DS-260 Form as of March 1st 2011

[thaiv 15]

Ours was sent out on the 10th and we still haven't received it as of today, the 20th! My fiance is in Juarez now and will go to the window and get it printed out.

Please let us know if there are any issues getting it printed at the window. Also did you not get a copy in the US?

Edited March 21, 2011 by thaiv

[Danilu 11]

Unfortunately, Mexican postal service is as slooow as a turtle!

[C_María 6]

Please let us know if there are any issues getting it printed at the window. Also did you not get a copy in the US?

That's the copy I was waiting for that still has not arrived. I saw that one VJ member recently waited a whole month for their copy!!! And to tell the truth I asked a lot of veterans some months back when we were looking into getting a P.O. Box in Mexico, before we knew there were other options, and NOT ONE person I spoke with EVER received their copy in Mexico!!!

That's why we had already decided to try at the window and I'm really hoping that works. I'll let you know what happens at the window and also when my packet 3 actually arrives.

[C_María 6]

I finally received the invitation letter or "packet 3" in the mail today!

They told me over the phone on the 14th that it had been sent out on the 10th. It arrived at my house on the 21st though letter inside is dated the 11th and it is postmarked the 16th.

[Danilu 11]

Wow! Just in time C_maria... It seems they guessed your intentions!

[Matt :) 1]

thanks for the detailed dates re: your letter CMaria, I should be getting mine this week!

[thaiv 15]

I finally received the invitation letter or "packet 3" in the mail today!

They told me over the phone on the 14th that it had been sent out on the 10th. It arrived at my house on the 21st though letter inside is dated the 11th and it is postmarked the 16th.

Did you receive this in Mexico or the US? If you received it in the US do you remember ever specifying to them that you wanted it mailed there? The reason I asked is a new guy on the 703 number said that based on my application they were only going to mail to the Mexico address.

By the way I did send a public inquiry (http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/public_inquiry_form.html) to the Juarez Consulate a few months ago and they said you can print it at the window. The reason I am still asking this is because of the change in their procedure. I just want to be sure it doesn't affect being able to print it there.

[Matt :) 1]

She said she received it in CA (U.S.). They automatically send it to both parties, I would call again and ask, you probably talked to someone who didnt know what they are talking about. They say you can print letter out at window still but since everything is new & things are changing its better to just wait for the letter & follow the instructions on setting up an appt. You have plenty of time, CDJ will have yours for at least a month before sending out your letter.

[loveacanuck 0]

Wow what an annoying experience!!! First I shall retract my theory that the new process might make things go faster. We arrived at 7:30 for our 8am appointment. We were there until 4PM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They made my fiancee re-do his fingerprints, refused to look at any of our documents we brought (including pictures, emails, letters from family, Divorce Decrees, Police Certificates which we had to jump through hoops of fire to get, everything except for my income information). The officer was extremely rude and unhelpful, and said my fiance had way too many entries and exits into the US, (remember he is a Canadian citizen and mexican resident so there are no visas required for him) My fiance said well of coarse I do, I have been with my fiancee for over 4 years so I visit her alot! Then all the officer said was, and I quote, "Well, your visa is approved.......for now. I just have to check the answers you gave with my computer to make sure you aren't a liar." Then he was given a generic blue letter with his name on it and passport number, and all it says, in english and spanish, is to log in and register with DHL, which of coarse we already have done when we made the appointment. Then he slammed the window shut. So, what do you guys think this means? Were we approved? For Now? Does that mean they might change theior minds? Argh. Also, FYI, there are lots of people I have met in the hotel who have been checking the website for the DHL Waybill. It always says, no information is available at this time. Well, a bunch of them got riled up and went to DHL tonight and guess what, ALL of their visas were there. Some had been waiting in Juarez 2 weeks, and the visas were there the day after their appointments. So, The websites ARE NOT getting updated. We plan on going to DHL tomorrow and check on ours, and every day after until its there. Yikes, they are unorganized! Some people I met had 6am appointments and were still waiting when we left!

