Juarez Consulate

[eavila 0]

Hello to everyone,

My wife is from Los Mochis Sinaloa and I live in Tri-Cities WA.

I have been browsing this thread for a while now and have a few questions,

1 anyone have any action on their petitions after all the transfers from VSC?

2 I recieved a RFE on 8/4 and all they needed was a signature that I over looked.CSC recived on 8/12 and have been waiting for two weeks now and no answer. Any one else with similar time line waiting?

Thanks in advance.

[jmmr 0]

Hello to everyone,

My wife is from Los Mochis Sinaloa and I live in Tri-Cities WA.

I have been browsing this thread for a while now and have a few questions,

1 anyone have any action on their petitions after all the transfers from VSC?

2 I recieved a RFE on 8/4 and all they needed was a signature that I over looked.CSC recived on 8/12 and have been waiting for two weeks now and no answer. Any one else with similar time line waiting?

Thanks in advance.

HI!! You only live about 2 hours from me; I live in Wenatchee. Where in the Tri Cities are you at?

1.) I filed mine through CSC, but after they sent the petition to NVC (National Visa Center) I found out that it only took 6 days to get there. (and this is from CA)... I found that out by calling 1-600-334-0700 dial 1, 5 to talk to a person after being put on hold.

Feel free to look at my timeline below so you can see how quickly they sent it out to Ciudad Juarez. It usually doesn't take long; some do, some don't.

You will receive your NOA2 hard copy soon, and you will also receive a letter from NVC after they send it to CDJ.

2.) I did not experience any RFE's, but I will suggest to you to call the service center.

Did you file through CSC or VSC? Either way, call and find out if they have any updates. I'm thinking you will get an email that will say that you are approved.

*I'm guessing you aren't approved yet but in the middle of an RFE, correct?

**Another thing I just realized after re-reading your post.... it looks like you are filing for a k3 not k1. I'm not sure if k3 shipping is any different than k1.....

I don't know if I was much help to you. Good luck to you either way

Edited August 27, 2008 by jmmr

[eavila 0]

Hello Jmmr,

I actually live in Pasco. I filed my petition at the CSC and am not sure if I will go with K3 or CR1 deppending on when my petitions get approved.

Still waiting on answer after submitting information for RFE, really think the transfers from VSC are having an impact on when our petitions will be finished. No big deal I feel sorry for the folks that have been waiting for 9-10 months.

Do you know how far out the appointments are for CDJ? I was reading some where that CDJ has open appointmenst once the consulate procceses everthing, is that true?

[nm123 0]

Hello Jmmr,

I actually live in Pasco. I filed my petition at the CSC and am not sure if I will go with K3 or CR1 deppending on when my petitions get approved.

Still waiting on answer after submitting information for RFE, really think the transfers from VSC are having an impact on when our petitions will be finished. No big deal I feel sorry for the folks that have been waiting for 9-10 months.

Do you know how far out the appointments are for CDJ? I was reading some where that CDJ has open appointmenst once the consulate procceses everthing, is that true?

We're got the visa!!!!!!!!!!

So we're in El Paso now, just checking in. I only took a few photos with my camera, and will download them tomorrow when we're home. I'm not going to go through all the boring details, because it was all pretty much the same thing that happens with everyone.

Monday my fiance went to his medical exam at the place across the street, because he has tattoos and the psychiatrist is inside the building (but the medical clinic on the same side of the consulate doesn't have the psychiatrist inside the building, and you'd have to go through the neighborhood to get to his office). Thankfully, he didn't need to see the psychiatrist (I've heard they get sent there for tattoos/drugs/alcohol) and the doctor did the regular exam (at one point nude) and only asked what the tattoos were, didn't ask what they meant. It took about 2 hrs for the whole thing.

Tuesday we both went to the consulate. I stayed outside, but he told me that there were families inside that didn't seem to be there for the interviews. So maybe it's changed their policy about US citizens not entering. At the first wndow, he was asked my name and where I was, and he told them I was outside. He submitted the necessary docs (DS-156, DS-156k, DS-157, his birth certificate & copy, my copy of my citizenship, my tax transcripts & 1040s & Ws & employment letter & 4 recent paystubs - I had the I-134 ready but the tax stuff was enough - letters of intent from both of us). Then there was more waiting, and he went to a second window where the consul asked where he worked and how we met. After he told him, the consul said, "Sabe que su visa esta aprobada?" (Do you know your visa is approved?) and had to repeat it twice because my fiance was nervous and didn't think he heard right.

We had gotten there at 8, and his visa was approved at 11:30, but he didn't get out of the consulate until 1:30. I sat outside and read in front of the smoothie shop. There was a band playing music, which was pretty funny to me, but kind of considerate of them. There were always vendors selling belts, bracelets, water, sodas, and sandwiches.

