DCF Mexico

[Marisol73 0]

Usually they dont let you be in the interview.. but theirs was a special cacse.. czmjacq obtained the mexican citizenship.. so when her husband went to the interview the officer needed to talk to her to see if she gave up the US citizenship. So they gave him a second interview appointment and she has to go with him. In this second interview all went very well, apparently the officer just wanted to hear directly from her that she did not give up the american citizenship.

wait a minute so they asked for both of you to be present at the interview czmjacq?

[pnewton 0]

Thanks for the advice, Ariana! We'll wait those 3 weeks then, to see if the SS card comes. And I'll tell my husband he better be ready for all of the questions!

And Czmjacq, I'm glad to hear that it's all gone safely and feels normal. Are you still waiting on the packet, then? Good luck!!

[czmjacq 1]

Thanks for the advice, Ariana! We'll wait those 3 weeks then, to see if the SS card comes. And I'll tell my husband he better be ready for all of the questions!

And Czmjacq, I'm glad to hear that it's all gone safely and feels normal. Are you still waiting on the packet, then? Good luck!!

We checked the internet to track the DHL - there was something at 11am which is when I think it was given to DHL from the consulate - then at 130pm it said it was ready for pick up - we went and my husband got it in about 5 minutes. We ended up taking a taxi since Victor was already booked doing things - but the taxi took us to DHL and then to the building at the border -- we didn't walk but wow-- it looked like about a 2 mile walk "across the border" to the immigration building. BUT if I had it to do over again, I would have probably just taken the taxi to the border and walked (Zaragoza bridge) because it took us like an hour in the car since it was so backed up. Once at the immigration office there, you turn in your packet -- they take about 10-15 of them and them stop and "process" them -- fingerprints, then a lady took all the packets and it looked like she tore them open, pulled out a card and photos and stapled the baggie of photos to the card and then stamped the passport and the card. Once she had them all done, then she called the names and gave them all out. In the meantime there was a long line growing - with no one helping them- so I guess they do the whole process in grps. There were like 6 windows but only 1 that was marked for our kind of paperwork. I guess in all it took about an hour so it wasn't that bad. Then we waited for the taxi driver to cross the border -- like 10 minutes-- since we exited the building on the US side. And he took us to the airport --we arrived about 5pm and there was a 630pm flight so all in all it took about 4-5 hours from the time we picked up the DHL packet to get to the aiport.

I'll have to check in to what happens next -- his VISA shows it was issued March 2010 and expires March 2011 (not sure where they got those dates from??) But I'm guessing that in the meantime something else (his green card?) will arrive so he won't actually be presenting his MX passport with his US VISA in it for travelling to the US??? If you or anyone has any insight, let me know.

Thanks!!

[arianak 0]

Hi Czmjacq

So glad you guys are finally in the clear! We travelled on the MEX passport with the temp visa in it (only good for a year) and his official "greencard" just arrived 2 weeks ago (I haven't seen it yet, my mom got it- it came almost 2 months after our approval). On the way back to Mexico after our first trip the guy at the airport was kind of jerky trying to "advise" us that we were going to need his alien number to re-enter the US (which I'm not sure is true, as the visa in the passport is good for a year, and we could have feasibly made many trips in those nearly 2 months before the actual greencard came...) but other than that, no problems. The visa in the passport is enough for getting in and out.... Congrats!

I'll have to check in to what happens next -- his VISA shows it was issued March 2010 and expires March 2011 (not sure where they got those dates from??) But I'm guessing that in the meantime something else (his green card?) will arrive so he won't actually be presenting his MX passport with his US VISA in it for travelling to the US??? If you or anyone has any insight, let me know.

Thanks!!

[pnewton 0]

Czmjacq--I'm glad that it all went ok!! It sounds like that bridge was pretty full, but it must be such a relief now to have it behind you.

I have a question for those who have finished the process. Now that our interview date is set, is there anything that we should be gathering other than more evidence of our relationship? My husband can't find his vaccination card, but is going to try to get another one from the Seguro. He needs this, right?

Also, he got a Carta de No Antecedentes Penales (or whatever it's called!) back in October before we sent Packet 3, and then of course, we realized that he should have waited until now so it would be more recent...Did you guys have your husbands get one of these a few weeks before the interview? Is it necessary?

Thanks, everyone!!

P.S. One more question--We booked La Quinta through the day after our interview, thinking *maybe* we'll be able to get to El Paso that afternoon/evening, but in case we don't, does anyone think we'd have trouble booking one more night at La Quinta?

[czmjacq 1]

Czmjacq--I'm glad that it all went ok!! It sounds like that bridge was pretty full, but it must be such a relief now to have it behind you.

