DCF Mexico

[ulises 0]

Hi Guys,

Just to let you know that I went to Mexico yesterday, and all went ok save for the fact that they asked for a copy of an ID for my wife and children (IFE or passport for my wife and passport for my children). I didn't bring that with me, but fortunately they allowed me to have someone scan them to me via e-mail and I downloaded at the local which is in front of the consulate (where the line for other types of visa is formed).

So I went there, and they charged me $10 pesos for each page I printed.

Also I decided not to buy the cashier checks in Santander at Guadalajara cause they were in spanish, and when I called the USCSI in Mexico, they told me that as long as it was in dollars and everything (printed/written in the check) was in English it would be ok. So what I did is get in the line (I couldn't go directly into the offices because many people were there for "voluntary exit" and I had to get a place in the line), got to the office at 9:20 a.m. presented all the papers for them to review, and then asked them where I should buy the checks. They sent me to Casa de Cambio "Tiber" which is the same Marisol (I think) recommended to me. It is located at the "Avantel Building" floor 17. And it was good because in floor 0, there is a Banamex there so I didn't have to withdraw the money (almost $16,000 pesos) and walk much distance, as it was in the same building.

They did ask take the copies of my children birth certificates to use them as bonafide proofs for my marriage with my wife. They (I'd rather say she as it was a woman who received my papers), and I did bring my "naturalization" certificate but they didn't ask for it, nor did they take it, she said it would be ok with all the receipts I had taken, plus I brought a "Work letter" that stated that I have been working in Guadalajara since March 2007.

She told me that in 2 weeks I would have the decision.

So I'll keep you posted.

Thanks,

Ulises

[pnewton 0]

Hi guys,

I'll be driving to CJ on January 6th with hubby for our first visa interview. For those of you who drove, can you give me directions on how to get to the consulate. I would hate to get lost in CJ! I'm coming from Chihuahua City by the way. Thank you!

Hey Grangkm--

I'm sorry that I can't be of any help to you about driving, but perhaps you could help me calm my fears a bit! I really should stop checking the news, but it seems like at least in the Mty area, things are heating up again crime-wise. And when I was there last, while lots of things happened, it still was a big enough city that most people never directly saw anything. Do you feel like it's the same in Chihuahua? Are you and your husband feeling nervous about going to CDJ?

And I do realize that I probably just shouldn't worry, because it won't do anything, but any reassurance or advice you have would be nice!

P.S. I bet we'll see you at the hotel!

[c.georges 0]

@grangkm you should look at Google Maps to see the best route for you... it doesn't seem that hard, I would just stick to main roads. Also it seems Ciudad Juarez has Google Street View, wow the Consulate there looks like a prison! It is not much better here in Colombia though. Best of luck to you and your husband! Stay safe!

[pnewton 0]

Hey everyone--

My husband is wondering if it'll be ok for him to use a debit card (or cash) for payments at the medical clinic and the consulate? Because he switched jobs relatively recently, he can't get a credit card yet from his company. I have mine, but I don't know if it'd be problematic for him to use it.

Thanks!

[LaGringa 0]

Hi, pnewton, I think you should be able to pay with a debit card at both places. Also, I remember seeing people pay cash at the clinic. I'm not sure about paying cash at the consulate. I think I read somewhere (maybe it was this thread) that the petitioner went inside the consulate to pay for the visa.

Hope this helps!

[czmjacq 1]

Hey everyone--

My husband is wondering if it'll be ok for him to use a debit card (or cash) for payments at the medical clinic and the consulate? Because he switched jobs relatively recently, he can't get a credit card yet from his company. I have mine, but I don't know if it'd be problematic for him to use it.

Thanks!

I agree that he should be fine with a debit card -- I just hestiated having my husband use it in case it was lost or stolen someone would have access to our $$ - so he used CC but he brought cash in case the CC company declined since it's a US CC being using in MX (for security purposes)

Also - I felt very nervous about going to Ciudad Juarez and once we got there, we didn't go anywhere outside the hotel other than the consulate, but there were people going to the mall and walking, biking and driving around just like it was any other city. So althought I'm sure there is crime there, THAT AREA wasn't anything like what I expected after reading about all the violence in CJ. I also asked Victor Garcia (the driver) who goes back and forth 3-4 times a day and said he goes deeper into the city for a church service once a week and he said he has never seen any of the violence while it was happening -- so that made me feel a little better. You can order food from various places and they will deliver to the hotel - so you really don't ever have to leave except to go to the consulate and with so many people and guards, it felt safe there.

[Marisol73 0]

Hello Pnewton!

I paid with DEBIT card in the medical clinic and the consulate. As long as it has the visa or marstercard logo is OK.

Hey everyone--

My husband is wondering if it'll be ok for him to use a debit card (or cash) for payments at the medical clinic and the consulate? Because he switched jobs relatively recently, he can't get a credit card yet from his company. I have mine, but I don't know if it'd be problematic for him to use it.