Oh and when I arrived, I fly into El Paso and took a taxi to the Cordova bridge. The driver charged $16 but said that if I wanted to go directly to the hotel, he'd charge $50. He tried to make it sound like there would be nothing on the Mexican side but a park, and he didn't know if there were taxis there. I told him I'd just go to the bridge and check it out.... and it was fine! Went through customs where I asked where I needed to go to cross over, and they just told me "through those doors," and out the door was a parking lot and then the pedestrian bridge. I took pics for you guys so you know what to expect if you decide to go that route. After I crossed the bridge, I walked behind a family that was crossing onto the other side of the highway, and at the information center were 2 taxis. They charged 100 pesos to go to the hotel (Jose Marti). If you pay anymore than that, you're being jipped.

Going back into El Paso, we took a taxi from the hotel to the bridge (45 pesos), walked over, went to the customs office, stood in line for an hour, they took the manila envelope from the consulate, stamped his passport, charged $6, and then we went through, called a cab, and now we're just going to hang out and sightsee until tomorrow morning when we fly home. It's been a great and exciting (and long process!) ride, but all worth it.

[jmmr 0]

We're got the visa!!!!!!!!!!

SWEET!!!!!!!

Do most people go to El Paso to receive their work Permit? That might be a good idea.... if you guys recommend it, let me know

Why does it take so long to receive packet 3? Today hits the 4 week mark...ehm I hope we get it sometime next week or before. What do they do in CDJ when they have the case in their hands?

NM123 big congratulations to you :) :) :)

Thank you for sharing your experience with the interview.

[nm123 0]

We're got the visa!!!!!!!!!!

SWEET!!!!!!!

Do most people go to El Paso to receive their work Permit? That might be a good idea.... if you guys recommend it, let me know

Why does it take so long to receive packet 3? Today hits the 4 week mark...ehm I hope we get it sometime next week or before. What do they do in CDJ when they have the case in their hands?

NM123 big congratulations to you :) :) :)

Thank you for sharing your experience with the interview.

Thanks! We've been feeling really blessed and fortunate to have had it all process pretty quickly (although not as quickly as others, but still). There was a consular officer that's been mentioned in this thread, an older mean woman. My fiance thinks he knows who it was. There was a woman who asked another guy LOTs of questions and went through all the photos the guy had bring. He doesn't know if the guy got the visa or not.

So as for the work permit (EAD Stamp), it seems that most people go to JFK Airport and it's one of the rare places to get it, and you have to ask them for it but it's not a 100% guarantee they'll stamp it. I completely forgot to ask the customs officer if she could stamp my fiance's passport with the EAD stamp. Unlike what I'd heard from other reviews here, the officers were respectful. Ours was at window 5, I think. Her last name was Patron, and she was nice and smiled. The only strange thing that happened with her was, when she was asked my fiance, "Do you know that you must get married wtihin 90 days, and this is only a 1-time entry into the US? That if you return to Mexico, you won't be able to enter the US again until you have your permanent residency?" And he said, "Yes, I heard that if I need to go back to Mexico, there's a form to fill out so that I can return to the US." And she looked at him a little funny and said to me, "I don't understand why so many people, upon getting their visa, want to go back already and they haven't even entered the US yet." And I think I just nodded to her and said that he was only talking about the travel form, which I couldn't remember what it was called (but it's Advanced Parole).

And as for what happens with the case at CDJ, I have no idea. I wish I knew... I guess they just "put it in their system," but they don't seem to call any previous employers or anything (unless, I guess, if they suspect something fraudulent?). I think you'll probably get your Fiance Packet next week! I got mine on a Friday, and ChazAZ got his on a Saturday, both were after 5 weeks.

[jmmr 0]

Hey you guys. Just wanted to update you guys on our process.

I finally received the packet 3!!!! :) :)

I am super excited!!

SOON JORGE WILL BE IN THE STATES!!!

Next steps: Medical and interview

[nm123 0]

jmmr- Awesome!!!

Brian - I forgot to tell you congrats on your NOA2! I was so busy writing my review I forgot.

And I realized later I got jipped by myself by paying 100 pesos from the bridge to the hotel, because when I was with my fiance at the hotel and we went TO the bridge, we only paid 50 pesos. They don't charge more for more passengers, and you don't tip. I guess the first taxi driver had recognized my accent, oh well.

Anyway, here are some photos. Only brought my cell phone & didn't take that many since there are lots of other photos of the consulate elsewhere:

Pedestrian walk way with line of cars entering the US.

After going through the walkway, cross the street to the Mexican Info Center (that building there) (cars are moving slowly, so don't even worry about getting hit, but still pay attention & then get a taxi on that side - there will probably be 2-3 cabs waiting; there are no cabs/buses in the parking lot of the US Customs Office, so have a cell phone - I didn't see a pay phone anywhere):

View from the balcony of the hotel in the 2nd room we rented, main office to the side, pharmacy across the street.

