Juarez Consulate

[brian87 0]

Hi Guys, long time - sorry I have not been around much.

Edgar was rejected in June 2007 because he told them he smoked a joint in Dec 2006 so they told us that we won't be eligible to go back until January 2010 but I have so many questions I need answers to.

This thread has been awfully slow for a while. I myself hope to be in Juarez by July.

While I have no answers per se, your situation would seem to present itself to actually having a hotshot immigration attorney take a look at. While I thoroughly enjoy this forum, I find the information as supportive not primary.

Best of luck with your situation, of all the stories I have read and continue to read on VJ, your story still touches me the most. I respect your strength and devotion to your relationship.

Brian

[nm123 0]

Hi Guys, long time - sorry I have not been around much.

Edgar was rejected in June 2007 because he told them he smoked a joint in Dec 2006 so they told us that we won't be eligible to go back until January 2010 but I have so many questions I need answers to.

This thread has been awfully slow for a while. I myself hope to be in Juarez by July.

While I have no answers per se, your situation would seem to present itself to actually having a hotshot immigration attorney take a look at. While I thoroughly enjoy this forum, I find the information as supportive not primary.

Best of luck with your situation, of all the stories I have read and continue to read on VJ, your story still touches me the most. I respect your strength and devotion to your relationship.

Brian

Janet - I did a search on here and saw that someone named "Esperando enohio" went through the same thing and was getting ready in November 07 (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=96835). And then they were approved in December. Here is the link: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry1425409. Also a "senoritacindy" went through the same thing.

[brian87 0]

Nice job of research nm123. The story had a happy ending with a visa being granted. It sounded like the only additional step was a psych exam at the medical clinic and the presentation of rehab docs at the consulate. They were K-3 filers. They did not update their timelines so it is hard to tell if they refiled. They did hire an attorney after the initial denial, but it looks like from the their sig line that their appt. was as a result of reschudling intsead of refiling.

An interesting read.

Brian

[Juan Carlos 0]

Hey, Brian, it seems I'll also be at the consulate in July. Only a couple of months away... I never thought I would be counting the days like this. Let me know when you know the definitive day of your trip to Juarez. Good luck with your NOA2!

Juan Carlos.

[brian87 0]

Hey, Brian, it seems I'll also be at the consulate in July. Only a couple of months away... I never thought I would be counting the days like this. Let me know when you know the definitive day of your trip to Juarez. Good luck with your NOA2!

Juan Carlos.

I expect to be there in July. VSC has already processed 50% of the March VJ K-1 filers. K-1's have an open appointement time, but July is easier for me. I have already discussed it with my SO. I was in Mexico in January and May. Plus, I took a week off for vacation in March when my SO visited me. And, I plan to go to Mexico to be with my fiance for her interview and then fly home together.

So my wallet and my work schedule both need a break.

Brian

[nm123 0]

Hey, Brian, it seems I'll also be at the consulate in July. Only a couple of months away... I never thought I would be counting the days like this. Let me know when you know the definitive day of your trip to Juarez. Good luck with your NOA2!

Juan Carlos.

I expect to be there in July. VSC has already processed 50% of the March VJ K-1 filers. K-1's have an open appointement time, but July is easier for me. I have already discussed it with my SO. I was in Mexico in January and May. Plus, I took a week off for vacation in March when my SO visited me. And, I plan to go to Mexico to be with my fiance for her interview and then fly home together.

So my wallet and my work schedule both need a break.

Brian

I know what you mean by the needed break... I've been down there 3 times in the past few months, and even though I've enjoyed my time with my guy, it'd be easier on the finances to be spending time together in the same country and state. But I would rather spend the time with him rather than not having the opportunities to see each other, like some of the other people whose fiance/e's live on the other side of the world and it takes 17 hrs plus layovers to see each other. And at least we are both in this together.

I'm not sure when I'll be down at CDJ, but I think it'll be in the early fall or late summer... hopefully sooner than later!

[brian87 0]

I am appreciative that I can see my SO. Still not overly easy. It is a three hour flight and a $450 ticket for me, but that is much better than a 17 hour flight and a $1200 ticket that some VJ'ers face.

nm123, good luck on approval this month. CSC is moving pretty good now. I hope they keep it up for you.

Brian

[nm123 0]

Thanks - I'll be sure to post it here when I receive NOA2!

