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Effective July 1, all E visa adjudications in Mexico
will be centralized in three visa posts and all supporting
documents must be presented in a standardized format.
The U.S. Mission in Mexico has announced two changes to its E
visa processing procedures, both effective July 1. First, all E
visa adjudications in Mexico will be centralized in three visa
posts: Mexico City, Monterrey, and Tijuana. E visa processing will
no longer be accommodated at other consular locations in Mexico.
This change will impact both principal E visa applicants as well as
accompanying family members. Second, posts in Mexico that accept E
visa applications will require that all submissions of documents in
support of the visa application be organized and presented in a
standardized format described on the U.S. Embassy in
Mexico's website.
These changes will affect the current E visa scheduling system
in the following ways:
Scheduling of appointments and payment of fees will continue to
be done through online services and call centers.
E visa applicants (principals and derivatives) may continue to
choose any the 14 Applicant Service Centers (ASCs) throughout
Mexico to provide the required biometrics (digital photographs and
fingerprints).
The ASC will then schedule appointments for interviews in one
of the three processing posts—Mexico City, Monterrey, or
Tijuana—based on applicant's preference and
appointment availability.
Documents in support of the application, organized according
the provided guidelines, may be submitted in person at the ASC in
Mexico City, Monterrey, or Tijuana, or mailed directly by the
applicant to the visa section that will conduct the interview and
adjudicate the visa.
Why Is This Happening?
E visas are an important visa classification for Mexican
businesses and individuals that are seeking to invest in or trade
with the United States. A properly managed E visa program can be a
valuable tool for Mexican-owned businesses in the United States to
secure employment authorized work visas for critical employees,
managers, and executives who are Mexican citizens.
The U.S. Mission in Mexico believes that these changes will
result in increased efficiency and improved quality of
adjudications. "Improved quality of adjudications" likely
means that these changes will assist consular officers in applying
greater scrutiny to applications, including through enhanced fraud
detection, verification of material submitted in support of the
applications, inquiries into legitimacy of funds, and other factors
intended to determine the merits of an application.
What Does This Mean for Me or My Business?
Applicants can expect that this additional scrutiny will extend
processing times. Applicants should also be prepared for requests
for additional information before an application is adjudicated. In
addition, applicants who are applying to renew E-1 or E-2 visas
that have expired or that are about to expire can expect that their
applications will be reviewed carefully to assess whether the
representations made at the time of the initial E visa registration
with respect to the nature of the business or investment have in
fact been realized.
Copyright 2012. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. All Rights
Reserved.
This article is provided as a general informational service
and it should not be construed as imparting legal advice on any
specific matter.
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