. His USC appointment was on Monday. Everyone else should be getting it tomorrow.

08/09/11

- We had one client today who was told that the visa could not be issued due to some issues with the current employer and the Department of Labor. He will be returning back to the U.S. later this evening. Everyone else was approved and asked to wait for the passport to be delivered by DHL. 08/08/11

- Today was an excellent day at the consulate. Everyone who went for interview were approved and asked to wait for the passport from DHL. No other issues to report.

08/05/11

- Well this was an EXCELLENT week for stamping!!!! 100% success rate and to make it even better, everyone got their passports back by today!!!!!! No one had to wait over the weekend for their passports this week!!!! I believe that may be a first...No other issues to report.

08/03/11

- Everyone who went for the interview today got approved and asked to wait for the passport from DHL. No other issues to report.

08/02/11

- Today was an EXCELLENT day at the consulate. Everyone was approved with no issues to report!!!!

P.M. UPDATE:

- Our client who was pending from last week due to a PIMS delay finally got the passport exactly 7 days after the appointment. He was able to pick it up directly at the consulate.

08/01/11

- It's August!!!! The year is wrapping up pretty quickly! What a year it's been so far...more changes than one would want but at least we kept up with everything so far and aside from the 16 visa denials and other minor issues, it's been a pretty good year with regards to the visa stamping. I've done my best to let everyone know any changes that have come about in hopes of filtering those who might otherwise experience an issue while coming down. I always want my clients to be up-to-date and your business definitely helps keep that going! Looks like we may also start our services in Tijuana here soon! I'm just working out some minor details with the transportation but it's looking good. FINALLY!!! I've been wanting to provide our service there for quite some time in hopes of eventually moving there. Time will tell. For now, we will keep going strong with what's working, and that's Matamoros!

I'm now also taking clients for August in Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo at this time. Remember, the sooner you register, the easier it is for me to set you up with someone to share expenses. Please try to leave your return flight open!!!! I look forward to assisting you soon!

07/29/11

- Everyone except for one client was able to cross back to the U.S. today. The one client who is still waiting for the passport is due to the PIMS clearance.

07/28/11

- We are under a Tropical Storm Watch at this time. This should not affect anyone at this time.

STAMPING UPDATE: Everyone today was approved and told to wait for the visas to be issued by DHL!!!!!

Our client that had an issue with the employer on Tuesday was able to cross back today on the current I 94 which is valid until 2013. No other issues to report at this time.

07/27/11

- Our client from Monday who had to get a new passport went to the consulate today and was told to go back tomorrow to pick up the passport. This client was able to obtain a passport at the Indian Consulate in Houston on the same day (yesterday) and flew back to Brownsville yesterday night! It was quite an adventure with a positive outcome! Two clients from Monday also received the passports today! The client from yesterday who was told the visa could not be issued due to negative information on the employer will probably have to return to the U.S. on a temporary I 94. No other issues to report.

MEXICAN TOURIST CARD UPDATE:

- I JUST RECEIVED WORD FROM THE MEXICAN IMMIGRATION OFFICE TODAY THAT THE TOURIST CARD WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED OR ISSUED FOR THOSE WHO PLAN ON BEING ON THE BORDER AREA ( WITHIN 22KM OF THE BORDER) AND/OR LESS THAN 7 DAYS AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A VALID/LEGAL STATUS IN THE U.S. OR CANADA. YOU MUST CARRY A COPY OF YOUR VALID PASSPORT/U.S. VISA/AND APPROVAL NOTICE (I797 OR I 20) WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES WHILE IN MEXICO.

I WOULD HOWEVER SUGGEST TO APPLY FOR A MEXICAN VISA IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STILL HAVE AN ENTRY DOCUMENT AND MAKE A PHOTO COPY OF THAT AS WELL. I HAVE POSTED A NEW PAGE WITH ALL THE MEXICAN CONSULATES IN THE U.S. PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.

07/26/11

- We had one client today who had an issue with the visa stamping. The VO found some negative information on the applicant's company and mentioned that a visa could not be issued here due to that. This client will wait on word from the attorney to see if there is a possibility of a reversal in the decision. The other clients were approved with only one pending the PIMS clearance. No other issues to report.

07/25/11

- Everyone was approved today!

We did have one client who was told that the current passport has been recalled by the Indian Government and that she will need a new passport to get the visa stamped. This is the first time I've encountered that issue!!! She crossed back on a temporary I 94 and is going to Houston to get a new passport. I will update more on this when she completes her visa stamping.

07/22/11

- Everyone who was pending the visa this week received them and crossed back today. No other issues to report.

07/20/11

- Everyone today was approved and asked to wait for the passport to be issued by DHL.

07/19/11

- We had a client who was told to return to the home country due to a gap in employment/H1b. Apparently the client waited a year before coming to the U.S. after receiving the I 797. Not too sure about more specifics regarding this case. I will wait for our client to update me via email to see if I can add anything else to this. This client is currently applying for the temporary I 94 to return to the U.S. temporarily.

Everyone else in the group was approved and asked to wait for the passport to be issued by DHL.

07/18/11

- We had a client today who was told that the visa could not be issued due to come issues with the company he works for. The VO made it clear that it had nothing to do with my client's case, that everything with his case looked good, but the VO felt "uncomfortable" issuing a visa with the current employer based on some potentially negative information found. My client asked the VO if it was a denial, the VO replied it was not a visa denial and will not go on as a visa denial, but urged my client to seek another company or try the stamping in the home country. This client returned back to the U.S. on a temporary I 94.

221g CASE UPDATE:

- We had two clients who were on 221g status finally receive their passports today!!!! One had a 221g since December 28, 2010 and the other was since April of 2011. Both returned to the U.S. on a temporary I 94 but then went back to the home country and waited there until the consulate called them in this past June to let them know that the visas were ready.

07/14/11

- So far everything has been going good with the visa approvals! Everyone from yesterday was approved and asked to wait for the passports. I also received an update that some passports should be released today by DHL for those who had appointments on Monday-Tuesday so we should have those clients cross back later today!

STAMPING UPDATE:

Everyone who went for visa stamping today was approved and asked to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL.

EVENING UPDATE:

3 clients got their passports today from DHL standard shipping/processing. Their appointments were on Tuesday of this week.

07/12/11

- Everyone who was pending from last week all received their passports yesterday evening. So far the approvals have been great, passport issuance has been ok. The US consulate may not always release the passport on the same day as the visa is approved. Other than that, no other issues to report.

STAMPING UPDATE: Everyone today was approved and asked to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL.

07/08/11

- Well it has been a great week so far. MAS Clients that had their USC appointments on 07/05 received their passports yesterday. We have several others who are still waiting. Other than that, no other issues to report.

EVENING UPDATE:

- Well only 5 passports were released by the consulate to DHL today. Those whose passports were released had their USC appointments on 07/06. Those passports will be delivered tomorrow. No other issues to report.

07/05/11

- Well I'm back in the office this week! Everything went pretty smooth down here during my absence. Everyone was approved and is already back in the U.S.

Everyone that went today for stamping all got approved and were told to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL as early as tomorrow evening...let's hope everything works out that fast!!!!

06/28/11

- So far everything is going good with the visa stamping. We have one person who has been waiting for a little longer than usual to get the visa back but other than that things are going good. Everyone this week has been approved as well.

I am currently out of the country and will be back this coming Friday. I will do my best to get back to everyone as quickly as possible. I am checking my emails about 3 times per day to get back to everyone as quickly as possible. If you have any questions, just list them in an email and I will answer any questions you may have. I am not taking any clients for this week until next Monday.

06/22/11

- Everyone who went for visa stamping today was approved and asked to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL. No other issues to report.

P.M. UPDATE:

- The family from yesterday got their passports today and crossed back. They did have an issue with the airline regarding the change of return flight. It is very important to wait on booking your return flight until you get the passports in your hand. Many times you will meet someone here to share expense on the way back as well. Many of my clients have rented a car and driven up to Houston where you can book your return flight much cheaper! Also, we had two others with appointments yesterday cross back today. No other issues to report at this time.

06/21/11

- Everyone who went for visa stamping today was approved and asked to wait for the passports from DHL. One family however was told to go back to the consulate at 3:30 P.M. today to pick up the passports. No other issues to report.

P.M. UPDATE:

The family who was asked to return at 3:30 today was told to go back tomorrow to the consulate to pick up the passports.

06/20/11

- Everyone who went for visa stamping today was approved and asked to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL. Last week was pretty difficult since there were some issues with DHL and the consulate releasing the passports. Hopefully things clear up this week!

06/17/11

- Well we finally had some clients who got their passports today!!!! Those who had appointments up until this past Wednesday got their passports back from the consulate since there are some issues with the DHL right now. The consulate also advised that they will issue passports on Monday as well.

06/16/11

- Everyone that went for stamping today was approved and asked to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL. The consulate has not released the passports for people who went for stamping the past 3 days. This will cause a delay for those who are currently waiting for passports. Our contact with DHL states that they will pick up passports tomorrow. Lets see what happens...

06/15/11

-Everyone that went for stamping today was approved and asked to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL. No other issues to report.

06/14/11

- We had another client today who was asked to go to the home country due to a gap in employment. I will also update more on this case if the client emails me a detailed explanation of his case. He returned to the U.S. with a valid U.S. visa.

