Juarez Consulate

[JustD 0]

Question for some of you that have gone thru this process..... My Fiance will be bringing her son with her (obviously for medical) and then if approved he will be coming with across the border. Question I have is, should she bring him in for the interview, or can he stay with me while she goes thru the process??? Thanks!

AND........... Congrats to vivamex!!!!

[CGOlivas 9]

Question for some of you that have gone thru this process..... My Fiance will be bringing her son with her (obviously for medical) and then if approved he will be coming with across the border. Question I have is, should she bring him in for the interview, or can he stay with me while she goes thru the process??? Thanks!

AND........... Congrats to vivamex!!!!

If the kid is part of the application, yes they need to go inside to the consular officer. It is very important that they show up.

[epifreak 0]

Visa Approved!! She entered at 8 a.m. and was out by 11 a.m. Waiting on DHL now. Too excited to type more. Time for a Michelada!!! I'll post a detailed report tomorrow!!!! Thanks for all of the well wishes and best of luck to all that go down this path after us!!!!

Congratulations vivamex!!!! :dance: :dance:

I'm glad your waiting time was much shorter than it usually is for others. I bet it's a horrible feeling to be waiting for almost 8 hours (for others that don't get out until 6 in the afternoon) without knowing what is going on with your loved one. Hopefully in the future waiting time may shorten.

[wheezy 0]

Visa Approved!! She entered at 8 a.m. and was out by 11 a.m. Waiting on DHL now. Too excited to type more. Time for a Michelada!!! I'll post a detailed report tomorrow!!!! Thanks for all of the well wishes and best of luck to all that go down this path after us!!!!

How cool your waiting time was so short hope my Angel is that lucky

CONGRATULATIONS NOW ITS TIME TO ENJOY

[epifreak 0]

I know this might be just out of the blue.... but I was reading and thinking about an issue. Has anyone with a K-1 process started working in the US right after they got their visa? Do we have to apply for work authorization or how does this work. Also can I go get a SSN with the K-1 or how do I go through that process. I'm thinking that in order to get a marriage certificate here in el paso. I need a SSN for my fiance but how do we apply for one?

Sorry for bombaring all these questions. There are just so many things going through my head.

[In NYC 0]

Vivamex, I'm so happy things went great today for you guys!!!! I hope this new journey you're about to start will be wonderful. Best wishes!!!!!!

Edited April 17, 2009 by Ivonne'n Jim

[CGOlivas 9]

I know this might be just out of the blue.... but I was reading and thinking about an issue. Has anyone with a K-1 process started working in the US right after they got their visa? Do we have to apply for work authorization or how does this work. Also can I go get a SSN with the K-1 or how do I go through that process. I'm thinking that in order to get a marriage certificate here in el paso. I need a SSN for my fiance but how do we apply for one?

Sorry for bombaring all these questions. There are just so many things going through my head.

1. The K-1 person can not work until the work authorization is approved. But, (this is a BIG but) I think the person can work as an independent contractor. From what I have seen from other people, the work authorization gets approved within a couple of months (less than a year).

2. You can get a social security number with your K-1 visa, the only thing is that, it will have a little note, stating that the recipient can not work until work authorization is approved.

[vivamex 0]

Here is the rundown of our experience. From all that I have read on this thread I believe we are very fortunate. Ceci was approved at her interview today and DHL received the visa at 4 p.m. today, the same day. I haven't seen that happen yet from what I have read, but I hope it starts happening for more that come after us.

4/15/09 - I landed in El Paso a couple of hours before Ceci landed in Juarez and I went to pick her up at the airport. The taxi fare direct from the El Paso airport to the Juarez airport is $60 flat. She made it to Juarez and we took a Mexican taxi to the Holiday Inn Express right by the Consulate. This one was $20. Read my post on page 206 of this thread regarding my mistake on the Holiday Inn. I made a reservation at the wrong one! Don't do this! We made a new reservation at the correct Holiday Inn Express, put our stuff away and went next door to Barrigas restaurant for dinner. It is literally steps away. Very good Mexican food, but it isn't super cheap.

