How can I bring my Mexican aunt to USA on a tourist visa?
October 20, 2022 5:16 PM Subscribe
My aunt is Mexican, poor, and doesn't speak English. She's 61 and wants to visit my family in USA once. She said she heard that they only give visas to rich people, and that on the Mexican side you have to bribe officials to get an interview for a visa.
I read "THE STRAIGHT FACTS ON US VISAS IN MEXICO | Travel.gov" and my sister said she can sponsor my aunt, but I'm still overwhelmed and confused.
How do I go about getting my aunt a tourist visa to USA from Mexico? Where do I start?
Thanks in advance.
You'll want to have her apply soon, because wait times for interviews since Covid are ridiculous, nearing two years. It sounds like she hasn't had a US visa before, so wouldn't be eligible to skip the interview and it doesn't sound like she would be eligible for an emergency visa, so it's likely that she's facing that very long wait.
The US Embassy in Mexico website shows where the interviews can be done and what the wait times are. Here are the steps in the application process. Language should not be an issue. I hope it goes without saying that your aunt shouldn't try to bribe any US officials, even though they may be in Mexico.
posted by ssg at 7:24 PM on October 20, 2022
The US Embassy in Mexico website shows where the interviews can be done and what the wait times are. Here are the steps in the application process. Language should not be an issue. I hope it goes without saying that your aunt shouldn't try to bribe any US officials, even though they may be in Mexico.
posted by ssg at 7:24 PM on October 20, 2022
Your aunt, when she applies for a visa, will almost certainly be asked to "prove" she is going to return to Mexico and is not thinking of living in the USA. So you want to make this totally watertight, with return ticket and definite reasons for coming back to Mexico.
There's probably a layer of corruption but she should avoid that by going in person to the embassy or a consulate to apply in person.
It will most likely be a long wait at the embassy/consulate, maybe more than a day, just to get to put in the application. I've no experience from Mexico, but have waited at the US embassy in London (on entry I was put in a line for visa application, and eventually was asked many many hours later why I was there) .. perhaps they've improved the system since then.
posted by anadem at 7:32 PM on October 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
There's probably a layer of corruption but she should avoid that by going in person to the embassy or a consulate to apply in person.
It will most likely be a long wait at the embassy/consulate, maybe more than a day, just to get to put in the application. I've no experience from Mexico, but have waited at the US embassy in London (on entry I was put in a line for visa application, and eventually was asked many many hours later why I was there) .. perhaps they've improved the system since then.
posted by anadem at 7:32 PM on October 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
Adding, not to abuse the edit window ..
Your aunt will need fortitude, and will be navigating an unfriedly bureaucracy. If someone not-poor can be there to help her that would be good, extra good if they are educated in the ways of US administrative bureaucracy.
posted by anadem at 7:36 PM on October 20, 2022
Your aunt will need fortitude, and will be navigating an unfriedly bureaucracy. If someone not-poor can be there to help her that would be good, extra good if they are educated in the ways of US administrative bureaucracy.
posted by anadem at 7:36 PM on October 20, 2022
For funsies, I checked the visitor visa wait time in Mexico City Embassy... almost 2 years (647 days as of now)
Definitely try a different one... if they are any different.
posted by kschang at 9:36 AM on October 21, 2022
Definitely try a different one... if they are any different.
posted by kschang at 9:36 AM on October 21, 2022
Nuevo Laredo is the shortest at the moment--if you can call 507 days "short."
Right now, ASAP, it looks like you need to:
posted by bricoleur at 11:31 AM on October 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
Right now, ASAP, it looks like you need to:
- Get the photo. See requirements here. You may want to print out the list of requirements and take it with you to the photo studio. Note the Additional Requirements for Non-Immigrant Visas section on that same page.
- Fill out the online application here. You will need a digital file of the photo to upload at that time. FAQ.
- And, from this page:
- Print and keep the DS-160 barcode page. (You will not need to print the full application.)
- You must schedule a visa interview appointment. (The U.S. Embassy or Consulate does not schedule an appointment for you.) Visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website where you will be interviewed for country-specific instructions.;
- Pay the visa application processing fee. Review country-specific instructions on the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website.
posted by bricoleur at 11:31 AM on October 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
Bricoleur for the win for specific process. Just to reiterate what can be confusing - she’ll need to both fill out and submit the application (CEAC form) on one system, and then go and schedule an appointment on another system - lots of people get stymied thinking they’ve submitted their application so should just wait to be contacted.
As for appointments - the wait time is a disaster, but she should check every day as they are probably opening up new appointments regularly once they know their capacity for the coming day/week/month, plus people do cancel.
The real reason I’m commenting is to emphasize she should absolutely, positively NOT pay anyone anything outside of the standard online fees (through the real, official sites, which bricoleur links - there are tons of official-looking sites out there scamming visa applicants out of their money). She’s heard that you need to pay somebody off because there is a large and sophisticated industry of scammers trying to wring money out of aspiring travelers any way they can, and at best they don’t do anything and at worst they prejudice your case because they stuff folks applications full of obviously fake or inconsistent documents that introduce the idea of fraud).
posted by exutima at 3:57 PM on October 21, 2022
As for appointments - the wait time is a disaster, but she should check every day as they are probably opening up new appointments regularly once they know their capacity for the coming day/week/month, plus people do cancel.
The real reason I’m commenting is to emphasize she should absolutely, positively NOT pay anyone anything outside of the standard online fees (through the real, official sites, which bricoleur links - there are tons of official-looking sites out there scamming visa applicants out of their money). She’s heard that you need to pay somebody off because there is a large and sophisticated industry of scammers trying to wring money out of aspiring travelers any way they can, and at best they don’t do anything and at worst they prejudice your case because they stuff folks applications full of obviously fake or inconsistent documents that introduce the idea of fraud).
posted by exutima at 3:57 PM on October 21, 2022
Response by poster: Thanks @exutima my aunt is planning to use this VISA processing service, they're an agency in cuernavaca, are they a scam? https://vipam.ueniweb.com/
posted by maxexam at 5:57 PM on October 23, 2022
posted by maxexam at 5:57 PM on October 23, 2022
New information! State Department press release: Addressing U.S. Visitor Visa Wait Times. Doubling personnel and waiving in-person interviews where possible.
posted by bricoleur at 3:46 AM on November 20, 2022
posted by bricoleur at 3:46 AM on November 20, 2022
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Speaking only Spanish should not be a problem.
posted by bricoleur at 6:50 PM on October 20, 2022