US visa wait times in Mexico
Mexico has 10 U.S. posts that issue nonimmigrant visas — the embassy in Mexico City plus consulates in Ciudad Juárez, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Matamoros, Mérida, Monterrey, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, and Tijuana. That is the largest U.S. visa operation of any country on this site, and it creates an opportunity most applicants miss: you can book your visitor-visa interview at whichever post has the shortest line.
The table below is refreshed automatically from the State Department’s official wait-times report.
Current wait times at all 10 posts
| U.S. post | Visitor B1/B2 — interview wait | B1/B2 — next appointment | Students (F, M, J) | Work petition (H, L, O, P, Q) | Crew / transit (C, D) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | Not available | 3 Months | 2 Months | 1.5 Months | 1.5 Months |
| Ciudad Juarez | 4 Months | 4 Months | < 0.5 Month | < 0.5 Month | < 0.5 Month |
| Guadalajara | 6 Months | 3.5 Months | < 0.5 Month | 1 Month | 1 Month |
| Hermosillo | 4 Months | 4 Months | 1 Month | 1 Month | 1 Month |
| Matamoros | 5.5 Months | 4 Months | < 0.5 Month | Not available | Not available |
| Merida | Not available | 2.5 Months | 1 Month | 1 Month | 1 Month |
| Monterrey | 4 Months | 1.5 Months | < 0.5 Month | 1 Month | Not available |
| Nogales | Not available | < 0.5 Month | < 0.5 Month | 1 Month | 1 Month |
| Nuevo Laredo | 5 Months | 3.5 Months | 1 Month | < 0.5 Month | < 0.5 Month |
| Tijuana | Not available | 1.5 Months | < 0.5 Month | < 0.5 Month | < 0.5 Month |
Right now, Nogales has the soonest B1/B2 appointment (< 0.5 Month) and Ciudad Juarez the furthest out (4 Months).
Source: U.S. State Department Global Visa Wait Times (source last updated 2026-06-18; retrieved 2026-07-13). Waits are estimates and change without notice — verify at travel.state.gov.
Two different B1/B2 numbers appear because the State Department tracks two things: how long applicants who got interviewed actually waited (interview wait), and when the next open slot is right now (next appointment). “Not available” means that post isn’t offering that visa category at the moment.
How to use the spread between posts
Because Mexico lets B1/B2 applicants book at any post, the table doubles as a shopping list. A Tijuana or Nogales appointment months earlier than Mexico City is a legitimate option if you can travel there — there is no penalty and no extra fee for interviewing away from your home city. Two caveats:
- Student and work-petition visas are also bookable at multiple posts, but smaller posts show “not available” in some categories — check the column for your visa type, not just B1/B2.
- Immigrant visas are the exception. Every green-card interview for Mexico happens at Ciudad Juárez; you cannot shop that one around.
If your travel is genuinely urgent — a medical emergency, a funeral, time-critical business — you can request an expedited appointment through the same scheduling system after paying the visa fee. Approval is at the consulate’s discretion and requires documentation.
Related information
- Mexican consulates in the US — procedures in the other direction (passport renewal, matrícula)
- Form I-129F K-1 fiancé visa
- Paths to legal status
- Wait times in other countries
Last verified: 2026-06-11.
General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.