Is PIMS visibility same for all Consulates ?

[diptam]

I've to go to India on a emergency trip for 15 days and comeback stamping my 9th year extension from Kolkata US Consulate . Now i hear peoples are stuck for months @ PIMS.

I heard that Canada and Mexico US consulates at least let you know if your petition is visible before you leave US. So if i check with them during the day tomorrow and hear 'yes' - can i assume that the extension Petition will be visible at Kolkata,India consulate as well ?

Is PIMS truly a centralized system ?

[jindhal]

My spouse had a 24 hour wait period before she could go back with necessary documents after her interview. This is at mumbai.

[bekugc]

just like diptam asked,

--> if one consulate says that the petition is in PIMS. does it mean other consulates also see the same thing?

back in jan/feb 2008 mexican consulates entertained pims verification requests. at that time they checked if our h1 was in pims and if not got it added. But since march/April due to system abuse, consulates stopped doing PIMS verify unless u have a scheduled appointment at the consulate.

anybody in the forum who got confirmation from Mexico that the entry is in PIMS, and when they went for stamping in India didnt run into pims delay?

thanks

[bekugc]

if u have a appointment with kolkata , u can try to send a email to them asking if ur H1 receipt number is in PIMS since it wud help u anticipate/plan for delays. mention that u have a valid appointment with them and give the details

indian consulates being high volume most probably will not react to it, but its worth a try . they may not reply but what if by luck they chk it for u and request an entry to be put in. u never know!

i suggest dont scan ur h1 doc and create a bulky 1-2mb email, which might tempt them to delete it. just type in ur details like h1 receipt #, name, validity, company, i94# etc, few of those imp field on ur notice. keep the subject of ur email something like "enquiry regarding h1b stamping" rather than "PIMS verification" which might outright discourage them from opening it itself. forgive me, im just brain storming for u to see how to make em atleast look at ur case, of course there is not silver bullet for this

going for stamping seems like a leap of faith now :-(

making arrangements for all sorts of things like - pay next months rent, bills, take works' laptop in case u need to sit at home and work for 5 weeks (if client allows), pick only those airline deals that allow u to cancel/postpone...etc etc etc.

i also need to go thro this in coming months. way im looking at it is - as long as i dont lose my job on this issue, its still worth it to go thro all this trouble , cos in the end it'll definitely pay back. I gave up worrying bout getting my PIMS verified, and focusing on convincing my client that there cud be inevitable delays and how to manage that without putting him (and indirectly myself) at risk.

good luck! friend.

[panky72]

I am planning to use AP to avoid potential delays caused by PIMS etc. I might lose my job if it causes unusual delays. I cant work from home so that wont be a option either.

[sundarpn]

PIMS is centralized. Back in feb I called the consulate in mexico and told them that I plan to get my h1b visa stamped and would like to check on pims verification...

They checked with the petition number and confirmed its presence. I also asked them If this was true for any US consulate. The said all consulates in the world access the same system. I then got mine done at chennai consualte in mar. Hope that helps

[ajay]

It will be nice if Sundar could share that news with everybody since I am sure a lot of people are in the same boat.


Thanks

[sundarpn]

I called the consualte at Nogales and curdad juraz. As regard phone numer, I just googled for it. Nogales also responded to emails. Both were very helpful and both were able to check pims.

But this was before people flooded them with requests. Now you might be better of making an appointment and providing that info along with your request.

[iad2ead]

I would like to update my Employer about this issue so that if I get stuck in
India I have a plan. Can anyone please let me know if this is in some USCIS website?

thanks a bunch

cheers
Iad

Originally Posted by diptam

I've to go to India on a emergency trip for 15 days and comeback stamping my 9th year extension from Kolkata US Consulate . Now i hear peoples are stuck for months @ PIMS.

I heard that Canada and Mexico US consulates at least let you know if your petition is visible before you leave US. So if i check with them during the day tomorrow and hear 'yes' - can i assume that the extension Petition will be visible at Kolkata,India consulate as well ?

Is PIMS truly a centralized system ?

[diptam]

Go to the Visa wait time links for any US consulate in this Globe. Everywhere they are mentioning that there could be a separate ADMIN processing delay of upto 30 days ( or even more - there is no upper limit)

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wa...itors_wait.php - Select any US consulate in the dropdown or read the message in this page.

My case is critical - I'm working as a contractor for a extremely Time-sensitive Project. If i don't come back within 2 weeks i'll be fired and they will hire someone else - No sympathy

Originally Posted by iad2ead

I would like to update my Employer about this issue so that if I get stuck in
India I have a plan. Can anyone please let me know if this is in some USCIS website?

thanks a bunch

cheers
Iad

[panky72]

Originally Posted by diptam

My case is critical - I'm working as a contractor for a extremely Time-sensitive Project. If i don't come back within 2 weeks i'll be fired and they will hire someone else - No sympathy

Why do you want to risk delays by going for visa stamping. Why not use AP instead.

[diptam]

Good question - I've AP but my wife doesn't have - She has to enter on H4.

If she stays back to see the PIMS drama and i enter in AP within 2 weeks to keep my Job/contract alive - I'm worried if they will create any trouble for her H4 stamping or at POE when they will figure out that the Primary H1 applicant has gone through a status change from H1 to a Parolee...

This immigration laws are too crooked - anyone can say anything to harass you.

Originally Posted by panky72

Why do you want to risk delays by going for visa stamping. Why not use AP instead.

[panky72]

Originally Posted by diptam

Good question - I've AP but my wife doesn't have - She has to enter on H4.

If she stays back to see the PIMS drama and i enter in AP within 2 weeks to keep my Job/contract alive - I'm worried if they will create any trouble for her H4 stamping or at POE when they will figure out that the Primary H1 applicant has gone through a status change from H1 to a Parolee...

This immigration laws are too crooked - anyone can say anything to harass you.

That's a tough situation. Good luck. I will be also going to India in October. I still haven't decided if I want to go for stamping. I have to discuss with my attorney regarding this.

[diptam]

As per advise from others i thought of making sweeping phone calls from Tijuana (W) thru Metamoros (E) US consulates in South if anyone can update my PIMS entry. My tomorrow's target was North - Winnipeg thru Quebec

My run was stopped by Nogales Consulate near Arizona border at the 3rd call. Here is what they told me :

We were doing the checks for PIMS and updating the records for anyone and everyone who were calling but since 80% of them were not showing up finally for a interview all US consulates changed the strategy. They are saying that if i really create a stamping appointment at Nogales,Mexico then the system will proactively ask for my Petition Number and they will keep the PIMS record ready by the time i show up for an interview.

So the only consulate who can kindly confirm for my PIMS - is the Consulate for which i paid Money and created a Confirmed Appointment - NOT ANYWHERE ELSE in the world.

[panky72]

Originally Posted by diptam

So the only consulate who can kindly confirm for my PIMS - is the Consulate for which i paid Money and created a Confirmed Appointment - NOT ANYWHERE ELSE in the world.

Do you know how much it costs to make an appointment. I was wondering if that expense is worthwhile for peace of mind.