4/16/09 - We got to the Clinica Medica at 5:40 a.m. and there were about 50 or so people in front of us. The number of people there before you probably just depends on your luck that day. I was able to stand in line with her, but had to step outside the fence once they were ready to go inside at 6 a.m. I went back to the hotel, but should have waited. Fifteen minutes after going inside she was randomly selected along with several others to go to the old medical clinic by the old Consulate. It is about a 20 minute bus ride away. They told the people that would be going to the other clinic that their family members or whoever was with them could ride the large passenger bus with them to the clinic. Keep that in mind in case you want to accompany your significant other if they happen to be selected. You'll see the big bus inside the gates beside the clinic. I was waiting outside the clinic around 9:30 or 10 a.m. with my eye on the front door of the clinic when she came walking around the corner. I had no idea she had gone to the other clinic! We then went to get photos and pay the interview fee. Both can be done across the street from the Consulate at the large shopping mall. The fee at Banamex has now gone up. We paid USD $175. At 3:00 p.m. SHARP the bus left again for the other clinic to get the results. This time I went with her. We were back before 4 p.m. Very quick process.

4/17/09 - We were at the consulate at 7:40 a.m. and she went into the line. I headed back to the hotel for breakfast. She was out of there at 10:30 a.m. and back to the hotel. I thought the maid was coming into the room without knocking when Ceci came in, before I could look to see it was her. I thought there was no way she was done so quickly. She gave me the best news I have heard in a long long time!! We are so pumped, I still can't believe it!! Obviously the time in and out of the Consulate was very fast compared to other stories I have read. When we booked our flights to El Paso and Juarez I called the info line beforehand and this was back in February, before they started using DHL for visa delivery. They told me she would leave the Consulate with visa in hand, so I booked the flights to leave the next day based on that information. She explained this to the Consular Officer and to the DHL employee she had to pay ($107 pesos) inside the consulate. Neither made any promises but said they would see what they could do. That is just a huge shock to me. At 1 p.m. we started checking the internet with the tracking number she received. The status was reported as "informacion de envio recibido" which we interpreted as the visa had been sent from the consulate to the DHL office. It seemed things were starting to fall in place. At 4 p.m. we checked online for the 123rd time it seemed and finally it said the visa was delivered to the DHL office. At that point you have to call the 800 number they give you to see which 1 of 2 possible offices it has been delivered to. We went to get the visa and then headed to the border. That process took 2.5 hours, so be prepared. They are short staffed. If there is a long line of people standing outside the doors try to find a U.S. border agent. They aren't hard to find. Tell them you have your K-1 paperwork and they will take you to a side room for processing. This is where most of the wait takes place. Well, we are now in El Paso sitting in our hotel room close to the airport and we will fly out in the morning.

I have written enough for now. I didn't go into lots of details about her medical and appointment and our crossing because I know people will have specific questions that I would not have addressed. If you have any doubts, questions, or anything you want to clear up just let us know and we'll tell you what we know.

Good Luck to all!!!!

[Amy&Aldo 2]

I know this might be just out of the blue.... but I was reading and thinking about an issue. Has anyone with a K-1 process started working in the US right after they got their visa? Do we have to apply for work authorization or how does this work. Also can I go get a SSN with the K-1 or how do I go through that process. I'm thinking that in order to get a marriage certificate here in el paso. I need a SSN for my fiance but how do we apply for one?

Sorry for bombaring all these questions. There are just so many things going through my head.

1. The K-1 person can not work until the work authorization is approved. But, (this is a BIG but) I think the person can work as an independent contractor. From what I have seen from other people, the work authorization gets approved within a couple of months (less than a year).

2. You can get a social security number with your K-1 visa, the only thing is that, it will have a little note, stating that the recipient can not work until work authorization is approved.

Just an FYI on this subject. If you happen to use JFK airport in NYC as your first point of entry into the US, they will issue you a temporary work authorization stamp in your passport that is good for 90 days. This is typically enough time to receive your permanent EAD. Unfortunately, this is the only POE into the US that does this and it's not very convenient for immigrants from Mexico to use that point of entry. Because Aldo was coming out of Cancun, he flew to Salt Lake City on JetBlue Airlines. They use JFK airport as a layover city, so he was able to get the temporary work stamp. Something to think about...it may not be possible for everyone to do this, but it was a big plus for us. Good luck!

