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| Juarez, Mexico |  Review on May 22, 2007: |
p_a_m_i_e
Rating:  | Review Topic: K3 Visa
Our CDJ experience was good, a lot of waiting as was expected but the turn out was good and all the people were helpful. When we first got into the city we got lost but then we finally stopped and got directions and found the consulate building, some guys flagged us down they were helping people park and trying to get them to come in to get picts taken. I knew we did need picts so we went ahead and did that. It was at a motel to the left of the consulate if you are looking at the consulate about 4 buildings down from the consulate. There were lots of taxis parked there too. We went in and got the picts done, they wanted to do paperwork but we said no and paid the $8 for the picts. Then we asked the guy that flagged us down for a hotel with a private parking lot b/c we had brought our car and did not want it parked on the street. He rode with us down to the Hotel Americano, it was a half a block down to the red light and a half a block back on Hermanos Escobar street so it was really close to the consulate and I could walk. It was next to a hospital too so there were not hotels right next to it so we felt safer. Actually the Hotel used to be a hospital. It has a resturant in it, and a pharmacy and a little store that sells snacks and smaller items. Everyone there was really nice we got a room for 39 a night. Nothing fancy just a bed and bathroom and a dresser and TV but it was all we needed and we liked that when we wanted to eat we did not have to leave the Hotel. It is also a VERY clean motel and the back parking lot is private and they lock it at night and have cameras in the hall and parking lot to keep an eye on things. There is also an office at the front of the motel where a guy does paperwork for people so if we needed faxes or copies made we could do it there without leaving the motel.
Our second day there we woke up early 5am and walked down to get in line at the Medical place across the street from the consulate (the blue building) businesses along the way tried to stop us to take more picts or look at our paperwork (they will say they work with the medical place, but I'm not sure they do, just say thanks but no thanks) We got in line and waited finally they opened the gate and we waited outside the building and finally got in. My hubby got in line at a window and they took his passport and info and he came back and sat with me and we waited more they called him and he went and answered some questions. Then they told us to go upstairs and wait. He waited about 15 min and got called back and they took some blood and told him to come back at 9 with the payment in US Dollars. We went to Banamex to try and get the $ but their machine took our ATM card!!! We had another so we went to Banorte (they are owned by Bank of America) and accepted the card and gave us US Dollars. NOTE TO ALL BE CAREFUL IF YOU USE YOUR ATM AT A BANAMEX IF IT IS THE KIND THAT TAKES THE CARD INSTEAD OF YOU SWIPING IT, IF IT KEEPS THE CARD AND DOES NOT RETURN IT, THE BANK CAN NOT GIVE YOU YOUR CARD BACK IT IS A INTERNATIONAL LAW! We took the payment back to the medical place and waited upstairs, they called my hubby in and asked him more questions then gave him a recipt to give to the consulate. We then went to the Banamex and paid the $100 for our apt at the consulate the next day and they gave us a recipt. Then we went back to the motel and got all our paperwork in order for the next day and got copies of everything, we also had our waiver info ready incase they needed it. We needed some extra forms so we went to the consulate and asked they told us to go around back and ask at the other part for forms and they would give them to you for free.
The next morning we got up at 6am walked down to get inline in the long line at the consulate. I went across the street and ate breakfast and rent a red chair across the street to wait out the day. My husband was in there from 7:30 till around 3:30, they denied his first request for a visa and gave him info on how to get the 2nd apt to try and waive the denial. I had already made the 2nd apt in the US though before we left. They gave him a few papers to fill out. We went to the motel and filled out the papers anything I did not know how to answer I just left blank and told my hubby to ask an officer at the consulate what to say in the blank spots.
For his 2nd apt it was at 12:30 they only let you in 15min before the apt so we took the morning to rest then he went to his apt. I rented a chair and waited he came out around 4 they had given him a letter saying he was approved but that he needed to come back at 6:30 monday morning (this was on a friday afternoon) to get the visa. We were so happy!!! Between his first and 2nd apt it had been a week so we were ready to get out of there.
For his 3rd apt he got in the short line but still had to wait to get in, finally they let him in at 7am and then they told him he needed to go to Banamex and pay $100 again to get the visa, we did that, you might be able to do that ahead of time to save the trip and just take the recipt, I'm not sure, they may only take it if the recipt is for the same day. Anyways we went back and paid and took the recipt back and I waited across the street. He finally came out around 4 with the approval and a packet that told him what bridge to cross into the US on. (It was the bridge of the Americas or the Free Bridge) It took such a long time b/c they lost his passport and could not find it for a while!!!!!!!
We loaded up and headed out, at the bridge he had to go in the building and let them stamp the passport and he paid $6. And we came into the US.
During our visit there we took taxi's most everywhere, most places pretty close were $5 like to the banks or to the plaza america (a mall) or the rio grande mall it was $5. Ask before you get in though b/c some will try and jip you. I don't recomend going out at night but during the day I never felt unsafe. Just be cautious. Also be prepared have all your paperwork ready and together. And expect to pay a lot it we had to pay for the medical, the apt, fingerprints, photos, 3rd apt, visa. It all adds up. A good place to eat is at the rio grande mall a place called Gorditas Dona Tota, I had the chicken ones and my hubby had the nopalitos they were good and cheap! Everyone is willing to help but we usually tipped them too. Oh if someone offers to set you up with someone inside the consulat that will speed things along, decline, we had a cabby that said he knew the guy that stamped the passports and he could take us to his house...they just want $ and it seems unsafe. Just be cautious at all times! 
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #1621