BoobieCootie 0 #1 January 23, 2003 As you all might know, I’ll be marrying my beautiful bride on 2/8/3. And we’re set to go to Cabo San Lucas for our honeymoon on 2/11. ME, being an Indonesian citizen here in the US with a work permit, figured I’d be smart to get all the paperwork necessary to enter Mexico and re-enter the US. The problem here, let me explain, is that my passport is not stamped with the H-1B visa. What I have is a work permit, that should I leave the US, I would present to the nearest US consulate and it is there that my passport will be stamped with the H-1B visa. Because I have not left the US since ’95, there is no way for my passport to get stamped with the H-1B. Am I making sense? So there I was at the Mexican consulate, and because of this anomaly in the system, I’ve been denied a tourist visa. I’ve presented my last pay stub dated 01/17/03, my employee badge, business card, all travel documents (passports, work permit + extension, airline tickets, hotel confirmation), WA driver’s license, Social Security Card, marriage license – proof that we’re getting married. Still I’m getting denied. Last Friday I was at the Mexican consulate, they were going to issue the visa on the spot had I 1) my airline tickets, 2) $37 cash (fee for visa). What could possibly change their mind? I pretty much presented all the same documents short of those 2 items. If it was the US that was giving me grief to re-enter from Mexico, fine. I can understand. It is in my plan anyway to bring all my papers to Mexico including my W-2 (income statement for tax purposes to those unsure) from the last 5 years, my mortgage statements, phone and electric bills, everything, just in case. Well, my wife too of course! One point they made that I’ll buy, is that, though the work permit allows me to stay in the US, it does not guarantee that I’ll be issued the H-1B visa to re-enter the US. And therefore they cannot issue me the tourist visa, because then the Mexicans will be stuck with deporting me. But to question the legality of my being here in the US? The last time I checked, it was them Mexicans running to our side of the border. Any border we’re running to was Taco Bell. WTF?! I'm so ready to cancel the trip and do the honeymoon here, but the airline tickets are non-refundable, though we can exchange them for anywhere America West flies (AZ & HI are next on my list) at $110/ea extra. F#$%^&s! And I have until 2/1/3 to cancel my hotel without penalties. F#$K! My wife and I are already out $8000+ for the wedding entertainments! So now I’m MAD as a F#$%^N raging bull getting ready to spear some jackass! So mad that I yelled at my wife when she’s got nothing to do with any of this horse shit. And I’m feeling bad. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygal3 0 #2 January 23, 2003 I'm sorry things aren't working out for you. But look at the bright side, you will still marry your beautiful bride, right??Explain to her why you were so mad; she will understand. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #3 January 23, 2003 I hear Hawaii is beautiful and a great place to honeymoon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deleted 0 #4 January 23, 2003 Get all the F#@#$#&g sh*&%t out now and not at the border. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheMonkey 0 #5 January 23, 2003 i would say try again in a few days, maybe you will get the same one that was going to giveyou the visa last friday....stupid people that are given positions with some authority to affect your life often abuse that power, try again and you might find one that's not a donkey and will hook you! --------------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blewaway5 0 #6 January 23, 2003 That pretty much sucks all around. My suggestion, drink heavily. Truman Sparks for President Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
goose491 0 #7 January 23, 2003 Quote Get all the F#@#$#&g sh*&%t out now and not at the border. Woa! True-dat. Freaking out at the border is the last thing you want. That's some pretty funny shit about Taco Bell there Cootie! I'm sure they're just givin you a hard time as retrobution In any case, soon you will be on a beach, beautiful bride at your side, Tequilla, Marguerita, Sol or Corona in hand, mexican hotel bell-hop bringing you your next Tequilla, Marguerita, Sol or Corona.... Can I come? I'm sure your wife understands that you were frustrated... Go kiss her now though just in case My Karma ran over my Dogma!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sebazz1 2 #8 January 23, 2003 QuoteThat pretty much sucks all around. My suggestion, drink heavily.Ditto!