New Consulate
NEW CONSULATE LOCATION
Non-Immigrant Visas
General Information Non-Immigrant visas are issued to foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States on a temporary basis for tourism, business, medical treatment, study, and certain types of temporary work. The type of nonimmigrant visa needed is defined by immigration law, and related to the purpose of the travel. Customer Service: Visa Waiver Program: Consulate's Policy on Attorneys Accompanying Clients to Scheduled Interviews: TO: All Attorneys Effective November 1, 2004, we can no longer grant access to attorneys to the Non Immigrant Visa and Immigrant Visa waiting areas. Should you have questions or concerns as to the disposition of your client’s case, you are welcome to submit these in writing to the Consulate in care of either the NIV Chief or NIV Deputy Chief. Our mailing address is: US Consulate General Ciudad Juarez Processing Times for Machine Readable Visa Applicants (other than laser visa) Any previous problem in the U.S.? In some cases because of similar names and dates of birth, we are required by the Department of State to request fingerprints. We usually receive the results in one or two days. The cost of fingerprint processing is $85. NOTE: We take fraud seriously if a "coyote" offers you consulting services, special papers or documents, DO NOT accept them or buy them, if we discover that you have such documents it can prevent you from ever obtaining a visa. WAIVERS - Visa Ineligibility: If you have ever had a problem with Immigration or other law enforcement authority or have violated any condition of a previously issued visa, you should declare this information on the DS-156, application for a non-immigrant visa, as well as inform the Consular Officer at the time of the interview. If you are found to be ineligible, the consular officer will advise you of any possible waivers. VISA APPLICATION PROCESS: It is necessary that all applicants be present the day of their appointment. If children or adult are financially dependents on their parents, parents will need to accompany them to the interview. Applicants with a handicap, disability or infirmity may be accompanied by a family member or an attendant who can assist them. Photo ID will be required for those accompanying persons with disabilities. How do I make an appointment? Click here How long do I wait to get an appointment to apply for a visa and if it is approved, how long does it take to be issued? Click here
Important Notice regarding all Applicants:
Due to an April 1, 2002 change in regulations, applicants will only be able to reenter the United States if they are found eligible for a new visa and actually have the visa stamped in their passport. I-94 forms (even if valid), accompanied by previous expired visas, will no longer be valid for the automatic re-entry of persons traveling from Canada or Mexico if during their visit they applied for a new visa that has not, in fact, been issued.
FROM: Ciudad Juarez Visa Units
RE: Attorney Privileges
DATE: November 1, 2004
NIV Unit
PO Box 10545
El Paso, TX 79995
Or send us a fax at: NIV 611-5350
(If calling from the U.S. please dial 011-52-656 before the number)
Due to processing requirements, Machine Readable Visa applicants (other than BCC laser visas) must report to the Consulate on the day of the appointment at their scheduled interview time. If the visa is approved, the Consular Officer will let you know the day and hour that you must report to the Consulate to pick up the visa, usually between 2:00 - 2:30 PM. Our Normally Machine readable visas are hand out three days after their scheduled interview; in some cases the process could delay more. We highly encourage you to consider this before making travel arrangements.
Special Visa Processing Procedures:
Applicants should be aware that any kind of problem/encounter with a law enforcement agency in the United States could result in an FBI record. A visa cannot be issued until mandatory processing requirements are completed, which can take several weeks. This would leave the applicant outside the U.S. for a lengthy period of time and without a valid visa to return to the U.S.
Minors under seven years old applying for a laser visa are not required to come to the interview, but also minors under seven applying for any other type of visa (other than laser) are not required to come to the interview if they are Mexican Nationals.
For information on the documents required to apply for a visa, please see our general application requirements.
NOTE: Waiting time for approved Laser Visa to be processed: 5 weeks
Courier Service