[limejello 0]

Hi Guys! We're in Juarez now, at the Holiday Inn Express Las Misiones. It's pretty nice! There's a Denny's very close by where we went to eat and now we're just settling in.

Just a word of warning to those who are flying into Juarez (I know not every situation is like ours, but just so you know). If you are planning on accompanying your significant other to Juarez make sure you have your American passport AND Mexican tourist visa on you!!! My mom accidentally left her passport in Cancun (along with her FMT tourist document) and I called the airline to make sure she could travel with just her license and they said NO PROBLEM. We went through mexico city airport and merida airport with no issues whatsoever. Coming into Juarez (on a national flight, WITHIN MEXICO, mind you) they had (surprise!) an immigration checkpoint where they asked to see our documents. My mom pulled out her license and they were very much against even letting her leave the airport, but we talked them into it. So please, make sure you have on hand your passport and your valid mexican visa even if you are only traveling within mexico. We're having her passport and tourist document overnighted so we don't have a problem leaving juarez (they warned us that she will not be permitted to board a plane without them).

[In NYC 0]

Hi everyone! I know I had asked something like that before but I just can't find that information and stress is really killing me

It turns out to be that my degree documents may not be ready for me to leave when I want, reason for which I have delayed going to Juarez. I will have to go in June though. Does anyone here know how many months do I have to get into the States after I have been given my visa?

It seems like a real nightmare for me now that I'm planning everything. I guess I'm just like Cici, a planner!

[epifreak 0]

I know this might be just out of the blue.... but I was reading and thinking about an issue. Has anyone with a K-1 process started working in the US right after they got their visa? Do we have to apply for work authorization or how does this work. Also can I go get a SSN with the K-1 or how do I go through that process. I'm thinking that in order to get a marriage certificate here in el paso. I need a SSN for my fiance but how do we apply for one?

Sorry for bombaring all these questions. There are just so many things going through my head.

1. The K-1 person can not work until the work authorization is approved. But, (this is a BIG but) I think the person can work as an independent contractor. From what I have seen from other people, the work authorization gets approved within a couple of months (less than a year).

2. You can get a social security number with your K-1 visa, the only thing is that, it will have a little note, stating that the recipient can not work until work authorization is approved.

Just an FYI on this subject. If you happen to use JFK airport in NYC as your first point of entry into the US, they will issue you a temporary work authorization stamp in your passport that is good for 90 days. This is typically enough time to receive your permanent EAD. Unfortunately, this is the only POE into the US that does this and it's not very convenient for immigrants from Mexico to use that point of entry. Because Aldo was coming out of Cancun, he flew to Salt Lake City on JetBlue Airlines. They use JFK airport as a layover city, so he was able to get the temporary work stamp. Something to think about...it may not be possible for everyone to do this, but it was a big plus for us. Good luck!

Thanks CGOlivas, I'll see if I can research that independent contractor stuff if not well we will just have to wait. My fiance was kind of hoping that he could work right away, he doesn't like just being around doing nothing. I know it probably takes like 3-6 months for the work authorization to be approved. He is just going to have to deal with.

To get the SSN do we need to take another form or just taking our passport and showing them the k-1 visa stamped on it would work?

Thanks Amy&Aldo. I had read something like that, problem is ...... lol my fiance is living in juarez and I'm living in el paso. We don't need to use an airplane, which totally sucks because he is going to have to wait to be able to work. But on the other hand its good because we can see each other more often now. I guess we will have to wait. Thanks for everything!

[epifreak 0]

Hi Guys! We're in Juarez now, at the Holiday Inn Express Las Misiones. It's pretty nice! There's a Denny's very close by where we went to eat and now we're just settling in.

Just a word of warning to those who are flying into Juarez (I know not every situation is like ours, but just so you know). If you are planning on accompanying your significant other to Juarez make sure you have your American passport AND Mexican tourist visa on you!!! My mom accidentally left her passport in Cancun (along with her FMT tourist document) and I called the airline to make sure she could travel with just her license and they said NO PROBLEM. We went through mexico city airport and merida airport with no issues whatsoever. Coming into Juarez (on a national flight, WITHIN MEXICO, mind you) they had (surprise!) an immigration checkpoint where they asked to see our documents. My mom pulled out her license and they were very much against even letting her leave the airport, but we talked them into it. So please, make sure you have on hand your passport and your valid mexican visa even if you are only traveling within mexico. We're having her passport and tourist document overnighted so we don't have a problem leaving juarez (they warned us that she will not be permitted to board a plane without them).

