Consulate Review: Juarez, Mexico
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
February 19, 2008 |
| Embassy Review : |
Hello everybody,
We finally got our visa!!! We are very, very happy!!!. I want to share my experience to all, especially to those who have kids. I took my 3 kids with me and there is some advice I would like to give to you.
I found very good plane prices through the airline VIVA AEROBUS, they have very good offers and it is very cheap and the service is good enough. You need to travel to Monterrey first and then to Juárez. We were hosted by some friends there, so it was a real relief to have some known people to take care of us. Directly from the airplane, at 7 am, we went to the clinic next door to the consulate. I recommend that clinic because it is smaller and there are less people. It was very cold and we were outside for about an hour, then we entered and made a line, and they asked for these papers:
* the letter the embassy sent you in package 3
* the passports
* and the medical vaccinations report of the kids
I understood by the instructions they sent in package 3 that the kids have to do their medical exams 4 days before the interview, and that I have to do it 1 or 2 days before. So I was thinking that only the kids were going to do it that day, so I took breakfast, but they told me that I could make it too, and that it doesn´t matter if you eat before it, so I did it too. Then they took a picture of each one of us, and I signed for all and they asked at what hotel we were staying. They need a phone number where they can find you just in case.
Then I had to take the kids to room 2 and left them there, (they are in a safe place) and I went to room 4 for my blood test. After waiting for a long time I finally got it and then went as quickly as I could to see my kids. They were getting out of their medical exam, so I took them to room 3 so I could watch them while I waited for my next part in room 4, the medical examination. We waited for 4 hours there. Finally I got it, the doctor was very respectful and it was quick. They also took an x- ray and just after that (7 hours later, since we came to the clinic in the morning) they told us that we were ready to pay ($148.50 US dollars for me and $65 for each kid) and leave, and to pick up MY results at 4pm. When they told me this I asked "Are you sure? So, We don´t need anything else? No more exams, or vaccinations, etc.?" and they said NO. So I left and returned to pick up the results - it took us another hour and a half! So in total we were there 10 hours!. Before picking the results up, I took the kids to a little restaurant there to eat something, they were very hungry. So I recommend that you take some food or drink for the kids with you.
A big advice, PICK UP YOUR RESULTS NOT IN THE FRONT DOOR, BUT IN THE DOOR THAT IS LOCATED ON ONE SIDE OF THE CLINIC.
And here goes the mistake they made. When they did the exam to my kids, they never told them that they needed the tuberculosis test, and they never told me anything, neither the nurses or doctors. They just let us go!So, when we went on Saturday to pick up the results, they said, "Oh how this could happen! They need that test!" and I explained to them that in the instructions they never mentioned that and that they never told us anything ... so at the end they put the test, that is a little injection in the arm and we needed to wait 3 more days for the results!!! I had some extra days, so I was not worried... so ... THEY ASK THE KIDS TO MAKE THE EXAM 4 DAYS BEFORE THE INTERVIEW BECAUSE THEY NEED THAT TIME TO SEE WHAT THE REACTION TO THAT TEST IS. And it does not matter if it is positive, or negative. In case it is positive, they just take an x-ray and give you some advices, etc. My kids were negative so I am not sure about what these advices are. So... be careful that they make this test to your kids.
AND FOR K-1 AND K-2 VISAS, YOU DON´T NEED ANY VACCINATIONS, so don´t worry about the prices.
So I thought, well , as soon as I get the medical results, I will run to the consulate to do the interview as soon as possible, so they told me to go 3 days after at 7 am. But it results that they checked my kids and after that they told me, "everything is ok, but you have to pick up the results at 2pm." So I couldn't do the interview that day, and I waited for another day. I returned at 2pm and we waited for 2.5 hours, just to receive the results.... have patience.. my kids and I got the GOLD medal for our patience!!!
ANOTHER ADVICE, DO NOT OPEN THE ENVELOPE WITH THE RESULTS, IT IS PROHIBITED AND IF YOU DO IT YOU MAY NOT GET YOUR VISA, you will never see those papers.
THE MEDICAL EXAMS ARE VALID FOR 6 MONTHS
I went to a Banamex Bank to pay $148 us for each one for the visas.
Then the interview.... February 13,
We went to stand in the line at 7 am. We were in the line of the people who had their appointment for 7:45 am. I gave some breakfast to the kids before leaving the house. We waited there, outside for 2 hours. Finally we got in. Outside there were policemen telling the people what kind of things you cannot get in the building, like knives, metal things, electronic stuff, calculators, glass containers, etc. At the entrance they ask for the passports and the interview letter. Then we went to a line in one of the buildings, and they asked again for those same papers and gave us a number. We waited a lot, but this time we sat. After, I don´t remember how much time, we were called to a window where they asked for some more papers and forms, and they made some questions, like "What does your fiance do for work?" and I signed the forms they asked, and my older kid, who is 14, did too.
Then we waited again a lot and then they took my 14 year olds' and my finger prints and then another time of WAITING AND WAITING for 4 hours. My kids were so exhausted to be there, the 12 year old and the 9 year old fell asleep several times, they were so tired they did not even want to read or draw. There was a little store that sold food, so I bought some drinks and stuff for them. Finally we were called for the interview and it was very simple and the person who attended us was very kind and nice, she asked me these questions (no questions for my kids):
* Who is Dan....?
* What does he do for work?
* How did you meet?
* When did you get married in Mexico? (to this one I answered that we are not already married, they can make this type of question to see if you are in the correct process)
* When are you planning to get married?
* Do you sing? ( jajajaa she asked this because I am having a little throat problem and I explained that to her)
* I asked something to her: I told her that I am entering the U.S. before my kids, that they are going to come 4 months later than me, so she answered that there is no problem with that , the visa expires in 6 months and we can enter seperatly.
She asked all this while she was reviewing our paperwork, and she didn't ask for any more papers. At the end she told us to wait and that we got our visas.
So we waited for another 2 hours to receive the visas and WE GOT THEM!!!!
We went out of there and I immediately took the kids to the same restaurant to eat dinner, we were 10 hours in the embassy and we all were very, very tired.
Well, this was our experience. I hope this can be useful for everybody, especially to those who have kids, take good care of them, there is a lot of people. Always keep an eye on them and your paperwork. Try to take everything with you, pictures, copies, etc., so you don´t need to make them there and leave the kids alone. Be very careful because Cd. Juarez is a very dangerous city, with a lot of crime, so try not to walk when it is dark and don´t take any taxi. Leave a couple of extra days, just in case something happens so you don´t become stressful. If your kid is little, let him take his favorite toy with him and take some food and drinks with you.
Thank you for all the help you have been giving to us, and all your advice. We wish you can get your visas very soon too!!!!!!!!!
hugs,
Dan and Ruth |
| Rating : |
Poor |
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ver 5.0