What happens when I travel to Ciudad Juarez for my immigration interview?

What happens when I travel to Ciudad Juarez for my immigration interview?

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If you have a Mexican nationality and are applying for an immigrant visa, as of 2019, the United States consulate that will review your case and where you will be scheduled for an interview is located in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, near the border with El Paso, Texas, whether you live in Mexico or the United States.

If this is your case, here we will share relevant information that we are sure will be useful to you. However, do not hesitate to contact an immigration attorney who will help you schedule all of the appointments you will need to attend, such as fingerprints – for a background check – and a medical exam that will serve as proof of your medical condition.

What happens during my immigration interview in Ciudad Juarez?

You can bring anyone you want on your trip to Ciudad Juarez. However, the only person that will be allowed in for the interview will be the interviewee. During this meeting, an immigration agent will review your background and check your medical exam as well as ask you questions regarding how you entered the United States, where you have lived so far, if you have worked or not, who is your family and if you have been arrested in your country of origin or in the United States.

If your petition is based on marriage, be prepared to answer questions about your spouse, how you met and bring proof that your marriage is real and not fraudulent and proof of your relationship (examples include joint bank accounts, taxes, rental agreement/mortgage with both names listed, photos, affidavits, joint taxes and other proof). Remember, immigration cases are administrative in nature, so the applicant always has the burden of proof to prove up his/her case.

Other questions, such as what are your travel dates to the United States could also be asked to you, but every interview is different so you can expect other questions. Nonetheless, an immigration lawyer will be able to help you prepare for this very important interview and also answer any questions you may have beforehand.

As of 2019, it is common for officers to ask the applicant how s/he entered the US and if s/he entered the US at any time illegally with anybody else. Even if s/he had previously entered the US illegally with his/her children, that person can be found to have participated in smuggling, which would result in a visa refusal and require a waiver.

Also, due to the current administration, the officers at the consulate are closely scrutinizing the applicant’s financial support and future financial sponsorship in the U.S. While as of December 2019, the recent proposal by the Trump administration regarding the “Public Charge Rule” has been blocked, consular officers are still placing emphasis on public charge issues. Read our other blog article on this recent development under the current administration.

What else do I need to know about my immigration interview in Ciudad Juarez?

First of all, you need to know how to apply for your immigration visa. You will find all the information you need in the US Embassy and Consulates in Mexico webpage and also at the Ciudad Juarez consulate’s webpage. To apply for this visa, you will generally need to be sponsored by a US citizen or lawful permanent resident immediate relative(s) or prospective US employer and your petition needs to be approved before applying for an immigrant visa.

The immigrant visas available are:

• Family-Based Immigration
• Fiancé(e) Visa
• Employment-Based Immigration

The petitioner (your sponsor) will need to file a Form I-130 called Petition for Alien Relative by mail with the USCIS, US Citizenship and Immigration Services. After they approve your petition you will also have to complete a pre-processing process with the National Visa Center (NVC) who schedule most immigrant visa appointments.

As we said above, if you are Mexican, you will most likely be scheduled for the interview in Ciudad Juarez and you will be informed of this by mail in a letter that will state the date and time you need to appear before the immigration authorities.

Visa interviews are conducted on weekdays, Monday through Friday, on regular business hours, except on US and Mexican holidays and two rotating administrative days per month. Take into consideration that even though the consulate strives to process all applicants within an hour of their appointment time, there may be unforeseen circumstances that could keep you there longer.

Sometimes, applicants will have to go back for additional interviews on the following days, so do not purchase a plane ticket or make travel arrangements to go to the United States for the same day of your interview.

If you are unable to appear at the consulate for the scheduled interview date, you can, and should, contact the applicant service center to inquire about the possibility of obtaining a different appointment. However, do this only if it is absolutely necessary since it may result in delays to your visa case.

If you need any help with this very complex process, please contact an immigration lawyer in California. At Kannan Law, we are ready to help you throughout the entire time. Contact us now!