The following hints are based on recent visa application experience in Mexico.

1. Where

Three Mexican cities annexed to US border provide US visa service: Tijuana (close to San diago), Matamoros (close to Brownsville) and Ciudad Juarez (close to El Paso).

Matamoro, about 370 miles south of Austin. It is the closest one among three, but not always available. Tijuna, too far, about 1000 miles west. Ciudad Juarez, about 580 miles west of Austin. It is an idea place to go. Also the immigration officers there are nice.


2. How - preparation

Follow the following steps:

1) Go to IO to have two things ready: have your I-20/IAP-66 signed by IO and request a "good standing letter", which you need to pick up a couple of days later. Don't forget to pick up an instruction on how to apply visa in Mexico/Canada.

2) Make an appointment with the US consulate. There are two ways: by phone or by web. The 900 phone call normally will take you $150 away. I met several visa applicants they have the same experience. Using the web site: http://www.nvars.com It will cost you exactly $30. You only need to pay one person even if you will apply visa for your family members the same time.
You'd better browse US's INS web site. The url is available in IO's instruction (Sorry, it is not handy now).

3) You need to prepare: your financial resource letter, transcripts, something else... You can obtain a list of such things from IO's instruction. Most of time the immigration officers will not check those documents, but it is safer to have everything ready.

4) You need to think a good excuse why you have to apply visa in Mexico, instead of in China or other country. Time restriction is a good reason. You should have others.

5) NEVER FORGET TWO VISA PHOTOS!


3. How - to go

- Rent a car. You must be careful not speeding, particularly when you are driving between Sonora and Ozona. You will be likely stopped by a police car with a warning ticket even you are driving at 72mph. The reason is "speeding over 70mph". The next time you will probably need to pay a penalty. It may take you three days to go there by car. Please always fill up your tank.

- By flight. It is not bad. A cheap round trip tcket could be $180. You can take a taxi directly from El Paso airport to the US consulate (or the bank for paying the visa fee ) in Juarez. The regular cost is $30. Don't pay more than that. You only need one day to complete your business: leaving Austin in the early morning and come back in the evening the same day.

In case you drive a car to El Paso you can park your car at a parking lot, $3 for a whole day with good safety. The location is at the west side of the most west bridge. There are three bridges connecting El Paso and Juarez. Then you can make choice between two means to go to Mexico:

- Walk through the bridge then take a taxi. It costs you $10 to reach the bank you are going to pay the visa fee. - Take a taxi from El Paso to the bank directly with $20. You need to negotiate with your amigo because he may try to charge you $30+.

If you know Juarez well you can walk to the bank. It will take you 40 minutes. You can find US consulate in Juarez on the map of El Paso. Also you can obtain a brief direction from motels, such as Motel-6. The rate for Motel-6 is $30/night for one person, by the way.

Don't bring too many stuffs with you to Mexico. Always have enough cash with you. Please check your documents (I-94, I-20/IAP-66 and passport are most important for you come back to the US). Camera is not allowed to bring in US consulate or you have to pay $5 at gate to ask the guard to take care of it.


4. How - in Juarez

Where is the bank? Check INS' homepage. The bank name is not correct on the page (I think government agencies are always inefficient). However, the right bank is at the opposite corner of the wrong one. The taxi driver knows this very well. (The exchange rate of US dollar and Mexico Peso is about 1:10-12 depending on where you change you money. )

The bank opens at 9am. it is 10am in Austin! Don't be there too early, or you will have to wait in the line. Payment will be done just in 5 minutes. Then you will walk three blocks northward. it will take you about 10 minutes to reach US consulate. The fee is $45.

You don't need to wait outside of the consulate. Tell them you have an appointment then you will be allowed to step in. The interesting thing is everybody makes the appointment at 10a and nobody in consulate cares the time. So, don't feel you are late.


5. How - in the Consulate

1) You need to fill up two visa application forms if you are a Chinese. If you could not understand Spanish you can request English version of the form.

2) Hand in your I-20/IAP-66 with the application forms and your photos. Then find a chair to sit. Now you are relaxed and also need to be patient because it may take up to three hours to your turn to be interviewed.


6. How - after interview

1) If you are lucky and the visa is approved you will be advised to come back at 3p to pick up it.

2) Now you have your new visa. You can share a taxi with your new friend to go back to the Mexico end of the bridge if you drove to El Paso and providing that you will come back through the most west bridge.

3) Please have $6 cash ready for you to pay to US Custom. No credit card no check. Always! don't forget. After you enter the US you will walk 5 minutes to go to the parking lot where you parked your car in the morning.

That's it. Again:

Please read IO's instructions carefully. And browse INS's homepage thoroughly.
Do you need a Mexico visa to go to Mexico for US visa application? Theoretically, yes. You can apply Mexico visa in Austin's Mexican Consulate. The fee is $99 cash. The problem is they will not issue a visa to you because your visa to the US has expired since you have been in the US more than 6 months. Mexican immigration officers have little knowledge about the special deal between US and Mexico: we don't need a visa to come back to the US if we hold a valid I-94 form and come back within 30 days.

Practically, you never need a visa to Mexico - nobody will check your visa when entering Mexico from the US. They only care if you bring some weapon to that country.

Bowei's following information is important. So, please arrive the US consulate as soon as possible and never later than 11:00a local time (10a in Austin). If you can arrive the bank around 9a local time you will be able to reach US consulate before 10:20a.

Another thing is drink and food are not allowed to be carried in.

Additional input is more than welcome.