BEST OF LUCK to you and your fiance limejello. We will be praying for you, so that everything goes well. You're one step closer. GOOD LUCK!!!

[limejello 0]

Hi Guys! We're in Juarez now, at the Holiday Inn Express Las Misiones. It's pretty nice! There's a Denny's very close by where we went to eat and now we're just settling in.

Just a word of warning to those who are flying into Juarez (I know not every situation is like ours, but just so you know). If you are planning on accompanying your significant other to Juarez make sure you have your American passport AND Mexican tourist visa on you!!! My mom accidentally left her passport in Cancun (along with her FMT tourist document) and I called the airline to make sure she could travel with just her license and they said NO PROBLEM. We went through mexico city airport and merida airport with no issues whatsoever. Coming into Juarez (on a national flight, WITHIN MEXICO, mind you) they had (surprise!) an immigration checkpoint where they asked to see our documents. My mom pulled out her license and they were very much against even letting her leave the airport, but we talked them into it. So please, make sure you have on hand your passport and your valid mexican visa even if you are only traveling within mexico. We're having her passport and tourist document overnighted so we don't have a problem leaving juarez (they warned us that she will not be permitted to board a plane without them).

BEST OF LUCK to you and your fiance limejello. We will be praying for you, so that everything goes well. You're one step closer. GOOD LUCK!!!

Thanks so much, epi. I can't express how much I appreciate everyone's support. This has been a long process and it would've been a lot more nerve-wracking without the support of fellow VJ'ers. Please keep us in your prayers, we are so close! I actually feel pretty relaxed right now, like I've done everything I can possibly do to prepare for this, now my fiance and I are just going over the basics like dates, etc. just to reinforce everything. Tomorrow we're headed to the consulate to print out the letter, do the medical exam, and pay for the interview. Hay que dormir tambien!

By the way, checked out the gym here at the hotel, they've got an elliptical trainer, 2 treadmills, a stationary bike, weight balls, clean towels and water dispenser, and 2 flat screen TV's mounted on the walls. I've passed by it a couple of times and haven't seen anyone using it yet. That might be how I kill some time waiting for Marcos to come out of the interview!

[limejello 0]

Ok, we got our invitation letter printed out. We took Marcos's passport and the CDJ case number written on a little piece of paper and it was extremely easy and painless. We were in the line at 6:45 AM and the information window opened at 7:30. When we started waiting there were exactly 20 people in front of us but some of them were couples and/or families. We got the letter at 8:00 AM. I stood in the line with Marcos and we went to the window together, but I'm not sure if the guard who let us pass was really paying attention, so don't be surprised if they only let the Mexican fiance through. We took the letter and his passport to the medical clinic next door and the guard would only let Marcos in (only the person who is doing the medical exam is allowed in). Marcos went in at 8:20 and the guard estimates that the wait is about 2.5 hours.

One thing: we asked a guard at the consulate whether we would be allowed in with a 3 ring binder (that's where all our papers are) and he said no, binders with metal are not allowed in, it has to be plastic (like an accordian folder). As we were leaving another guard with a megaphone announced basically the same thing. Cell phones (even if you turn them off) are NOT allowed. Apparently there are lockers across the street where you can put them but one lady had to throw hers away (we saw this) because the person who mans the lockers was not there to give her a locker. So leave cell phones in the hotel. You are also not allowed to take cigarettes into the consulate. I guess lighters and/or matches are kind of a given but cigs can't exactly light themselves. Oh well, rules are rules I suppose.

I HIGHLY recommend getting to the consulate around 6:45 or so if you need to print the letter out, because by the time 7:15 rolled around the line was really long. When we arrived there was hardly anyone waiting in either the line for information or to go into the consulate.

I'll write more later, once Marcos gets back from his medical exam.