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| Juarez, Mexico |  Review on April 12, 2011: |
Matt :)
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
So I'm going to write a review to help all of those coming next since they changed the process, since a couple VJ friends helped me before...
After about a month after CDJ received our K-1 packet they sent the invitation letter. I got here here in the US about 2 weeks later (my MX fiance never got hers, so dont expect it to ever come in MX). Also, FYI you have to wait for the letter, you no longer can go to CDJ and have them print it out.
Now you have to schedule the following: 1) ASC appt 2)Visa Interview 3) DHL location you want visa sent to.
So I tried using the website but it is new and confusing and not really working, maybe in the future it will be better, but I used the phone for everything. I called 703-439-2313, dialed 2 for english, then 1, then 1 i think, etc, then one of the options in menu is "for k-1 visas only to pay MRV fee". I paid the fee ($350) over the phone w/ credit card on the automated system. *Warning, after you pay it reads off a confirmation #, have pen ready and write it down, the machine says it fast. there is an option to repeat it but when I did it and machine was about to repeat it, it hung up on me! luckily I wrote it down correct but be warned, if you dont you cant prove you paid unless you have MRV confirmation #! For this reason I would try to at least pay fee online.
After 24 hrs you can then schedule the appts, you have to do all at once. I dialed the same # but instead of payment ext I dialed #4, the visa info & scheduling. We decided to do the ASC appt in Juarez, as the guy on the phone said it could take weeks for ASC results to get to CDJ. We scheduled the ASC appt on Monday the next week, the visa interview on Wednesday, and picked the DHL location in her city (DF).
Sunday, she flew to Juarez. Checked into hotel Holiday Inn (Las Missiones), more expensive than others but very safe and you can walk to all CDJ buildings. Some people love La Quinta Inn too, you can take shuttles if you stay there.
Monday morning: She did the medical exam, I think she arrived @ 6:30am. Same as past medical exams, only thing I didnt really hear about is that a woman watched her pee.
Monday afternoon: she went to ASC appt @ 3:00pm. Wait was about 40 mins bc of everyone not knowing what forms to use, etc. Bring DS-260 confirmation, passport, invitation letter, etc. At ASC she got fingerprints done & photo taken. Was out and went back to medical building at around 4:00 + picked up her medical results (blag sealed bag).
Tuesday: Nothing, stayed at hotel (have to allow a day in between ASC appt & visa interview. Heard horror stories before us so we made sure there was a day in btwn.
Wednesday Morning: Interview was for 7:10 am, she went 1/2 hr early. Had chap-stick in her purse, they wouldnt throw it out, she had to get out of line, throw it out & get back in the back of the line. Make sure you dont have anything on you, a woman in front of her had to do the same with a mont blonc pen! She then showed her docs, invitation letter I scanned and emailed her & she printed out. she got a #, waited 20 mins, then was called up for finger prints. The few people before me in this process said interviewer told them their ASC fingerprints werent good and had to re-do at consulate. I guess this was true for most people b/c they added this step back in at CDJ (which was supposed to be the whole reason for this stupid ASC step, but whatever).
Guy took her prints and she sat back down and waited again for about 40 mins. Then her # was called again, went to window for interview.
Where is your fiance? where does he live? have you met his family? has he met yours? Those were about all the questions.
Said it was approved & my fiance asked him like 4 times "r u sure? there is nothing else you need?" jajaja. He said nope, its approved, thats it.
Since we already assigned DHL in DF she didnt need to do anything, she left and took her flight back to Mexico City that same day (Wed).
Since that day I called 703# to get tracking info, waybill#, etc.
Following Monday: I gave up on website status for waybill # & calling 703#, I asked my fiance to just go to DHL and see if its there. She went there at around 4:00pm and it was there! Woman said it just got there and she picked it up! You dont need waybill #, just ID. Dont wait for website or NVC, they are notified days and weeks later.
We are booking flights to US for next month, SO EXCITED!
I hope I provided enough info, if you have any questions message me.
Why I gave it a 3 & not a 5:
They make you fly to Juarez, one of THE most dangerous cities in the WORLD.
Also they changed process and were not organized in notifying people. Also ASC appt didnt save any time, it just added an extra day.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #7422