[웃 910]

I'm sure I am not alone on this, but I send my SO money quite often. I have probably sent money to her at least 10 times in the last year! I use Western Union and it costs a minimum of $10 to send. Anyone know of a cheaper way to do this? I know my SO will be here soon, but I am sure we will send $$ to her mom a few times a year for many, many, many years to come!

Edited May 20, 2008 by thegreatgate

[nm123 0]

I'm sure I am not alone on this, but I send my SO money quite often. I have probably sent money to her at least 10 times in the last year! I use Western Union and it costs a minimum of $10 to send. Anyone know of a cheaper way to do this? I know my SO will be here soon, but I am sure we will send $$ to her mom a few times a year for many, many, many years to come!

I have a HSBC online account (you may have seen those banks in Mexico) and could probably transfer money that way... You could have both your names on the account, electronically send money from your regular account into the HSBC account, and then Diana could withdraw it or use it as a debit card. It's something you could look into.

[ucla_cutie26 0]

I have used Safe Send (its through bank of america). A fellow VJ member told me about this method to send money (Thanks Lucy). If you have a bank of america account you may send money this way. You just have to go sign up for safe send at the bank. Then you call the customer service line and send the money, all through the phone. It's free to send money this way and quite easy. You can even pick from several banks in Mexico where you want your SO to pick up the money. To pick it up, they will just need a picture ID and the confirmation number you are given when you call to send the money. My husband and I have been sending money lately for all the wedding stuff that his family is helping us put together for our wedding this summer.

[웃 910]

I have used Safe Send (its through bank of america). A fellow VJ member told me about this method to send money (Thanks Lucy). If you have a bank of america account you may send money this way. You just have to go sign up for safe send at the bank. Then you call the customer service line and send the money, all through the phone. It's free to send money this way and quite easy. You can even pick from several banks in Mexico where you want your SO to pick up the money. To pick it up, they will just need a picture ID and the confirmation number you are given when you call to send the money. My husband and I have been sending money lately for all the wedding stuff that his family is helping us put together for our wedding this summer.

That is really nice to know. Bank of America is the closest bank to my house, less than 1 mile! It is kinda crazy cause Western Union charges $10 to send money that can be picked up the next day and a $15 charge to send money that will be available in minutes. I have paid both of these fees many, many, many times. Probably 2 or 3 hundred dollars just in Western Union fees over the past 2 years!

I will look into an account with bank of America. Thanks for the info.

Edited May 21, 2008 by thegreatgate

[Juan Carlos 0]

I have another idea for you, although a bit risky: go to bank of america, and get an additional check card for him (it will be under your name, but you physically give it to him). That is what I did... so everytime I want to send her money, all I need to do is transfer money into this account. She goes to an ATM and the only commission we have to pay is the one from the ATM (and the exchange rate). I say it is a bit risky because I always wonder what would happen if she loses the card... although it wouldn't be any different if I lose it.

Just another idea for you.

Juan Carlos

[Began in Cabo 0]

Hello,

We just wanted to share our experience with the K1 process in Ciudad Juarez since we found this thread very helpful, even more helpful than the advice of the expensive attorney my fiancé hired I wish we had found this website before hiring them.

First of all, I didn’t receive any packet, we all –fiancé, attorney and myself– just received the open appointment letter, a single sheet of paper, no packet; so if you just receive that letter, that’s enough, you can use the forms of the consulate’s website. If in doubt, contact the consulate.

He arrived in Mexico City on May 10, we flew to Ciudad Juarez the following day and stayed at the Holiday Inn Lincoln; taxis are expensive so this hotel is conveniently situated at walking distance (approx. 5-7 minutes) from the consulate and clinics. There’s a mall across the street, nothing fancy but you can buy groceries and there’s a Subway and Burger king in there (helpful when traveling with an American ).

