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Are you interested in obtaining a US tourist visa? The Official US Visa Information and Appointment Services have published the approximate dates for first-time appointments if you begin the process in November 2026.
Appointment dates for first-time visas:
- Ciudad Juárez: 26 de noviembre de 2026.
- Guadalajara: 12 de mayo de 2027.
- Hermosillo: 18 de noviembre de 2026.
- Matamoros:1 de junio de 2027.
- Mérida: 12 de enero de 2027.
- Ciudad de México: 14 de diciembre de 2026.
- Monterrey: 1 de abril de 2027.
- Nogales: 23 de noviembre de 2026.
- Nuevo Laredo: 7 de enero de 2027.
- Tijuana: 2 de febrero de 2027.
Requirements for applying for a US visa for the first time:
Valid Mexican passport: It is essential to have a valid passport before starting the visa process, as you will need the passport number to complete the DS-160 form and present it at the CAS and during the consular interview.
DS-160 form and $185 USD payment: The first step is to fill out the DS-160 form at ceac.state.gov/genniv. Upon completion, you will receive a barcode to track the status of your application.
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CAS requirements: The Applicant Service Center (CAS) requires that you schedule an appointment at ais.usvisa-info.com/es-mx/niv to have your photo and biometric data taken. You must bring:
- Pasaporte mexicano vigente
- Página de confirmación del formulario DS-160
- Hoja de confirmación de la cita impresa
Interview requirements: On the day of your interview at the embassy or consulate, present the printed confirmation of the DS-160 form and your valid passport. It is also recommended to bring the appointment confirmation and the payment receipt. You are not allowed to enter with electronic devices.
Proof of ties to Mexico: During the interview, you must demonstrate that you will return to Mexico after your trip, in accordance with Section 214(b) of the INA. Ties can include work, family, and studies.
“Permanent” or “indefinite” visas are no longer valid. All have a clearly marked expiration date. After that date, the visa is no longer valid and you must submit a new application to renew it, as indicated by the Embassy. Generally, visas are granted with a validity of up to 10 years, but a consular officer may reduce this period to five years, one year, or even a single trip, based on the information provided by the applicant.
It is important to keep in mind that the validity of a visa does not determine the time you can remain in the United States. Each time you enter the country, the Customs and Border Protection immigration officer will determine the allowed length of stay on that occasion.
Most of the time, the officer grants a stay of up to 180 days (or 6 months) in the United States with a tourist visa.
If you are granted a stay of up to 6 months, you can enjoy the United States for that entire time even if you only said in the interview that you were going for a week or a month. Once you have been granted a period, you can take advantage of it.
You can also return to your country at the time you originally planned, even if you are granted half a year.
Note: It is possible that the CBP officer will give you a shorter period of stay. Do not overstay.
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