BajaNomad

U.S. Consulate to accept visa applications in Mexicali

Gypsy Jan - 5-24-2012 at 02:45 PM

From the San Diego Union Tribune

Written by Sandra Dibble May 23, 2012

"Starting next month, Mexicali residents will no longer have to drive across Baja California when applying for a U.S. visa. The U.S. Consulate in Tijuana on Tuesday announced the opening of a new branch office in the Baja California state capital.

The move responds to petitions from business and political leaders, and addresses concerns about "the inconvenience that stems from the need to have to travel to Tijuana" for visa-related transactions, according to a statement from the U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana.

The new Mexicali office, called Centro de Atencion a Solicitantes-Center for Attention to Applicants-will be administered by a contractor who will take fingerprints and photographs and pass on visa applications directly to the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana.

Those Mexicali applicants who do require an interview would still have come in person to the consulate in Tijuana. All decisions related to the granting or denial of visas will continue to be made out of the Tijuana consulate."

Jim/Liisa - 5-25-2012 at 10:07 AM

It's nice to know that US Consulate still allows this service for Mexicans, and yet this type of service through the Mexican Consulate for US or( None Mexican) has been suspended?

[Edited on 5-25-2012 by Jim/Liisa]

Riom - 5-25-2012 at 11:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
Those Mexicali applicants who do require an interview would still have come in person to the consulate in Tijuana. All decisions related to the granting or denial of visas will continue to be made out of the Tijuana consulate."


Unfortunately one of the groups of people that always requires interviews, even for a renewal, is "third party nationals" (non-Mexicans resident in Mexico, such as British, Australians etc). So it could actually make it worse - do the fingerprinting/photo in Mexicali (rather than downtown Tijuana) then still go to the US fortress in Otay for the interviews after.

Getting my US visa (renewal) in Tijuana last December involved multiple visits to multiple locations over a 4 day stay. The interview was unneeded, a mere formality to tick a box, but still involved over 8 hours of queueing, even with appointments. I wish the US was as efficient as Mexico, maybe they'll catch up eventually. :-)

Rob

BajaBlanca - 5-26-2012 at 07:26 AM

some of the local Mexican residents in la bocana have told horrible stories of being denied visas in TJ after going through grueling interviews. One guy says he will never try again.

and not only that, they have to pay and take the chance of being denied and not getting a refund.