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygod7777 0 #9 January 23, 2003 dude, that sucks, i wish i could help in some way, but i would have the first clue how to. later Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BoobieCootie 0 #10 January 23, 2003 Ok... Sorry everyone. I just had to rant. So here are my options: Go to some place in AZ, NV or CA. Given that, where is coolest DZ to these resorts? Preferably one with a tunnel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyThomas 0 #11 January 23, 2003 well, I could be wrong here, as I have been before. BUT; if you are marrying an american citizen, then you become a citizen when you marry. Therefore, you would not need to worry about the visa and H-1B stamp bullshit. You would be an american tourist on vacation in mexico. Problem solved if this is correct, I think. Of course, I have been wrong before. I would talk to someone who knows more about this, or read up on "How to Gain Citizenship" documents. maybe helps, Thomas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,588 #12 January 23, 2003 Nope, it's not automatic. My sister-in-law didn't decide to become a citizen until she'd been married almost 10 years. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nubain1 0 #13 January 23, 2003 Quotewell, I could be wrong here, as I have been before. BUT; if you are marrying an american citizen, then you become a citizen when you marry. Therefore, you would not need to worry about the visa and H-1B stamp bullshit. You would be an american tourist on vacation in mexico. Nope.I went thourgh this when I was with my ex-wife and she was trying to get her citizenship.The guys at the INS office in Wilmington NC said that that rule was changed back in the 50'-60' because of so many people marrying U.S. citizens to get their citizenship and then divorcing right after they got their papers.My ex wife went through hell to get her citizenship.It would make it easier if you could still get it through marriage but that's why they changed the law on it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites floormonkey 0 #14 January 23, 2003 Went to Mexico for a day trip to buy a blanket with my friend for his girl. He, being the genius he is, forgets his green card. So we try to get back in and no luck. So we have a choice, go back to Mexico, he goes to jail, or we can apply for a "Waiver of documents" for the low, low price of $195. An hour later, they let us back in. That $5 blanket to make his girl happy turned into a $200 nightmare. INS sucks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites BoobieCootie 0 #15 January 23, 2003 Yap! And ther INS won't even count the time you've been together before you're married. We've been together since 1998. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skeletor 0 #16 January 23, 2003 Quotewell, I could be wrong here, CT is way off base here. My advice is to not leave the country if you don't have that visa stamp in your passport. I had an L1-B visa in my passport and it was stolen when I was in Spain. I got a new passport and I even had xerox copies of the visa and my old passport, however, that was not good enough for the INS. The visa stamp in you passport is your visa and without the stamp in your passport the bastards won't let you back into the country. I ended up spending about 3 hours in the INS office at LAX and paid $175 (and no they don't take credit cards either, cash or cheque) for a single entry visa. I'm not leaving again until I have my greencard. That said, you can easily get into CA via Tijuana if you have a CA drivers license and you don't look mexican. That is for when you go to TJ for the day and don't take your passport (doh!) So, I wouldn't be worried about going out of the US, just getting back in might be a pain since the INS treats everyone like shit. enjoy, rich Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites PhillyKev 0 #17 January 23, 2003 Quote That said, you can easily get into CA via Tijuana if you have a CA drivers license and you don't look mexican. As long as you remember the toll for the bridge. I walked across the border in El Paso to Juarez, got drunk, spent all my money and didn't have the $2 to get back across the bridge into the US. Ended up having to panhandle from an Australian couple so I could get home Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites BoobieCootie 0 #18 January 23, 2003 Quote I'm not leaving again until I have my greencard. And that was one of the main reasons I have not left the US since 1995 when I was still going to school (F-1 visa). I went home because my brother was getting married. I spent hours at the US embassy in Singapore getting questions after questions. So from there, I learned that it's smarter to stay in the US - it's got 50 states right? Lot's of places to visit if I wanted. So in 1997, I found a job that landed me in the Seattle area. I got my work permit through my co. and applied the same logic to not leave the country unless I had to. And this was what I tried explaining. I would most certainly do anything to make my bride happy. She just loves to travel. We've never been to Mexico, so hey! It's a good thing the US has 50 states and your driver's license is valid in all of them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites PhillyKev 0 #19 January 23, 2003 Quoteit's got 50 states right? Don't forget the territories. Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Somoa, Guam, Northern Marianas. I'm pretty sure you can go there, too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kevin922 0 #20 January 23, 2003 Quote My wife and I are already out $8000+ for the wedding entertainments! So some jackass! So mad that I yelled at my wife when she’s got nothing to do with any of this horse shit. And I’m feeling bad. She isn't your wife yet buddy :) You yelled at your fiance, which isn't smart if you want her to become your wife Good luck man, that sucks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites BoobieCootie 0 #21 January 24, 2003 I hear ya... I think flowers and some pampering are due. Me and my stupidity. Anyway, I spent some time doing some research and found that now might not be a good time to live the US (period). Not only have I been singled out by the Mexicans, I've also been singled out by the INS. Info here: INS Issues Foreign Travel Advisory for Aliens With Pending Immigration Applications Special Registration Procedures for Certain Nonimmigrants Edit: I made some remarks about Al Queda and it might be taken wrongly. So I took them out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Racenic 0 #22 January 24, 2003 First off Congratulations on your wedding!!! Hopefully you make it to Cabo! However I want to let you in on the scam down there. I have lived in southern California all my life. Ever since I was 4, we took all our family vacations south of the border (Baja and Mexico) ) and I have never experienced what I’m about to tell you. My second and final trip to Cabo was last summer. Never before have I felt taken advantage of. Let me explain. On Monday from the hotel to the main strip in town (same drop off spot ever time) the taxi ride was 5 dollars, Tuesday and Wednesday it was 7 dollars Thursday and Friday it was 10 dollars. If you purchase something / anything, say for 4.00 and you hand them a 5 dollar bill don’t expect change. They consider it a tip and then act rude or dumb if you question them about it. Lunch one day was 12 dollars, all I had was a Fifty I got back 30 dollars in change. When I counted the money and looked for the waiter, he was no where to be found. I took a cruise in October with a stop in Ensenada (80 miles south of the border) I did not experience any of this, it seems to only be a problem in Cabo When taking a taxi ride ask before you get in, how much it’s going to cost to get where you want to go, and also ask how much to get back. The price can differ. In addition stay off the beach at night. The hotel your staying at will more than likely have a rope fence up, to keep the panhandlers back, however if you venture out, you are on your own Last but not least “Time Shares” is a big deal down there, every day you will be asked (even at the airport) to go on a tour to see the newest hotel offering a time share. (even the place you are staying at) It can time up to half a day to do a tour, with promises of free food, lunch, dinners, drinks etc. If you’re not interested, you may need to be rude and let them know you’re Not interested. It can become a daily hassle. I’m not trying to scare you; it is fun and a safe place to go, I just don’t want you to fall into any tourist traps. Try Squid Roe for dancing and drinks it’s a fun place at night , so is the Giggling Marlin. Good Luck and don’t drink the water, only the margaritas! Nick D The key to Immortality is- first living a life worth remembering” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
floormonkey 0 #14 January 23, 2003 Went to Mexico for a day trip to buy a blanket with my friend for his girl. He, being the genius he is, forgets his green card. So we try to get back in and no luck. So we have a choice, go back to Mexico, he goes to jail, or we can apply for a "Waiver of documents" for the low, low price of $195. An hour later, they let us back in. That $5 blanket to make his girl happy turned into a $200 nightmare. INS sucks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BoobieCootie 0 #15 January 23, 2003 Yap! And ther INS won't even count the time you've been together before you're married. We've been together since 1998. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skeletor 0 #16 January 23, 2003 Quotewell, I could be wrong here, CT is way off base here. My advice is to not leave the country if you don't have that visa stamp in your passport. I had an L1-B visa in my passport and it was stolen when I was in Spain. I got a new passport and I even had xerox copies of the visa and my old passport, however, that was not good enough for the INS. The visa stamp in you passport is your visa and without the stamp in your passport the bastards won't let you back into the country. I ended up spending about 3 hours in the INS office at LAX and paid $175 (and no they don't take credit cards either, cash or cheque) for a single entry visa. I'm not leaving again until I have my greencard. That said, you can easily get into CA via Tijuana if you have a CA drivers license and you don't look mexican. That is for when you go to TJ for the day and don't take your passport (doh!) So, I wouldn't be worried about going out of the US, just getting back in might be a pain