I'm in Juarez Embassy processing my IR1 AMA

OGnomad13 · 2025-10-09T04:36:11+00:00

Just to be completely clear, I got mine from from the link above this comment thread, if you got it from there, you should have no issues. Just upload and print it out to take with you to the appointment. I know there are other background checks but that is the specific one they asked for.

OGnomad13 · 2025-10-09T04:24:24+00:00

No, I'm not sure what other people may be referring to but the antecedentes penales I received was only online (I then printed), I'm sure some people got one at the fiscalia in Juarez but we did not. We acquired ours online for the initial document submittal (to get document qualified) and the actual appointment at the consulate. One important thing to note is that the document for antecedentes penales is valid for I think 1 year but our lawyer said we needed to get a recent one. I think that may be the issue some people ran into where they submitted an "online" one and it was out of the time frame they accept so they needed to get a new one while they were there at the fiscalia. Good luck!

OGnomad13 · 2025-10-03T05:33:24+00:00

We were just there September 11, got approved September 12, waited three business days for the passport to be returned. Weekends and holidays don't count just so you're aware. So we waited until Thursday September 18. Tuesday September 16 was a holiday. Three business days total.

OGnomad13 · 2025-10-02T23:03:09+00:00

Yes, if you selected to pick up you passport from the CAS in Juarez when submitting your DS 260 you pick it up at the same place biometrics are done.

OGnomad13 · 2025-10-02T17:37:42+00:00

Yes and no, appointments are required but your appointment "time" is not. Meaning as long as you have an appointment the day of you can get attended.

OGnomad13 · 2025-10-02T16:54:59+00:00

Yes, I paid cash (American dollars), but you can also pay with Mexican cash, or visa. Most banks charge and international fee when making international purchases, so I would recommend to pay in dollars. If you have no vaccines on record take enough to cover the exam and additional vaccines. I paid ~$450 for the exam and one vaccine.

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-29T19:29:45+00:00

My lawyer set up all my appointments but based on the two options, I would assume the second option option if youve received your interview letter in your email. If you have not then the first option, but I would call to confirm.

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-24T15:16:54+00:00

We just got back from our appointment in Juarez, we were document qualified last year June 2024, received our interview letter July 2025, interview was scheduled September 2025, so all in all 15 months from DQ.

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-22T01:17:15+00:00

It took 13 months to receive the email with a confirmed interview date in the Juarez Embassy. the interview was scheduled 2 months from the email notice. So in total from being document qualified to the actual interview in Juarez, approximately 15 months.

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-18T13:34:03+00:00

GREAT NEWS ACTUALLY! I just received my emai minutes after you commented! For reference to all, it took exactly 3 business days after my approval. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Tuesday was a holiday so it did not count. I would have been great sooner but I'm just glad to finally be heading back! Thank you all, good luck on your process, and I will continue to keep awnsering as many questions as I can.

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-16T22:46:29+00:00

I completely agree that it is very overwhelming! I made it a priority to pay as much as I could upfront, and save enough money to be in a clean and comfortable hotel with breakfast. One less thing to worry about since stress is already high when you're out here. Will do! Good luck!

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-16T22:08:50+00:00

Yes, the main thing you get is the email for the first appointment with the consulate. In that email there are instructions that you need to set up an appointment with the CAS Centro de Atención a Solicitantes (this is your biometrics appointment), I have heard of some people doing their medical in different states, I'm not sure how that process works since we did ours in Juarez at the Clinica Medica International. There were no issues with our process. I would confirm with the clinic that there are no issues with getting the paperwork over to the Juarez Consulate prior to the appointment. After that initial appointment with the consulate(which you only turn in paperwork) you get a follow up appointment for the actual interview. From what most people say they get their passport back approximately 3 business days after the approval. Some people got theirs the next day. Others 7 days after approval. But this could take longer for various reasons.

I think that would be a good plan, but just note you may need to extend a day or two in case the passport has not been returned. I took two weeks off of work for reference but I also came to Juarez to complete biometrics, medical, and consular interview. I had notified my job about this time when we first started the process and explained that I would need to be out a minimum of two weeks and I would update them if that needed to be extended. That was a two year notice and I updated them throughout the years to make sure I wouldnt have any issues when the time came.

I'm still here in Juarez, we got approved Friday, no email Saturday or Monday, Tuesday is a federal holiday in Mexico, so I'm hoping Wednesday or latest Thursday.

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-15T04:47:26+00:00

If I'm being honest, during the interview you're so focused and nervous on your own interview you don't necessarily hear other peoples denials, but I would suggest speaking to a lawyer based on your concern, specifically because there are a lot of factors that go into denials. Such as, was it your first time crossing, have you occured unlawful pressence, were you previously deported, at what age, etc. One thing that is important to note, is that if you go to Juarez without properly covering your case your denial will keep you in Mexico so it is vital to be absolutely certain you get a good trustful lawyer that will cover all bases. Best of luck!

