k1dreamer

While researching for my fiance’s K1 visa interview in Juarez, I didn’t see many comprehensive trip reports about the experience, and certainly not that many for the K1 interview experience, so I decided to chronicle our experience for everyone with questions or who are unsure how the process goes. I’ll divide the trip report up into different parts so you can pick and choose whichever sections apply most to you. A few caveats specific to us before I get into it: My fiancé interviewed for a K1 visa Our case had no red flags or complications (no visa overstays, criminal convictions, prior marriages, children, etc) My fiancé lives in Mexico City, so all biometric & medical exams were done in Mexico City before arrival. I have no knowledge of how the ASC/Medical exam process works in Juarez. I’m an American citizen, born and raised in the USA The Arrival Because the biometric/medical was done the week prior, we flew into the El Paso/Juarez area 1 day before the interview. It was far cheaper for me to fly into El Paso vs Juarez and just cross the border via taxi or shuttle. I did not make any prior transportation arrangements, just landed and asked the information desk at the (small) airport what my best options were for getting to Juarez. She said a shuttle service, Uber, or taxi service would all do the trick, and said they were all safe and easy to use. Uber was the cheapest, but I was a little nervous about using them to cross the border, so I opted for a shuttle that was getting ready to leave (Juarez El Paso Shuttle, http://www.juarezelpasoshuttle.com/). It cost $65 cash to use, which I thought was a little steep, but with few other safe options I decided to go with him. I didn’t have enough cash on me for the ride, and since he didn’t take credit cards he stopped at a convenience store with an ATM for me to get cash. There were 2 other people in the shuttle with me, all going to the consulate area of Juarez, and I felt safe the entire time. We entered Mexico quickly and easily and were not searched (passports not even inspected). I was dropped off at my hotel, and given a business card to arrange a return trip if I desired. My fiancé flew from Mexico City to Juarez, and took a cheap direct flight. She was unimpressed with the airport and took a quick taxi from there to our hotel. The Consulate Area I was a little nervous about Juarez (given all the bad press about the city), but am happy to report that the consulate area was safe and walkable (during the day at least). We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, which is maybe on the upper end of most people’s budgets, (with tax it was about $100/night) and was safe and quiet, with a free breakfast, professional staff, and about 3 blocks from the consulate. I recommend it if you can afford it. The consulate area itself is a mix of American and Mexican businesses. There’s a Wendy’s, Starbucks, Buffalo Wild Wings, Denny’s, Applebee’s, McDonald’s, alongside a new-ish traditional indoor mall with a Liverpool department store, Sears, Sanborns, clothing stores, movie theater, food court, etc. The area is divided by a 6 lane road with a raised median that you would have to be crazy to cross on foot (note: many crazy people crossed this way). No stoplights/crosswalks in the area, but there’s a pedestrian bridge near the consulate that I recommend using, instead of risking your life playing frogger with Mexican drivers. The area is not pretty. Dirt and concrete mainly, but it’s safe and walkable. Me and my fiancé walked everywhere we needed to go while we were there, and stayed only in the 4 block radius of the consulate. We did not venture out at night, and wouldn’t recommend it since people start to thin out in the late afternoon. The Day Of Me and my fiancé woke up around 7, had breakfast at the hotel, walked to the consulate (5 minute walk), and arrived around 8:50. My fiance’s appointment was at 9:15, and from previous research (and warnings), I knew not to show up more than a half hour before the appointment time. It turns out this is loosely enforced, as some people with 10:15 appointments slipped through around 9am, while others were denied entry until closer to their actual appointment time. Furthermore, once you enter the consulate it is more or less a first-come-first-served system, so it’s in your best interest to get in ASAP. My recommendation is that you try to get in as early as possible despite your appointment time, but don’t be surprised if you get sent back. I gave my fiancé her accordion portfolio with the required paperwork and sent her on her way. The Outside Experience Since only the person applying for the visa is allowed in, this creates a large number of nervous people milling about outside. Earlier in the morning (8-10am) this numbers about 100-200 people. You can’t stand in front of the consulate, but right