since the INS treats everyone like shit. enjoy, rich Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #17 January 23, 2003 Quote That said, you can easily get into CA via Tijuana if you have a CA drivers license and you don't look mexican. As long as you remember the toll for the bridge. I walked across the border in El Paso to Juarez, got drunk, spent all my money and didn't have the $2 to get back across the bridge into the US. Ended up having to panhandle from an Australian couple so I could get home Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BoobieCootie 0 #18 January 23, 2003 Quote I'm not leaving again until I have my greencard. And that was one of the main reasons I have not left the US since 1995 when I was still going to school (F-1 visa). I went home because my brother was getting married. I spent hours at the US embassy in Singapore getting questions after questions. So from there, I learned that it's smarter to stay in the US - it's got 50 states right? Lot's of places to visit if I wanted. So in 1997, I found a job that landed me in the Seattle area. I got my work permit through my co. and applied the same logic to not leave the country unless I had to. And this was what I tried explaining. I would most certainly do anything to make my bride happy. She just loves to travel. We've never been to Mexico, so hey! It's a good thing the US has 50 states and your driver's license is valid in all of them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #19 January 23, 2003 Quoteit's got 50 states right? Don't forget the territories. Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Somoa, Guam, Northern Marianas. I'm pretty sure you can go there, too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevin922 0 #20 January 23, 2003 Quote My wife and I are already out $8000+ for the wedding entertainments! So some jackass! So mad that I yelled at my wife when she’s got nothing to do with any of this horse shit. And I’m feeling bad. She isn't your wife yet buddy :) You yelled at your fiance, which isn't smart if you want her to become your wife Good luck man, that sucks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BoobieCootie 0 #21 January 24, 2003 I hear ya... I think flowers and some pampering are due. Me and my stupidity. Anyway, I spent some time doing some research and found that now might not be a good time to live the US (period). Not only have I been singled out by the Mexicans, I've also been singled out by the INS. Info here: INS Issues Foreign Travel Advisory for Aliens With Pending Immigration Applications Special Registration Procedures for Certain Nonimmigrants Edit: I made some remarks about Al Queda and it might be taken wrongly. So I took them out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racenic 0 #22 January 24, 2003 First off Congratulations on your wedding!!! Hopefully you make it to Cabo! However I want to let you in on the scam down there. I have lived in southern California all my life. Ever since I was 4, we took all our family vacations south of the border (Baja and Mexico) ) and I have never experienced what I’m about to tell you. My second and final trip to Cabo was last summer. Never before have I felt taken advantage of. Let me explain. On Monday from the hotel to the main strip in town (same drop off spot ever time) the taxi ride was 5 dollars, Tuesday and Wednesday it was 7 dollars Thursday and Friday it was 10 dollars. If you purchase something / anything, say for 4.00 and you hand them a 5 dollar bill don’t expect change. They consider it a tip and then act rude or dumb if you question them about it. Lunch one day was 12 dollars, all I had was a Fifty I got back 30 dollars in change. When I counted the money and looked for the waiter, he was no where to be found. I took a cruise in October with a stop in Ensenada (80 miles south of the border) I did not experience any of this, it seems to only be a problem in Cabo When taking a taxi ride ask before you get in, how much it’s going to cost to get where you want to go, and also ask how much to get back. The price can differ. In addition stay off the beach at night. The hotel your staying at will more than likely have a rope fence up, to keep the panhandlers back, however if you venture out, you are on your own Last but not least “Time Shares” is a big deal down there, every day you will be asked (even at the airport) to go on a tour to see the newest hotel offering a time share. (even the place you are staying at) It can time up to half a day to do a tour, with promises of free food, lunch, dinners, drinks etc. If you’re not interested, you may need to be rude and let them know you’re Not interested. It can become a daily hassle. I’m not trying to scare you; it is fun and a safe place to go, I just don’t want you to fall into any tourist traps. Try Squid Roe for dancing and drinks it’s a fun place at night , so is the Giggling Marlin. Good Luck and don’t drink the water, only the margaritas! Nick D The key to Immortality is- first living a life worth remembering” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
