Visa Lawyer Blog
EFFECTIVE 12/17/07 (Posted on AILA Infonet 12/14/07 )
Due to the limitations of the INFOPASS appointment system regarding scheduling options for I-601 waivers under the new I-601 pilot program implemented on March 6, 2007, the USCIS Ciudad Juarez office has been trying to put in place a new system. INFOPASS worked well initially, but due to volume increases, the program could not be modified to push out appointment availability dates as needed to keep up with the high immigrant visa interview rate of the U.S. Consulate. Thus, many waiver applicants were not able to make timely appointments using INFOPASS in order to make travel plans, etc. Please note that both the USCIS office and the U.S. Consulate in Cd. Juarez were receptive to AILA’s concerns and suggestions regarding this process.
Thus, USCIS and the Department of State are ending the use of INFOPASS (effective December 17, 2007) for the I-601 pilot waiver program at Cd. Juarez and changing the process to schedule waiver appointments and provide waiver information through the ” Teletech Call Center ” located in Mexico . This call center is the same center that currently provides information regarding immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, and schedules nonimmigrant visa interview appointments for nonimmigrant visa applicants for Cd. Juarez and certain other U.S. Consulates in Mexico . Thus, appointments will be available, but not necessarily in a two week window. In addition, the U.S. Consulate in Cd. Juarez hopes to eliminate its immigrant visa backlog by the end of March 2008 and has devoted substantial resources to this effort. Further, the USCIS office in Cd. Juarez has already cleared the pre-March 2007 waiver backlog, and is working on waivers filed in April of 2007.
On December 17, 2007, immigrant visa waiver applicants must call the following numbers to obtain information about the waiver process and/or schedule an appointment to submit their waivers. The waiver appointments may only be scheduled for a date three working days after the date of the immigrant visa interview appointment assuming availability.
From M×™xico: 01-900-849-49-49 (12 pesos per minute)
From the US : 1-900-476-1212 ($1.25 per minute)
Calling using a credit card:
From Mexico : 01-477-788-70-70 ($57.50 pesos per call)
From the US : 1-800-919-1754 ($7.00 USD per call)
Waiver applicants may purchase a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for $10.00 USD from any Banamex Bank branch in Mexico and call 01-800-112-25-00. It takes 24 hours for PIN activation.