On Monday, May 12, I went to the medical examination at the Clinica Medica Internacional (the one next to the consulate), no particular reason, I just read in this thread it was better than the other. Having read about being useless to get there very early, we arrived at 7:30. I went to the reception, gave my passport and open appointment letter. A few minutes later a lady called me and asked where I was staying, I just gave the name of the hotel, (some people were asked for address and a phone number if they were staying with family or friends), then she took a photo of me and told me to go inside to the hall 4, where there were approx. 100 ladies. They called me for the blood test, which was fast, painless (I can’t stand syringes!) and left no mark at all. Then I sat again and waited for a couple hours. Ladies were called in groups and finally I was called. We checked our information (birth date / place) with the nurse who called us and were given a paper robe and instructed to go inside a room (alone) to undress and wait for the nurse to come in. I waited and wonder “where is she?” she finally came in and weighed me, took my pressure, asked what I do for a living, if I suffer any chronicle disease /diabetes / if I had surgery / kids / trouble with police in Mexico or in the US. She asked me to lie down, where as, she performed a visual "ob/gyn" screening that lasted for less than two seconds and then asked me to lie on my left side. It was very quick. Then I was told to dress from the waist down and go to the aisle where ladies where waiting for the x ray. This too was very fast. When done, I was told to get dressed and go to the cashier. There I paid $1,574.10 mxp and was given a paper to pick up the results at 3:00 pm. Then I went outside and met my fiancé, I had my passport photos done at one of those places in front of the Consulate, they were expensive, but I had “warranty” they wouldn’t be rejected. After having a very much needed lunch, we went to the Banamex in Av. Lopez Mateos corner with Av. Paseo Triunfo de la Republica. Later on, we were back to the clinic to pick up the results, where we were called by name to get them. That was all.

On Tuesday, we arrived at the consulate at 8:30 approx. I handed my passport, the letter and visa payment at Banamex and were given a number. Then, went inside C building and after waiting, my number was called to a window where a guy asked for my documents: passport, letter, visa payment, DS156, DS156K, intent to marry, medical results, affidavit of support, passport photos, my birth certificate and a copy, my fiancé’s birth certificate… (I hope I’m not forgetting anything), and he asked me if I had been in the US, what do I do for a living, if I already had a job offer in the US, and again if I had been in the US previously. Then he told me to wait to be called again. This time was to take my fingerprints, and after that, I was told to go to the B building (all buildings are actually single-story, so don’t expect something big, as I did ). More waiting, this time for the definitive interview, so people where called to windows, pretty much like those before, with the difference (as far as I could see) that in C building consular officers seemed to be from Latin America heritage, and in this one, (B building) most of CO were Caucasians. I wonder if that’s to increase nervousness? Anyway, more waiting.. and finally my name was called to a window where I was sitting nearby. He was a polite guy, probably in his 40’s, who spoke good Spanish... I think he was even smiling He returned our original birth certificates, asked my fiancé’s name, where he lives, if I had been in the US, if he speaks Spanish (which he doesn’t), so he asked me if I speak English, I answered that I speak good enough English to communicate with each other. Then he asked me how we met, I replied that in Cabo San Lucas and it so happens, that he’s traveling there sometime in June, ‘cause he needed to go to the sea.. I commented on how beautiful the place is and even told him that the best season is December-March because of the whale watching Then he handed some of the photos my fiancé sent with the I-129 and asked me who they were (one photo with my family and the other with friends from university, in both of them my fiancé is lovingly hugging me ) I think that was all, when he said, “I’m going to approve your visa, congratulations and good luck - wait to be called again” I said thank you, but thought “eeeww, more waiting!” (I’m from Mexico City, anyone living here would understand why my lack of patience) but at least I knew I got it. I think I was one of the last ones to get their visas that day, ‘cause many people were told to go back the next day at 6 a.m. to be interviewed. So finally I was out with visa on hand at 4:45 – 5 p.m. and met my fiancé outside who was relieved that we did it.

My recommendations:

Like some people stated here, probably Monday-Tuesday are the busiest days, so keep it in mind.

Bring a lot of sunscreen and even an umbrella for those waiting outside.

It seems the consulate will move soon.. the taxi driver told me that the new location was south, somewhere close to the bus station. (I don’t have idea when they are moving).

My fiancé doesn’t want to skip recommending “Los Arcos” seafood restaurant in Av de las Americas and Paseo Triunfo de la Republica.. (he stills remember the bacon-wrapped shrimp!) good place to celebrate!

Hopefully this information is helpful. Good luck!

[nm123 0]

Hello,

We just wanted to share our experience with the K1 process in Ciudad Juarez since we found this thread very helpful, even more helpful than the advice of the expensive attorney my fiancé hired I wish we had found this website before hiring them.

Thank you for your review! I've bookmarked this (and the.ronin's review is good too) for future reference. I hadn't heard of any other interviews where, at the end of the day, some people are asked to return the following day because it's getting late. Good luck with everything else in your journey.