Each visa application is unique. Most applicants are required to schedule two appointments to apply for a nonimmigrant visa. The first appointment will be at the Applicant Service Center (ASC) during which the applicant will be fingerprinted, a photograph for the visa will be taken, and in some cases documentation will be submitted. The second appointment will be at the consular section, during which a consular officer will interview the applicant.

In limited cases visa applicants are not required to schedule a consular interview. In other cases, visa application documents can be submitted on behalf of the applicant at the ASC. Please follow the instructions given to determine what the appropriate process will be to submit your visa application.

Note: If the applicant needs his/her passport returned within 2 weeks of submitting the application, please select to schedule an ASC appointment and a Consular interview.

Determine if Personal Appearance is Required

• The applicant must be a Mexican citizen, have a valid Mexican passport, and
• The applicant cannot be applying for an E3 visa, a T visa, a U visa, a P, or H2 Temporary Work Visa; an annotated B1 visa to work as a Domestic Employee in the United States; or an L-1 visa applied for on the basis on a blanket petition.
• Has not have been arrested or convicted for a crime anywhere in the world, nor has had a U.S. immigration violation
• Age Requirements:
• The applicant must be 80 years of age or older.
  – OR –
• The applicant must be under 7 years of age, and will not have reached their 7th birthday at the time the application is submitted. Additionally, both parents must be Mexican and at least one parent must hold a valid visa.

If all the statements above apply to the applicant(s), then the applicant is not required to apply in person. An appointment will need to be made to for his/her application to be submitted at the ASC.

Determine if Eligible for Renewal

• The applicant must be a Mexican citizen, with a valid Mexican passport, and
• The applicant cannot be applying for an E3 visa, a T visa, a U visa, a P, or H2 Temporary Work Visa; an annotated B1 visa to work as a Domestic Employee in the United States; or an L-1 visa applied for on the basis on a blanket petition.
• Has not have been arrested or convicted for a crime anywhere in the world, nor has had a U.S. immigration violation
• If the applicant is renewing a visa:
• The previous visa must be in the same applicant name, date of birth, place of birth and nationality and same visa category. (Note: If an applicant’s name has changed from their previous visa from married to maiden name, or maiden to married name, they must provide the other name on the DS-160 application as an "alias.")
• The previous visa must be still in the applicant's possession.
• The previous visa must be still valid, or expired less than 12 months from the day the application is submitted.
• If a work or student visa, the previous visa must be for the same institution/company.
• The applicant must have been at least 7 years of age at the time his/her last visa was issued.

If all the statements regarding renewal of a visa above apply to the applicant(s), then:

The applicant must come in person to an ASC appointment if the visa being renewed was issued prior to January 1, 2008.

– OR –

The applicant is not required to apply in person if the visa being renewed was issued on or after January 1, 2008. An appointment will need to be made to for his/her application to be submitted at the ASC.

All other applicants will be required to schedule an ASC appointment and a Consular interview, and attend in person.