U. S. Consulate, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico
The U. S. Consulate in Nogales, Mexico, has agreed to serve third country nationals who are seeking U.S. visas. However, the Consulate has limited time available to process non-immigrant visa applications, and therefore Consular officials have asked that we are careful about recommending that students approach the Consulate for service. For this reason, we request that students come to the PFSS office for advisement before making plans to travel to Nogales. After reviewing your situation and determining that your needs would best be met by going to Nogales, we will issue a letter of introduction to present at the Consulate with your application.
Anticipated expenses
Fee for appointment Visa application fee Visa processing fee INS inspection fee $4 (paid by credit card) $45 (to be paid at bank, see below) (varies depending on home country, pay at Consulate) $6 (to be paid at port of entry for inspection)
Make appointment
The first step for applying for a visa in Nogales is to schedule an appointment. Appointments are scheduled for Tuesday or Thursday mornings. The number of appointments is very limited. You should call 011-52-4-788-7070 and be prepared with a MasterCard or Visa credit card to charge the cost of the call (40 Mexican pesos, approximately $4.30 depending on the current rate of exchange). You may call Monday – Friday from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Central Time, as this number is located in Mexico City). The number is often busy, so it may take several attempts to get through. Early morning tends to be the best time to call. There are English-speaking operators available to assist you. You will be asked to supply your passport number and date of birth. The operator will instruct you about the application. It may be suggested that you go to Nogales the day before and stay overnight if you have an early appointment. Even though your appointment may be at 8:30 AM and the bank does not open until 9:00 AM, it is not necessary for you to arrive the day before and stay overnight. The Consulate has informed us that students should come on the day of the appointment, taking care of the banking first and arriving late for the appointment if necessary.
Check to see Mexican visa is needed
Check with the Mexican Consulate in Phoenix to see if it is necessary for you to obtain a visa to enter Mexico. The telephone number is (602) 242-7398. You may be told you need to obtain an FM-3 visa, which can cost $109 (this amount can change, and depends on your home country). If you need a Mexican visa you will be asked to drop off your passport, 2 passport pictures (front view) and the fee in cash. Your visa will be ready for pick up the next day. The hours at the Mexican Consulate are 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM. It is located at 1990 W. Camelback Rd, Suite 110 in Phoenix.
Documents needed
Essential items: I-20 or IAP-66 valid passport financial certification (original and dated within the last 6 months) passport photo Form OF-156 (will be available at the Consulate, ask for English version) It would be beneficial to take along a Letter of Enrollment and transcripts (available upon request in the Registrar’s Office, allow 2 – 3 days), original admissions letter, scholarship letter (if applicable), and any documentation to support your application.
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Getting to Nogales
The trip to Nogales takes approximately 3 hours. Take I-10 to Tucson, then I-19 to Nogales. Continue southbound on I-19 until it terminates in downtown Nogales, Arizona. Park in any of the pay lots on the U.S. side of the border (cost is approximately $4 per day) and walk across the border to Nogales, Mexico. Please note that the weather in Nogales is cooler than in Arizona desert areas like Phoenix. During the cooler months of the year temperatures may drop below freezing, particularly in the morning. Be sure to dress for the weather since you may have to wait outside for a period of time before entering the Consulate building.
What to do when you reach the border
It is unlikely that anyone will check your documents as you enter Mexico. However, in the event that someone does stop you to check your documents, be sure to retain your I-94 card. It is important that you do not relinquish it, since you will need to have it as you reenter the U.S. If you are changing status, be sure to get a new I-94 card with the new status stamped on it as you reenter the U.S. You can give up your old I-94 if the immigration officials ask for it at that time. Taxis are available immediately upon entry to Mexico. Taxi fares are subject to negotiation, but expect to pay approximately $10. Ask taxi to take you to Banamex Bank near the consulate, which opens at 8:30 AM. You will pay the $45 visa fee and receive a receipt to take to the consulate. You may want to request the taxi to wait for you to finish your banking so you can be driven from there to the Consulate. There is another bank within walking distance of the border but it does not open until 9:00 AM. If you use this bank, take the taxi to the Consulate from there. When you arrive at the U.S. Consulate, you will check in with the guards who have a list of those having appointments for that day. Once inside you will need to fill out the OF-156 form (ask for English version) and follow the Consular instructions. You may be required to pay a visa processing fee which varies in amount depending on your home country. This fee can be paid by cash or credit card at the Consulate. It is advisable to take cash enough to cover this expense in case the phone lines for credit cards are unavailable. They do not take debit cards. If the visa is approved, you will be able to pick up your passport with the visa in it by noon.
Return to U.S.
Take the taxi back to the port of entry and stop at the U.S. INS inspection station where your documents will be examined. You will pay a $6 inspection fee. If you have obtained an F-1 visa so that you can change your status, be sure to insist to have an inspection of your paperwork. Before you enter the country, be sure that pages 1 and 3 of your I-20 are stamped with the official INS stamp. You should receive pages 3 and 4 of the I-20 along with a new I-94 with F-1 noted. If you obtained the same F-1 visa status you had previously, you may enter the U.S. using the same I-94 you had before you left U.S. If you are a J-1 student, you will have the IAP-66 form stamped and receive an I-94 with J-1 noted. Upon return to Thunderbird, be sure to bring your new visa and new I-94 (if you received a new one) to the PFSS office and let us copy the forms for your file.
Some helpful points to keep in mind
If you are currently out of status, you will not be eligible to apply at a border post. You would have to apply for a visa in your home country. If you are unsure of your status, check with the PFSS office. Be aware that visa applicants may be more likely to encounter difficulties at the time of interview when applying for a visa outside their home district. Consular officers at border posts will deny visas whenever they believe there are fraud indicators present, or their lack of knowledge of local conditions and familiarity with documents in the applicant's home country prevents them from properly adjudicating the case. Bring cash in smaller denominations ($20, $10, $5, and $1 bills instead of $100 bills). Bring enough to cover all fees and expenses in case the credit card machines are not operating. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, palm tops, etc.) are allowed inside the Consulate. Plan to leave them concealed in your vehicle or with a friend if one accompanies you. Bring bottled water with you, however, food and drinks are not allowed inside the Consulate. There is no difference in time zones; Nogales and Phoenix are on the same time. 1/00