I have a question for those who have finished the process. Now that our interview date is set, is there anything that we should be gathering other than more evidence of our relationship? My husband can't find his vaccination card, but is going to try to get another one from the Seguro. He needs this, right?

Also, he got a Carta de No Antecedentes Penales (or whatever it's called!) back in October before we sent Packet 3, and then of course, we realized that he should have waited until now so it would be more recent...Did you guys have your husbands get one of these a few weeks before the interview? Is it necessary?

Thanks, everyone!!

P.S. One more question--We booked La Quinta through the day after our interview, thinking *maybe* we'll be able to get to El Paso that afternoon/evening, but in case we don't, does anyone think we'd have trouble booking one more night at La Quinta?

Thanks! Me too!

Vaccination Card - My husband actually went to SS and they stamped and dated the vaccines except for Varicella which they don't have (at least not at the SS in Cozumel) - The Dr. said that SHOULD be OK but it would be terrible if they denied his VISA because of the vaccines so it would probably be better if they went ahead and gave him all the vaccines --so he PAID to have them done since they way they were talking made him think it could cause a problem - I doubt it would but he would rather be safe than sorry---

My husband's carta de antedecedentes was from June or July for his Aug appt which we cancelled (b/c security consulate closed a few days) and rescheduled for Sept - and they never asked for it at my husband's appt. and then in Nov when I was with him, they didn't ask either. Plus there is something on some paper that says not to bother getting them in MX?? We did just in case, but if you have it, bring it, if not, I don't know that I would worry about it -- it seems like everyones interview is a little bit different.

You should be able to get to El Paso that night -- even if it's late, you can get a La Quinta in El Paso if there aren't any more flights going out - there are 3 very close to the airport. Also -- when you are in CD Juarez La Quinta, ask for a late check out - they said they would allow up to check out at 1pm - so we did and we were in the lobby area for only abougt 15 minutes by the time we got the DHL message that our pkg was ready to pick up - they have free wifi there in the lobby too (as well as the rooms).

[czmjacq 1]

Hi Czmjacq

So glad you guys are finally in the clear! We travelled on the MEX passport with the temp visa in it (only good for a year) and his official "greencard" just arrived 2 weeks ago (I haven't seen it yet, my mom got it- it came almost 2 months after our approval). On the way back to Mexico after our first trip the guy at the airport was kind of jerky trying to "advise" us that we were going to need his alien number to re-enter the US (which I'm not sure is true, as the visa in the passport is good for a year, and we could have feasibly made many trips in those nearly 2 months before the actual greencard came...) but other than that, no problems. The visa in the passport is enough for getting in and out.... Congrats!

THANKS!!

The actual dates on the VISA say Dec 2010 till March 2011 - so that's just 3 months -- in small print at the bottom it says something about I-155 being valid for 1 year -- Glad to hear it takes about 2 months so I know when to look for it.

My husband had to fill another white form out (the one that MX fill out to leave MX and then return the other part when they return to MX) since they didn't have him fill out anything when he crossed the border from MX to US in CDJ - so that wasn't a biggie.

[Marisol73 0]

Czmjacq.. Im happy that you already finished all the process. Congrats !

Pnewton... When I was in La Quinta, we had no problems to booked another day..in fact they waited until 1pm to see if we received the package ...before we booked again. So dont worry.

In the instructions of packet 3..say: "No intente obtener certificados de policía si ha residido en algunos de los siguientes países, ya que no están disponibles dichos certificados"...and there is a list of countries (including MEXICO)...So you wont need the Carta de Antecedentes no Penales.

Good Luck !

Czmjacq--I'm glad that it all went ok!! It sounds like that bridge was pretty full, but it must be such a relief now to have it behind you.

I have a question for those who have finished the process. Now that our interview date is set, is there anything that we should be gathering other than more evidence of our relationship? My husband can't find his vaccination card, but is going to try to get another one from the Seguro. He needs this, right?

Also, he got a Carta de No Antecedentes Penales (or whatever it's called!) back in October before we sent Packet 3, and then of course, we realized that he should have waited until now so it would be more recent...Did you guys have your husbands get one of these a few weeks before the interview? Is it necessary?

Thanks, everyone!!

P.S. One more question--We booked La Quinta through the day after our interview, thinking *maybe* we'll be able to get to El Paso that afternoon/evening, but in case we don't, does anyone think we'd have trouble booking one more night at La Quinta?

Hello

I just wanted to let you know that we received my son's social security card yesterday in Houston. (we are still in Mexico but a friend told me it arrived!)...

[czmjacq 1]

Czmjacq.. Im happy that you already finished all the process. Congrats !

Pnewton... When I was in La Quinta, we had no problems to booked another day..in fact they waited until 1pm to see if we received the package ...before we booked again. So dont worry.