Our other client was approved and asked to wait for the passport to be issued by DHL.

It is currently taking approximately 2-3 business days to get the passport back from DHL once the consulate has released it.

06/13/11

- We had another client who was asked to return to the home country to apply for the U.S. visa due to an issue regarding the previous/current employer - I 797. I will update more on this if the client sends me a more detailed email explaining. This client returned to the U.S. on a temporary I 94 for 30 days.

Our other client was approved and asked to wait for the passport to be issued by DHL.

06/12/11 OUT-OF-OFFICE UPDATE # 2

- I will have a special phone number to call while I am out of the office. I will be visiting a very remote location that uses satellite for internet and I will rely on this for connectivity. There may be times that the power/internet go out due to stormy weather. I will be available by phone between the hours of 1 P.M. - 5 P.M. CST. Email will be the best way of communication. You can email me your name and phone number and I will make every effort to return calls during that time every day.

I will also have another phone number to call for immediate assistance for clients who are already here as well as two other drivers to provide the service in my absence. I will be posting all contact information soon on a special page and in my automated email responses. ALL SERVICES WILL REMAIN THE SAME IN MY ABSENCE but I will ask that anyone with appointments between June 27 and July 4 contact me as soon as possible so I can make the necessary arrangements before I leave and email you all the important information that you will require for Mexican Immigration, hotels, transportation, etc.

06/09/11 VISA DENIAL # 13 TODAY

- We had another client who was told to apply in the home country for the U.S. visa due to an issue regarding the I 797 back in 2008. I will wait for an email from my client to update more on this. If you do not see an update regarding this, I have not received the information.

Everyone else was approved and asked to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL. We have a person of contact which we email to help get the process done a little faster whenever possible.

MAS Clients with appointments on 06/06 and 06/07 received their passports today by 4 P.M. Please note that we do everything possible to help expedite the passports for our clients by remaining in close contact with the DHL via email, phone, and in person. There is only so much DHL can do to help expedite the passports. The consulate has to release them first to DHL before we can even proceed with trying to get them issued faster. While we do everything we can, there are times that the passports can not be released until either ASC or USC approves for their release by creating a waybill number. We did have a client recently who waited longer than usual to get the passport back and while this was a rare case, it did happen and we did everything we possibly could until our client finally received the passport. We ask everyone to be patient when it comes to getting the passports issued. No other issues to report at this time.

06/07/11

- Everyone today was approved and one person was told to pick the passport up at 3:30 P.M. tomorrow at the consulate. The other person was told to wait for the passport for DHL. No other issues to report.

This is the information regarding the visa denial yesterday from our client:

- We had a client today who was asked to apply in the home country for the visa due to an issue that occurred back in 2009 while the client was between jobs. I will post more information on this here if the client agrees to send me an email explaining in more detail. Please do not call for updates regarding this. I WILL update on this as soon as I receive more information from our client.

Everyone else was approved and asked to wait for the passport.

OUT-OF-OFFICE UPDATE # 1

- I will be out of the office from June 24 - July 1, 2011. We will be providing the same services during my absence. Please understand that I'm not the only one that works at this service. We are a team of 5 people who organize and arrange for all the transportation for MAS clients. All I ask is that if you are planning on coming down during that time, PLEASE register with us as quickly as possible so I can make the necessary arrangements for all the logistic support during my absence. I will be in contact via email during my time away and possibly have a special phone line set up as well if I can get internet. I will update on all of this as the time approaches.

06/02/11 100% APPROVAL

- Everyone that went for stamping today got approved and told to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL. We should get another batch of passports to day from DHL. We always maintain communication with them to help ensure that the passports are delivered as quickly as possible. No other issues to report.

06/01/11 100% APPROVAL

- Everyone that went for stamping today got approved and told to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL. No other issues to report.

06/01/11

- We had to first set of passports come in today for the people that had appointments on the 31st, however a family that came was still pending the passport for the child. No other issues to report.

05/31/11 100% APPROVAL

- Everyone that went for stamping today got approved and told to wait for the passport to be issued by DHL. No other issues to report.

05/27/11

- Everyone finally received their passports from DHL this evening!!!! It took a little extra effort with the DHL but it was successful. No one else is waiting for passports as of today.

05/26/11

- Everyone who went for visa today was approved and asked to wait for the passports.

DHL UPDATE:

Things are looking much better than before in terms of the DHL issuing the passports. It is taking 1-3 days to get the passports back. Please keep in mind that DHL can not do anything as far as finding out when the passports will be delivered if the U.S. Consulate doesn't release them. Only when they are released to DHL can we begin to get an estimate as to when they will be delivered. In some cases, a rush can be placed but please do not come down here expecting that!!!!!!!! I, Chimo, and the DHL people will do what we can to work together and make the issuing of the passports as efficient as possible, but you have to let us do our work and be PATIENT!!!!!!! The consulate clearly states that it will take 7 days to get the passport back so come down with that in mind and let us try to get it to you a little sooner. I make no promises except that I will do my best to find out as much information as I can with the limited resources that I have.

It is very important to be as patient as possible when waiting for DHL to issue the passports. The last thing we want to do is annoy the DHL people by having people going 3-4 times a day and waiting inside or constantly asking them to look to see if any passports have arrived. The DHL office is very small and they are there to service everyone going for passports not just MAS clients as well as other regular clients shipping or receiving items.

They usually have their hands full and they would greatly appreciate if everyone (mainly us) could be patient with them. Let's try to keep them on our good side and show some patience. I and Chimo are in constant communication with them to try and relay the message of passports arriving. Chimo goes twice day and I check via email and telephone. Once we determine that passports will be ready for pick up, either one of us will let you know ASAP via email or in person.

Again, DHL is not there to serve just us, but showing them a little patience and gratitude, we can all work together to make this as efficient as possible and this way everyone can be happy!!!! Teamwork!!!

05/25/11

- Everyone who went for visa today was approved and asked to wait for the passports.

05/24/11 - VISA DENIAL # 11 TODAY

- We had a client today who received a visa denial. To my best knowledge, the client did not work for approximately 5 months between jobs. The U.S. consulate considered this being on "bench" and therefore denied the U.S. visa.

Everyone else was approved and asked to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL.

05/23/11

- Our clients who went for stamping today got approved and told to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL. No other issues to report.

05/21/11

Our client who was delayed due to PIMS received the passport today!!! No other issues to report.

05/20/11

- So far on average, MAS clients are receiving their passports 2 days after the U.S. Consulate appointment. Our client that did not receive the passport due to a delay for PIMS will get the passport tomorrow.

05/19/11

- GREAT NEWS!!!!!! I just received word that everyone that is waiting for the passports will be receiving them today!!!! That pretty much means that the visas will be issued within 1-3 days after your USC appointment. I will update later this evening once everyone is back across!!! Only one person did not receive the passport due to a delay for PIMS. Other than that, no other issues to report.

05/17/11 - 100% APPROVAL TODAY!!!

- Everyone that went for stamping today got approved. No other issues to report.

05/16/11 - VISA DENIAL TODAY

- Today we had one client who was not approved the U.S. Visa due to some issues with the I 797 (maintenance period for too long). I'm not too sure about the exact details but this is what I was able to gather from my client.

Everyone else got approved and asked to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL.

DHL UPDATE:

We will getting updates daily directly from the local DHL office in Matamoros about the passports. We may also be able to expedite the issuance in some cases or go pick up the passports directly at the main office in Reynosa (1 hour away) if necessary to help get our clients back to the U.S. faster. An additional service fee will be assessed for those requesting us to go to the main office. Let's see how the next two weeks go!!!

05/13/11

- We had more clients receive the passports today!!!! Anyone having an appointment between 05/09 and 05/11 got their passports back today from the DHL. So if this continues to hold true, the passports may be issued within 2 days after the U.S. Consulate appointment date. I suggest to leave your return flight open since there is no way of knowing what day your passport will be issued. In the past, there have been delays caused by the passports being misplaced either by the DHL, ASC, or USC. No one ever takes responsibility of course...fortunately, they have all been found, but adding an extra day or two to the process. Let's hope that the U.S. Consulate finally resolved this issue with the DHL and ASC Center. The U.S. Consulate had been issuing the passports directly for the last month and a half until this past Monday. It's hard to identify any trends in the passport issuance but I will do my best and update this page to give you the very latest information!!!!

AN UPDATE FROM A CLIENT:

Hello Mark, Here is the scenario which i have talked to you yesterday about my VISA Stamping. My I797 expires this Aug 2011 So, i have applied for the new extension and got approved which starts from this August 16th 2011. I have used my latest approval to schedule the VISA but it seems to be consulate does not process H1b petitions if its validation start date is more than 90 days to the interview scheduled date. I will be under 90days period by this May16th hence they stamp my VISA on May16th & most probably expecting it to receive it by end of May18th.

Please update this scenario on your website So, it will help others who are seeking to schedule their appointment here & falling under this kind of category.

05/12/11

We had one client today have to go through an extra security check. This client had already had one in the last visa stamping so there was already some idea about this before hand. Everyone else was approved and asked to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL. The client on security check re-entered the U.S. and will decide what to do next.

One of our clients from Monday also got the visa today!

05/11/11 - 100% Approval Today

- Everyone that went for stamping today was approved and asked to wait for the DHL to distribute the passports.

