US Visa Fee Payment in Mexico, Best Location, Processing Time

You can apply US visa renewal in Mexico except for B1/B2 and H2 visas. The visa renewal should be in the same US visa category to be eligible for an interview in Mexico.

First-time visa stamping in Mexico is allowed only if you have a previous visa in the same category. This previous visa can be valid or expired.

Examples:

• F1 & F2 are same F visa category
• H1B & H4 – H visa category
• L1A, L1B & L2 – L visa category
• E3 & E3D – E visa category.

If you want to get a visa stamp for H1B and currently have an F1 visa in your passport, then you are not eligible.

Passport Processing Time in Mexico

You can expect your passport with stamped visa after an interview in this location as per real-life experiences:

• Same-day passport pickup is available at Nogales and Nuevo Laredo in Mexico.
• Next day after visa interview – Tijuana, Hermosillo & Mexico City
• 2nd day after visa interview – Matamoros
• 2nd or 3rd day after visa interview – Monterrey & Ciudad Juarez

Best Location – Approval Rates

We have tried and tested Venkat & Ernesto stamping in Mexico services and they recommend these Mexico locations based on their experience for smooth visa approvals.

#1 F1 (Masters & Phd), F2, F2 to F1 (O), F1 to F2 visa renewals

Monterrey is best, followed by Nuevo Laredo, Nogales, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Hermosillo and then Guadalajara.

They recommend avoiding Hermosillo if you have been on an F1 visa for more than 5 years or are doing 2nd masters.

#2 H1B & H4 / L1A, L1B & L2 / E3 & E3D Visa

If you are working as a contractor for a third party company, your first choice should be Nogales followed by Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, Tijuana, Monterrey, Hermosillo, Mexico City, and Ciudad Juarez.

For all EVC, EVVC, and other such client and employer relationship visa stamping for H1B or L or E visa, you should carry client letter and master service agreement copy between each layer.

For full-time employment, there is no specific embassy that’s better than others. You can choose any.

The general guidance is to avoid Guadalajara for all visa interviews in this category. You should avoid Hermosillo for H1B to H4 and H4 to H1B change of status stamping.

Visa Fees Payment

US embassy in Mexico does not accept visa fees payments by credit or debit cards at this time. You have to pay US visa interview fees in cash to any Citi Banamex or Scotiabank branch. The Mexican bank would accept Mexican Pesos or will convert your US dollars to pesos.

The biggest hurdle in stamping in Mexico is the MRV fee payment and that too has to be made an in-person visit to Bank location.

Sensing the opportunity, many third party companies have started providing “stamping in Mexico” as a service. They help you with visa fees payment in Mexico and even take care of your boarding, lodging in Mexico.

If you want to handle Mexico fees payment yourself, then

1. Create a user account on the official US embassy website here.
2. Add your information to complete the registration.
3. Continue with the visa scheduling until you arrive at the Payment page.
4. Select Pay by Cash on the payments page.
5. Download, print, and follow the Cash payment instruction sheet.

Remember that you do need the visa fees payment slip to carry for your visa interview. The visa fee payment generally gets activated within hours of payment and then you can book the appointment.

Form 221G in Mexico

You can be issued form 221g in Mexico and may have to wait there. In most cases, the client verification is done within 1 to 3 weeks and your visa is issued.

But, in other cases, where your DUI or OPT case status checks are required, it can take more than 3 weeks too. The visa processing time varies with each case.

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