[thaiv 15]

Wow what an annoying experience!!! First I shall retract my theory that the new process might make things go faster. We arrived at 7:30 for our 8am appointment. We were there until 4PM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They made my fiancee re-do his fingerprints, refused to look at any of our documents we brought (including pictures, emails, letters from family, Divorce Decrees, Police Certificates which we had to jump through hoops of fire to get, everything except for my income information). The officer was extremely rude and unhelpful, and said my fiance had way too many entries and exits into the US, (remember he is a Canadian citizen and mexican resident so there are no visas required for him) My fiance said well of coarse I do, I have been with my fiancee for over 4 years so I visit her alot! Then all the officer said was, and I quote, "Well, your visa is approved.......for now. I just have to check the answers you gave with my computer to make sure you aren't a liar." Then he was given a generic blue letter with his name on it and passport number, and all it says, in english and spanish, is to log in and register with DHL, which of coarse we already have done when we made the appointment. Then he slammed the window shut. So, what do you guys think this means? Were we approved? For Now? Does that mean they might change theior minds? Argh. Also, FYI, there are lots of people I have met in the hotel who have been checking the website for the DHL Waybill. It always says, no information is available at this time. Well, a bunch of them got riled up and went to DHL tonight and guess what, ALL of their visas were there. Some had been waiting in Juarez 2 weeks, and the visas were there the day after their appointments. So, The websites ARE NOT getting updated. We plan on going to DHL tomorrow and check on ours, and every day after until its there. Yikes, they are unorganized! Some people I met had 6am appointments and were still waiting when we left!

What if you register to receive the DHL package in another city?

[Danilu 11]

Gosh, I just read your post and am impressed! The new system was supposed to speed the procedure inside consulate and make the wait not too long...

Imagine, your visa is approved then go back home, thinking that it will be delivered at DHL branch in your city and it turns out that is still in Juarez!!!

[thaiv 15]

Gosh, I just read your post and am impressed! The new system was supposed to speed the procedure inside consulate and make the wait not too long...

Imagine, your visa is approved then go back home, thinking that it will be delivered at DHL branch in your city and it turns out that is still in Juarez!!!

Thats exactly what I fear. It may be safer just to stick with Juarez. Too many things have changed recently and they aren't ready for it. If this makes the process more efficient we won't see that until months later when they have it under control.

[loveacanuck 0]

I'd say pick it up in Juarez if you can. If they don't update their site and give you a waybill number, who knows how long it will take. They are telling people 15 business days but after what we went through, I wouldn't trust it. Maybe when they figure out their new system it will be more efficient, but not anytime soon!

[Danilu 11]

Hmmm...I had read reviews from VJ members who went to their interview recently (before this crazy system started). They paid the visa fee at consulate and got their visas at DHL - in their cities- with no issues.

[C_María 6]

So it seems yall were right about the letter, at least for this crazy era!

My fiance Robe arrived at the consulate at 7 am and waited in the information line until 10:30 only to be told that they don't print out invitation letters or packet 3's at the window!!! Robe said the worker was in a bad mood and annoyed that he was asking and even acted like it was ridiculous that he was attempting to do so and made it seem like that had never been an option!

He decided to check at the clinic and see if he could still get in anyways and was told he needed an appointment! When he explained that he didn't need one because he is a K-1 they told him to come back with evidence that he has an open appointment in order to be seen. I'm hoping, hoping, hoping that there was just a miscommunication there...

Luckily I had received the (totally unimpressive without letterhead, seal nor signature) "packet 3" and scanned and sent a copy that he printed out along with the latest version (Jan 2011) of the medical instructions that say at the bottom that "fiance visa applicants do not need to present an appointment letter". He's going to try again tomorrow with those and the confirmation printout of his interview appointment and hopefully they'll let him in! They have to, there isn't anything else he could possibly bring.

He also mentioned there were people being turned away from the consulate with faxed copies of their invitation letter that were too blurry to be accepted. He said it was really crowded and everyone seemed confused, grumpy and panicked. Yeah new system.

Tomorrow is his last chance to squeeze in the medical and then he has his ASC in the afternoon and his interview the following morning. I'll let yall know if we can get anything figured out...

Loveakanuk- I feel your frustration, it's a mess out there!!! I'm crossing my fingers that your visa will be there tomorrow and you can get you and your family out of there. You got this! I hear the waffles are really good, I hope that makes up for something.