05/09/11

- We had one client today who was asked to provide more documentation regarding the salary received in 2008 to explain why the salary was less than what the H1b petition states and to prove that there was no bench period in that year. Our other client was approved and asked to check online with DHL to see when the passport is ready for pick up.

It is very important to be able to bring all supporting documents regarding your payroll even if it was paid in cash. In this case, the client was asked to bring pay stubs or the 2008 tax return to prove the income received.

05/06/11

- We had the last two clients that were waiting for the passports to cross back. No one else is pending the passports at this time.

ATTORNEY REVIEW SERVICE UPDATE:

- Immigration attorney Ben Huynh, will be on vacation from May 7 - May 20. No attorney reviews will be done during this time.

05/05/11

- We had 4 clients cross back today. No other issues to report.

05/04/11

- The clients that went for stamping today were approved. One was told that the PIMS has not been cleared and that he will need to wait for that. The other was told to check online with DHL to see when the passport would be ready for pick up.

The U.S. Consulate has been issuing the passports for the past month and a half. There were some issued initially with DHL in regards to issuing the passports so I guess that is why the U.S. Consulate started issuing the passports.

Today is the first time I hear about my clients having to go to DHL to pick up the passports. If DHL will start issuing the passports, please expect at least an extra day in Mexico. Keep checking back to get the very latest on the visa stamping times.

I still have several clients in Matamoros right now waiting on the passports. I think most of them should be crossing back today. I will update later on with more details...

EVENING UPDATE:

The group that was waiting for the passports all came across today. We just have two clients pending who went for interview today. They should have their passports back by Friday.

My clients also mentioned to me today that the consulate told them that from now on, all passports will be issued by the DHL in Matamoros. This will possibly mean staying an extra day or two for those who have appointments with the U.S. Consulate after today. Time will tell of course so keep checking back to get the very latest!!!!

05/03/11

- We had another client today who was asked to wait due to a Security Clearance " Name Check". He was told that it will take a while to clear. This client did not want to wait and decided to return to the U.S. on a temporary I 94 and then re-apply in his home country. The other clietns were approved and asked to check back later today to see if the passports are ready.

05/02/11

- Our client today was approved but asked to wait for the PIMS to go through before picking up his passport. No other issues to report.

04/29/11

- Everyone came back today with their passports stamped! No other issues to report.

NOW TAKING APPOINTMENTS FOR MAY/ JUNE 2011 FOR MATAMOROS & NUEVO LAREDO

The sooner you register, the easier it is for me to connect MAS clients for sharing hotel/travel expenses.

04/28/11

- Everyone who went for stamping today got approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M. today to check if the passports are stamped.

The client from Monday who has to go through security clearance will attempt to cross back to the U.S. today.

No other issues to report at this time.

04/27/11

- Today was a great day for stamping. Our clients were approved and asked to go back at 3:30 P.M. to see if they are ready.

EVENING UPDATE:

- Our clients from today did not get their passports. They were told to go back tomorrow.

04/26/11

- Our client who went for interview today was told that his name came up for security clearance "name check". This happened to him back in 2007 when he went for interview and the officer told him that he would need to go through it again. If this has happened to you in the past, chances are it WILL happen again! Please make sure to prepare for this. I will also be adding a special question regarding this in the MAS client registration form to let MAS clients know ahead of time. We have our next trip tomorrow.

MAS Nuevo Laredo Update

MAS in Nuevo Laredo is up an running. We had our first clients today!!! There are a few minor kinks we are trying to work out, such as getting the Mexican Permit and airport shuttle, etc. but other than that, everyone over there is ready! I am posting updates already for that location. Please email me if you are planning on going there for stamping or just can't find an appointment for Matamoros. I also have a contact in Tijuana right now that is gathering information to begin a branch of MAS for that location. Please note that the logistics services/MAS rates WILL vary for each location since the layout, distances, and wages are different for each location.

04/22/11

- Hello Everyone!!!

I'm now taking all new clients for Matamoros. If you have an appointment in May and know you are going to use MAS, please go ahead and register this coming week. I'd like to start getting clients in touch with each other to help with the hotel/travel expenses. The sooner I can do this, the more money everyone can save. Those that don't want to share expenses, don't worry too much but please do try to register at least 5 days before if possible. Easter weekend is coming up and I hope everyone enjoys their time off!!!!! I look forward to meeting you soon!

Nuevo Laredo Update:

- I've been gathering all the information regarding Nuevo Laredo. i have a person of contact over there right now who is also doing the same. I should hopefully have the MAS Registration page for Nuevo Laredo and PayPal tabs done by this weekend. If you need an emergency appointment, Nuevo Laredo is going to be a good option since there are slots available NOW!!! Please email me if you would like to visit this location.

Merida Update:

- I'm still trying to get all the details about this location. It is somewhat more difficult since it is further away. I will post any new information for this location as soon as I receive it.

04/20/11

- Everyone who was waiting in Matamoros got the passports today!!!!! No one else is pending and our next trip will be on Monday...Happy Easter.

04/19/11 100% Approval Today

- Everyone who went for interview today got approved!!! The consulate did mention to one client that they were not able to locate the I 797 information on their database but that they were going to check with the USCIS. The consulate officers told everyone to check back today at 3:30 P.M. to see if any passports are ready.

MAY 2011 APPOINTMENTS:

- If you have an appointment in the month of May and are planning on coming down to Matamoros, please shoot me an email with your appointment dates. I am trying to get an estimate as to how many people were able to schedule their appointments for Matamoros in the month of May.

THOSE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND APPOINTMENTS IN MATAMOROS:

- We have already begun registering clients for the Nuevo Laredo location via email. We also have a person of contact for the Tijuana location as well. Anyone with appointments for those locations, please email me and we will provide you with the necessary transportation.

04/18/11

- We had a pretty good day today. Everyone that went for interview today were approved. One client was a student from Nepal and he had to go to the bank to get money out for the reciprocity fee. On that note, it is very important to see if you have to pay one or not so you come down fully prepared. That all depends on nationality and visa type. I will add a link to get that information on the MAS Email Confirmation Packet as well. We also had one client who was told that the PIMS is pending but to check back tomorrow. He was also approved but they can not say for sure when he will get his visa stamped. The other client had no issues. They all reported to me stating that the officers are asking for the W2's which we already knew about and other payroll documents. I asked all of them to post some information on my site to help others who are coming down.

I also have one client who had his USC appointment last week still waiting for the passport to be given back. He was told that there is no issue, but they are just waiting for a clearance.

EVENING UPDATE:

2 people crossed back today with their passports. It is also Semana Santa (Holy Week/Spring Break) for Mexico. Expect higher traffic crossing back this week. There are many Mexican Nationals that come to the U.S. for shopping and vacation during this time.

Our next consulate trip will be next Monday. I will update this page as people cross back.

STAMPING IN NUEVO LAREDO AND TIJUANA INFORMATION:

- I have some contacts of people in Nuevo Laredo and Tijuana for those who can not find an appointment in Matamoros. Please let me know if you plan on going to these locations for stamping. I will set you up with the right people for assistance.

04/14/11

- Everyone that went for stamping today got approved and asked to check back at 3:30 P.M. to see if the passports are ready. No other issues to report at this time.

04/13/11 MEXICAN BUS/MASS GRAVES INCIDENT UPDATE

- I have been receiving several emails concerning the latest news regarding the unfortunate incident of public transport buses being hijacked and mass graves that have been found in a city (San Fernando) which is approximately 80 miles South of Matamoros. That stretch of highway is very isolated and we do not go anywhere near that location. In fact, we don't even go a mile into Matamoros. We stay near the U.S. Consulate at all times.

The U.S. Consulate is located right on the border with Brownsville between two ports-of-entry and the whole area around it (including the Best Western Hotel) is patrolled 24 hours a day by heavily armed Mexican Military and Federal Police. It has been like that for the past 2 years or so. A lot of news organizations are citing Matamoros as the place where the buses were hijacked and graves discovered but that is not the case. The hotel is located 3 blocks from the U.S. Consulate and one of its buildings is occupied by a squadron of Federal Police and two small Mexican Military bases a few blocks away.

I will not cross the border if I feel there is any danger for myself or my clients. I stay on top of these things as that is part of my business now. I will update this page and all my future clients if at any point there is a specific threat of danger for us while in Mexico. For now, it is business as usual for myself and the rest of the people living and working in Matamoros.

STAMPING UPDATE:

- We had one client come back today. He had his appointment on the 12th. I also have one client who is waiting on the passport. This client had an appointment on the 11th. Our next consulate trip is tomorrow.

04/12/11

- I highly urge everyone to make sure that your W2's match the salary that was initially agreed upon by your employer when you initially obtained your H1b petition. The US Consulate is verifying that everyone coming down for stamping got paid what they are supposed to. People who have been on bench without pay or have been out-of-status should not apply at any U.S. Consulate in Mexico. People with criminal records should expect delays with their stamping. I found some valuable information while browsing the internet that might help you out in regards to the whole PIMS debate about what to do etc. I also found some important information regarding how the consulate officers should treat the people going for visa.

Anyone coming down for stamping should consult with your legal adviser prior to coming down. If you do not have one, please take advantage of Mr. Huynh's comprehensive attorney review. It could save you $$$ and headaches!!!!