In the instructions of packet 3..say: "No intente obtener certificados de policía si ha residido en algunos de los siguientes países, ya que no están disponibles dichos certificados"...and there is a list of countries (including MEXICO)...So you wont need the Carta de Antecedentes no Penales.

Good Luck !

Hello

I just wanted to let you know that we received my son's social security card yesterday in Houston. (we are still in Mexico but a friend told me it arrived!)...

Congrats!! So it took about a month to get the SS card from your appt. date?

[pnewton 0]

Thanks, everyone, for the advice! As for the vaccination card, my husband still can't find his original one and he went to the Seguro and they told hiim that as they don't have those on file anywhere, there's nothing they can do...What?! Seriously annoying. The info on the vaccines and medical clinic on the Consulate page says to bring it if you can, but if not, don't worry. Which, of course, doesn't really reassure us enough! My husband is going to try and call the two clinics directly and see if it's ok to not have the records. Do you know of anyone who has gone who didn't bring vaccination records?

[Marisol73 0]

Most of the grown-ups dont have the vaccination card..dont worry.. well.. worry about the prices ! because I think they will give him some vaccination and I think they are expensive.

What I want to do with my husband is go to the Seguro Social and give them the list of vaccinations required.. maybe they can give him some of them and save money !

Good Luck !

Thanks, everyone, for the advice! As for the vaccination card, my husband still can't find his original one and he went to the Seguro and they told hiim that as they don't have those on file anywhere, there's nothing they can do...What?! Seriously annoying. The info on the vaccines and medical clinic on the Consulate page says to bring it if you can, but if not, don't worry. Which, of course, doesn't really reassure us enough! My husband is going to try and call the two clinics directly and see if it's ok to not have the records. Do you know of anyone who has gone who didn't bring vaccination records?

[czmjacq 1]

Thanks, everyone, for the advice! As for the vaccination card, my husband still can't find his original one and he went to the Seguro and they told hiim that as they don't have those on file anywhere, there's nothing they can do...What?! Seriously annoying. The info on the vaccines and medical clinic on the Consulate page says to bring it if you can, but if not, don't worry. Which, of course, doesn't really reassure us enough! My husband is going to try and call the two clinics directly and see if it's ok to not have the records. Do you know of anyone who has gone who didn't bring vaccination records?

pnewton and Marisol - I called one of the clinics and was told they want everyone to have 3 vaccines - Tdap, MMR and Varicella

They don't require you to have a vaccine record from Seguro Social, but if you do and it shows that you have these vaccines, they won't be given there at the clinic. If your husbands have a CARNET from Seguro - there is a page that has Tdap and MMR vaccines - my husband had those stamped, but STILL the Dr. at the medical clinic persuaded him to think that he MIGHT have trouble with his VISA -- so he went ahead and took all 3 vaccines. My husband has 2 receipts from the medical clinic -- $2380.95 pesos for the exam and $1963 pesos for the 3 vaccines.

[Marisol73 0]

Thanks for the information !..

pnewton and Marisol - I called one of the clinics and was told they want everyone to have 3 vaccines - Tdap, MMR and Varicella

They don't require you to have a vaccine record from Seguro Social, but if you do and it shows that you have these vaccines, they won't be given there at the clinic. If your husbands have a CARNET from Seguro - there is a page that has Tdap and MMR vaccines - my husband had those stamped, but STILL the Dr. at the medical clinic persuaded him to think that he MIGHT have trouble with his VISA -- so he went ahead and took all 3 vaccines. My husband has 2 receipts from the medical clinic -- $2380.95 pesos for the exam and $1963 pesos for the 3 vaccines.

[pnewton 0]

Czmjaqc and Marisol--Awesome! Thanks so much for the advice!

And to other DCF-ers...are Grangkm and I the next ones heading to CDJ or is there anyone ahead of us? We'll be going in the first week of January.

[ulises 0]

Hi, I thought that by clicking on "New Post" I would add a new post to this group, but apparently this is a single thread.

Anyway, my post was opened as a new thread in DCF General Discussion.

I reproduce here, and appeal to your kindness to get an answer.

Hello,

I am a US citizen that also has Mexican citizenship.

I will file this week on Mexico City Embassy office.

I called the office last week to ask how I should pay and they told me that either with a cashier check or with a Money Order.

I called my bank and they told me that did have cashier checks (actually I think they said "Giros bancarios") and that I had to buy them.

My bank is Santander in Guadalajara.

How you guys have paid and where did you get the check/money order?

I don't want to screw it up, as I will apply for my wife and 2 kids, so I don't want to lose my money.

Also, they only asked me for Marriage and Birth certificates to prove relationship, and something to prove that I live in Mexico.

Did you also bring a cover letter? They didn't mention such a requirement but I have seen it in many blogs.

Thanks in Advance,

Ulises