DCF Mexico

[Jilly and Danny 0]

czmjacq, there are some members from www.smf.juarez-mexico.com in CJ right now and they were saying that on Friday both consulate and clinics were closed, and the consulate is also going to be closed on Monday. I'm sorry you guys are in this difficult situation, and I think the consulate is being entirely irresponsible in advising people they need to be there in CJ anyways "just in case" when there is a bomb threat. Good luck in whatever you choose to do and be safe. I don't know where you guys are staying if you are going, but I would recommend something a little more removed from the consulate like La Quinta.

http://www.smf.juarez-mexico.com/index.php?topic=22090.0

Lia - did your husband fly into the Ciudad Juarez airport when he went? Is it relatively close to the US Consulate area? Did he take a taxi to the hotel from there? If so, how did he take it? Was it one where you pay inside the airport and then take the pay stub to the taxi? or did he get in and pay after leaving the airport? I'm really worried about how to get to the hotel from the airport...

Also what do you think about flying into El Paso, but staying in CJ? I found a flight that was a hundred dollars cheaper into El Paso and my husband already has a tourist visa. And considering I'm going with him, I thought the savings might be worth it, but I don't know if it will just be a bigger hassle than its worth. They don't take the tourist visa away until his interview, right?

[Lia792 5]

Hi Jilly and Danny,

My husband didn't have a tourist visa so he couldn't fly into El Paso, but I have heard of people doing that from the US so as not to fly into CJ. From what my husband said, he just went to a sitio/ taxi site and they said that they charged according to zones and for that zone it would be a certain amount (something around 200 pesos; I know I mentioned the amount earlier.)They don't take the tourist visa away until the interview. Also, there are a lot of people on www.smf.juarez-mexico.com who use a specific taxi driver for certain errands such as driving them across the border and many of them recommend him. His phone number and web site are available on that site. I think his name is Victor something, and that could give you a sense of how much the taxi would cost.

Here's a link:

http://www.smf.juarez-mexico.com/index.php?topic=13501.0

[jaremedios 1]

Thanks, Jilly and Danny. I, too, was confused on the I-864 form. I just put both addresses as Mexico, but I haven't sent it yet so I guess I can change it if I want to. I haven't sent in Packet 3 yet to be worried about not receiving the interview letter, but I guess worse case scenario, I can have my husband go to the Information window at the consulate to get it like Lia792 recommended. We're actually putting our process on hold until December as we have some business/family things to work out here in Oaxaca.

[Jilly and Danny 0]

Lia - thanks for the info. That site has a lot of info. Thanks for the link.

Jaremedios - I hope everything works out with your family business! I really don't know about the addresses on that form. I wonder what other people put in that section??

[Marisol73 0]

Congratulations, Marisol! That's great news! And the letter is exactly what mine looked like, too.

My mom called me today from the USA and said she got the interview letter in the mail! Our interview is set for August 31!! We, too, are super excited, and of course, worried about the status of the consulate's office there in Juarez. Just our luck...after so many months of research, preparation and paperwork, just to have ANOTHER delay!

czmjacq - I was really thinking about you when we got word of our letter today. I really hope they get opened back up and things can proceed as normal for you guys.

I'll be anxiously watching for any news on the consulate this week.

Jilly and Danny: Congratulations for your interview letter !! it seems to be moving so fast .. I think for August 31 all should be OK in the COnsulate, I dont think they will close for a long time. Good Luck !

Edited August 2, 2010 by Marisol73

[Marisol73 0]

Ok, I need to know. Where did all of you list your American address that everything is getting sent there? I thought since we were doing DCF we were all using just our Mexican addresses. Also, Jilly and Danny, I have the same question I had for Marisol73: Will your Mom send you the interview letter by mail so your SO can take it to interview? Do you trust the original to be sent in the mail? Thanks. I noticed that on the Packet 3 letter that's where it has listed the Priority Date and Preference Category. Since I didn't get a Packet 3 letter, what do you think I should put?

Jaremedios:

I think they have the US Address from the I-130..question 18 "Address in US where your relative intends to live".. It is the only place where I put that address. What did you write in that question?

[czmjacq 1]

Jilly and Danny: Congratulations for your interview letter !! it seems to be moving so fast .. I think for August 31 all should be OK in the COnsulate, I dont think they will close for a long time. Good Luck !

Well we chickened out and have cancelled my husband's appt for Wednesday. I called and was told they SHOULD be open tomorrow, but even if they are, it just seems more dangerous than normal and I would hate to take a chance and have something happen. So we have to call back the day after his appt. to reschedule another appt. From what I was told, we can choose the day from available dates (ie if all of October is open , we can request a specific date and if it's open we can have it) So we are "pendientes" once again. He wasn't planning on relocating to the US until Dec or Jan so luckily it's not a real set back for us.

[Marisol73 0]

Today the CDJ Consulate is open again

I will send my packet 3 today.

Czmjacq: Good luck with your appoinment re-schedule.

[Marisol73 0]

I already sent my packet 3... but Im almost sure I will receive a RFE... because I didnt know what to do about I-864..because my son is exempt to file it... I started a topic about this but nobody answer.

So I sent a letter explaining the reason Im not sending the form. But after I went to DHL..I read a topic about common RFEs..and one of them said about it !!.. I should file a I-864x (thats for exempt people). I filled one and ran into the DHL office.. they said they coudlnt open the envelope, but what they did was attach a smaller envelope to the main one (the small envelope is clear, so the form can be seen), but Im not sure if they will accept it this way. I hope they see it !.. because the letter inside says Im not sending I-864.

