The United States Embassy in Mexico has announced the opening of new appointments to process the visitor visa in 2024, which will be assigned to people who had their process scheduled for 2025 or a later date. The program will be available to those who are going to process their B1/B2 visa for the first time, and aims to reduce the waiting time for thousands of applicants. The selection will be carried out randomly. Those who are chosen will receive an email from the US embassy inviting them to reschedule their appointment for a closer date. Instructions for making the change on the portal will be included there. The process is free, so it is recommended to avoid falling into fraud and scams by third parties who promise to get an advance appointment in exchange for payment. If you receive a notification and do not find available spaces, the embassy recommends verifying “This program, and the efforts of the consulates in Mexico who have been granting visas in historic numbers, will allow more Mexicans to travel to the United States in the coming months,” According to official figures, the embassy and nine consulates in Mexico granted 2.3 million visas in 2023, the largest amount so far. These numbers represent an increase of 35% compared to 2022, and are equivalent to 22% of the visas issued worldwide.
B1/B2 visa specifications
The B1/B2 tourist visa is a document for non-immigrants that allows entry to the United States for business, tourism or medical treatment. The maximum stay is six months, and it restricts its holders from studying or getting a job in the country. This visa is mandatory for Mexicans to enter US territory by air and land.
Rates
The visitor visa for Mexicans costs 185 US dollars (about 3,085 Mexican pesos). Payment is made after completing the DS-160 application and registering in the US Department of State's Visa Information and Appointment System. This process is mandatory and is not a guarantee that the visa will be authorized. Although there are companies dedicated to helping with the US visa process for an additional cost, the authorities encourage you to make the applications in person.
Requirements to advance the visa appointment
The procedure enabled on March 20 applies only to people applying for their visa for the first time. Applicants must have made the corresponding payment for the B1/B2 visa in the last year. Receive notification via email from donotreply@usvisa. info.com, the official account of the embassy. Subscribe to the EL PAÍS México newsletter and the WhatsApp channel and receive all the key information on current events in this country.