DCF Mexico

[arianak 0]

czmjacq- I hope there is somewhere to complain about the fact that they allowed you to go this far in the process. And thanks for the heads up about the robberies in CDJ, we leave on in a week and a half. Since we are stuck there for the weekend (monday interview) does anyone have any recommendations about safe activities? Movies nearby? Museums? anything?

Thanks!

That is what really is upsetting...they knew all of this from the time I sent in the I-130 because they specifically contacted me asking for a copy of my FM3 and I told them I didn't have one since I was naturalized MX and they said OK, just send that.

Are you going to the interview with your husband? You may want to stick close by if you are, like Jilly did, just in case they need to ask you. But since yours is the other way around, it doesn't sound like they will, but who really knows!!

I emailed them since the last time I called I was given wrong information and I don't think they are even there in CJ... It sounds like they are just reading stuff from a record. But I'll keep you posted.

Be careful... other than the guy on Friday that was robbed walking from the Medical Clinic back to the hotel (La Quinta), he said there was a woman who was crossing the street just in front of the hotel and someone in a car stopped and grabbed her purse off her arm and she feel into the street and got all scraped up and of course lost her purse with her money and ID. Then he said there was a maid that worked at the hotel crying saying she was robbed that morning on the way to work. So I don't know if the drug trafficking business has slowed down and these people are looking for other means to get money, but it seems like there are a lot of robberies lately so just be very careful. My husband didn't walk ANYWHERE.

[czmjacq 1]

My husband scanned and sent me the paper they gave him at the interview -- it has a whole list of things that could be missing from a file which would prevent you from getting approved, but the only thing checked off is... Please call this number to ask for a new appointment. So I called and they didn't really have any specific information, but from what they told my husband, and what is checked on my sheet, I need to make an appt to go WITH my husband to CJ. I told him I would go to Dallas Consulate, Cozumel Consulate, send a certified letter or even go to the Austin and talk to our governer, but as an American, I really couldn't go to CJ. He said that all he could do is make an appt. and probably when I get a response from the email I sent I should have more info (10-15 business days...which I guess doesn't even start counting until next Monday since they were off for 5 days for Independence DAY).

So I guess the case is still open and maybe if I can find some bullet proof vests or armour to buy I might consider going to CJ if it was absolutely necessary. Of course it would have been nice to let us know this BEFOREhand since I was in El Paso the whole weekend and could have stayed one more day if I really had to.

And safe places to go.... From what my husband said while he was there. No Where!! He said that the families had their kids out in the parking lot playing since it's all walled and gated it's safe. But even just going across the street proved to be a hazzard for the lady who was pushed down and got her purse stolen. I think the main thing to remember if you DO venture out... Don't WALK anywhere.

Good luck

[jaremedios 1]

I'm so sorry to hear that you're having such trouble. It really is beauracracy BS. I hope it all works out so you don't have to go to CJ. I don't blame you for not going. My brother-in-law mentioned the same thing...about just staying in the parking lot. He had his dog with him so he would just take the dog to play in the parking lot.

[Lia792 5]

Czmjacq,

I think you should get in contact with your Representative or Senator. Get them to make an inquiry and speed things up. Most of them even have areas on their websites for dealing with immigration matters.

Arianak,

I think La Quinta has a pool, but also there is a mall close by. From what I hear it has a movie theater...I would definitely not go sightseeing within CJ.

We never got the social security card, so we went to wait in line last week. We waited for an hour to talk to someone, and the lady sent us away because apparently we needed his birth certificate, green card and passport and we didn't have the first one with us. So we had to come back the next day. Then they said it will be another two weeks before we even get it. After that, he can get a driver's license.

[arianak 0]

Czmjazq, how annoying! any chance you could scan or post that list they gave him?thanks so much...

My husband scanned and sent me the paper they gave him at the interview -- it has a whole list of things that could be missing from a file which would prevent you from getting approved, but the only thing checked off is...

[arianak 0]

hi everyone. just wanted to post some advice from a friend who did DCF in Juarez recently but isn't on the forum.

"Paid all with visa credit card from the states although apparently you can pay the interview part beforehand at a bank or something and save two hours of wait time in line. Everything in Spanish.

MED EXAM - Clinic recieves from 6 am to 11 am (a lot of people wait really early, but we went at 7:30 and seemed to be all the same) have to show passport and interview appt. letter. Nothing else. Goes in alone (you can wait in the waiting room). Takes about 2 hours, but my husband took over 4 just cause one of their machines broke. You get blood drawn, eye check, physical look-over, ask if any infectious history, urine test for all males 18-35, and 3 vaccines (tdap, MMR, viruela - and apparently between sept. and dec. they will give the influenza one as well). Pay at the end. All of the personnel are Mexican in the clinic, doesn't matter which one you go to (They are right next to each other). Total cost - around $400 with vaccines and tax. Pick up results at 2 pm.

INTERVIEW - US interviewers, but all in Spanish...they pass you through various points - first you pay (which if you do beforehand is a lot faster apparently), present some documents (for my husband, only the DS 230, both parts and had him sign the second part, his birth certificate (handed in copy), and our wedding certificate. They take fingerprints and make you wait. HE was disappointed that they pretty much didn't ask him anything in the interview which takes place through basically a bank teller window (he said other people did get lots of questions, so all depends) - asked any criminal history, his birthdate, how many times he'd been to the states, how many times I'd been to Mexico, if I'm his wife and that's it - congrats your visa is approved. They didn't even ask to see all the pics and letters and bills we brought, but I'm glad he went prepared anyways.

