TN Visa Delays in Mexico

Posted by cbrownlaw

Update on TN Visa Delay in Mexico

Obtaining a TN visa in Mexico has been streamlined over the past couple of years to only 3 US Consulates – Mexico City, Guadalahara, and Ciudad Juarez. Updates can be found on the Mission Mexico website page. As such, the processing times have been deteriorating, resulting now in delayed visa wait times of 4-6 months for a TN visa!

Mission Mexico does allow for applying for an expedite of the interview once scheduled. However, according to DOS authorities at the AILA conference in Mexico City, Mexico in April 2024, Mission Mexico can receive up to 500 expedite requests per day. So, unless it is truly important, an expedite request will likely be ignored.

Some Solutions to Review

Mexican citizens are permitted to process at ANY US Embassy and not just in Mexico. You would be considered a Third Country National and have to get behind the citizens of that country in terms of a line. However, many smaller countries in the Western Hemisphere have very good processing times from scheduling to Interview Date. This tool through the US Department of State is very helpful for figuring this out.

Mexican citizens with an expired visa in their passport and a valid I-94 (showing TN status) can avoid needing a TN visa if they travel to Mexico for less than 30 days and do not travel to any other country in that time frame. This is called automatic revalidation.  AR does not applying in the following situations:

  • Citizens or nationals of state sponsors of terrorism as determined by the Department of State.  To see the most up-to-date, visit the Department’s website
  • Individuals whose visas have ever been cancelled under INA 222(g)
  • Individuals who entered the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program
  • Individuals applying for a U.S. visa while abroad
  • Individuals who were not admitted to the U.S. on the basis of a nonimmigrant visa

Finally, if in the United States and in need of updating your TN status or changing into TN status, you can avoid international travel altogether by filing for an extension of status or change of status with USCIS. This bypasses any need for a TN visa stamp from a US Embassy. USCIS will adjudicate your TN application on Form I-129 and if approved, will issue you a new I-94.

Conclusion

Plenty of planning is needed to deal with the TN visa delay occurring at the US Embassies in Mexico over the past year such as not traveling to Mexico at all, using another US Embassy nearby, automatic revalidaton, or expediting the appointment. Feel free to call Catherine Brown at 303-322-2117 to further brainstorm and to get the latest updates on the TN visa delay scene in Mexico.