Thanks!

[grangkm 1]

@grangkm you should look at Google Maps to see the best route for you... it doesn't seem that hard, I would just stick to main roads. Also it seems Ciudad Juarez has Google Street View, wow the Consulate there looks like a prison! It is not much better here in Colombia though. Best of luck to you and your husband! Stay safe!

Thank you!

Hey Grangkm--

I'm sorry that I can't be of any help to you about driving, but perhaps you could help me calm my fears a bit! I really should stop checking the news, but it seems like at least in the Mty area, things are heating up again crime-wise. And when I was there last, while lots of things happened, it still was a big enough city that most people never directly saw anything. Do you feel like it's the same in Chihuahua? Are you and your husband feeling nervous about going to CDJ?

And I do realize that I probably just shouldn't worry, because it won't do anything, but any reassurance or advice you have would be nice!

P.S. I bet we'll see you at the hotel!

Hey,

yeah it's pretty much the same thing here in chihuahua. you never really see the violence face to face. but you may hear a gunshot every now and again. The key is to take the appropriate measures for your own safety. My husband and I almost never leave our house at night time. so we been okay. and we've been here for 1year and 6 months.

[pnewton 0]

Hey everyone--

Thank you for the reassurance on the safety issue! Really, it does help to hear that most people never witness the violence face to face that you see in the news. Haha, but I do think that I'm going to stop checking the Juarez news, because it probably just raises my stress level reading it!

And it's also a relief that you can use a debit card...Thanks again, everyone and have a very happy holiday!

[Marisol73 0]

Happy and Safe Holidays !!

Thank you for all your help ! Without your help I couldn't do all papers by myself and do a successfull process for my son.

[czmjacq 1]

Happy and Safe Holidays !!

Thank you for all your help ! Without your help I couldn't do all papers by myself and do a successfull process for my son.

I think we have all helped one another in some way through the process. We are still waiting for the SS card to oome and then the green card - The SS card may be there by the time we get back in January - we are spending 2 weeks here at home with my husband in Cozumel trying to defrost from the cold TEXAS weather!!

Happy Holidays and good luck with "the process" to all!!

[czmjacq 1]

Hello Pnewton!

I paid with DEBIT card in the medical clinic and the consulate. As long as it has the visa or marstercard logo is OK.

Marisol,

I'm in Cozumel but my mom said my husband's residency card arrived yesterday - a card with his picture on it. But no Social Security card yet. Didn't you get the SS card first? It's only be just over 3 weeks since his approval so I thought it was strange he got the residency card so quickly. Or maybe the new SS cards have pictures and my mom is just confused on what arrived??

Just checking to see if you have any insight...

Thanks

[pnewton 0]

Hey everyone--

In preparation for our interview next Thursday, the 6th, I've been reading through what everyone has said regarding the whole process in CDJ, and from what I gathered, we need to bring the following to the interview:

-my husband's birth certificate (and it doesn't matter that it's not translated, as it's in Spanish, right?)

-our marriage certificate (again, ditto with the translation thing?)

-sealed medical report

-his passport

-2 photos

-his tourist visa

-the DS230 unsigned

-any proof we want to bring

However, I was looking at the Packet 4 info on the CDJ website, and it says that they need the long version of my birth certificate, too! I have my original here at home (as in, the super-old, original-original!) and I think I may have a translated official copy in MTY from when we needed to gather everything for our wedding (gotta get my husband to dig this up!), but did they ask anyone else for this? Should I have my husband take my original and possibly whatever version he already has) to the interview? I suppose it can't hurt, but I was surprised to read this after no one had mentioned them asking for this.

Also, we still haven't received any letter with documentation for our appointment, so at best, we have the email that CDJ sent us with our interview date. This will be enough to get the official letters from the info window the day we go to the clinic?

Thanks so much everyone!!

[Marisol73 0]

Hi

We received first the social security card and then the green card. We are also in Mexico, so I havent seen the social security card, but I dont think it has a photo on it. The Green Card I have seen it because my friend scanned to me. But I will ask her today about the SS card.

Marisol,

I'm in Cozumel but my mom said my husband's residency card arrived yesterday - a card with his picture on it. But no Social Security card yet. Didn't you get the SS card first? It's only be just over 3 weeks since his approval so I thought it was strange he got the residency card so quickly. Or maybe the new SS cards have pictures and my mom is just confused on what arrived??

Just checking to see if you have any insight...

Thanks

[LaGringa 0]

Hi, pnewton!

I think I took the translated certificates but only because I already had them, I'm not sure if they were necessary. We also took my very old and original birth certificate but my husband wasn't asked for it.

Just take the email they sent you and you can get the appointment letter at the info window.

Good luck and keep us posted!