Department of State Resumes Appointment System for Third Country Nationals

The Department of State (DOS) has resumed the telephonic and online Visa Appointment Reservation System (NVARS) for Third Country Nationals (TCN) at border posts in Mexico and Canada. However, individuals who are nationals from one of the countries designated by the DOS for additional screening will most likely not be allowed to apply for a nonimmigrant visa in Mexico or Canada.

In Mexico, the U.S. Consulates in Ciudad Juarez and Nogales are accepting E visa applications from TCNs. The U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez is discouraging applicants that originally entered the U.S. on B-1/B-2 visas, or those who entered with a visa waiver, from applying for nonimmigrant visas at this time; unless they are applying for an E visa. Processing times for E visas is approximately 3 to 4 weeks. The U.S. Consulates in Nogales, Mexico and Calgary, Canada are currently not following those restrictions on individuals who originally entered on B-1/B-2 visas or under the visa waiver program.