Changes in U.S. Treaty Trader and Investor Visas (E visas) Processing

Posted by Norka M. Schell, Esq. 


 US Embassy Press Release 


 Beginning July 1, 2012 the U.S. Mission in Mexico will centralize all E-visas adjudications in Mexico at the visa posts. After Jul1, all review of E visa applications in Mexico will occur at the following three posts: U.S. Embassy in Mexico City; U.S. Consulate General in Monterrey; and U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana. 


To facilitate and to ensure an efficient, thorough and transparent review of all E visa applications, all submissions of documents in support of the application must be organized and presented in the standardized format as described for E-1s and E-2s on the U.S. Mission website (mexico.state.gov).


Scheduling of appointments and payment of fees will continue to be done through the US Embassy online services and call center. Applicants may continue to choose any one of the our 14 Applicant Service Centers (ASC) throughout Mexico to provide the required biometrics (digital photographs and fingerprints). The ASC will then schedule appointments for interview in one of the three processing posts, Mexico City, Monterrey or Tijuana, based on applicant's preference and appointment availability. Documents in support of the application may be submitted in person at the ASC in Mexico City, Monterrey or Tijuana or mailed directly by the applicant to the visa section which will conduct the interview and adjudicate the visa. 


Treaty Trader visas (E-1) and Treaty Investor visa (E-2) are non-immigrant visas for nationals of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of friendship, commerce and navigation (which includes Mexico) who wish to go to the United States for one of two purposes: to carry on substantial trade, principally between the United States and the treaty country (E-1); or to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which the national has invested or is in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital (E-2). For additional information about E visas and detail on how to apply, please visit the U.S. Embassy's website (mexico.usembassy.gov).