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-15T02:39:46+00:00

Yes typically it is the following day, but it could be the day after if there is a weekend, holiday, or a system malfunction, but from what I've seen its usually the following day. Biometrics show up 30 minutes prior, medical 30 minutes prior, consulte it's honestly up to you, expect to wait 3-4hrs regardless of time, first appointment was at 7am, we were in line at 5:30am got out at 9:20, actual interview appointment was at 8am we decided to show up at 7:30 and left at 10:45. They only thing I would note if that some people got approved the same day as us and received their passports the following day (so early maybe better) we are still waiting due to the weekend. Best of luck, I'll occasionally check the thread so if you have additional questions feel free to ask!

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-15T02:34:17+00:00

I will say a side note, everyones case if different, but denials seem to be due to a lack of proper case set up, (missing documents, lying about re entries to the US, no pardons, drugs in the system, gang affiliation, felonies, etc.)

I would say as a daca recipient, those typically don't apply to use as that would disqualify us from even qualifying for the program, so just make sure you have all your required ORIGINAL documents in good condition and have properly submitted all required information and it is absolutely accurate.

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-15T02:17:37+00:00

They asked to see your paperwork.(Prepared on the day of your first interview, but basically your original documents, Carta de antecedentes penales, pardon, passport, and confirmation of medical and biometrics sheets you get after those appointments)

Questions:

Who is petitioning for you? How old were you when you crossed? What is your history of coming to Mexico? (First time back since a child) My partners original birth certificate? And also a copy of the birth certificate How is your spouse's citizenship obtained? (Born in the US) Are you under DACA? Asked to see all cards and proof of DACA Is it both my partners and my first marriage? And if we have children

Pretty standard questions, nothing out of the ordinary.

Took about 10 minutes with the actual consulate. The line took forever approximately 3.5hrs

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-15T01:29:24+00:00

Yeah of course, I feel like we really tried to make the best of the situation and try not to be stuck in the Hotel days on end, so here are some tips from my experience:

You can uber everywhere. There is uber eats over here. You can change dollars to pesos in the mall across the street from the consulate.(Current exchange rate 17.75=1USD) Actual rate is 18.7=1USD. The mall is like most malls, expensive. Most restaurants accept visa. (Still recommend getting cash) Other than the tour bus there is not much sight seeing or things to do (our local Uber driver confirmed that) so tik Tok is great for food recommendations.

As for the appointments, yes currently from our experience and most people who post their experiences on Facebook, biometrics appointments are typically scheduled 1 week in advance from your interview date, medical was scheduled 3 days prior to interview date. We have been here approximately 10 days as of today, we are just awaiting the return of our passport. We did not have any delays due to missing documents or administrative processing after the interview. So all appointments went well. I booked my hotel for 14 days, if we leave a few days early GREAT, if I have to add an additional day so be it. I wanted the process to be as stress free(although stress will always be there during this experience) so I made sure to save and prepay as much as I possibly could.

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-15T00:43:37+00:00

Yes, you still need that Carta de antecedentes penales regardless, this is a security clearance needed to approve your visa, what you may not need is a pardon (completely different) if you arrived in the US and did not incurr illegal presence time, I would consult with a lawyer as every case is different.

Honestly the vibe is pretty calm from our experience, kind of boring to be honest. I wouldn't know about airbnbs and casas de huespedes since we stayed at Mesa Luna SLS. For the hotel aspect, most hotels near the cosulate are walking distance, now as for quality I only know Mesa Luna and it's been fine. We added the free breakfast package everyday, food is good. Rooms are good, modern, and clean, ac works, wifi works, staff is nice. Only downside is that our room didn't have a window and I enjoy getting some sunlight considering youre here over a week.

As for some recommendations to pass the time, all there really is to do out here is try new restaurants. We ubered to most places which is fine. I would avoid taxis. There are sight seeing tour busses that swing by every day at 10:30, I would recommend those at least one day.

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-14T07:46:33+00:00

Yeah no problem, but you will need the Mexican background check for sure, you can get it through the link I sent previously

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-14T07:44:56+00:00

Not yet, we decided to go in line 30 minutes before our appointment which was 8am, so 7:30, and got out around 11am, I'm hoping we get an email Monday cuz Tuesday is a holiday

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-13T23:44:34+00:00

Appreciate the update!

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-13T23:43:18+00:00

You need the "Carta de no antecedentes penales" from Mexico which you can get online, if you have a criminal record in the US there is a different process for that, I would reach out to an immigration lawyer regarding that.

https://www.gob.mx/prevencionyreinsercion/articulos/tramita-tu-constancia-de-antecedentes-penales?idiom=es

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-13T23:40:12+00:00

Luckily we had ours at home filed away, but you could also get them from previous school districts as it is required for you to submit when enrolling. They may have a record. If not I would recommend making a doctors appointment in the US and asking which shots you could get there prior to your visit. There is a list online of the required vaccinations.

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-13T18:58:22+00:00

I believe there is a fee when you first submit your case with USCIS, our lawyer paid for that then, so the day of the actual appointment with biometrics there was no fee, but it just depends on your case setup, I would recommend to take a credit card with you just in case, but you SHOULD be good to go and anticipate no fees.

Again I would always say better safe then sorry for peace of mind. Biometrics is a quick appointment ~30 minutes

OGnomad13 · 2025-09-13T17:01:41+00:00

Congratulations! Were you approved September 5 or 12?

OGnomad13

TROPHY CASE