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| Juarez, Mexico |  Review on November 22, 2020: |
tab0712
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
This is from August 2017. I made the review in the Mexico page, but not on my timeline.
We were approved yesterday Here is my review of the K1 trip to Ciudad Juárez, México - Monday through today. (Extremely tired so please excuse spelling and grammar mistakes)
Taxi from Juarez airport to Consulate area was $260pesos. The window to hire a taxi was to the immediate left when exiting arrivals.
We stayed at the Extended Suites, which is across the main road from all the appointments. And the entrance to the newish large mall is right next door to the hotel. Hotel is new as of May, has a full fridge, microwave and burners. Nice size clean pool too. Super glad I chose this place over the others.
Medical on day 1 at SMF...I had to wait outside in the sun (all spots with shade were taken and I got a burn on my upper back). He moved thought the steps in the lobby area with ease. It took for him from start to finish 3 hours (a couple hundred people were had their medical the same day) and the total cost was (at the days exchanged rate) $415usd ($7350 mxn) for exam and three injections (flu shot was not needed until October). He said everyone was super nice and helpful. Started with chest x-ray, then blood test, then pee, he ended with physical exam then the vaccinations. Half in his group of 6 had to do a psychological...he was not one them, so off to payment he went.
Day two was the ASC (biometrics). Appointment time was 2:40pm, and they say not to arrive more than 15 minutes prior, but definitely be on time. The time they are serving will be indicated on the outside window. The office is in a plaza to the left of the Consulate. It's in the back corner and is called C.A.S - Centro de Atención a Solicitantes). You can't miss it, as like everywhere else, there are lots of people standing around. He was inside for 15 minutes and said it was easy (fingerprints and photos only).
DO NOT TAKE PHOTOS - I had no idea that you aren't allowed to take any pictures from outside the Consulate. There are zero signs stating this. I did for documenting the trip, and a report was filed by security. I'm actually really pissed off as the security guard was really rude and deleted all the pics I had taken since we arrived. I can take pics at the white house and us capital but not a crappy Consulate that's paid for by my tax dollars??? Tony got really angry with me and said I have now added more worry about his interview since they took down his name, what time his interview is and what type of visa he is getting.
Day 3 - Interview Day. His appointment time was at 9:20am, and when we got there at 9, they allowed him in. Don't arrive anytime before 15-20 minutes prior to the appointment time or you'll just be standing around on a crappy corner with about 100 other people (most of which are the scammers they warn about). I read in many places that there is a waiting room for family, and that's where the applicant starts the process. Not true!! You either wait around with all the people outside the Extra store, or like me, I walked down pass the Consulate to the plaza where the biometrics appointment was. It's fenced off and I sat on the curb. I was literally one of 3 people at this area. I felt calmer and safer here then the other location. But still find it horrible there isn't a place inside. What if it was storming? We already had checked out of the hotel, so I guess the mall across the street is an option...or the Denny's.
He was in the Consulate for FOUR AND A HALF HOURS. He said the interview for him lasted at most 20 minutes. Just tons of people and 4 open windows. So crazy...they took my Affidavit of Support, which shows I have $0 income and super small savings. He asked if they wanted my father's (co-sponsor) but they said no. They didn't want my Proof of Domicile that I busted my ### to put together, and they didn't want our updated proof of relationship with new photos since January, updated Intent to Marry Letters, wedding details we have in place. The Interviewing officer only asked how/where we met and where I worked. He didn't ask about wedding plans, when we were going to the US, didn't ask anything else pertaining to us and our relationship. So so so incredibly strange and against the normal process, so please go prepared, but know anything can happen once inside.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #28819