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| Juarez, Mexico |  Review on September 20, 2011: |
Liz&Nate
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I got approved yesterday at Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Unlike most of the K1'ers I had the advantage of being based in CDJ, so I don't have a review of the hotels and transportation systems (but I do recommend that you use the hotel shuttles and airport taxi cabs and stick close to the consulate). Hope my review is helpful.
1)Medical
There are two clinics that conduct the Medical examination in CDJ, and they are located within a block of one another. When you arrive there, the coyotes will try to flag you down, whether you are driving or walking, and get you to "register" at an office located across the street. I saw a lot of people fall for that, and I also noticed that the cabs and shuttles seemed wise to the coyotes, so try to use them if possible. Don't fall into traps, you DO NOT need to register anywhere before you take your medical.
I got there at 5:30 and walked to Servicios Medicos, the clinic with the blue and white lettering, because it was the one with the shortest line (there was already a line at both clinics). The guards are very nice and they let me in after showing my passport, invitation letter and appointment confirmation letter. Once inside you get to a front desk where they give you a number and send you to a waiting area. If you come with someone, there's a separate waiting area for people who are not taking the physical. My number was called after about half an hour and I walked to a window where they check your information and take a picture. The medical consists of three parts: The X-Ray, blood-sample and actual physical, in that order (at least for me). Things inside the clinic are very straightforward. I had heard awful stories about the physical but the nurses and doctors were professional and courteous. You will however spend about an hour or longer after they draw your blood before getting to the exam rooms so be patient. The exam is easy, they weigh you, take your blood pressure and test your eyesight. Then they send you to a room where you disrobe and put on a paper gown. The doctor will come in and ask you a few questions and examine you and you will be done. Afterwards, I paid and was asked to come back at 2 pm to pick up my results with my passport. When I came back they were calling out the names and mine got called right away so I got the black envelope and was done with that.
2)Biometrics
The ASC is the easiest part. I had a 10:20 appointment and was asked not to come earlier, but I showed up at 10:00 sharp anyway. They did allow me to get inside earlier, but I don't know if that's the rule. I'd still recommend at least getting there on the hour, since that seems to be the turnaround time. Inside, you have to present your invitation letter, confirmation letter, DS-260 confirmation letter and your passport. They'll put your documents inside a clear envelope and you'll go through security. For best results, I didn't take anything that was metal but my car keys. You'll go through a lot less hassle than the people who try to get in with huge purses, or belt buckles or whatnot. After security check they ask you to sit in a waiting area in front of a row of windows. A guard will direct you to a window when your turn comes.
The ASC officer will ask you to read a statement where you assure that the information you provide will be truthful (although only to yourself) and take your digital thumb prints and picture. They might confirm some of the information on your DS-260. They handed me back my documents with an extra page for DHL instructions with my passport number and the address of my DHL office. They also place a sticker on your ds-260 confirmation letter with the date and time of your consulate appointment. This is by far the easiest of steps, hardly 30 minutes.
3)Consular appointment
This is the big one! Okay, here we go.
Your first have to get to the Sala de Espera, located between the consulate and the ASC office. My appointment ws at 7:15 but I knew that the Sala opened at 6 am, so I was there at six. You are allowed to go inside without any security check. There, your documents will be verified for the first time. For the K1 have your DS-260 confirmation letter, your invitation letter, and the appointment confirmation. I saw people being sent back because they didn't print the entire email (3 pages), so I was glad I had packed *everything*. They'll stamp your documents and send you to a single line. Afterwards that line goes to the consulate.
At the consulate I had my papers checked again. The guy in the line demanded to see the documents I had stamped at the sala de espera as well as the DS-156, photos and copies. After I had everything checked he sent me to another line that lead inside the consulate.
Inside the consulate I went through security check. Is very much like an airport check, so nothing metal and all your personal effects into a basked. Things do go much smoother if you leave earrings, bracelets and purses at home. Afterwards there was one last document check (before the big one!) where the lady took my passport, invitation letter, appointment confirmation letter and DS-260 confirmation. Then they gave me a number and sent me to an outside waiting area. There you can wait until your number appears on a screen and directs you to a window. The day I had my interview the number system was down so they only called our names, but we were told how it was usually done. The first time they called me to a window I got a very difficult lady who was assembling my package, who didn't seem to know what to ask for, so she said "just give me everything", so I emptied my document case and handed her every last document. It took her a while to go through my stuff and I could hear other people got through this in a jiff, so I started to get nervous. After probably half an hour she sent me to the waiting area inside the building and told me that my name would be called. Again, there are screens with numbers and windows here, so it's very probably that when the system is working correctly you'll have to be alert to see when your number comes up.
I waited for about two hours before my number was called. The anxiety buildup is terrible! My name finally came up and I went to a window with a very kind looking young woman. She greeted me in Spanish and I greeted her in English, which she seemed to like and she asked me if I'd rather have the interview in English, to which I replied "yes". She didn't ask me a lot. Where did you meet your fiance? Have you even been in trouble with the law? Have you ever over stayed your visa? Do you have a tourist visa? Do either one of you have children? Would this be the first marriage for both of you? Afterwards she picked up my BCC card and gave me back the pictures we had send as evidence with the I-129f. She didn't ask for any other evidence and said "Congratulations, your visa has been approved", and smiled. I almost flew out of there to call my fiancee.
Hope this help and best of luck!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8350