- PIMS Processing Update

If theres a chance a beneficiary of a petition needs to obtain a visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate after the petitioner requests a change of status, extension of status, or amendment to the original petition it is advisable that the petitioner submit 2 copies of the updated petition with the original signatures on all forms to USCIS. When submitting the 2 copies of the updated petition it is encouraged to identify one of them with a brightly colored cover sheet with the notation Please send this copy to the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) upon approval. Once approved, USCIS will then forward the marked copy of the updated petition to KCC for scanning and entry into the PIMS database where the U.S. Embassy or Consulate will be able to access the updated petition.

Customer Service Statement to Visa Applicants

The Department of State manages the visa process strictly but fairly in order to best protect the United States. We are committed to the essential openness for which the United States has always been known. Travel to the United States is welcomed and encouraged.

04/11/11

- Our client who went for stamping today was approved and asked to return at 3:30 P.M.

Please keep in mind that the U.S. Consulate is checking the W2's to ensure that every H1b applicant is receiving the salary that is required or agreed upon when the H1b petition was initially filed. Those that don't have that should definitely seek legal advice prior to scheduling an appointment.

04/08/11

- Our client from yesterday was able to schedule another appointment next week to present the other documents. I will update on this case as soon as I receive more information. Our next consulate trip will be this following Monday.

I am still not sure what effect if any will take place in the event of a government shut down. I will update on this as I receive more information as well.

04/07/11

- We have a client get a 221g today. This client is gathering more documents to take back to the consulate later today or tomorrow morning. I will update when I receive more information on this case.

04/06/11

- Everyone who went for stamping today got approved and asked to go back to the consulate tomorrow to pick up the passports.

04/05/11

- We had an issue today with a client who was told to return to the home country for stamping.

04/04/11

- Another day of successful visa stamping! No other issues to report.

03/30/11 100% SUCCESSFUL VISA STAMPING TODAY!

- Everyone who went for visa today got approved and asked to come back at 3:30 P.M. today to see if the passports are ready, otherwise, tomorrow 3:30 P.M. No other issues to report!

Please keep in mind that everyone, especially people who have been on bench or not on a continuous visa status should seek legal advice prior to coming down to ensure a successful visa stamping.

03/29/11 100% SUCCESSFUL VISA STAMPING TODAY!

- We had another 100% successful visa stamping trip today! Everyone got approved and asked to return tomorrow to pick up the passports.

People are either getting the passports back on the same day or the following day. I'm not posting their ASC/USC appointment dates because of that.

FAMILY EMERGENCY

- I am still waiting on word on what is happening with my grandmother. There is a good chance that I will be leaving either tomorrow or Thursday down to Mexico. I will not have access to my cell phone while I'm down there but I may end up leaving it with someone here. If you have a trip this week, don't worry, I'll have drivers here ready to provide all the transportation and Mexican Immigration services required for your U.S. Visa Stamping in Matamoros. I should not be gone for more than two days. I will have very limited internet access down there as well so please be patient with me. I'll do my very best to get back to everyone as soon as possible. My father will be here to help run the business while I'm gone.

03/28/10 100% SUCCESSFUL VISA STAMPING TODAY!

- The clients who went for stamping today all got approved and asked to check later today for the passports, if not tomorrow.

FAMILY EMERGENCY

My grandmother is not doing well in Mexico. I had to leave to this past Friday all of a sudden when I received the bad news to visit her one last time and I may have to leave again sometime this week for her funeral. I have drivers in Brownsville and Matamoros to cover me anytime I'm gone.

If you tried reaching me this past weekend, I was down in Mexico and it may have been difficult reaching me. Please be patient with me and email me any questions you have as that is easier to respond to than phone calls in the event that I have to leave again with short notice.

Thank you,

Mark

03/24/11 100% SUCCESSFUL VISA STAMPING TODAY...whewwww!

- Everyone who went for visa today got approved and asked to come back at 3:30 P.M. to see if the passports are ready!!!!

After speaking to different U.S. Immigration attorneys on what has been happening lately, it appears that what the consulate is doing (verifying W2's and employers) is nothing out of the ordinary and in fact doing their job accordingly. They are basically stating that when a company in the U.S. seeks foreign workers and files for the H1b for the foreign worker, that company agrees to pay a certain amount of salary throughout the time the client is on H1b visa. If the client is on bench, that client is not necessarily at fault if there is no work, however, the company needs to keep the end of the bargain and continue to pay a salary. This is all done in an effort to maintain fairness with the job market and also try to protect American workers who could very well do that same job and still allow a steady flow of H1b's into the U.S. for work as well.

Now bring into account the recession from a couple of years ago and it is quite understandable that a lot of people lost work due to a lack of projects. Many people went back home for some time until things got a little better. This is considered being on bench and possibly a change in visa category should have occurred instead of remaining on the same H1b visa.

It is actually a very complicated situation and this is what I have gathered from everyone I have been speaking to. Every case is different and I personally think that there should be more consideration taken into account with regards to the recession and why people were not able to work during that time. Unfortunately that is all out of my hands.

All I can do is provide my service to those who are fully qualified to come down for stamping and post updates on this site to give everyone the very latest on issues being faced at the U.S. consulates in Mexico.

My BEST suggestion at this point is to make sure you have a qualified U.S. Immigration attorney review your documents to ensure that you are a fully qualified individual going for stamping.

I will be visiting Merida in April to finalize the MAS Services down there! Everything seems to be coming along and hopefully start offering the MAS Packages as early as the 3rd week of April!!!

No other issues to report at this time...

03/23/11 VISA DENIAL AND SAME DAY STAMPING

- The client from yesterday got the visa today!

We had another client face some issue with the H1b approval notice. I am waiting on the information from this client to post a more detailed update. He crossed back today on a temporary I 94.

Everyone else got approved and received their passports today!

03/22/11

- We had two clients today refused the visas due to the fact that their W2's don't show the correct amount of salary for the past 3 years. The consulate is verifying the W2's for the past 3 years and looking for anyone who is considered to be on bench during this time.

Please keep in mind that you MUST meet your salary requirement every year while you are here on an H1b visa. I highly suggest to use the U.S. Immigration Attorney Review Service if you have any questions regarding this.

Our other client got approved and asked to pick up the passport tomorrow.

03/21/11

- The passports are being issued on the same day or the following day as of now. Not too sure how long this trend will continue but if it was up to me, I'd have it like this from here on out!!!!! Time will tell what happens....

03/18/11

- The client who had appointment on 03/16 got the passport back today. No other issues to report.

03/17/11

- Hello everyone,

I have been posting updates on this page since March 10 and for some reason they are not appearing on here. I will go back and try to research my data to post a quick update to cover the past week. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Successful Visa Stampings:

- USC 03/14 --- Visas on 03/15 --- 1 day (2 applicants)

- USC 03/15 --- Visas on 03/16 --- 1 day (2 applicants)

- USC 03/16 --- Visas on 03/16 --- Same Day!!!! (2 applicants)

- USC 03/16 --- Approved. Waiting on passport to get issued by consulate (1).

Visa Issues - 221g/ denials:

- 03/14 --- Visa denial # 5. Gap between H1b visas. Consulate officer considered it to be an out-of-status case. Client was asked to go to the home country for stamping. No other information provided. This client crossed back to the U.S. on a temporary I 94.

- 03/14 --- 221g # 6. Gap between H1b visas. Consulate officer advised that more research needs to be done. This client crossed back into the U.S. to gather more documents.

03/10/11 VISA DENIAL TODAY #4

- We have a visa denial today due to some issues with the W2's from previous years not showing sufficient salary. Our client was told by the US Consulate that it would be best to apply in the home country instead. This is a very important issue nowadays where the US Consulates are now verifying employment, salaries, and employers to make sure that everyone is following the H1b program. People who have been on bench should seek legal advice prior to coming down. The client who was denied the visa today is attempting to cross back into the U.S. on a temporary I 94.

The client that had the same issue is also attempting to cross over today on a temporary I 94.

Everyone else who went for stamping all got approved and told to come back tomorrow to pick up the passports!!!!

03/09/11

- The client from yesterday with the error on the visa was given the corrected visa today at 3:30 P.M. and crossed over to the U.S. immediately after.

USC appointment - 03/08

03/08/11 - GREAT DAY FOR STAMPING!!!

- 10:00 A.M. Everyone who went for stamping today just got approved!!! They were all told to come back and check at 3:30 P.M. today for the passports, if not, tomorrow 3:30 P.M. No other issues to report at this time.

Everyone who went for interview today got the visa stamped and passports issued today!!!! We did have one client who had an error on the visa and that client was told to come back tomorrow. The clients from yesterday also got their passports issued today!!!!!!!

USC appointments - 03/07 & 03/08

03/07/11 221g CASE TODAY 5

- One client was told that there needs to be an additional verification on his case (221g) due to some discrepancies with the W2's and what the consulate is showing for salary. The problem is that 3 W2's show different amounts. He has contacted his employer so that this issue can be resolved. It may take a week or so to get it all straightened out.

SUCCESSFUL VISA STAMPING

Everyone else today got approved and were told to go back to the consulate tomorrow to pick up the passports.

VISA ISSUANCE UPDATE:

I think that there may be a chance that the consulate will no longer be using the DHL for issuing the passports. It is still too early to tell but clients from last week and today were all told to go back to the consulate to pick up their passports. This may be a temporary thing or it may be permanent.

