In this publication, we want to answer the main questions about obtaining a US visa in Mexico. The United States has an embassy in Mexico City, 9 full-fledged consulates, and 9 consular agencies; The latter visas are not issued. Despite such a large number of consulates, it is now possible to sign up for American visas with an interview in many of them only after a year. This is the result of high demand delayed during the coronavirus epidemic, when consulates were closed. At the same time, in the future the consular department itself may offer to reschedule the interview to a closer date.
You cannot get a B1/B2 visa in Mexico without residence.A non-resident cannot purchase a U.S. nonimmigrant visa without Mexican residency status, regardless of his citizenship. This also applies to Russian citizens. If previously a guest of a country could at least sign up for a B1/B2 visa at a diplomatic mission (however, the visa was most often refused anyway), now it is not possible to sign up for any diplomatic mission without a residence permit. The system of record will indicate that «The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico have a special policy of accepting nonimmigrant visa applications from citizens of countries other than Mexico». When you create an account, you will be asked to confirm that you are a permanent resident of Mexico, although temporary ones are also allowed to sign up. Restrictions on accepting documentation from non-residents were introduced to ensure that US consulates in Mexico are not overwhelmed by the huge number of requests from migrants from neighboring countries with which Mexico has a visa-free regime.
Without residence, consulates accept applications for Type K nonimmigrant visas (fiancé/spouse/child) and immigrant visas.However, it's not all that simple. After the US Citizen's petition is reviewed by USCIS, the documentation is forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC), which in turn forwards it to the US Consulate in the country where the visa will be issued. Typically this is the foreigner's country of citizenship or residence. A US citizen must try to ensure that his relative’s visa applications are immediately sent to the consulate in Mexico. In this case, the relative does not have to be a resident of Mexico, but in this case it is also not necessary that the papers be sent to Mexico. For this reason, even to obtain a US immigrant visa in Mexico, it is better to be a resident of the state.
You should decide in advance in which country the American relative will apply for a visa. Because transferring a case opened in one country to a consular department in another country, in particular, Mexico, is quite a troublesome and time-consuming task. After distributing your case to your country of citizenship or a nearby country, contact one of the US Consulates in Mexico and ask if they will accept your K visa paperwork. If they do, contact the consular section where NVC sent your documents and ask to transfer the case to the Mexican consular section.
Your previous US visa was issued in another country.At the moment, you have the opportunity to apply for a new (renew) visa without visiting the consulate, even if your previous visa was issued in another country. No more than 48 months must have passed since the expiration of the previous visa of the same type. In most cases, it is also necessary to provide a package of supporting documents. One way or another, you need to visit the ASC (Applicant Service Center) visa centers to submit biometrics, including fingerprints and a digital photograph, and leave your passport there. Likewise, if you obtain a US visa in Mexico, you will then be able to prepare your next visa in another country using a simplified procedure.
In some cases you will still need to visit a diplomatic mission, for example when you are getting a new visa as a family member.
An F1 student visa obtained in another country cannot be renewed at the US consulate in Mexico. But you have the opportunity to extend your visa at the land border with Mexico. This is called «automatic re-entry visa». You need to travel from the US to Mexico and re-enter by land in less than 30 days. If you have a valid printed Form I-94 (Arrivals and Departures Statement) and a valid Form I-20, you may be able to renew your visa for the same period as your old visa.
H1B/L1 work visas can be extended in Mexico if the previous visa was obtained in the country of citizenship. However, renewal in Mexico, as in any other country, increases the chances of refusal.
Waiting time for an interview.US Consulates in Mexico — one of the busiest in terms of applications for visitor visas (B1/B2). At most consulates, the waiting time for an interview is more than 16 months. In particular, in September 2022 it was possible to make an appointment to visit the consulates in Nuevo Laredo and Metamoros for March 2024, in Tijuana and Monterrey — for April, in Mexico City and Merida — for July, in Guadalajara — for November 2024. The timing reflects not only the demand accumulated during the coronavirus period and the number of applications submitted, but also the ability of the consulates to process them.
It is possible to find out the nearest date for which it is possible to sign up for a particular diplomatic mission only after you provide information about payment of the visa fee in your personal account, and they are recognized by the system. This makes it difficult to decide in advance which consulate to sign up for.
Long deadlines do not mean that you cannot get to the diplomatic mission earlier, although it certainly won’t be possible in the next few months. Many cannot wait that long and withdraw their appointments; consulates are restoring the previous pace of work. For this reason, the consular department itself often offers applicants a closer date. This often happens with family applications.
Wait times for F/J visas and other non-immigrant visas other than B1/B2 were less than a week in September 2022, and often there was no queue at all.
Confirmations.Temporary residents who have lived in Mexico for less than a year have a fairly low chance of getting a first-time visitor visa to the United States, although it varies from person to person. The consular section may ask for documentation showing your connection to Mexico and your desire to return here after traveling to the United States, rather than just a resident card. Such confirmations can be marriage to a Mexican citizen, ownership of real estate, successful business in the country, study at a Mexican university, etc. This needs to be done in advance, because the consular department has the right to send a list of required papers at the last moment. At the same time, an additional check may be announced at the interview, in other words, they will be asked to bring additional documents. Such a check can last up to 2 months. The birth of a child in Mexico, in other words, the presence of permanent residence with the applicant, is not considered a sufficient reason to consider your connection with Mexico reliable.
Visa fee.The visa fee for a B1/B2 visa is $185. Payment must be made only to details in Mexico. If you paid the visa fee in another country and then decide to apply for a visa in Mexico, you will have to pay again. You can pay the visa fee only through bank branches and therefore most often only in cash in pesos (or from an account in this bank).
Language.Interviews at US consulates in Mexico are conducted in English or Spanish only. You cannot bring a translator.
In general, the procedure for obtaining a US visa by non-citizens (foreigners) at US consulates in Mexico is not much different from that in other countries of the world.
We told you how to get a US visa in Mexico yourself in this article.publications.