Statue of Liberty
Visas
How to Apply
Today, as in the past, most travelers to the U.S. must obtain a visa. The process still includes application forms and interviews as well as the collection and cross-checking of names in a highly sophisticated U.S. Government database. Please allow sufficient time to apply for and receive your visa. While individual experience may differ, here are the basic steps you should follow and what you can expect throughout the process.
Visa Appointments in Guadalajara
Click here for Average Appointment Wait Times to learn how long you will have to wait for an appointment.
All applicants should be aware that the times given above are averages, and that the processing time of a specific case can vary due to individual circumstances and other special requirements.
Getting an Appointment
Make an appointment to visit the U.S. Consulate General well ahead of your planned travel (keeping in mind the above-mentioned appointment wait and delivery times, that the visa section is closed on holidays and demand is higher during the months preceding Christmas, Easter and summer holidays).
To make an appointment in the Consulate General in Guadalajara, you can now click on the following to access the new Internet Visa Appointment Service.
Or, if you prefer, you can schedule your appointment by phone. Please call:
Within Mexico: 01-900-849-4949 from anywhere in Mexico, including Guadalajara [a charge will appear on your telephone bill].
Within Mexico: 01-477-788-7070 [you will be charged a service fee, plus a long-distance fee through your credit card].
Within Mexico: 01-800-112-8500 [provided you have bought a PIN at Banamex. More information about this option.]
From the U.S.: 1-900 -476-1212 Your telephone company will bill you for the long-distance call.
From the U.S.: 1-800-919 1754 and a service charge will be billed through your credit card.
Complaints: visasgdl@state.gov
Call Center Hours of Operation
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Monday through Friday from 7 A.M. to 9 P.M.
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Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M.
The caller must have information from the applicant’s passport available, as the appointment service operator will ask for the full name and number in the passport (Note: the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of the appointment. The appointment service operator will also explain how to pay IN PESOS the $131 U.S. nonrefundable application fee at any BANAMEX branch, and will give you a time and date for your appointment.
Prepare your visa application(s) before coming for your appointment: You will not be allowed to enter without completely filled out application(s).
Your Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form (DS-156) must be filled out on the Internet and printed before arriving for your interview.
If you are a male between 16 and 45 years of age, you must also fill out the Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form (DS-157).
Arrive on time for your visa interview at the U.S. Consulate General.
Parking near the U.S. Consulate General is limited. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to use public transportation to avoid difficulties. The Pre-Tren bus stops at Av. Vallarta & Progreso, one block from the U.S. Consulate.
Only visa applicants applying for a visa are allowed to enter. Minors (up to 20 years of age), elderly and handicapped applicants may be escorted.
Please note that you will not be allowed to enter more than 30 minutes prior to the time of your appointment so there is no advantage to arriving at the Consulate too early.
Have your passport, application, and supporting documents ready for your interview with the vice consul.
Plan on waiting 2-4 hours while your information is processed.
For reasons of security, please be advised that no food, drinks, or other prohibited items will be allowed into the Consulate.
Visa Fees
Each applicant for a visitor visa must pay a non-refundable application fee −currently $131 US− paid in PESOS. The fee can be paid at any BANAMEX branch prior to the appointment. You will be asked to present the receipt during the processing and at the interview window.
All Mexican citizens under age 15, who are applying for a B-1/B-2 Border Crossing Card (BBBCC), if a parent or legal guardian has or is applying for a BBBCC or has a Machine Readable multiple-entry B-1/B-2 visa, may pay the peso equivalent of $13.00 US to apply for a visa that expires in ten years or on the child’s 15th birthday, whichever comes first. If the full fee is paid ($131 US), the child may apply for a visa valid for ten years.
For more information on visa fees please go to the Department of State web site.
For Mexicans applying for other than B1/B2 visas and non- Mexicans: Please be sure to consult the Visa Reciprocity Tables to find out if you must pay a visa issuance reciprocity fee. Reciprocity fees must be paid at the U.S. Consulate on the day of your interview. These fees apply to various categories of visas and differ by nationality and the number of years the visa is valid for. They may be paid in dollars, pesos or with a credit card.
A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to the United States port-of entry, and request permission from the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. immigration inspector to enter the United States. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States.