|
|
| Juarez, Mexico |  Review on March 20, 2015: |
Srubioperez
Rating:  | Review Topic: General Review
Ahhh Where to start...
I want to make this review kinda long because I really want to explain everything from the hotel to the consulate and in between.
JUAREZ:
It is nothing like it was described! I was super worried and was positive I was going to do nothing more than hide in the hotel room.As far as walking along the street from the consulate to the hotel ( maybe a mile ) several times We never once encountered a problem.We only went out in the day though.There's tons of shops and places to eat,even for us white girls,LOL.AppleBees,Dennys,Wendys,Mcdonalds,Dominos etc.I would only exchange some dollars for pesos but not all you have because some places it's better to use pesos and some places it's better to use dollars.The "tipo de cambio" the exchange rate varies from place to place in Juarez.Anywhere from $1=13 pesos - $1=16 pesos.As far as Taxi's,they tell you never to take a street taxi and I would stick to that, but we took a taxi from Walmart,Wendys & The mall area that were technically "off the street" and we arrived at our hotel fine with no problems but please be careful!They charge 50 pesos from the consulate area to our hotel (La Quinta) & 70 pesos from consulate area to Walmart (close to La Quinta.) Be careful by the Medical place because if your driving there are many people who will stop you and give you some story to try and scam you!I have a ton of other things else to say about Juarez but I won't bore you 
MEDICAL:
We did our medical appointment on the 17th.Three days before my husbands appt.We did ours at Clinica Medica Internacional.Tons of security outside and they'll help you figure out where your going.If your going to your appt you want to go to the building behind the one closest to the street.You enter and give your confirmation to the security or whoever is at the desk and they'll give you a paper to fill out then you'll return it to them and they'll have you go take a seat,wait for your name to be called.They'll call you up and take fingerprints then give you a number.When your number comes on the screen you go up and they'll take your picture and give you a colored wristband.You'll then scoot over a few more seats to where they do your vision test (the guy who does this is not very nice! ) You'll then go sit over in a group of chairs and wait a few minutes until someone comes for your group and takes you over to the other building.Just a side note if your going with your spouse or whoever you CAN go with them to the other building.If you want specifics on the exam itself ask me and i'll definetly get the specifics from my husband! But what he told me was you just got naked and turned around.They also took chest x rays.If you have any problems with the law or drinking they will make you see the psychiatrist.We arrived for his 9 am appt around 845 and were done around 1130 am.
You return the next day and go to the building closest to the street( the one they take you to for the exam ) and go to the door facing Nicole Plaza where the security guard is standing.Go in and wait in front of the window thats second from the right (at least that day it was) and the lady will call you up and give you your results,vac record and a cd with your chest xrays.You can NOT take that cd to your consulate appt.Just an fyi there is a guard that stands between the two medical buildings and if you pass him he will try and tell you some crap about you cannot go this way but I think he has some issues because he did this to us twice and both times he got yelled at by the other guards for messing with us lol.We paid 405 pesos= $27 for a flu shot and $220 for the exam.Again, as I'm sure most people know Do NOT under any circumstances open the black envelope they will give you from your medical exam.
ASC/FINGERPRINTS:
We did this on March 19th,the day before my husbands appt. Our appt was at 720 at the Centro De Atencion a Solicitantes.It's right in the corner at the same plaza as the Sala de Espera.If you get there early in the morning like we did you can wait in the Sala De Espera.At about 650 am they put up a sign outside of the Centro de Atencion a Solicitantes that reads 7:00 and so then everyone who has an appt at that time can step up to the door and then enter,but only the applicant and no one else.They keep changing the time every 5 minutes or so.The whole appt takes no more than 10 minutes but don't bring your phone or any of that as they wont let you take it in.Many people form a line but this really doesn't matter because like I said they call you by your appt time anyway.The security guards here are NOT very nice so I wouldn't ask questions if you don't have to haha.My husband was in and out by 658 when his appt was at 720 so I would recommend getting there earlier than your appt.No $$ Paid for this.
CONSULATE INTERVIEW:
Husband's interview was at 845 and we arrived at 715.It says don't come more than 30 minutes early but were rebels.Just kidding.30 minutes before your appt time they make you stand in a line by the door with other people that have that appt time.The people in the line are then called up to a counter with two girls and they check your paperwork and send you to sit with your group on the other side of the building.After a while they are taken to the consulate.The process of what happens there is described many times in these reviews so I won't repeat it.He was asked about a ticket he had received and where he worked and where I worked.How long have we been married and where did we meet.He was approved and came to find me in the Sala de Espera! Whoever is joining you needs to wait in the Sala de Espera.They don't go near the consulate with you.
Like I said we stayed at La Quinta Inn and I'll leave a detailed review of that on TripAdvisor.com if your interested.
We traveled by bus from Colorado to El Paso then we took a taxi into Juarez.If your curious it cost us $60 for a taxi from El Paso to Our hotel and we never even had to talk to anyone at the border coming into mexico.They stopped us,we opened our bags for a minute and were on our way.They also informed us it's $60 for a trip from Juarez to El Paso and $80 if they take you to pick up you visa at the DHL.
*If you chose to go visit family or something remember you can enter the us from any port of entry so If you go to say...Mexico City or whatever you CAN fly directly from there to your destination in the US with your visa.
* On A random note we chose to have ours picked up in Campeche,My husbands hometown which is far south so I'll have to update you guys on how long it takes to get to us later! I just wanted to get this review up asap and hopefully help someone else out as this whole process can be super stressful and confusing!
* Oh and please don't take pictures anywhere near the clinics or consulate they will get mad ! && Don't walk on the consulates grass they'll yell at you LOL.
I Wish everyone good luck && If you have ANY questions about ANYTHING please message me and I will gladly reply!
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #16437