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If you plan to travel to the United States for tourism, shopping, or to visit family, one of the most important steps is to apply for the B1/B2 U.S. visa. However, it is useful to know how long you will have to wait to get a consular interview, especially if it is a first-time application.
The available dates vary depending on the consulate or embassy where the process is carried out. According to the official U.S. Department of State appointment system, those who begin their process during August 2026 could find very different waiting times depending on the city chosen.
¿Cuándo hay citas para visa americana por primera vez en México?
These are the approximate earliest available dates for first-time interviews at U.S. consulates and the embassy in Mexico:
- Nogales: 5 de agosto de 2026.
- Hermosillo: 24 de septiembre de 2026.
- Tijuana: 23 de septiembre de 2026.
- Nuevo Laredo: 5 de octubre de 2026.
- Matamoros: 15 de octubre de 2026.
- Mérida: 22 de octubre de 2026.
- Guadalajara: 23 de octubre de 2026.
- Monterrey: 23 de octubre de 2026.
- Ciudad Juárez: 8 de diciembre de 2026.
- Ciudad de México: 11 de diciembre de 2026.
This means that if you start your application in August 2026, you could get an interview almost immediately in Nogales, while in other places the wait could extend until December.
¿Para qué sirve la visa B1/B2?
Although most people know it as a "tourist visa", the B1/B2 visa allows for various temporary activities in the United States.
Activities permitted under the B1 category (business)
This category is designed for trips related to business activities, including:
Meetings with business associates.
Attending professional, scientific, or educational conventions.
Short-term training.
Business conferences.
Contract negotiations.
Estate management.
Appearances related to litigation.
¿Qué actividades permite la visa B2?
The B2 category is focused primarily on recreational and personal activities.
Among the authorized uses are:
Vacations.
Tourism in parks, beaches, museums, and attractions.
Visits to family or friends.
Shopping in the United States.
Medical treatments.
Participation in social events.
Amateur participation in sports or musical competitions without receiving payment.
Short-term recreational courses that do not grant academic credits.
Shopping, for example, is one of the most common reasons to use this visa, especially among those who live near the border and take advantage of shopping malls in cities like McAllen, El Paso, or Tucson.
Lo que no puedes hacer con una visa de turista
It is important to remember that the B1/B2 visa has clear limits. With this document, the following is not permitted:
- Trabajar en Estados Unidos.
- Estudiar de manera formal para obtener un título.
- Realizar actividades que requieran una visa especializada.
If your goal is to study, work, or carry out specific activities, you must apply for the corresponding immigration category, as the United States has more than 20 types of visas for different purposes.
¿Cuál es el mejor consulado para obtener cita más rápido?
Taking into account the available dates in August 2026, Nogales appears to be the best option for those seeking an immediate interview, followed by Tijuana and Hermosillo, where appointments are available for September. In contrast, Mexico City and Ciudad Juárez present the longest waiting times, with openings until December 2026.
For those who have the flexibility to travel within Mexico, checking availability at different consulates can significantly help reduce waiting times and speed up the process to obtain the U.S. visa.
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