Location: Dallas
Status: H1B

I had planned to arrive early since I had heard of long waits from people who had registered earlier. This I found out was due to computers being down. I found the building after missing a few exits. The Dallas office of 8101 N. Stemmon Fwy, listed on many websites, is not the correct INS building. Special Registration is done in a separate building, 3010 N. Stemmons, across the freeway from the traditional INS office listed on the websites. I went in, and declared that I had to do "Special Registration" to the security officer. Security was done in the run-of-the-mill airport style. I was handed a paper on which I had to write my name. The waiting hall had around 15 people, mostly Pakistani's. There were fours doors, each marked with number, with a mail slots. I was told to deposit my paper in mail slot on door 2. I deposited the paper and waited hardly ten minutes. Very shortly, a burly officer came out of door 2 and called out my name. I acknowledged, he walked over and handed me a form to fill out with questions in amateurish large font. It asked for standard information, address, parents dates of birth, places of birth, address in Pakistan, and addresses/phone numbers of three contacts in the US, in case of emergency. The very moment I finished the form, a lady INS officer called out from door 4. I proceeded into the hallway and into her office. She was pleasant and placating, almost apologetic, and explained the process. She then administered the oath. It all seemed almost like play acting. All the rest was straightforward. She asked for two credit cards, Social Security Card and the drivers license. H1B, passport, I-94, the form, all were meticulously entered into the computer. The tone was courteous and cordial with some small doses of unassuming humor. My parents place of birth was Bhopal, India, to which she remarked that she knew that before 1947, they were both the same country, and seemed quite pleased with herself on her knowledge of history. My H1B expires in 9 months, which she noted. I remarked about a new law that states that if you have filed for your Labor Certification, a year before H1B expires, the H1B can be extended. She confirmed that it was so. The picture was taken by a one of those eyeball shaped PC Cameras, right there with no special background, prints of index fingers were scanned. The FIN number was stamped on everything possible, the visa, passport, H1B I-797, I-94, and the information packet. All went very smoothly without incident. I went to registration, after getting a heavy dose of readings on websites of INS officers dispensing arbitrary justice and other such horror stories. But this was not so with my specific experience. It seems with an H1B, if you are presently "in status", and can show present employment and address proof, then all should go smoothly.