K1 review of time in Ciudad Juárez for medical/ASC/Interview

[tab0712 141]

We were approved today 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. 

[Mrs. Wild 87]

Congratulations on being approved!!

[tab0712 141]

Here is all the links that will be needed once you have the NVC Case number that starts with CDJ. All currant as of July/August 2017...

 

This should have come to all of us, and 9 times out of 10 it doesn't.  Really good information...  https://mx.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2016/09/cdj-K1FLAG-logo-SEP2016-.pdf

 

Register on this site and the beneficiary does the DS-160  https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

 

Then you use the confirmation number of the DS-160 and register here to pick the appointment day/times and pay... https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-mx/iv

 

I chose this place to do his medical... https://www.smf.com.mx/

 

So it is Medical day 1, ASC day 1 or day 2, and Interview Day 3. I chose to do this over 3 days, with the Visa being delivered by DHL to the city my fiancé and I live in.

 

If two weeks before the appointments you nor your fiance gets the invitation letter from Juarez, go here and fill this out. I got it by email the next day. https://mx.usembassy.gov/public-inquiry-form-immigrant-visas-residents/

 

That should be everything. I made 3 copies over EVERYTHING above. 

[Jorge V 195]

I know this is random but figured this might help you in the future. Nearly all hotels will let you hang around the public areas long after you check out. For example my wife and I checked out at 9 am in preparation for her 9:30 interview. I walked her to the embassy then went back to the hotel and asked them if I could work from the lobby. They politely said yes and we ended up staying there until our flight at around 3pm. I've done the same thing when traveling for work, once even working from their business center until 9pm after a flight got cancelled.

Edited September 1, 2017 by Jorge Valdivia

[RamStu 72]

11 hours ago, Jorge Valdivia said:

I know this is random but figured this might help you in the future. Nearly all hotels will let you hang around the public areas long after you check out. For example my wife and I checked out at 9 am in preparation for her 9:30 interview. I walked her to the embassy then went back to the hotel and asked them if I could work from the lobby. They politely said yes and we ended up staying there until our flight at around 3pm. I've done the same thing when traveling for work, once even working from their business center until 9pm after a flight got cancelled.

Hey Jorge did you wait in Juarez for the visa? If not, what state did they send it to? I'm trying to debate if I should stay in Juarez for visa or have it sent to my wife's home state.

On 8/30/2017 at 7:35 PM, tab0712 said:

We were approved today 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. 

Thank you for the very informative and helpful review. I have my interview on 9/11. Please let us know when you receive your bvisa via DHL.

[Jorge V 195]

1 minute ago, RamStu said:

Hey Jorge did you wait in Juarez for the visa? If not, what state did they send it to? I'm trying to debate if I should stay in Juarez for visa or have it sent to my wife's home state.

We did not wait in Juarez, we went back to Guadalajara and waited for it there. The visa arrived exactly one week after our interview and from what I can tell, only 2 business days after it would've been available in Juarez. I know some people have posted that you get it quicker if you wait in Juarez, but from reading consulate reviews on here and even asking someone who works at the embassy, the time difference is only a few days.

 

There's the obvious benefit that if you do wait in Juarez you can do your POE the day it arrives by simply taking the short drive to El Paso, but my wife and I weren't in a hurry and preferred to wait at home.

[RamStu 72]

11 minutes ago, Jorge Valdivia said:

We did not wait in Juarez, we went back to Guadalajara and waited for it there. The visa arrived exactly one week after our interview and from what I can tell, only 2 business days after it would've been available in Juarez. I know some people have posted that you get it quicker if you wait in Juarez, but from reading consulate reviews on here and even asking someone who works at the embassy, the time difference is only a few days.

 

There's the obvious benefit that if you do wait in Juarez you can do your POE the day it arrives by simply taking the short drive to El Paso, but my wife and I weren't in a hurry and preferred to wait at home.

That is good to hear as we also plan on having the visa sent out to Guadalajara. I was thinking it would take at least two weeks for the packet to arrive. A couple days longer would not affect me but more than two weeks, it will. 

 

Thanks for the helpful information and glad it all worked out for you!

 

 

[monica7777 40]

Thank you for posting this review. It brought back memories of my trip to Cd. Juarez for my interview last year and then again will be very helpful, as we are waiting for our son's interview this year.

 

So sorry to hear about the photos. In my experience the only unpleasant part of my trip to Cd Juarez was encountering the EXTREMELY rude security guards at the U.S. Consulate; not even the people at the windows interviewing or collecting my papers were rude. It was only the security people yelling at us as if they were prison cell guards and we were all dumb and did not know how to follow orders. So sorry you had to encounter this incident.

 

I'm also sad to hear Medicos de Visa closed down their clinic. My medical exam was extremely fast and they offered very professional service. I made an appointment and no long waiting times at all. I was out of the clinic in less than 2 hours and when I went to pick them up in the afternoon, they handed them out in less than 15 minutes. Seemed like the other two clinics had long wait times.

 

I also did not wait in Cd. Juarez for my packet and received via DHL in my home state of Quintana Roo. However, the packet arrived 3 days after the interview. Seems like this year every step is taking longer than last year.

 

Thank you again for all the information you posted and best of luck to you!

 

 

[MeliiGo 133]

Hi everyone!

Im just received my NOA2 which was dated Sept1st

 

but in the consulate it says Mexico City, to my understanding all K1 are processed at Ciudad Juarez right?