Tattoos during medical

[maspas 10]

Hi y'all,

We are preparing ourselves for the visa interview (for K1) and I remember reading either a post or a review of someone that was denied (in Juarez) due to their tattoo(s).

My fiance has 7 tattoos, none are, of course, gang/criminal related. However, I'm not sure, and perhaps I'm just paranoid, if one would constitute as such or what exactly the basis of visas and tattoos are. I know they ask you about them during the medical, and some have been asked during the interview itself if they have any tattoos.

Does anyone have any experience or information on this? Help ease my panicky soul!

Thanks so much

[MASH 172]

They never mentioned mine , all they do is a simple check up he will be fine

[Jeffrey&David 29]

My husband went through Juarez as well. He has 10 tattoos. They asked him in the medical to explain all of his tattoos. He did have to go to the psychologist because of them, and it was a short conversation again just explaining the tattoos and meanings. Nothing too crazy. He said just be confident about your explanation. At the final face to face visa interview, the woman who was meeting with my husband did note from the medical that he had tattoos, but didn't ask him about them. (I'm sure there was a notation probably that said no problem.)

I wouldn't lose much sleep over it. Good luck!

[KayDeeCee 4,894]

They never mentioned mine , all they do is a simple check up he will be fine

Canada is not Mexico. Juarez does check for tattoos(especially male applicants), and have denied or delayed people by placing them in AP because of tattoos. As has been said many times over, things vary from country to country. The procedures and requirements are not the same across the board at all consulates.

OP> They will check for gang-related tattoos at the medical. They also look for scars and such that may have come from gang-related activity. If his tattoos are not gang-related/criminal/violent at all, nor do they look similar to any, then he will probably be ok. You can search here on VJ for 'tattoos Juarez' or something similar, and find several threads on this topic. Search here for 'gang related tattoos' as well. There are threads discussing this, and posts from those denied for it.

[maspas 10]

Canada is not Mexico. Juarez does check for tattoos(especially male applicants), and have denied or delayed people by placing them in AP because of tattoos. As has been said many times over, things vary from country to country. The procedures and requirements are not the same across the board at all consulates.

OP> They will check for gang-related tattoos at the medical. They also look for scars and such that may have come from gang-related activity. If his tattoos are not gang-related/criminal/violent at all, nor do they look similar to any, then he will probably be ok. You can search here on VJ for 'tattoos Juarez' or something similar, and find several threads on this topic. Search here for 'gang related tattoos' as well. There are threads discussing this, and posts from those denied for it.

That's what I thought, as well.

Of course he has never been affiliated with criminal activity, but he does have one tattoo that I'm worried about. It's kind of a nautical type star on his wrist, but it's a little messy because he did it on himself when he was ~young and naive.~ Kind of worried about that one being misinterpreted...

[KayDeeCee 4,894]

All he can do is explain honestly if asked about it. He should also supply a police certificate stating he has no criminal history. Search for Carta or Certificado de No Antecedentes Penales. Some have managed to get them from the police station, some from the ministry of safety and some from city hall. Check under 'Police, Court, Prison Records' here > http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country/MX.html#policerecords-3

[maspas 10]

My husband went through Juarez as well. He has 10 tattoos. They asked him in the medical to explain all of his tattoos. He did have to go to the psychologist because of them, and it was a short conversation again just explaining the tattoos and meanings. Nothing too crazy. He said just be confident about your explanation. At the final face to face visa interview, the woman who was meeting with my husband did note from the medical that he had tattoos, but didn't ask him about them. (I'm sure there was a notation probably that said no problem.)

I wouldn't lose much sleep over it. Good luck!

His other ones I'm not worried about, they are clearly body art/remembrance type of tattoos. It's this one on his wrist that I'm a little worried about. It's a star that he tattooed on himself when he was like 18 or so. Because of this, it's a little messy looking, so I'm like, omg dude you look like you got tattooed in an alley or something haha.

All he can do is explain honestly if asked about it. He should also supply a police certificate stating he has no criminal history. Search for Carta or Certificado de No Antecedentes Penales. Some have managed to get them from the police station, some from the ministry of safety and some from city hall. Check under 'Police, Court, Prison Records' here > http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country/MX.html#policerecords-3

Thank you for the link, we are currently working on doing that since I saw it was in the packet 3 letter (that I think I saw from you as well awhile back).

This is the tattoo in question. I'm just super worried because I don't want to cause trouble or a denial over a misunderstanding of silly tattoo. I'm so worried that we are now talking about having him get it covered with something else. :/

What do y'all think?

[Analisa 7]

When is your interview? My fiancé has 2 tattoos--one is a (half geometric) human heart and the other is a star with a "dragon eye" in the middle (lol). I'm a little worried about that one too even though it was also just a silly first tattoo. His interview is in 5 days so if yours isn't before that, I'll let you know how it goes!

[maspas 10]

When is your interview? My fiancé has 2 tattoos--one is a (half geometric) human heart and the other is a star with a "dragon eye" in the middle (lol). I'm a little worried about that one too even though it was also just a silly first tattoo. His interview is in 5 days so if yours isn't before that, I'll let you know how it goes!

We actually just got our NOA2 on Wednesday, so we haven't scheduled an interview yet. Just trying to get everything prepared and questions asked beforehand, that way if we DO need to cover it up, we have time to do that!

Good luck with the interview! Yes, definitely let me know how it goes, I've actually been following your timeline for awhile now. Fingers and toes crossed

[loscharros 20]

hi there my wife has 6 and all they needed was an honest explanation tha the CO did ask as well during interview, but had no problems.

You will be fine, just be honest!!!

best wishes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Analisa 7]

Hello, lo prometido es deuda: on Monday my fiance had his medical. He was asked what his tattoos were but not what they meant or anything. And he got burned on one of them so it looks a little funny and they asked if he covered up another tattoo with it but he just said no, that he got burned there. Wasn't asked anything about them at the interview. Good luck!

[maspas 10]

hi there my wife has 6 and all they needed was an honest explanation tha the CO did ask as well during interview, but had no problems.

You will be fine, just be honest!!!

best wishes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello, lo prometido es deuda: on Monday my fiance had his medical. He was asked what his tattoos were but not what they meant or anything. And he got burned on one of them so it looks a little funny and they asked if he covered up another tattoo with it but he just said no, that he got burned there. Wasn't asked anything about them at the interview. Good luck!

Great, thanks you guys! I know I probably shouldn't worry, his star tattoo should be fine. Still considering getting it covered up though :/ Just to be on the safe side. Thanks for your input!