What does this mean to us? It means faster stamping process and less stress collecting the passports. It also means less expense in the long run!!! Let's not get our hopes up, let's give it some time and we shall see how everything works out.

EVENING UPDATE:

Two people got their passports today. USC appointments were on 03/1 and 03/02. No other issues to report.

03/04/11 - EXCELLENT DAY TODAY EVERYONE!!!!!

- We had 8 people get their passports today!!! Their US Consulate appointment dates were on: 02/28, 03/01, 03/02, & 03/03.

The client who had a 221g on 03/03 decided to come back to the U.S. today on a temporary I 94 and go back to the home country and get the stamping done there. It took about 4 hours to get through the U.S. Immigration office. It is very important to let me know if you have any arrests or convictions in the U.S. so I can give you a heads up on what to expect. This client was caught off guard and had no idea that the previous alcohol related arrest would be an issue. Fortunately he was able to return!

We also had one client who had to update the ASC information (see 03/03 update below). It is very important to update the new DS 160 confirmation number (below bar code) with the ASC/CSC reservation website if you fill out another DS 160 application after booking your ASC/USC appointment dates. Their information needs to match, if it doesn't, you will not be allowed to proceed with your ASC appointment.

Other than that, no other issues to report!!!

03/03/11 VERY IMPORTANT UPDATE!!!!!!

- Please note that the DS 160 confirmation code number needs to match the one you entered when booking your reservation.

If you filled out another DS 160 application after booking your ASC/USC appointment dates, you will need to log in again and edit your information by entering the new DS 160 confirmation number.

If you do not do this, the ASC people will not let you in until you correct it. The ASC people have the DS 160 confirmation number in their system and if yours does not match what they have because you filled out another DS 160 application, you will not be let in.

STAMPING UPDATE FOR 03/03/11 - 221g today

- We have one person who received a 221g for having a previous alcohol related arrest. This client will need to go to Cd. Juarez for a special medical exam. It is VERY important that you let me know these details prior to coming down so I can make the necessary arrangements ahead of time. According to my client, his attorney told him that the previous arrest would not be an issue. This is also a MAJOR reason as to why it is VERY important to use an attorney who is very familiar with the consular processing part of the immigration law. This is why I always highly recommend using Mr. Ben Huynh's comprehensive attorney review. It can save people money and headaches in the long run!

The other clients who went for stamping all got approved and may possibly be given the passports back today or tomorrow according to the visa officers. Let's see what happens...

03/02/11 - VISA DENIAL

- We had another client today get a visa denial due to the current employer having issues with a US Government agency. Our client was told that his case is good but they can not issue a visa with his current employer.

Everyone else got approved and asked to wait for the passport to be issued.

03/01/11 - VISA DENIAL

- We had one client (F1 applicant) who was denied the visa today. There was some issue with the visa category status and F1 visa continuation. This client knew there might be an issue and decided to try anyway.

Everyone else got approved and asked to wait for the passport to be issued.

USC appointments were on 02/23 and 02/22

02/28/11

- Well we should have some more people getting their passports back today from last week! I'll update with the final count later today.

Everyone that went for the consular interview today were approved and asked to wait for the passport to be issued by DHL!!!!

I also just removed the password from the forum so hopefully everyone can start using it to add your travel details. I'll get a special page just for people who want to share the travel expenses.

EVENING UPDATE:

- 5 people got their visas today at 4 P.M. from DHL

USC appointments were on 02/22 and 02/24.

02/26/11

- Two more people got their passports today. They had their ASC appointments on 02/22 and USC appointment on 02/23. There appears to be some issue again with the communication between DHL and ASC center. There are some passports at the main DHL office which is located in another city (Reynosa) but according to the DHL people in Matamoros, they can not be released because the ASC center has not provided them with a tracking number. This minor issue has been happening to clients since the beginning of the ASC procedure back in Jan. 17. The bad news is that it is still occurring and the good news is that it is happening less frequently. Only time will tell when this issue will no longer happen. Until then, it is very important to be as patient as possible. There is only so much we or you can do to get the passports returned. After that, it is simply a waiting game.

02/25/11

- One person (F1 student) got the passport today. He had an ASC appointment on 02/22 and USC appointment 02/23.

02/23/11

- Everyone who went for interview today was approved and asked to wait for the passports to be issued from DHL. No other issues to report at this time.

02/22/11

- So far so good with the processing today!!! Everyone who went for interview today were approved and asked to wait for the passport to be issued by DHL.

Here is one comment from the client today:

"Hi Mark,

02/19/11

- We had the fastest visa stamping process done today with the ASC appointments on 02/15 and USC appointments on 02/17!!!! Let's see if this trend continues.

NOW TAKING NEW CLIENTS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH! PLEASE GO THROUGH THIS SITE FIRST TO GET ALL THE NECESSARY DETAILS PRIOR TO CALLING FOR ASSISTANCE. THIS SITE HAS ALL THE INFORMATION INCLUDING WHAT OUR SERVICES ARE, WHAT OUR RATES ARE, AND WHAT TO DO ONCE YOU HAVE DECIDED YOU WANT TO COME DOWN FOR STAMPING.

PLEASE KEEP CHECKING THIS PAGE TO GET THE VERY LATEST!

02/17/11

- 3 more people got their passports today! Their ASC appointment dates were on 02/11 and the USC appointment dates were on 02/14.

Everyone who went for interview with the consulate today also got approved and asked to wait for the passport!!!!

02/16/11

- The couple from yesterday got their passports today from the U.S. Consulate directly. They had the ASC Appointment on 02/08 and the USC Appointment on 02/09.

02/15/11

- Great News!!! We have about 7 people get their passports back today however one couple had a mistake on one of the visas so they had to stay behind. I'll update later with the appointment dates. They all had the ASC Appointment on 02/08 and USC Appointment on 02/09.

02/14/11

- Everyone who went for stamping today was approved and asked to wait for the passports to be issued by DHL. No other issues to report.

02/09/11

- We had a big group go today for stamping. One of the applicants and family appear to have another slightly more complicated case involving the status of visa. They were told to come back to the U.S. while they investigate the case further. U.S. Immigration allowed them back in using the same I 94 cards. Everyone else was approved and asked to wait for the passport.

I also would like to note that on our trip to the DHL today at 4 P.M., we were told that some passports were sent back to the ASC center. We sent some people over there to pick up the passports and sure enough they were issued from there. It is quite evident that the people at the ASC center are not doing something right. They obviously won't take any responsibility for anything. We have no idea how long those passports were just sitting there. From now on, we may also go to the ASC center to look for passports. I suggest anyone facing issues with the ASC Center to notify the U.S. Consulate directly and report the problems. Something has to be done! I too will send an email to them.

No other issues to report.

02/08/11

- One applicant and family was told that there needs to be further investigation into the case. They are not denying the visa but simply need to wait before they can give a decision. It is another one of those slightly more complicated cases and I don't have the exact details for it. Everyone else got the visa approved and told to wait for the passports from DHL.

No passports were issued today from DHL.

02/07/11 MEXICAN PERMIT UPDATE

- It appears that some people are taking longer than 7 days to get their passports back or have their ASC and USC appointments spread out too far. Please keep in mind that the 7 day permit and preregistration is covered by us. However, those who need to extend their permits will need to pay the additional fee of $25.00 at the bank when obtaining the permit extension. Anyone who extends their Mexican Permit after 7 days will receive an additional 30 days. Getting the permit for 30 days upon entering may also be an option for those who don't want to hassle with having to go back to the Mexican Immigration office for extension. Please let us know in the morning when crossing.

Also note that some Mexican Immigration officers stamp your passport upon entering into Matamoros and some don't. If they stamp your passport when entering, you need to go back to cancel your permit and have your passport stamped when exiting. If your passport is not stamped, then you can hand over your permit to any MAS Team member and we will cancel it for you. This will save you some time when departing Matamoros so you can go straight to the U.S. Immigration office.

02/06/11

Hello everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well.

I have recently modified my service to better serve all MAS clients. I am noticing that more clients now are requiring transportation directly to the airport versus the hotel in Brownsville. Airport transportation will now take priority from the U.S. Immigration office. This was not the case previously when people had the passports in their hands at 3:30 - 4:30 P.M., and having completed the I 94 card by 4:30 to 6:30 P.M. which caused many to miss their flights and stay overnight in Brownsville. The new ASC procedure has since changed that. People are now getting their passports back from DHL starting at 1:30 P.M. and crossing the border earlier than before. Only now after 3 weeks are we starting to see a different trend, which means a service modification to better suit your needs.

My job has always been to figure out the most efficient method of transportation that is safe, reliable,affordable, and most importantly exclusively for each and every MAS Client. I am constantly reviewing every detail (price/service) related to providing this service and make modifications whenever I see the need. Service modifications can possibly continue for the next few months once everyone (ASC/ USC/ DHL) have all accustomed to the new ASC procedure. This will then allow me to fully understand the complete process, look for any trends (if there are any),and also give me a better idea of how much transportation is required per person. We too need to adjust to the new process and figure out the best way to operate. This is basically on-the-job training for me and everyone involved with MAS. It took me years to figure out how to operate efficiently and according to the old way of stamping. Any changes after were not as significant as this. We all had to basically reinvent ourselves to adapt to the new ASC procedure.

