What is inside the sealed packet you get with your visa at Juarez?

[monyfer 27]

After reading some reviews, it appears that once you are approved for the K1 visa at Ciudad Juarez, you have to wait for it to arrive via DHL. I see some people saying you get a sealed envelope you cannot open until you get to the POE. Is the visa in that envelope, or what is in the envelope?

I ask because we are applying for my fiance to attend an English program this summer. The program requires visa proof , and we would like to be aple to send a photocopy of the K1 visa. We are hoping we get approved by March or April, and the deadline for the program is May. He probably won´t come in to the US until May but we want to apply by April..so will he have the visa once he gets approved in Juarez, or will it be inside that sealed packet that he cannot open until he enters the US?

Thanks

[Inky 1,111]

You never get to open it, it is not yours to open. ONLY THE CBP/immigration OPENS IT.

ALL the documents from start to finish is in it, plus all the government documents they added to it.

[tru_loves_journey 117]

If i'm right, They will take your visa at the interview, they put the visa stamp in it if your approved and send it to you in 2 to 3 weeks by mail. Someone correct me if i'm wrong plz. But if they tell you dont open something plz dont open it. Good Luck Guys

[sera77 35]

After reading some reviews, it appears that once you are approved for the K1 visa at Ciudad Juarez, you have to wait for it to arrive via DHL. I see some people saying you get a sealed envelope you cannot open until you get to the POE. Is the visa in that envelope, or what is in the envelope?

I ask because we are applying for my fiance to attend an English program this summer. The program requires visa proof , and we would like to be aple to send a photocopy of the K1 visa. We are hoping we get approved by March or April, and the deadline for the program is May. He probably won´t come in to the US until May but we want to apply by April..so will he have the visa once he gets approved in Juarez, or will it be inside that sealed packet that he cannot open until he enters the US?

Thanks

-----

When my then fiance(now husband) went for his K1 interview at the consulate they told him he was approved, took his passport, and mailed it back to him a few days later with a slip of paper which is the actual K1 visa form glued in and attached to a page. The mysterious sealed envelope was also mailed back to him. They are two separate items. I hope this answers your question, if you have any other about this process feel free to message me.

However, if I were you I would doublecheck that he can actually immediately attend an educational institution after having entered the country on the K1 visa since technically it then expires upon use of entering. Whether or not he can attend his program before having married and finished the Adjustment of Status(AoS) process, or during the AOS is a question you should ask the educational institution. We had a hard enough time just getting a social security number and a driver's permit before the AoS was approved, I would definitely check to see if attending the program before he gets his conditional GC is an issue.

Sera

[monyfer 27]

Thanks for clarifying that they are two separate things (visa is in passport and envelope contains docs) - did not mean I would open it, I meant that it would be opened.

Sera...thanks. It is a one month program and they have already said he can apply on a K-1. It is a special English program for foreigners.

[C_María 6]

As I understand it when you enter the US from Mexico you trade the still sealed packet for the "white I-94" at the POE (either at the airport or physical border depending on how you plan to cross). This I-94 form is the proof you need to apply for a SS# etc. so I would think it will suffice for proof as far as your language program goes. Here's an excerpt from the FAQ concerning "Entering the US on a K-1 Visa"

5.2)...What happens when we get off the plane?

A..You will queue up with all the others going through Immigration. You might be directed to a waiting area until the other passengers are gone. Your sealed envelope will be opened, your passport will be stamped, and you will have the I-94 form (the white I-94) put in it (do not lose this!). The officer may ask a few questions, and may say "Welcome to the United States". It doesn't take long. You leave the Immigration area, and then proceed through Customs.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Congratz on getting thru Juarez safely. Every day there is new reports of violence and decapitations taking place. Innocent bystanders are lucky to get out of there alive.

Welcome to the US and your new life here. You made it!

[thaiv 15]

Congratz on getting thru Juarez safely. Every day there is new reports of violence and decapitations taking place. Innocent bystanders are lucky to get out of there alive.

Welcome to the US and your new life here. You made it!

Yea Juarez is pretty bad, but its an exaggeration to say innocent bystanders are lucky to get out of there alive. The war is mainly among themselves and its really not that common for many innocent bystanders to be killed. Its the drug-war among cartels and the Mexican government, not the Apocalypse.

Also just wanting to know if its necessary to be in Juarez after the interview and wait for the DHL package there. Can one just wait for it in their home city. Even though its not quite the Apocalypse there, its still pretty unsafe and for peace of mind it would be more comforting to not be there any longer than necessary.

[Kimchimex 8]

Yea Juarez is pretty bad, but its an exaggeration to say innocent bystanders are lucky to get out of there alive. The war is mainly among themselves and its really not that common for many innocent bystanders to be killed. Its the drug-war among cartels and the Mexican government, not the Apocalypse.

Also just wanting to know if its necessary to be in Juarez after the interview and wait for the DHL package there. Can one just wait for it in their home city. Even though its not quite the Apocalypse there, its still pretty unsafe and for peace of mind it would be more comforting to not be there any longer than necessary.

Visas are usually attached into the passport (Mexican passport) I believe he will recieve his passport with newly attached visa inside. He will need this at the point of entry, it should not be inside the envelope, the envelope (from what I hear) has all the medical info & ecvaluations... he will give the envelope when he crosses, but he can wait in Juarez for a day or 2 & pick up his visa at DHL. Why trust the mail system in Mexico. You should be able to get a copy of his visa right away for school & stuff. He will hold the packet unopened until he comes in the the USA!

We will be crossing at Juarez in April/May(with luck) the fiancees & 2 kids, I am an American friend helping with the papers (good organiser...not professional in a ny way LOL) going along to help with kids. I have done a bunch of Juarez research & am less scared of the city since I feel well armed with information.

Feel free to contact me with any questions since we have done a bunch of research. You may also find this website useful! http://www.smf.juarez-mexico.com/

Kim

Edited January 11, 2011 by Kimchimex

[Danilu 11]

Thaiv, it's necessary that beneficiary stays at Juarez to pick up the packet...there's no other way.

[RinoGattuso 0]

Thaiv, it's necessary that beneficiary stays at Juarez to pick up the packet...there's no other way.

Yes, theres other way. I went for my interview yesterday and got approved. Once approved you get a letter with some instructions to register online and select your desired DHL pickup location.

[Danilu 11]

Congratulations on your approval RinoGatusso!

Wow I didn't know that some things about this process had changed, such as that one you mentioned before. I just knew about visa fee payment that it's done in the consulate now ( what a relief!). By the way, do they accept debit cards?

[lovest 5]

Danilu, they do accept debit and credit cars (:

[Danilu 11]

Excellent! Thanks Lovest!