i94 Extension Laredo TX US Mexico Border (Bridge 1 Experience)

Listen to this article

The i94 extension can be done at the US-Mexico border in Laredo, TX.

You may need a new i94 in many situations including but not limited to:

• Passport Renewed: Your last i94 entry to the US was stamped to match your passport expiry. Once you renew your passport, you can get new i94 with validity matching your i797 approval.
• H4 EAD auto extension: You need a new H4 i94 to extend your stay based on your spouse’s new extended H1B approval after the extension, transfer, or amendment. As per the new USCIS rule, the new H4 i94 will help you get an automatic H4 EAD extension for up to 180 days.
• L2/E2 EAD new style i94: USCIS will ask CBP to start issuing new style L2/E2 i94s soon which will enable you to work without getting an EAD separately. Once it starts sometime in Jan/Feb 2022, you can visit the border and get the new i94.

Documents for i94 extension Laredo TX, US Mexico Border

1. Original Approved i797. Example: If you are on an H4 or H1B visa, your OWN approved the i797 original document.
2. Your Old (expired) and New passport.
   For example, the passport with your US visa stamp should also be carried in the original.
3. Your US address proof
   Could be any utility bill, your driving license, state ID, EAD card, or Lease agreement.

i94 extension Laredo TX Border crossing required or Not at Bridge 1?

First and most important, you may be asked to cross the border. It’s a 50-50 chance and is dependent on the CBP officer. Be prepared.

Both options are okay and can be done at Laredo, TX border easily.

In this example case, the officer asked to cross the border using Bridge 1 (Pedestrian Bridge over River Rio).

Bridge 2 is for cars coming into the US from Mexico. You can use it too but I would not recommend it.

STEP 1:

Go to the CBP office. Try your luck with the immigration officer by asking for a correction of i94 based on a renewed passport.

If the officer fixes your i94 to match your i797 date with a new passport, you are lucky and you are done.

STEP 2.

If you are asked to cross the border and re-enter the US, then use Bridge 1 (Called Gateway to America) to walk. Details are given below with pictures.

Laredo TX border Car Parking

#1 Valero gas station

Valero gas station is right across the street from the CBP office and is the closest car parking.

The exact address for Valero Gas Station is:

619 Farragut Street, Laredo, TX

Park your car, walk inside the store, buy a parking tag, and then hang it on your windshield.

• Parking cost: $5 per hour.
• We suggest buying it for 1 hour. If you take more time, you can pay later for extra time. They do not tow your car 🙂 Don’t worry.

Cross the street and you see yourself walking in the CBP office lot. The total walk time is just 2 minutes.

#2 Paid parking at Pedestrian Bridge 1 – Laredo Outlets Mall

Mall Address: 1600 Water St, Laredo, TX 78040

The mall used to have free parking earlier but now, there is no free option as reported by some users recently.

The parking cost is $2 per hour with a maximum of $16.

Walking from CBP office to Laredo Bridge 1

Bridge 1 is about 10 blocks walk from the Gas station (or CBP office) walking on Hidalgo St.

If you are first trying your luck at the CBP office for the i94 extension, you can choose to park free either at the mall or Valero gas station (paid).

Walking from the CBP office to Bridge 1 is not recommended for kids. It’s a long walk. Better drive and park at free mall parking. The market that you walk through on Hidalgo street looks deserted too.

Nobody on the street speaks English. You may use Google translate app to talk to a local person if you need help translating Spanish for directions to bridge 1.

1. Bridge 1 is connected to the mall. Once you are in the mall, just follow the signs to Mexico. The signboard would read “Welcome to the Gateway of the Americas“.
2. You will just see normal stairs and a kiosk to pay for the bridge crossing fee. You can either use quarters or cash to get the coins, they also have a change-maker kiosk. The fee to enter the bridge is USD $1.
3. Once you have paid the fee, you will simply walk down the stairs and see a signboard pointing to ‘Mexico’. See red circle (shown in image).
4. Follow the sign and you will find yourself on Bridge 1.

Cross Laredo Bridge 1 mid-way to enter US i94 line

Crossing the bridge midway is also known as ‘Jumping the line midway‘.

There is no separate signal button/light to allow for crossing the street safely as you see on US streets generally. Just look for cars and then cross when you feel it is safe.

It is allowed to cross like this as I confirmed from the US police officers posted on the other side of the street, before crossing.

After this point, you should enter the ‘General Queue‘. Do not enter the ‘SENTRI‘ line since you do not have a SENTRI card.

• The queue is smaller on weekdays (Mon – Friday) and you can get through the process within 15 minutes.
• It takes a lot longer on weekends. I have heard timing from 2-3 hours as the line is longer.

Once you reach the immigration officer, you will be questioned the same as you would have seen at PoE (Port of entry).

You have to pay $6 in cash per person here if you have not paid already online to get renewed i94.

Laredo, TX Port of Entry Address

The exact address for the CBP office is

300 San Dario Avenue, Laredo, TX

If you are taking Uber or Lyft, you can set the Gas station address as your destination as this CBP office address might not come up in a Google address search.

Fee – $6 – Cash or Online

#1 CASH payment

Look for the PERMITS sign on the building entrance or door.
Once you are in, you can make the payment and wait for your name to be called.

The waiting lines may be long at the CASH payment counter.

#2 ONLINE payment

So, it is advisable that you make the payment online at the CBP website with the ‘Land’ border’ entrance option.

• This payment is valid for 7 days meaning that you can pay online and visit the border for i94 days anytime during those 7 days.
• There are no refunds if you miss the 7-day deadline.
• A payment receipt printout is required.

Interview Questions

The immigration interview would be the same as you would have faced (by an immigration officer) while entering the US at any port of entry (PoE) by Air or sea.

They consider it the same as your re-entry to the US.

i94 Extension Approval

Once the officer is satisfied, he will take your fingerprints and a picture. This is exactly the same as what happens at any other port of entry.

You are given a paper I-94 i.e. your new updated i94 is printed on paper and given to you.

Keep paper i94 safely as you would be asked to show it while you are traveling back from Laredo, TX back into the US at a vehicle inspection site on I35 North (interstate i-35N) around 25 miles from Laredo, TX.

Here, all vehicles are stopped and your immigration papers are checked.

Your passport is stamped with new dates as applicable per your approved I797 validity.

FAQ