It kindly ask everyone be patient and understand that we all do the best we can to give every client the best service. We can not always be at two places at once but each one of us strives to do our best to accommodate to and every client's needs according to their individual schedules. Please do keep in mind that it does not necessary mean being available 24/7. I do have my hours of operation listed and I can guarantee our service in a timely manner ONLY during those hours. Late hours or early morning hours are subject to availability and I cannot guarantee anything then. I understand that some people do have different agendas and if you need someone to pick you up or take you somewhere outside our hours of operation and/or are in an absolute rush and there is no way an MAS Team member can get to you in the time that you require, then by all means take a taxi yourself to your destination. We do what we can with what we have at the rates that we charge.

Other important changes worth noting:

- Trips to Matamoros on Fridays (due to new ASC procedure). It used to only be Monday - Thursday. Fridays were always an administrative day for us and allowed me to catch up on my phone calls and emails.
- Clients are now getting passports on Saturdays (due to new ASC procedure). This increases the work hours for us.
- We will now make two trips to the DHL in Matamoros. The first trip will be at 1:30 P.M. and second one at 4:30 P.M. to check for client passports. We will leave a list of client names with the front desk of the hotel. It is important to be in the lobby between 1:30 to 2:00 P.M. andbetween 4:30 to 5:00 P.M. Chimo will have the list of those who have the passports ready and take you back to DHL.

These are just a few more things that have changed how we operate the transportation part of this business. Like I said before, we are all getting accustomed to this new procedure every day that goes by. I am going to do my best to stay up-to-update with the transportation part of the service to ensure that everyone is taken care of promptly.

Improvement Modification below:

1. RETURN RIDE TO DESIGNATED HOTEL OR AIRPORT IN BROWNSVILLE, TX.

You must call us at 956 466 5184 (Chris) or 956 455 3628 (Mark) once you are finished with the I 94 process. An MAS Team Member will
escort you back to the Brownsville (BRO) airport or hotel Residence Inn after you obtain your new I 94. We will dispatch a driver
immediately to head your way once we receive your call. Wait for us at the designated pick up location across the street from the U.S.
Immigration once (see maps) and allow 10-20 minutes for the driver to reach you. We will give those who are going to the BRO airport
priority with transportation, however, those that are going to the airport must have your flight planned or have 45 minutes to reach the
airport, go through security, and board your flight. You must call the airline to see if there are any flights available prior to your departure for the airport. A driver may or may not be able to wait for you outside the airport (based on availability). If so, an additional charge may be incurred by and paid directly to the driver. That will remain between you and the driver.

Continental Airlines 1 - 800 - 523 - 3273
American Airlines 1-800-433-7300

2. MICROWAVE INSTALLED AT THE HOTEL. ASK HOTEL FRONT DESK.

3. A PHONE SYSTEM WILL BE INSTALLED THIS WEEK FOR MAS CLIENTS TO MAKE CALLS TO U.S. AND MEXICO AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE TO MAS CLIENTS. This will save everyone $$$!!!!

4. BOARD GAMES - CHESS, CHECKERS, DOMINOES, ETC. WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE FRONT DESK BY THIS WEDNESDAY.

Please don't hesitate to email me if you need anything from this side while you are waiting in Matamoros. I can take it to you the very next trip. You need to be very specific with budget and quantities/sizes.

02/05/11

- Two more clients received their passports today (Saturday) from the DHL. It is somewhat difficult to figure out when these passports are coming in. We were told last week that they were not going to deliver passports on Saturdays however that is not the case today.

ASC Interviews were on 02/01 and USC interviews on 02/02 for both clients. Not too bad!

We will now be making daily trips to the DHL at 12:30 P.M. to see what passports have come in at the request of the people at DHL. This is to avoid having people go to their office 3x a day to see what has come in.

The DHL truck arrives daily at 11:45 A.M. and at 3:45 P.M. We have been told that no passports come in on the afternoon truck, only the morning truck. We ask everyone to be patient with them and wait for us to get the report of what has come in. We will relay that information to everyone immediately and provide the transportation to DHL to pick up the passports.

It has been quite a challenge getting this new ASC procedure figured out and accommodating everyone but we are getting better and better as the time goes on.

Keep checking this page to get the very latest!

02/04/11

- Two more clients got their visas today!!! It took one a week exactly and the other client took 10 days. We had a severe cold front come down yesterday which left ice everywhere and caused several delays. Please keep check the weather for the week you are coming down to ensure that you have the proper attire. No other issues to report at this time.

02/03/11 - Visa Denial Today

- We had a client today who was unsuccessful in getting the visa approved . It appears to be a quite complicated case involving the green card status and some gap between 2 H1b visas. The consulate simply stated that the case was too complicated and that it would be best to apply in the home country. This client returned to the U.S. immediately after the interview. This is the first visa denial for 2011. I will start to keep a track of visa denials and 221g's on top of this page.

Everyone else today was approved and asked to wait until the passports are issued by DHL.

We also had a client who got the passport issued today who had an ASC appointment on 01/31 and a USC appointment on 02/01.

02/02/11

- One more client got the passport today back from DHL. He had an ASC appointment on 01/26 and a USC appointment on 01/28. Everyone who went for interview today was approved. I highly suggest to land the day before your ASC appointment if possible to avoid any delays or flight cancellations that may cause you to miss your ASC appointment. At least during the winter months when weather like we are witnessing today can cause airports to shut down across the country. I also suggest to check the weather for Brownsville for the week that you will be here to ensure that you have the proper attire for cold weather etc. It is expected to freeze here tonight! That doesn't happen too often down here. It is almost like the freeze of '89...anyway, no other issues to report.

MAS ADDED BENEFIT...

I should hopefully have the MAS phone line set up at the hotel within a week or so. I am just waiting on an adapter to arrive. This added benefit will save MAS clients A LOT of money. I will place a time restriction on it though to give everyone access to the phone line to make important calls for work, school, family, etc. (not social calls).

02/01/11

- GREAT NEWS!!! Our client who has been waiting for his passport finally got it today!!! Everyone who went for the USC interview today was approved!!! No other issues to report.

01/31/11

- Our client that had the USC appointment today was approved. Everyone who went to the ASC were done in about 15-30 minutes today. We do have one client who is facing a difficulty in getting his passport returned to him. Apparently there are flaws in the system of getting the stamped passport issued.

This client has been there for 10 days now and it seems that the U.S., ASC, or DHl dropped the ball on this one. Somehow this person's passport has been stamped for some time but has yet to be delivered. His case was approved and stamped last week but the passport is still at the DHL main facility in a city about 1.5 hours away. When we went to the DHL, they told us that they can not release it until someone with the ASC center gives the authorization. We the went to the ASC and they told us that everything was good on their part. Well we finally went to the U.S. Consulate and finally was able to get through to someone to help us out and make some calls to supervisors. To make a longer story shorter, the passport will be issued tomorrow!

So far the ASC and USC interviews/appointments are going very smooth! The only issues that some people are facing is getting the passport handed over. I hope they can figure out all their glitches with the new ASC procedure soon! It can save people lots of time and money!!! Keep checking back for the very latest....remember, it is not necessary to call throughout the day for updates, I update as quickly as possible so just keep checking back.

MAS ADDED BENEFIT!

Well this whole time I had thought that the BestWestern in Matamoros had a microwave and refrigerator in every room. I guess I just automatically assumed that since most do already. Anyway, they don't so I spoke to the manager there and got the authorization to put one in for my clients to use. I purchased a nice microwave that will be set up at the hotel near the lobby for MAS clients to reheat any food. I will also see about putting a small fridge soon! I will also be setting up a phone system in there for MAS clients only to make short calls back to the U.S. and not have to worry about roaming charges. I am working on all this right now and should have it all set up soon!

01/29/11

- Hello Everyone! Well I did receive another email last night from someone who felt they were treated unprofessionally. I will do my very best to be a voice for everyone about this matter. It really upsets me every time I get a report of rude treatment by CBP. Let's see what happens...

On another note, I also heard that some clients may have been a little bothered about me being so strict with the transportation part of our service.

I need everyone to fully understand that when MAS first began in January 2004 and up until January 10, 2011, our service was a group in/group out shuttle service. Not only did that make it much easier and less expensive for us to provide our service, it allowed us some leverage with giving more discounts to returning clients and ultimately not having to charge as much even for new clients.

Our rates have fluctuated many times in the past 6 years due to several changes with the visa stamping process, consulate increasing visa application fees, etc.

Our rates all boil down to this:

- Business operating costs (business expenses, office rent, utilities, driver(s) payroll, time spent with each client, vehicle maintenance/insurance/fuel, tolls, and so on that are required for us to provide this service.

vs.

- Number of applicants that come down monthly

In order to provide the best service possible for each client, I need to make sure that every Team Member is compensated properly. This means that we pay every driver per person per trip. The more trips we make, the more it costs. Simple as that. The quotes I have listed therefore have to be very specific so I can make sure that there is still money to cover all the business expenses.

I have dedicated myself 100% to this business. It is not rare for me to spend up to 15 hours working on any given day either answering phone calls, emails, driving, or being in Mexico for work. I am by no means a rich person by doing this. I make a living by providing this service. I am ultimately responsible for every client that comes down and I am not finished with my clients until they have their US visas in hand and cross back safely into the U.S. I also have to be on call at times for clients who arrive morning, afternoon, and night time and make arrangements based on everyone's different schedules. That is NOT an easy task but I do my best to help each individual client.