DHL - Paid for DHL after the interview and got tracking number. Tracked it all night and only showed order received. We checked out of our room at 1 pm the next day and waited in the lobby with my laptop, checking the DHL. At 1:15 pm the next day it showed that it had been picked up and at like 2:30 I think it showed that it was at the DHL office ready for pick up. I would recommend you go ahead and schedule a shuttle with the hotel at this point for like 3 pm to take you to DHL and then the border crossing, because they get busy fast (of course you can always take a cab).

AT about 3 pm, we had the visa in hand, along with a big envelope of sealed papers you have to hand in at the exact bridge they tell you (we got Cordoba bridge). Go to the border and get in line at window 1 in the office (make sure to take passports in!) For us it was like a 2 hour wait cause they only had one woman processing and they look at all your papers again and take fingerprints - you can stay with husband through this part.

I definitely recommend La Quinta - it's a little distance from the consulate (2.5km), but also less in the middle of all the movement, you know? Also they say it's cheaper and the free breakfast is decent (we booked through expedia for like $80/night). The shuttle service will take you anywhere - even out to eat if you want and you call for pick up too. There are also some restaurants that will bring you food to the room. I recommend you just stay in the hotel and wait while your husband has his appts, cause you can't go in anyways, you can only wait in the waiting rooms down the street. Though if he goes in late for his med exam, you can do like we did and go for lunch across the street while you wait for it to be 2pm to go get the results."

[Marisol73 0]

Thank you arianak !.. thats very helpful... are you ready for the interview?

Czmjacq: Im glad you still have a chance to explain your mexican citizenship, but of course its a pain to have to go to Cd Juarez, I hope you can avoid that !..also..could you post the list they gave him? Thank you !

[EsperanzaXMyS 0]

My husband and I turned in our I-130 in Mexico City on 9/9. I called the following Monday and of course because of the bicentenario they told me to call the following week.

I called yesterday several times, but no awnser...typical!

Buy anyways, I called today and the woman told me that the man in charge of "letter S filings", Eduardo Gonzalez is out of town for two weeks and won't be able to process until he returns!! She said that they typically say a month..but is there anything I can do?

It seems ridiculous he is the ONLY person who can process this application and that I have to wait while he is out of town! Typical Mexico.

Anyways, any advice, is there anything I can do...or just sit and wait??

[czmjacq 1]

Czmjacq,

I think you should get in contact with your Representative or Senator. Get them to make an inquiry and speed things up. Most of them even have areas on their websites for dealing with immigration matters.

Thanks for the info - I was planning on waiting for an email back from Juarez before moving forward with anything. I see that Haas is now the director at CJ Consulate so I was going to send a certified letter to him next (once I got a response from Juarez to see if they could tell me exactly what our next move should be). I will definitely check our local government people's website though. It's a shame that doing things legally takes so much time and $$.

Good luck on your husband's social security card--hope it gets there soon.

[czmjacq 1]

Thank you arianak !.. thats very helpful... are you ready for the interview?

Czmjacq: Im glad you still have a chance to explain your mexican citizenship, but of course its a pain to have to go to Cd Juarez, I hope you can avoid that !..also..could you post the list they gave him? Thank you !

There are probably several sheets for them to chose from to use as a denial -- this I would guess is what might be the last page of them since it begins with Seccion 221 (g) and then it just says that your application could be reconsidered once the following documents are presented -- then there is a blank line (nothing is written on mine).

Seccion 212 (a) (4) - you would probably be a public charge - meaning you would cost the taxpayers $$ because and then it lists the requirements for the sponsor and/or co-sponsor need to fill out (none checked once again)

The next box says - once you get all the documents requested you can give the documents in person at the info window or mail them certified mail to them DHL and send a prepaid DHL or address of where they can DHL info or docs back to you.

The last box which IS checked says please call our VISA info center to ask for a new appointment at the following telephone number and it lists the $1.25 a min number. So I called, but they couldn't tell me WHY my husband or I needed to make a new appt. I'm hoping that the email I get from Juarez will give me more info.

[arianak 0]

hmm. thanks for sharing the contents of that list. I hope someone helps you guys sort through this quickly.

I am wondering what "updated" financial stuff I should bring to the interview. Should I bring "newer" stuff than what I sent with Packet 2 (two months ago)? And if so what?

Esperanza I would email in a few days, chances are someone else will have taken a look at it in his absence.

[Marisol73 0]

Hello

I received a response of my mail inquiry about the appoinment date for my son..it says:

"The DS-230 forms were received. Mr. Garza’s case has been placed in our appointment queue for the next available appointment. It will take approximately from two to three months for an interview to be scheduled for him."

Mr Garza = My baby jaja

I hope it will be sooner !.. 2 or 3 months is more than I was expected since I sent my packet 3 on Ausgut 3rd.

[LaGringa 0]

Hi, Marisol!

I was about to inquire about my husband's interview (I was here looking for the link). I sent packet 3 on August 24, so I won't be holding my breath

Have a great day, everyone!

Andi

[Marisol73 0]

Hello Andi..

You can try to find out your appoiment date.. Arianak sent her packet 3 on July 21.. and she received the appointment letter on Aug 31 (dated August 4).. so maybe you already have an appoinment. You dont lose anything in making an internet request... is free

Maybe you have more luck than us !

Hi, Marisol!

I was about to inquire about my husband's interview (I was here looking for the link). I sent packet 3 on August 24, so I won't be holding my breath

Have a great day, everyone!

Andi

[LaGringa 0]

Oh, I already made the inquiry, I'm just not letting my hopes up, since he might not have the interview soon.