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Steps for "Third
Country National" to Apply for a U.S. Visa in Mexico or Canada
A “third country national” is a person who is a
legal resident or national of a country other than the United States
(U.S.) or the country in which he/she applies for a U.S. visa stamp. For
some international students and scholars, renewal of a U.S. visa stamp
in Mexico or Canada, instead of their country of legal residence or
citizenship, seems like a convenient option. However, there are some
factors you should consider before making the decision to apply for a
visa renewal in Mexico or Canada as well as some special procedures of
which you should be aware.
Below are steps you should follow in making your
decision to apply for a U.S. visa stamp in Mexico or Canada:
- Consult the Office of
Diversity and International Affairs: Before deciding to apply
for a visa in Mexico or Canada, consult your Office of Diversity &
International Affairs advisor to be certain you are considering all
potential risk factors and have all appropriate visa documents and
signatures needed for the visa application.
- Read the Office of
International Affairs handout on “Travel to Contiguous Territory and
Adjacent Islands; Rules for ‘Automatic Revalidation’ of Visa”
- Consider the Possibility
of a 20-Day Security Clearance: A special security clearance
may be required for nationals of certain countries that may result
in a delay of 20 days or longer in the issuance of a visa. If a
“Security Advisory Opinion” (SAO) is required, you must usually wait
in Mexico or Canada until the clearance is issued. You may not be
able to return as scheduled to resume your duties at UTMB and incur
unforeseen lodging and food costs in an unfamiliar city. For
information about factors that may result in an SAO requirement,
read the Office of International Affairs “Steps to Apply for a U.S.
Visa Abroad”, and visit the web site of the US Department of State
at:
http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/visapolicy/index.html
- Consult an Immigration
Law Firm Offering Third Country Visa Renewal Services: A number
of immigration firms in the Houston area offer consultations
regarding visa renewal in Mexico or Canada. Attorneys with these
firms can review your immigration documentation and consult consular
officials in the country of your planned visa renewal to determine
how likely it is that your visa application will be approved and
whether you may experience a delay in visa issuance due to a
security clearance requirement. They will also accompany you to the
U.S. consulate in Mexico or Canada, although they cannot participate
in the visa interview itself. We strongly recommend this type of
consultation if you are considering a visa renewal in Mexico or
Canada.
- Make a Visa Appointment:
If you are not a resident or national of Mexico or Canada, you must
make a visa appointment over the internet. For visa appointments at
U.S. consular posts in Mexico visit:
http://www.visa-usa.com.mx/default.aspx . For visa appointments
at U.S. consular posts in Canada visit:
http://www.nvars.com .
- Determine Whether You
Need a Mexican or Canadian Visa: Once you receive the visa
appointment confirmation, you will need to travel to Mexico or
Canada to apply for the visa on the appointed date. All nationals of
countries other than the United States, Canada and Mexico must have
a Mexican visitor’s visa to enter that country. For Canada, the
visitors’ visa is required only for certain nationalities. Contact
the nearest consulate of the respective country for information and
application materials:
a. Mexican
Consulate General
4507 San Jacinto St.
Houston, TX 77004
(713) 271 -6800, fax (713) 271 -3201
b. Canadian
Consulate
5847 San Felipe St., Suite 1700
Houston, Texas 77057
(713)821-1440
- Information and
Assistance in Applying for a Visa in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico:
There are affordable services available to help make certain the
trip to and from the consulate go smoothly. One such service is
that of Mr. Victor Garcia:
http://www.victorgarciainternational.com
- Visa Approval Cannot Be
Guaranteed: Remember that the outcome of a visa appointment
cannot be guaranteed. Whether to approve or deny the visa is the
decision of the consular officer. If the visa application is
denied, you should be given the reason(s) for denial in writing.
This may help you prepare for future visa applications.
- Provide Copies of Your
New Visa Stamp and Form I-94 to the Office of Diversity and
International Affairs: Once you return, please visit the Office
of Diversity and International Affairs so that we can make copies of
your new documents. Also, please share information regarding your
experiences in applying for visas overseas or in Mexico or Canada.
Your feedback is helpful to us in advising other international
students and staff.
This web page is
designed to assist UTMB staff. It is not intended to provide
comprehensive immigration information to the general public. For
detailed immigration information, please visit the
U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS) web site.
Office of Diversity
and International Affairs
Rebecca Sealy Hospital,
Suite 1.120
301 University Blvd., Route 0106
Galveston, Texas 77555
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