next door is a fenced-off abandoned strip mall that acts as a de facto waiting area for family members. On the same block is a small convenience store that people also stand in front of, as well as the aforementioned pedestrian bridge. Since people stand along the fence, it gives the impression that everyone is in line, but that’s not the case. The line is in front of the consulate itself, and is tended to by armed guards. During the morning, there are various locals selling their goods to people standing outside, from trail mix to water to rosaries to umbrellas. There was also a street performer singing (poorly) to pop songs using a headset microphone, and a group representing a string of churches that offer help/refuge to undocumented immigrants in the usa. As the morning progressed, a steady trickle of people started to exit the consulate, some disappointed, some excited, some stone-faced. For K1 visas, people holding a green slip indicated that they were approved and had instructions on receiving their package from DHL. The area is at its peak between about 9-11am. I wasn’t sure how long my fiancé would be, but was hoping she’d be done between 10:30-11:30. Little did I know that it mattered little when your appointment was, but where you were in line when you entered. So she entered a little before 9 and didn’t exit until about 12:45…with her approval slip! By this time the area was significantly less crowded, less than 50 people outside waiting for loved ones. By the time 1 or 2 rolled around, the area was largely abandoned. The Inside Experience My fiancé was called to give her required paperwork for the visa (police certificate, birth certificate, I-134, medical exam) and given a number. All her paperwork was put in a pink packet that was matched to her name/number. After a lot of waiting, she was shuttled into the room where the interviews take place. Much to her surprise, it was not a series of offices, but just one large room with lines of people talking one-by-one to officers behind panes of glass, like at a bank (or prison). No privacy, your case is discussed openly in front of everyone to hear. Most people inside were understandably nervous, and there was a cart that sold soda and snacks, since most people waited for several hours. My fiancé heard a lot of very sad stories about being separated from loved ones, and a fair amount of people obviously lying about how they got to the US and their history there, despite officers giving them a chance to be truthful. (note: do not lie to USCIS, they know all and have heard it all). As a result, many people around her were getting their cases denied. Naturally, this made her more nervous. When it was her turn, the officer saw the pink packet and said “K1 visa eh? Congratulations!” and made her feel at ease immediately. The interview itself was short and sweet: A few questions about her, about me, her visits to the US, and my visits to Mexico. No detailed questions about my address, job, favorite movie, parents names, etc that are on all the sample questionnaires. This may be because it was obvious we have seen each other a lot, or because there were no red flags with our case. He took both her passport and tourist visa and entered in her information and told her she was approved! No looking at the mountains of evidence I gathered, the letter of affidavit from my dad, past paperwork that they approved, etc. The entire interview process for her took maybe 10 minutes. After she was approved, the interviewer closed his window and the unfortunate people behind her in line had to re-shuffle to a different line. The Departure Both of us were scheduled to fly out the same day, so we had a quick celebratory meal at Barrigas, next to our hotel (good middle of the road restaurant, like a Chile’s), exchanged a bunch of I love you’s, and went our separate ways. I neglected to call the shuttle driver, so my hotel arranged a taxi driver to pick me up for a flat $80 to the airport…again steeper than I anticipated but few other options. Left the hotel at 2:40 for a 4:30 flight, foolishly thinking it was only about a 30-45 minute trip…big mistake. It took nearly an hour to cross the border at 3pm on a weekday. He ended up dropping me off at the border, I walked across, got my passport scanned, and met up with him on the other side. Rushed to the airport and arrived only 20 minutes before takeoff. Luckily the El Paso airport is sleepy with only 15 gates and virtually no wait for security. Ran to my gate and arrived 10 minutes before takeoff, right before they closed the gate. Don’t be stupid like me! Budget 2-3 hours drive time from Juarez to the El Paso airport to take into account border traffic. Hope this helps anyone who had questions about their day and specifically for K1 visa people who are nervous about the experience. I’ll try to answer any questions you have.