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| Juarez, Mexico |  Review on April 13, 2020: |
Joe Lopez
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
I hope this helps anyone that is going through the same process as me.
I filed to start my application in September 2017. I first had to submit my I-130. My first lawyer told us that she had submitted the form in early November 2017 and all we needed to now was wait while we received an approval of our I-130. After 3 months of waiting, I became curious to why the I-130 money order that was sent had not been processed and so I called USCIS to see if they would cash in the check when the application was approved. USCIS told me that they had no recollection of them receiving anything from me and maybe because they had not reached my application yet. I emailed and called my lawyer late January 2018 to get a better understanding of what was going on. NO RESPONSE !! It was now March 2018 when i heard back and my lawyer said that she would look into it. Early April, I find out my lawyer will be transferring my case to another attorney there. My lawyer was going through some life changes and was going to leave, so I completely understood and didn't question it.
I had made an appointment late April 2018 to meet with my lawyer and ask those same questions I had asked my previous lawyer about the I-130. My new lawyer said that my previous lawyer had not submitted my I-130 and I had waited for nothing. At this point, I had waited about 6 months to hear about about the I-130. I was heart broken. I now realized that she was fired maybe because she wasn't doing her job? I never found out but never saw her again. My new lawyer submitted my I-130 and was finally approved in February 2019. Approximately 10 Month wait since submitted it.
I was excited that we were now on the next step. We now needed to submit any required paperwork to the NVC and pay the fees required. Submitted everything by April 2019 because the website was down and I could not login to submit the paperwork. Now we just waited.
*This time, I made sure that the lawyer submitted everything and I had proof because I did not want to go through the same situation.
From April 2019, I waited until February 14,2020 (10 months) to receive my interview date. My interview was on March 13,2020 at 7 am at ciudad Juarez consulate.
I was so happy that it was now real. I only had a month to prepare for the trip. I wasn't sure how to get there or where to stay so i tried to find how and where other people stayed. I ended up flying to El Paso, Texas and hired a taxi driver to drive us to Mexico to our hotel there. I stayed at Extended Suites which is probably a 5 min walk to the consulate. We arrived to the hotel around 11 am on March 10, 2020 but the check in was at 3pm. We thought we would be allowed to check in early but no. We waited 4 hours until finally we were given our room card. So if you decide to stay here, just know they take check in times seriously. March 10,2020, my wife and I just relaxed at the hotel and didn't want to leave because of all the violence we heard was happening in the city.
March 11 was my medical exam. I made it with SMF at around 10am. They have an option for them to come pick you up at the hotel you're staying at but I decided to walk since it was only probably around 7 minutes. At this point, I was no longer scared about getting murdered. The city was nice and comfortable. There was no constant gun shots or murders as every talks about. It look very modernized now.
Anyways, I walked to m SMF appointment (you need to take passport, interview email letter, and medical exam appointment confirmation letter). It took my about one hour to complete the medical exam. I did a chest x-ray, blood test, urine test, eye test, and the in person doctor exam. She just asked if I had any tattoos, Am i an alcoholic, any surgeries, and questions pertaining to my medical history. It took about 2 minutes with her. After that, you go and get any necessary vaccines that you need. Luckily, I had taken all mine back in the states and only needed the flu shot. Last thing they make you do is PAY! I paid 285 dollars and was a bit happy since I was expected to around $400.
My CAS appointment was also on March 11,2020 but at 3pm. I went back to hotel to wait and left at 2:30 since I needed to walk. It took me about 30 minutes to complete everything. They took my picture and confirmed everything was correct regarding names and addresses that I had put down in my application.
After my CAS appointment, I went to SMF since it was next to CAS building to see if my medical exam was ready. They told me that my case was different, and I did not need a physical packet to take to the interview and that SMF would electronically send it. Regardless of that, they gave me back my consulate interview paper they had with a stamp saying that I had taken my medical exam to present at the interview.
My appointment was on March 13, 2020 so my wife and I just relaxed March 12, 2020. Our hotel is next to this big mall and we went and bought some food and snacks and explored a bit. There is also a tour that takes you around Ciudad Juarez which was an awesome experience for us. They're called "Tour de Juarez".
The night before my interview was very stressful. I probably slept around 3 hours due to the stress.
March 13, 2020 I left my hotel at 6:45am and arrived at the consulate around 6:50am with an appointment at 7:15am. The security guard checked my appointment time and let me in. After entering he building, you are immediately put through a medical detector (keep in mind that you cannot take cell phones, smart watches, weapons, etc.) https://mx.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/permitted-and-prohibited-items/ this is the link to prohibited items.
I was then taken to a big room with different colored chairs. People, do not freak out about the chairs. They do not mean that you will be denied. Some chairs may mean that you are missing paperwork but not that you are denied, so don’t worry. I waited in the blue chairs for about 2 hours until I was called by a person telling you to go to a window. At the first window that I went to, they just checked that I had my paperwork. They asked for original copies of marriage certificate and also birth certificate of my wife and myself.
I did not need a waiver since I have had DACA and had not accrued any unlawful time. I also did not need a police report because I entered the US at a child.
I was then sent to wait in the black chairs. I waited for another 2 hours just watching people get interviewed. Everything can be heard. I did not hear one person get denied during my time there. Around 11:30 am, I was called to stand and be next at a window. (There is around 100 windows but not all are occupied). My girl interviewing in front of me took 10 minutes and was approved. I thought mine would be the same but no! My interview was about 40 minutes and the person asked my about where and when I met my wife. A lot of question about how I entered the United States and he needed to see my W-2 forms. They will also first ask if you want your interview in English or Spanish. I took mine in English. He then gave me a green paper and said that I was approved and now I just needed to wait. I was so excited and so ready to leave the consulate because I was tired of sitting and standing. I went back to the hotel at around 12:40pm.
The green paper they give you explains what to do next and how to track the process of your visa. Since my case was an electronic case, I was not waiting for the packet they talk about and not opening. I received an email saying my documents were ready for pickup on March 14,2020. I was so surprised because it took one day. I picked up my documents around 10am at the CAS center and decided to go back home even though I had booked the hotel for another week. I wanted to leave because of the whole coronavirus and the possibility of the border being closed. I hired a cab driver that took us from our hotel to the border where I had to get our and enter inside the building to have my passport stamped that I entered the United States. That probably took around 5 minutes and then our cab driver took us to the airport to fly back home.
That was my journey and I hope this helps anyone that is having stress or nervous about the trip.
Please ask me questions if you have any and I will clarify anything!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #28250