Hermosillo - valid for K1?

[Galant 0]

I'm British, looking to submit a K1 application, and looking at moving to Hermosillo, Mexico, to expedite the process. It also means I'd be closer to my fiancee who lives across the border in southern Arizona. We could look to attend the interview together too.

My question is - is the embassy in Hermosillo valid for reception of a K1 application or does it have to be Juarez?

Thanks,

G.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

I don't know how moving to Mexico would speed up the process.

You would probably need more time to process, since you would have to get police reports from two places, and more checking background in two places.

Not sure on your embassy question though!

[YuAndDan 153]

The only consulate in Mexico that handles IMMIGRATIONS visas like K-1 is in Juarez.

Note, K-Visas are handled by the consulate having jurisdiction over your place of residency, which may required evidence that your residency in Mexico is as a permanent resident not a visitor.

You indicate you are British, if so, more than likely the consulate that will handle your case is in London England.

More details please.

From what I have seen London is much quicker than Juarez.

[Dakine 26]

I'm British, looking to submit a K1 application, and looking at moving to Hermosillo, Mexico, to expedite the process. It also means I'd be closer to my fiancee who lives across the border in southern Arizona. We could look to attend the interview together too.

My question is - is the embassy in Hermosillo valid for reception of a K1 application or does it have to be Juarez?

Thanks,

G.

Towns anywhere near the border aren't very safe places to be lately.

[Galant 0]

I figure it would be quicker for my fiancee and me to send materials to one another. Also, we've heard it can be beneficial to attend the interview together, which would be possible in northern Mexico. I have family there, so it wouldn't be a problem finding a place to stay. I had also assumed Mexico processed visas more quickly since they had a larger number of US embassies (11) to only one in the UK. Faulty logic perhaps.

I already have to get a number of security checks since I've lived in various places already. I was born in Gibraltar, but before I was one moved to England where I grew up. I lived in one house there mainly but then moved for university. From there went to the USA where I spent 6.5 years. Then in 2007 I returned to the UK briefly visiting friends before coming to visit and stay with my Dad for a while in Gibraltar where I am now. Gibraltar does not have an embassy of it's own. They go through England. So as far as I can tell I'll have to get reports from two towns in England (unless it's just a single national one), one from Arizona, and one from Gibraltar. I hadn't thought I might need one if I went to Mexico on a tourist visa.

My fiancee is a born American living in Tucson. Lived her whole life there.

Since my fiancee is the petitioner and I am the beneficiary, doesn't the residential requirement fall upon her, not me?

[Bobby+Umit 161]

You would need to meet the residential requirements for the country your living in.

Like YuandDan said:

Note, K-Visas are handled by the consulate having jurisdiction over your place of residency, which may required evidence that your residency in Mexico is as a permanent resident not a visitor.

[KimandRuss 0]

Juarez is where you would be interviewed for a K-1 in Mexico. Because they may have more 'immigrants' to deal with does not mean they work faster.

You can be interviewed in Juarez if you have legal residence there but, as stated above, it's not likely to speed up the process for you.

I understand that you would like to be closer to each other but there are no guarantee's you will be able to get back and forth over the border either. You will have immigrant intent simply for having a US fiance. Can it be done? Sure. Have many of us been stopped and turned away for that very reason?... yup.

You will need police reports from every Country you have lived in for more than 6 months since the age of sixteen when you get to the stage where you apply for the K-1 at the Embassy, regardless of any checks you've had in the past. Please read through the GUIDES and FAQ at the top of these boards for more info on the process.

good luck and welcome.

[Galant 0]

On the I-129 I can only find this questions asking for my current address and then a question as to where, abroad, I will apply for my visa, it doesn't mention any requirement of residence, only this, "(Designation of a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the country of your fiancé(e)'s last residence does not guarantee

acceptance for processing by that foreign post. Acceptance is at the discretion of the designated embassy or consulate.)"

Did I miss something?

Thanks.

[Galant 0]

May I ask where the info is on the selection of embassy and residency requirements?

Also, is it true that it's advantageous to be able to attend the interview together?

Thanks.

[YuAndDan 153]

On the I-129 I can only find this questions asking for my current address and then a question as to where, abroad, I will apply for my visa, it doesn't mention any requirement of residence, only this, "(Designation of a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the country of your fiancé(e)'s last residence does not guarantee

acceptance for processing by that foreign post. Acceptance is at the discretion of the designated embassy or consulate.)"

Did I miss something?

Thanks.

Discretion has to do with residency.

[KimandRuss 0]

Discretion has to do with residency.

It is not necessary for the USC to attend the K-1 interview however, each Embassy is very different in how they handle the interview process. At a higher fraud post it's often recommended that both people attend the interview, or at least be there for support, to help show the CO that the relationship is bona-fide and not a scam to get a green card. This is recommended for many of the higher fraud posts such as China, HCMC, Middle-Eastern Countries...etc.

In London, this isn't normally as much of an issue. It's pretty cut and dry. Juarez deals with a lot of initial visa denials much in part to their proximity to the US and illegal crossing/residency, etc, but im not clear on whether it would be a more difficult Embassy to deal with without previous issues.

You can view the regional boards here and/or read through the Embassy reviews/info links above to find out more about Juarez.

[Galant 0]

Ah okay. And thanks everyone who has responded so quickly. I greatly appreciate it.

So to confirm - even though I am not currently living in Mexico, would I be able to apply for the processing to happen there, moving over to see it through, or is it definite that I could not apply for Juarez without being a legal resident? I could apply for residence on one of their one year visas.

[KimandRuss 0]

If you are in the Country legally then yes, you can interview wherever you are at the time. However, you will want to watch this closely as the process moves along. Many times the approved petition is accidentally sent to the original Country of the applicant and not the chosen Embassy. There is a spot to make this request on the initial forms but after your I-129f is approved at uscis level you will want to contact NVC asap to be certain it's being sent to the right place.

[Galant 0]

Brilliant. So basically we put down Juarez, and then see what we get back. If they say Juarez then I get over there, but is they say London I stay on this side?

And Hermosillo is definitely not an option as they only deal with non-immigrant petitions, right? As I understand it a K1 visa is technically a non-immigrant petition but it is most often treated as an immigrant petition due to it's nature.

[*julez* 124]

Seriously, going through the US Embassy in Juarez Mexico will take MUCH longer than going through the US Embassy in London. Having your fiance attend the interview doesn't make much of a difference if you are not from what is perceived as a "High fraud" country. London doesn't necessarily look on you more favorably if your fiance is in attendance for the interview. In fact, London tends to be one of the easiest to get through. So, while it is difficult to be apart while the I129f is processing, it certainly is survivable.