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| Juarez, Mexico |  Review on August 13, 2017: |
Javice
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Background
Wife entered undocumented in the early 2000s as a child. We applied for the I-130 in December 2015, received approval in June 2016. Applied for 601A waiver in late July, received 601A approval in the beginning of 2017, sent documents to NVC in the middle of January 2017. Received a “checklist†from NVC at the 11 week mark that they didn’t received our marriage certificate ( highly doubted), received interview notice at end of June 2017 (second 11 week mark). Interview was on August 10.
Hotel
We stayed at La Quinta Inn, it’s a little further away but they provided transportation where you needed to go. We chose this hotel because we were driving from Texas, and read that they had gated security, which we wanted for our car. The hotel provided free breakfast every morning, and we added an additional package for supper/dinner. It wasn’t a full dinner, but it did fill us up, they called it “botanas y cervezas.†The night chef made pretty good food and his salsas were excellent. Since we brought our car, we actually stoped at a Wal-Mart in El Paso and bought lunches for the entire week; frozen pizzas, essentials for sandwiches, ramen noodles, mac and cheese, bottled water, and as such. We also chose this hotel because they had an exercise room and a pool. It can get pretty boring being inside the hotel all day. We paid a total of $525 for five nights, breakfast and dinner included.
Servicios Medicos De La Frontera
When we were driving in on Monday we received a call from the clinic confirming our appointment, at that time I told them we would be staying at LQ and if they could pick us up, they said yes. On Tuesday, the day of the appointment, they called me an hour before the schedule pick up reminding us again. They told me that the van would be there to pick us up at 7:40am, we went down to the lobby before 7:30am, when we got there they we’re already there and calling the clinic that they couldn’t find us. We got to the clinic at 7:38am, my wife went into the waiting area filled some work papers, and they actually took her in at 8:15am. She came out at 10:00am and they charged her $375 USD for the exam and two shots. The clinic vans took us back to our hotel and we asked the driver if they would go back for us to pick up the results at 3:30pm. He said yes and to be there before 3:20pm, knowing that they had arrived early in the morning we went to the lobby at 3:00pm. Sure enough they got there within five minutes. We went and picked up the results and were back at the hotel at 3:30pm, again the clinic provided the transportation.
I originally scheduled our appointment online and made a little mistake of not including my wife’s maternal last name. I used their online chat featured and to my surprise they responded promptly and were able to fix my error through chat and resent the appointment confirmation. Overall we had an excellent service and experience with SMF.
Biometrics
Biometrics was fairly easy, the driver from the hotel told us which suite it was. Like other reviewers have posted, there is no need to arrive an hour early, 15 minutes would do. You go in when they update the times that are posted. 15 minutes you are done. Can not take in cellphones, keys, large metal jewelry.
Consular Interview
First of all, please read what documents you need, and second what items you can not take into the embassy. Countless people had their cellphones and had to go back and give them to the people waiting on them. Others were giving blue slips because they were missing the passport photos, original birth certificate if the petitioner was born in the US, or police certificates.
A note on the Police Certificates, they are asking everyone for them. It was the Friday before we left for Juarez, and we did not have the police certificate, fellow VJ member @Franciscoruizt gave me the following link; http://fgjem.edomex.gob.mx/certificado_no_penales for Estado de Mexico, lucky my wife was also from el Estado de Mexico and we were able to print it on line without going down in to Mexico, and it was free. All you need is the Tarjeta del Elector and Passporte, which you can transmit both in the US at the Consulado Mexico if you reside in the US. Am not sure if other Mexican states have this online feature but it is worth searching instead above going down to your respective state.
My wife had her appointment at 8:45 on Thursday, we got there at 8:10am, she got in line and went in. She came out at about 11:20am. They were the longest three hours of my life, standing there waiting for your spouse and seeing some people come out happy while others sad, you have no idea whats going on inside. The people that are approved come with a green piece of paper while the ones that need additional items come with blue. When I saw my wife come out, my heart was pounding, and my eyes looking for the green slip, I could not see it, I looked at her eyes and she gave me a winking, saying she was approved! She purposely hid the green slip, to play with me. They asked her about 8 questions;
Who is the petitioner?
How long have you been married?
Only marriage?
How many kids do you have?
Where was your child born?
Whats her age (kid)?
How many times have you left the US?
Did she have DACA?
The items that they asked for was the police certificate, 2016 taxes, our original marriage certificate, and her original birth certificate.
Package Delivery
It took 48hrs to get the email that the Visa was ready from when she had her interview. We received the email around 10:00am on Saturday morning, we went right away to the ASC to pick it up. They told my wife that it would be ready at 11:30am. We went back to the hotel ,finished packing, and checked out of the hotel at 10:55. We arrived back at the ASC, ate lunch right next to the center, and wife picked up package around 11:45am, there was a line of people picking up the packages. We headed right to the Zaragoza bridge, when we got to the inspection the officer told my wife to head into the building and for me to go park in the waiting area. I was able to go inside after I crossed to meet my wife, I had to use the restroom really bad. Took about 20 minutes to get her Visa stamped. At 1:20pm we had crossed and stamped and were ready to head home.
Other
We went to the mall across from the consulate, just to spend time and get out of the hotel, mostly American stores and products. It is cheaper if you buy with dollars as they will give you a better rate than you exchanging for pesos, and then paying with pesos. Stores post at what rate they will take your dollar $16.50-17.50. We also went to the Sam’s Club in Juarez, your USA membership works in Mexico, wife wanted to buy some Mexican candy to bring to our daughter. Overall we felt pretty safe in Juarez.
If you have any questions please comment or PM. I hope this detailed review helps. Good Luck on your journeys.
************ UPDATE*****************
I paid the $220 Green Card right away. My wife received where Green Card yesterday!! That was 14 working days!!
(updated on September 1, 2017)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #22326