This new ASC procedure has made things much more difficult for me to keep track of everyone and I am still constantly trying to figure out the most efficient way of providing this service while keeping your costs as low as possible. I also do my best to save my clients money by trying to connect MAS clients in hopes of saving money.

I can go on and on but it is not necessary. I make everything as clear as possible on this site to ensure that everyone knows exactly what they are getting and what it is going to cost. I don't believe in surprising my clients with any additional fees. That is not how I work. I am honest and I provide the best service that I can for the amount that I charge. I really do feel that the service I provide and the rate that I offer it, is indeed a great bargain when you take into consideration all that is involved.

So to any future clients that plan on coming down soon, know that you are in good hands and that you have someone looking out for you while you are going for your U.S. Visa stamping in Matamoros.

Take care!!!

Mark Lehmann

01/28/11

- One person got the visa today. His ASC appointment was on the 24th and U.S. Consulate appointment was on the 26th. No other issues to report.

EVENING UPDATE: I have recently been receiving reports of rude or unprofessional treatment by some of the CBP officers while issuing new I 94 cards. There is absolutely no excuse for giving any kind of rude or unprofessional treatment towards anyone (Mexican or any other nationality) who enters the U.S. by any CBP officer.

I will start collecting more information over the course of the year from anyone who feels that they were treated in a rude or unprofessional manner while obtaining the new I 94 card. This is not the first time I hear about reports of bad treatment by a CBP officer. I am now determined to bring this up to the port director in Brownsville to see about putting some end to this. Please email me any negative experience you have while crossing back. It is very important to get the name of the officer who acted in an unprofessional manner and a brief description of how the officer acted. I want to collect as much information as possible before I approach any supervisor to ensure that my voice is heard loud and clear! I will keep every person's complaint anonymous.

I completely understand that they have the final say so as to who gets into the country and because of that, no one will file a complaint or say anything about it. This is such an embarrassment to me as a U.S. citizen and I've had enough!

You can also file a complaint here: https://help.cbp.gov/app/ask/kw/complaint.

It is important to note that not every CBP officer is rude or unprofessional. We have never had any client experience major issues while crossing back into the U.S. or denied entry. It is quite simply an unpleasant experience when dealing with a CBP officer who acts in an unprofessional manner and completely goes against what their mission statement is "Integrity is our cornerstone. We are guided by the highest ethical and moral principles. Our actions bring honor to ourselves and our agency."

01/27/11

- More great news!!! We had 4 more people get their passports returned today!!! Apparently two clients got their passports stamped as of last week but either the U.S. Consulate or the people working at the ASC misplaced them. Only after insisting were they able to finally locate the passports. Simple human error caused these clients to wait much longer than they were supposed to. Hopefully with some time, everything will be efficient as far as the issuance of passports. Everything else seems to be going great!! Remember that you have to track your passport online via the reservation system website. You are given some sort of tracking code when you enter your date of birth and passport details. Only then will you have some sort of idea as to when you will get your passport back. I have been hearing from clients that the site is not updated frequently. Only time will tell. I sure do hope that people will start signing the MAS guestbook and post their experiences since this is my point of view. MAS clients will have a much better explanation of the process since you/they are the ones going through it. Anyway, I will do my best to keep everyone posted with the latest details and information!

EVENING UPDATE:

One more note guys...I have added a topic forum to this site in hopes of making it easier for everyone to get a hold of each other who wishes to share their experiences, tips, and hotel/travel expenses. Let's all work together to make this as inexpensive as possible!!! I will also be honest with everyone, I have no clue how to operate this forum so please be patient and I will do my best to figure it all out soon! In the mean time, please post on it and get something going....

01/26/11

- We have some more clients that got their passports back today!!! They had their ASC appointments were on the 19th and 20th with their U.S. Consulate appointments being on the 20th and 24th. I have finally completed the official MAS Confirmation email and Information Packet and will be sending it out to everyone once again. Please read it carefully, print it, then bring along with you for stamping to be used as a reference.

Please note: The MAS Base rate for transportation will only include the transportation specifically listed on there. Any additional transportation will incur extra fees if needed. We will do our best to accommodate everyone's needs but please keep in mind that we have to ensure that our drivers are paid accordingly and the money you send us ONLY covers what is listed.

Anyone who is coming down to Brownsville and crossing the border on the same day will pay an additional charge for the pick up from the BRO airport. It is very important that you confirm your flight arrival is on time to ensure that we have someone waiting for you at the airport. Those who arrive the day before and use our shuttle service will only pay the BASE rate. The new official pick up location for Brownsville is the Residence Inn by Marriott. They provide a free airport shuttle service for the BRO airport. They will also give all MAS clients a special discounted rate. Please contact me if you experience any difficulties while reserving your room there.

EVENING UPDATE:

I just added the MAS Guestbook today. It is kind of similar to the one we used to have on the old mexico-assistance.com website. Please share any information that you feel could help the next applicant going for stamping. I will also be adding a forum for people who want to share expenses etc. That should hopefully be coming soon...I just need to figure out how to use it.

01/25/11

- I'm getting more clients daily so if you are interested in sharing rooms and have not received anyone's information, please email me your appointment date and I will see about connecting you with a potential room mate for the consulate trip.

Please note that the MAS official pick up location has moved to the Residence Inn by Marriott. They will now provide the airport pick up service for all MAS clients who stay there. Please find a room mate and stay at that hotel so we can all meet up in the morning for orientation.

01/24/11

- Well more great news...4 people from last week got their passports back today in the morning. Everyone that went today for visa interview also got approved!!! I will update later on as I receive more information.

We also had a couple who had their interviews on December 28 and the case went through an administrative processing (221g). They were called last week and told to come down today to have the passport stamped. They were successful in getting it today!

01/23/11

- Here is some feedback from our first batch of clients who got the visa:

Visa interview questions asked:

Documents asked for:
1. Passport (New and expired passport with us visa stamping), DS 160 confirmation, I 797
2. Employer Letters.
3. W-2s and Tax Returns

01/22/11

- No passports were issued today. We will have to wait until Monday to see if anyone else gets their passports.

EVENING UPDATE:

- OK, I just finished getting our first hotel that offers the airport shuttle any time of the day or night and a guaranteed MAS rate year-round. It is the Residence Inn by Marriott. I already took a tour of the hotel and found it to be excellent! The rooms have much more space and the hotel offers FREE transportation for MAS clients to the BRO airport, nearby shopping/restaurants, movie theaters, Glady's Porter Zoo, Sam's/Walmart, Gold's Gym, and much more! You will also get free access to Gold's Gym! You will also receive a free hot deluxe breakfast, happy hour, and a dinner in the evening. Please visit the Hotels Reservations page for more details. Contact MAS if you have any questions!

I also want to have everyone interested in sharing rooms to make a note of it on the MAS Client Registration online form. This will ensure that everyone gets the maximum comfort while saving the most money!!!

We also have a special guaranteed rate at the hotel in Matamoros! We will do whatever possible to ensure that all MAS clients get more and pay less!!!

01/21/11 PASSPORTS DELIVERED TODAY!!!!

- The first cycle has been completed just now at 1:30 P.M. with a client who had an ASC appointment on the 17th and a U.S. Consulate appointment on the 18th receiving the passport with the visa stamped today!!!! We still have more people pending and I will update as soon as I get more information!!!!!!

EVENING UPDATE- VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

- More people got their visas today at 4:00 P.M. and at 5:00 P.M. Some clients had both ASC & USC appointments on the 18th (same day), some had their ASC appointment on the 18th and USC appointment on the 19th, some had their ASC appointment on the 17th and USC appointment on the 18th, some had their ASC appointment on the 19th and USC appointment on the 20th. As you can see they all got their visas on the 21st (today) but all came on different dates, go figure...

More people are expecting visas tomorrow from the local DHL office by noon.

It is difficult to predict when you will get your passport back so I highly recommend that you leave your return flight open or wait to book it until you get your passport back. I will be posting ASC/USC appointment dates and when people are getting their passports to give everyone a better idea of how things are going.

I will also make a clear note on our MAS Shuttle Trip times: 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. If you need transportation after these hours, you will need to make the arrangements yourself or wait until the next appropriate time. I have people right now who want to leave the hotel in Matamoros at 11 P.M. tonight, 12 A.M. tonight, 4 A.M. tonight. There is no way that I can stay up to provide that service or be on stand-by and wait for people outside the U.S. Immigration office to take people back. I had no idea that this would happen but I too am learning from this first cycle of visa stamping. They fortunately are making arrangements on their own to get to the Brownsville airport from the hotel in Matamoros. Please remember that our consulate trip is from hotel(US) - ASC(MEX) - USC(MEX) - hotel(US). We are no longer providing the airport shuttle service since there is no way to predict when you will be done and that throws us off our scheduling drivers etc. It is just too much for me to handle at this time with all the different appointment dates and times and then people wanting to leave Mexico at different times. Please remember that the rates that we are charging cover ONLY exactly what is specified on our transportation. I never before had to specify a certain time but that too will take effect immediately to help us be able to plan better and give a good uniform service to everyone.