Well.. I think I just have to wait to see what happen

[jaremedios 1]

czmjacq, how did it go? were you able to reschedule your appointment? i really hope so.

my brother-in-law, who is in CDJ right now, says he went for his medical and since he went the week before in Oaxaca to get all his vaccines and took the "cartilla" (the vaccination card) with him, they didn't give him any vaccinations in CDJ. do any of you know about this or are going to do the same? Obviously it will be cheaper (free) to do it in our hometowns, but i thought i had read somewhere that they don't care if you have the vaccination card or not, they give you the vaccines anyway.

[czmjacq 1]

czmjacq, how did it go? were you able to reschedule your appointment? i really hope so.

my brother-in-law, who is in CDJ right now, says he went for his medical and since he went the week before in Oaxaca to get all his vaccines and took the "cartilla" (the vaccination card) with him, they didn't give him any vaccinations in CDJ. do any of you know about this or are going to do the same? Obviously it will be cheaper (free) to do it in our hometowns, but i thought i had read somewhere that they don't care if you have the vaccination card or not, they give you the vaccines anyway.

I called on Thursday to reschedule and was told that I was misinformed about choosing the date - they would reschedule and send us a letter with the new appt. date -- no biggie since we aren't in a hurry, but I was just hoping to choose a Tues or Wed appt to try and cut down on the number of days he was there during the week. So I guess we will wait- I was told that I should receive a letter in about 3-4 weeks with an appt date for about 4 weeks after that so I'm guessing he should be rescheduled for early Oct.

My husband had gone to Seguro Social and they checked off some stuff in his cartilla -- but on his it says MR not MMR and Td not Tdap and in an earlier posting I think Lia had said she saw somewhere that said they have to be exact vaccines or they were not acceptable... do you happen to know what your brother-in-laws cartilla said? There is an actual page in my husband's book that has those vaccines listed as above. Did he get any other vaccines? They don't offer the Varicella (Chicken Pox) one in Cozumel and believe it not my husband has NOT had the chicken pox so he would definitely need that one. If he only has to get one vaccine he will be really happy!! I heard they DID accept the Seguro Social vaccine info ONLY-- but not anything from anyone else.

Oh and forgot to ask..was your brother there on Saturday the 7th? My husband said he heard on the news there was some sort of shoot out between police (good ones vs bad ones) in front of one of the medical clinics close to a hotel called Playa or something like that...did he hear anything about that?

Edited August 9, 2010 by czmjacq

[jaremedios 1]

I haven't spoken to my brother-in-law yet. I think he had his interview and got the visa approved, but was waiting until Monday for it to arrive to DHL. He and his fiancee will be driving cross country afterwards so not sure when I will talk to him next. When I do, I'll let you know what his vaccination card said and which ones he got here in Oaxaca. He was traveling with his dog so he told us the extent of him going out was playing with the dog in the parking lot..oops!

[LaGringa 0]

Hi, everyone! I'm preparing packet 3 to send to CDJ and have some questions I hope you can help me answer.

1. The instructions on packet 3 are so confusing. It says not to send anything from the checklist but then it says you need to submit a copy of each document with the visa application. So should I send them or not?

2. In my I-864, question 22, I put d. Unemployed and wrote "Never employed. See attachment", but on question 25, where they ask about tax returns, do I leave it blank, or write the attachment note again? The attachment is a letter explaining why I didn't file taxes.

3. Speaking of letters, I have to send one along with the I-864 about how I meet domicile requirements, right? How do I know if I do meet the requirements or should I just write it as if I'm reestablishing domicile? How picky is CDJ about this?

4. Has anybody who has gone to the interview been asked for the Carta de No Antecedentes Penales? Also on the checklist they ask for military records. My husband has his cartilla, is this what they want?

5. In I-864, on part 9 (Information on Preparer), did anyone fill that out? I am preparing the affidavit for my joint sponsor, but am not sure if I should fill it out or if it's only in case a lawyer does it, since it says Firm name and all that. I'm leaning towards leaving it blank.

6. In my husband's DS-230, question 35 asks about previous visits to the US. He has entered many times, like once a month for the last 9 years and many times a year before that since he was a child. Some people suggest writing "multiple entries since [date]" but he can't remember the year he first started crossing. Any ideas? Can I write "Multiple entries since childhood"?

7. Also on DS-230, question 34 asks about military service. You know how all men (and now women!) have to "march" when they turn 18, does this count as military service? I'm thinking no.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I appreciate your help!

Andi

[jaremedios 1]

Hi everyone,

So after alot of soul searching (and crying), hubby and I have decided to postpone our visa journey. We lose our $355 USD from the I-130 petition and of course, I will have to do all of the paperwork all over again. But we've decided that staying here until our daughter (now 15 months) is ready for school is our best bet. We have a successful coffee shop, I have the TRUE luxury of not working and raising our daughter, and it just seems to be more appealing than going to the US where neither of us have a job lined up, paying triple in rent, and putting our daughter in expensive daycare. Anybody have thoughts on this?

[LaGringa 0]

Hi Jaremedios,

What a tough decision to make, especially halfway through the process. Don't worry about losing the $355, it's nothing compared to being able to not work and raise your daughter.

BTW, what is "ready for school", or rather, how much time are you going to wait to start again?

Hugs,

Andi