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| Juarez, Mexico |  Review on November 25, 2006: |
tterbnewo
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
It's difficult to choose a rating because the day I showed up for the interview, I learned that the consulate had taken the week off for Thanksgiving. Yes, the ENTIRE week. I guess they are just really really patriotic or something. I didn't know Thanksgiving was a 5 day holiday, but $1100 later, I was informed. But it was all good. The security guard told me I could return Monday, and they would be open. All I needed to do was tell my college, I would be missing a few finals. My fiancee could ask her boss for just 5 more days off of work. I could pay Aeromexico $150 to change my flight plan; pay $200 to Hotel La Playa for a couple extra days. All in all, not a big sacrifice on my end for a little added holiday pleasure on their end. I only hope that on Monday, those government workers will be quite thoroughly and cozilly relaxed. I know their job and health benefits must be quite wrenching.
And on a serious note, if you look at the holiday schedule on their website, Tuesday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving weekend are NOT shown as holidays. But I guess things just got a little crazy there and they decided to take an extra load off.
My advice from this experience would be to call the 900 to find out when the consulate is open to endure pain of your business. Then buy your plane tickets, or drive 1500 miles, and say your prayers. :D
There is some good news however. Should you blow a $100 deposit to Banamex, as well as $141 on the medical exam, -- your exam results are good for 6 months, and the interview deposit is good for 1 year.
Also, for Fiancee visas, no vacinations are necessary. Plus, if you show up on a vacation week, you'll only spend 30 minutes on the exam. So, not all bad news. There were only 10 people in the hospital when I arrived. 
Also, the visa photo place across the street charges $15 for a packet of 2 passport photos. The same photos cost about $7 at Longs Drugs or Walgreens in the USA. Also, photo copies cost 20 pesos each. So again, do your copies and fotos in El Paso. Because Juarez prices, throughout the city, are double those for El Paso. The entire town is a rip off, not just the immediate area around the consulate.
Also, the green taxis outside of the consulate, in front of La Playa Hotel charge 200 pesos to get you from their to the Juarez airport. They charge 100 pesos to get you from the consulate to the Santa Fe Bridge. The Santa Fe Bridge is the one which you can walk across for 3 pesos or 30 US Cents.
Also, the US immigration officials Point of Entry on the US side of the Santa Fe Bridge WILL treat you like a hardened criminal. Expect them to scowl at you thoroughly, and wonder why any innocent person would want to visit Mexico. Then take a good look at the poster on the wall behind them which boldly states, "We are the face of America". If these angry, judging, authoritarian faces, are the faces of America, God have mercy. hehehehe
Oh and don't accidentally look at their computer display with your passport information. That makes them really nervous. I should have asked the Border Patrol Officer, "What, have you got porn on there?" :D
I guess the underlying theme or question of this whole trip was, "What ever happened to the government that was created for the people by the people? When did that become not cool?" 
Anyway, I will post another review when I return. I appologize for the sarcasm. It's just so infuriating to be harassed by people who you've never even met before. I mean, I like to start out on a happy note when I meet someone. You know, the old, "Pleased to meet you; Mucho gusto; Good afternoon." Maybe I just watched too much CHIPS and Andy Griffith as a kid. 
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #1050