When is best to schedule the interview?

[Eric & Idalia 56]

Hi. My husband and I live in Saltillo, Mexico. We are planning moving back to USA this year. We already filed I-130 in Monterrey consulate on Oct 9, 2014, and was approved a week later. My host mom, I used to be an au pair in USA, is going to be our joint sponsor.

My husband got a letter from the Ciudad Juarez Consulte to my host mom address, and we got the same letter a month and a half later where we live addressed to me this time. The letters say "You are eligible to schedule an appointment at your convenience by selecting an available date", and has some links to websites we already checked. They have information about what documents to take with us and precautions with the Ciudad Juarez consulate.'

We plan to move around September. Maybe my question makes no sense, but here is why I ask this:

A lady who knows about migration and worked in Ciudad Juarez consulate told me to schedule the interview 3 months before we want to move. That would be June.

My concern is because:

-I am not sure there would be appointments for June. The one of the references in the letter says "The Ciudad Juarez consulate processes more immigrant visas than any other country in the world."

-Also the dollar exchange rate with Mexican peso got higher lately. In the past it was 1 dollar = 13.65 pesos and right now it's 14.85 pesos. Last month got to 15.95. That means the visa process is getting more expensive. According to this website http://www.forecasts.org/peso.htm, the dollar is going to get until 18.40 pesos!

Maybe I am stressing out.

When did you and your husband/wife schedule the interview? I mean how many months before?

Any of you have had the interview in Ciudad Juarez consulate? When did you schedule it?

Thanks for taking time to read this, and thanks in advance for any information.

Edited January 12, 2015 by Eric & Idalia

[Gergzzz 0]

Hi Eric & Idalia,

Just a couple of suggestions/comments.

Why don't you call the Embassy, and ask if you can book an appointment for June? I don't know if the system in Mexico is the same as the Philippines, where they display the dates with available appointments by month. But they usually don't go 6 months out, usually like 2 or 3 months. Hence the reason I would just call them.

I don't understand how the process is getting more expensive, if the peso rate is rising there? A higher exchange rate to the dollar generally implies cheaper prices on the economy. And at any rate you should have the option to pay in dollars.

Sorry I can't help you with specifics regarding Mexican consulates, since I'm in the Philippines!

[Stressed Out 81]

A higher exchange TO the USD would be good for them, but not from the USD. For instance the Euro is still stronger (unfortunately for us, not nearly as strong as when I moved to Europe in 2011) at 1 USD = 0.85 EUR. 1 EUR = 1.18 USD. 18 pesos for 1 dollar sounds like....#######.

But, I agree you should try to call them. Worst they can say is you have to wait. When we scheduled our interview it only let me select dates 2 months in advance.

[Confusedtinybird 41]

Just remember you will have 6 months to enter the USA once you receive your visa. So you could do an interview in May and then move in September for example.