View from the main office, across the street is the torta truck (behind that is a place to buy water 24 hrs, and across the street another hotel)

Picture of guy cooking our delicious tortas.

View of US Customs Office and cars entering the US.

[nm123 0]

And here are some videos of the hotel.

Video 1 (520 pesos/night) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzDIb_EmOhs

Video 2 - room 2 (380 pesos/night), living room & kitchen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKhdlxqzuC4

Video 3 - room 2, bedroom, bathroom, & kitchen again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-D3W8XSozk

[웃 910]

POLL: Have any of you ever heard the Mexican expression: "Es de Monterrey" (He/She is from Monterrey)???

This is the new slang that I picked up on while I was in Juarez with my fiancée. I was at a store with Diana and some of her friends..... Too make a long story short, she jokingly said to her friend, "Es de Monterrey", referring to ME!!! I wasn't sure if I heard her correctly because it didn't make sense to me why she would say that I was from Monterrey. So I asked her later and she told me that you say this expression in reference to a person that is cheap!! So later in the vacation when she would ask me if I would buy her something I would kid around and tell her...... "No, Soy de Monterrey!!" I thought it was a pretty funny and unusual saying.

PS: My girl is from Acapulco, Guerrero and I know there are 32 states in Mexico (31 states and 1 federal district). I asked which state was the richest/best state in all of Mexico. She told me she wasn't sure, but if she had to guess it would be Nuevo Leon. Coincidentally, Monterrey is in the state of Nuevo Leon.

PSS: I am majoring in Hispanic Studies and am curious about learning facts and the history of Mexico. I asked her which state was the poorest/worst and she told me it is Chiapas. "Chiapas, a state in southern Mexico, has the country’s highest proportion of indigenous people: 42.5 per cent of its 3.5 million or so inhabitants are Mayans. Chiapas is the poorest of Mexico's 31 states. In terms of resources, however, Chiapas is considered Mexico's richest state. Mexico's national oil company, Pemex, has nearly 100 wells in Chiapas. More than half of all hydroelectric power comes from Chiapas (while only a third of the local houses have electricity). Thirty five percent of Mexico's coffee and significant amounts of beef, wood and corn also come from Chiapas."

Edited September 1, 2008 by thegreatgate

[jmmr 0]

when she would ask me if I would buy her something I would kid around and tell her...... "No, Soy de Monterrey!!"

That was cute!!!

I'm not sure about the mexico states! I am clueless!

Wanted to let you know that Jorge is buying his plane ticket for Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He will go his med on Monday Sept 8th. Hopefully his interview on wednesday the 10th and return Thursday, if not, Friday. Depends on when he gets the visa in his pocket.

I hope everything goes smoothly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am nervous for him!!!! Any tips?

[Mwest76 0]

I was wondering if anyone could help me with a question? My wife has her interview in Juarez Sep. 2. If she gets her visa can I purchase a plane ticket for her? I am in Kansas right now. She would be flying from El Paso to Wichita Kansas. I don't know if I can purchase it online or at the airport in Wichita so she could just present her paperwork at the El Paso airport.

[brian87 0]

I hope everything goes smoothly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am nervous for him!!!! Any tips?

I wish you the best of luck. Hopefully my embassy packet will go out this or next so we can have our interview in October.

I will be going with my SO, so we will both be nervous together. Kind of wish I didn't feel the need to go for that part. But being a guy, I just want to make sure that she is safe and be there in case any problems arise. Plus, for my SO, it is a ten hour bus ride.

Guys are guys. I know that I would rather take care of it myself than involve my SO. Your SO will do just fine. Just make sure he answers no to ANY illegal drug question. There was a bad story earlier in the thread about that. They do not drug test. And from what I understand the questions are asked in such a way like "have you tried/experimented" that they seem harmless until you are banned for like four years.

Brian

[brian87 0]

I was wondering if anyone could help me with a question? My wife has her interview in Juarez Sep. 2. If she gets her visa can I purchase a plane ticket for her? I am in Kansas right now. She would be flying from El Paso to Wichita Kansas. I don't know if I can purchase it online or at the airport in Wichita so she could just present her paperwork at the El Paso airport.

No idea, but I would like to know the answer myself. My SO has been wanted to contribute towards the cost of the process. I told her that if she could just purchase her airline ticket to be on the same flight with me that would be great.

I am not sure how hard it would be to purchase a one way ticket from Mexico to US for someone else.

Brian

[nm123 0]

Glad things are going well for everyone!

I wonder if ChazAZ is back. He and his fiancee were in Juarez the same time as us.

For the plane ticket question, it's cheaper to fly from El Paso instead of Juarez.

And for the drug question, the best answer is no. I'm not saying to lie, but if anyone tried it within the past 3 yrs there's a 3 yr ban. And if it's been more than 3 yrs, they might still try to get it out of you. A urine test will be taken. My fiance also said there are posters on the wall of the medical saying that it's worse to lie than to have a bad disease.