After The Interview
The standard procedure is that you will receive your passport by DHL at the office you have chosen at the moment of your application. Allow 4 to 7 business days to go pick it up. To follow your status, please visit the DHL website in Mexico (English)
Only in cases of emergencies that you will have discussed with the consular officer will you be invited to pick up your passport at 4pm the next day at the Embassy.
Administrative Processing
If your visa application was refused with a "214 (b)" notation, it is a final refusal for this application. Section 214(b)* denials are not permanent. If you have new information or if your overall circumstances have changed significantly, you may reapply. We recommend waiting six months to reapply. Applicants who provide identical information in a second interview rarely get a different result.
If your visa application was refused with a "221 (g)" notation for further administrative processing, please read the instructions below before checking your case status.
1 - If you have received a white handout, it will let you know which document you need to bring to the Embassy to complete your file
2 - If you have received a yellow handout, your case is in Administrative Processing, which takes at least 60 business days to resolve. If additional information is needed, an Embassy representative will contact you directly via the email you provided on your application document. If you do not hear from the Embassy after 60 business days, you need to follow up by sending an email to: MexCityAdminProcess@state.gov with the following information: full name (as it appears on the passport); passport number; date of birth and date of your interview at the Embassy.
Working with DHL
All passports with visas and Border Crossing Cards (BCCs) will be returned to the applicant via courier. The courier service is provided through DHL, at no additional cost to the applicant.
At the time of your application you have designated a precise DHL office for retrieval of your passport. Allow 4 to 7 days to go pick it up. To follow your status, please visit the DHL website with your Airway Bill number. The document status information only appears once your personal documents have been returned by the Consular Section for shipment to your designated DHL location.
Please note: Passports not claimed within 30 days of delivery to the selected DHL location will be returned to the ASC.
More information
Once the documents are ready for pickup, the applicant(s) 18 years and older must bring official identification to the selected courier location within 30 days to retrieve the documents. The applicant can also present the Waybill (AWB) Number in addition to the official identification.
For more information on the retrival of your passport at DHL, please visit the DHL website.
Status Tracking
The following status messages will be available to assist in tracking the applicants' documents:
- In Transit
The applicant’s documents have been picked up from the Consular Section by DHL.
- Ready for Pick-up at Courier Location
The applicant's documents are available for pickup at the DHL location that was selected. Passports not claimed within 30 days of delivery to the selected DHL location will be returned to the ASC.
- Delivered
The applicant's documents have been given to them at the DHL location that was selected.
- No Package Available for Pickup
At this time the system does not show that there are documents en route or available for pickup. Please check again at a later time.
Entering and Exiting the United States
A U.S. visa gives you permission to travel to the United States, but does not guarantee your entrance or determine the length of time you will be allowed to stay. An immigration officer at the point of entry makes those decisions.
When you arrive, an immigration officer will review your passport, visa, and I-94 arrival and departure card to verify if and how long you can be admitted to the U.S. The immigration officer will capture your photo and your fingerprints just like during the visa interview process. If you are approved, you will be directed to the baggage and customs inspection areas to collect your luggage.
In some cases, an immigration officer may direct you to the secondary inspection area for further questions. During secondary inspection, a second immigration officer will review your case and ask you about your travel and background.
For detailed information on arriving in the U.S., please visit the following websites:
- Filling Out Form I-94
- Admission into the United States: Q & A
- More Info on All Aspects of the Arrival Process
- Complaints about the Arrival or Inspection Process
- Frequently Asked Questions about U.S. Arrivals
- Lost/Stolen Passports, Visas, and I-94s
Prohibited Items
After you collect your luggage and are cleared through passport and visa inspection, you must clear any goods that you brought with you through the customs inspection area. For more details, please visit:
- Clearing Goods Through Customs (PDF 116KB)
For information on what goods you can and cannot bring into the country and the fees you may have to pay, please visit:
Departing the U.S. / I-94 Return
When you are ready to depart the U.S., you should plan additional time into your departure for airline check-in and security screening. If you returned home with your departure record Form I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green) in your passport, your departure was not properly recorded.
If you do not validate your timely departure from the United States, or, if you cannot reasonably prove you departed within the time frame given to you when you entered, the next time you apply for admission to the U.S., Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may conclude you remained in the U.S. beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, your visa may be subject to cancellation or you may be returned immediately to your foreign point of origin.
For the most current procedures on turning in your I-94 in order to correct your travel record, please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection site.