|
Mexico City, October 19, 2006 -- “Welcoming foreign visitors is one of America’s oldest traditions. Every year, millions of tourists and foreign family members and friends of U.S. citizens come to tourist destinations and homes across our country.
However, waiting periods for visa appointments are growing because more and more people want to visit our country. I urge visitors who need visas to apply as soon as possible for their appointments, especially for travel to the United States during the winter and spring holiday periods.
To obtain a visa interview, an applicant should first call to schedule an appointment through our call center at 01-900-849-4949 or at 01-477—788-7070.
The visa application form must now be filled out on the Internet using a computer. Click on this link for more information about how to fill out the form on-line: http://evisaforms.state.gov/
In some cases, travelers who have never had a U.S. visa might have to wait as long as three to five months from the day they request an appointment to the day they actually have their interview. Successful visa applicants will have to wait between four and six weeks for their visas to be delivered.
Visa renewal waiting periods are generally shorter than for first-time applicants, but we encourage all to apply as soon as possible. Current visa holders do not need to wait until their visas expire, but may apply to renew a valid visa prior to its expiration.
Since waiting periods are longest for travelers applying for their visas at our Embassy consular section in Mexico City and the Consulate General in Monterrey, I note that applicants might find shorter waiting periods by scheduling their visa interviews in one of the other eight consulates we have in Mexico. Information on the locations with the shortest wait times can be found at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php or from customer service representatives at the visa call center.
America looks forward to welcoming you.”
|
