Visa information

• Mexican Visas
  • Early application is highly recommended.
  • Only Mexican authorities can issue Mexican visas.
  • Mexican visas can only be applied for and processed at Mexican embassies or consulates.
  • Mexican authorities do not authorize any type of external management service, under any circumstance, for processing visas.
  • If you require a visa for Mexico, please contact your nearest Mexican embassy.

• Travelling via the USA

Important information if traveling via the USA to Mexico: For delegates traveling via the USA, please note that transit visa (“C” visa for brief layovers and transit) appointments may be significantly delayed. Please ensure that you check your visa requirements and appointment availability before booking your ticket.

We have been in contact with the US Consulate which has offered the following advice:   

•  Confirm that an in-person appointment is actually needed (if you have had a US visa before it may not be required, per below, and you can simply mail in your passport for a new visa without an interview.)
• Make an appointment as soon as you are able to do so, even if it’s after your intended travel date. Then keep refreshing the appointment page as cancellations occur and spots open up frequently. Most people successfully schedule earlier appointments this way.
• Remember that travel to the U.S. currently requires that you be fully vaccinated against COVID. See below. Up to date pre-departure COVID testing requirements are posted on our Embassy website at: https://za.usembassy.gov/visas/.  Your airline’s testing requirements may differ, so check those too.
• Can I renew my visa without an interview? You may be able to submit your U.S. visa application without needing to appear for an interview based on age (under age 14 or over age 80) or if you are renewing a visa of the same classification.  To qualify for the latter, your U.S. visa must have been issued in South Africa and expired no more than 24 months ago; you must have provided 10 fingerprints at your last interview; you must have been previously issued a full-validity U.S. visa; your visa has not been lost, stolen or revoked; your visa was not annotated with “Clearance Received,” and have the same SEVIS number (for student visas).  Please note that L-1 applicants are not eligible for interview waiver if they are renewing their applications with a Blanket L approval.  Eligibility is determined based on the answers provided to questions during the appointment scheduling process on https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-za/niv.  However, consular officers reserve the right to request an interview for any visa applicant.  If you have any questions, please call +27 87 550 2160.  Applicants who qualify for mail-in visa renewals or interview waiver applications should note that processing takes about two weeks (about 7-10 working days, not including weekends and holidays) from the time the applicant drops off the application materials with DHL to the time we return the passport and printed visa to DHL for delivery to the applicant.
• How can I request an expedited visa appointment?  All expedited appointment requests must be made online at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-za/niv. Applicants needing expedited appointments must first booking the next available appointment at any of the consulates general on the website and then request an expedited appointment at the consulate general of their choice through the website. If you have any questions regarding the online appointment system, please contact the Visa Information Service Center by calling +27 87 550 2160. Customer service center agents are available Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm local time.  
• COVID Vaccination Requirement:  Effective November 8, 2021, President Biden introduced a global vaccination requirement that all adult foreign nationals (age 18 and older) traveling to the United States be required to demonstrate proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 to their airline prior to boarding a flight. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website explains that, for purposes of entry into the United States, the accepted vaccines will include FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines. Your airline’s testing requirements may differ, so kindly check those too.