MAS CONTACT INFORMATION:

I will be doing my best to get back to everyone in a timely manner. I rarely check my voicemails since I just don't have the time. Email is the best way of getting a hold of me via our contact us page if I don't get to answer your call. I kindly ask everyone to just call once per day. I have caller ID and I write down every call that comes in. It is NOT necessary to call my phone back-to-back 2,3,4,5 times in a row. I will return your missed call in the order it was received ASAP! Please be patient with me. Other than that, everything seems to be going very well. I am quite pleased with the outcomes so far with all our clients. Everyone has been approved except for one possible name check which should hopefully be done real soon.

I will update tomorrow if anyone else gets their visas....

01/20/11

- We have one client today who was told he needs to go through an extra administrative processing (221g). The consulate kept the passport and he was told it would take about 1 week. We also had some clients come out from interview today and were told to check back tomorrow for the passports!!!!! That is great news!!! Let's hope that this all works out and passports are issued in a day or two instead of the proposed 5 days!!! Time will tell. Please don't call or email for updates. I have too much to do at this time to be responding to everyone's requests for updates. I update this page as soon as I receive information. I will no longer give updates via phone or email!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EVENING UPDATE:

- Well it appears that some of our clients will be getting their visas tomorrow! A DHL truck was spotted picking up a large batch of passports late in the afternoon. We will keep checking tomorrow to see when they are ready for pick up!!!

This should hopefully complete our very first cycle of visa applicants using the new ASC system!!!!

01/19/11

- Another great day at the consulate!!!! Everyone was approved!!! We still don't have any information on the DHL or when exactly the passports are going to be returned. I contacted other U.S. Consulates in Mexico and they are saying 3-5 business days....

Well the good ol' days of morning appointments and same day stamping are simply just a memory. We all need to adapt to the latest changes since this will be happening worldwide. Please let your employers know about this so they can get up-to-date and start offering people some more time off to get this done. I will do my best to get to Merida and Tijuana these next couple of months to get more information on the processing over there.

Keep checking this site to get the very latest!

01/18/11

- Well today was the first official ASC Consulate Trip! Some of today's consulate trip clients had their ASC appointment yesterday and some were lucky enough to schedule their ASC appointment today right before their U.S. Consulate appointment!!! That is great news for those who are fortunate enough!

Every client that went for interview today had their visas approved. There is one small issue though; according to the U.S. Consulate, they are still trying to get adjusted to the new process and our clients today were told that it may take up to 5 business days to get the passport back. I don't quite think it will get to that but only time will tell.

I suggest for everyone to be as flexible as possible with the upcoming trips. Try to leave the return flight open. That will make things much easier!

Keep checking back for the latest updates!

01/17/11 EVENING

- Well today was our first trip to the ASC Appointment trip and everything went very smooth!!!!

You will need the following:

- DS 160 Confirmation Page. Make sure the bar code is clear!

- Passport and U.S. Visa

The list of prohibited items will also be the same for the ASC appointment. You will be provided this list with your MAS Information Packet.

The clients that went today for ASC will go tomorrow for the U.S. Consulate interview. I will update when I return how everything went.

Please don't be calling for updates. I will post the updates on this page as soon as I get a chance.

Thank you,

Mark Lehmann

01/17/11

- Hello Everyone!

Today is our first ASC appointment!!!! I will update later today as soon as I get back with the very latest details regarding the ASC process and hopefully the DHL location etc. I'm very excited to get this new process going! I really do think that it is going to be a very smooth experience and MAS will do everything possible to ensure that everyone is content!!!

See you soon!!!!

Mark Lehmann

01/15/11

- MAS rates have been adjusted once again to reflect what I now firmly believe to be the complete visa stamping process in Matamoros for each person based on all the information that I have been receiving from my current clients and their ASC and US Consulate schedules. As some of you may know, MAS has always been a group shuttle service since day 1. Well those times have come and gone my friends!

I have been working diligently, gathering all the necessary information, training our new MAS Team Members, and updating this website to be as ready as possible for next week's clients. I initially quoted our rates much lower thinking that the transportation and Mexican Immigration part would be handled in somewhat of a similar fashion as before (group transportation). Well that changed quickly once I began receiving new clients and seeing how all their appointments differ from everyone else.

I have now created an MAS Team that is 8 members strong and will take great care of each and every client every step of the way. I am currently working on training everyone so that you will feel at ease during your visa stamping and know that you are in good hands.

MAS will also preregister every client with Mexican Immigration to help expedite the process there and get you going quickly. MAS will cover all costs associated with this.

These new rates will cover every client regardless of when and what time you plan on crossing the border for your appointment.

What does this mean for you?

This means that you will not have to worry about a thing and know that MAS will have your back from the moment you arrive in Brownsville to the moment you depart!

My mission has always been to provide a safe and affordable method of transportation for everyone, but most importantly, the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are not alone in this process. I have gained much valuable experience in the past 6 years and thousands of hours that I have dedicated myself to providing this service for people like yourself.

I will be the first to admit that it hasn't always been easy doing this type of service but the rewards are tremendous!

It is such an amazing feeling to have clients praise us for our services either in person, email, or via our client feedback. That truly makes all of this worth it and keeps me going strong enabling me to adapt regardless of what changes are happening with the visa stamping.

01/14/11 (3:00 A.M.)

- Ok, I'm almost done with the new MAS Orientation Info Pack. I have been working on this all day today and am just finishing up to today. As you can see, I've been quite busy and I do apologize for not getting back to everyone as quickly as I should. Things will change though as time goes on and I start adapting to the new MAS Service! So far I'm still pending the email confirmation for those who have already registered and made the payment. I will email that out to everyone as soon as I finish with the MAS Orientation Info Pack...thank you very much for your patience and I look forward to starting next week with our first batch of clients. I will also have much more information on the process once we start taking people across.

Very Important:

Those of you that won't be able to leave with the morning shuttle ride may have to pay an additional fee to be taken across. The initial rates that I have come up with were based on everyone taking the shuttle rides across with me. It appears that some people are having ASC appointments at all hours of day. I had thought that everyone would be going together in the morning for that as well. I'm in the process of gathering more drivers and training to meet the standards of the MAS Service that has made us so successful. Again, this is all a work in progress and I'm pretty sure that there are going to be some adjustments with the rates coming up soon. Keep checking this updates page to get the very latest information I can provide. If you have something that you would like to share, please email me and I'll see about posting it up. Please give me any feedback as I want this site to be the number ONE for all TCN's going for U.S. visa stamping in Mexico!!!!!

Thanks,

Mark Lehmann

01/13/11

- Hello Everyone,

Well I'm trying to still figure out the whole transportation part of all this. Those of you who plan on arriving to Brownsville the day before your ASC appointments should be OK. Those of you who plan on arriving the same day as your ASC appointment may have to pay an additional fee to have a designated driver pick you up at the airport and transport you directly across the border. I'm still trying to figure it all out and as I should have a better idea once I complete my client list for each date. Please keep in mind that this is a whole new way for us to provide this service and I'm basically starting from scratch in regards to the rates and how I'm going to arrange for everything. I will have a much better understanding of the whole procedure once I start taking people across. I great appreciate everyone's patience with me and look forward to serving you soon!

01/12/11

- I am just finding out that everyone is having very different ASC appointment times throughout the day. The rates that I have listed on our site is based on a group shuttle transportation (everyone in one van having the same ASC appointment times). That is clearly not the case! I am having people with very different ASC appointment times, some are in the morning, some are in the early afternoon, and some are in the late afternoon. There is absolutely no way I can handle this on my own. I will need to look for alternate methods of transportation (contract more drivers) to be able to fit everyone's needs. MAS has ALWAYS been a shuttle or group transportation and NEVER an individual transportation service.

What does this mean for you?

Well, this means that there may have to be some adjustments with the current rates that I have listed in order for me to arrange for more trained drivers to be on board. Please remember that this is just as new for me as it is to everyone else. I am simply taking this day by day. After receiving our new clients, I am quickly finding out that the appointment times are so different. It takes me or any driver 1-2 hours to cross the border from Mexico to the U.S. each time. More trips means more time, more gas, more tolls, more man power. I will continue to work into the late night hours again to try and figure out a solution. If you already sent me your information and payment, please be patient with me and I will be contacting you individually to discuss the travel arrangements.

01/12/11

- Ok everyone...I have finally launched the new MAS site. This should make everything much easier for you and for me. My goal with this new site is to provide everyone with as much information as possible while keeping it nice and neat. I still have a long way to go before it is finally complete but with all the new changes occurring, I am left with no choice but to launch it immediately and work on it little by little. Please email me any feedback you have with the new site. I want to make this the one stop shop for those who wish to renew their visas at the U.S. consulates in Mexico!!!!! I have many phone calls to get to and emails as well. I will start working on those when I wake up later today (1:00 A.M. CST right now). Thank you all for your patience and I look forward to our first consulate trip using the new ASC procedure!!! See you soon!

Mark Lehmann

01/11/11

- If you have an appointment with the U.S. Consulate in Matamoros and wish to utilize Mexico Assistance Services for your logistics support, please visit the MAS Client List and register by filling in the required information and clicking submit.

01/10/11

- All U.S. Consulates in Mexico have become ASC Consulates. This means that there may be two separate appointments required for the U.S. visa stamping process. This will more than likely add an extra day for the visa stamping process.