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Booking a U.S. Visa Appointment in Mexico
Applicants in Mexico book through AIS at ais.usvisa-info.com — not USTravelDocs, which is a frequent source of confusion because search results mix the two. Most applicants need two appointments: a biometrics visit at a CAS (Centro de Atención al Solicitante), and the consular interview itself.
Neither can be booked until the DS-160 is submitted and the visa fee has activated. The general sequence is on how to book a U.S. visa appointment; this page covers what is specific to Mexico.
Ten posts, and they are not interchangeable in practice
Mexico has more U.S. consular posts than any other country:
| Post | City |
|---|---|
| Embassy | Mexico City |
| Consulate General | Ciudad Juárez |
| Consulate General | Guadalajara |
| Consulate General | Hermosillo |
| Consulate General | Matamoros |
| Consulate General | Mérida |
| Consulate General | Monterrey |
| Consulate General | Nogales |
| Consulate General | Nuevo Laredo |
| Consulate General | Tijuana |
Each keeps its own calendar, so waiting periods differ enormously between cities — often by many months. This is the single biggest lever an applicant in Mexico has: checking several posts before committing is worth the few minutes it takes.
The trade-off is travel. You attend both the CAS visit and the interview in person, so a post that is six hours away and three months sooner may or may not be the better deal depending on your circumstances.
The two-appointment structure
- CAS (biometrics and document intake). Fingerprints and a photograph. No interview and no decision happens here. It is normally scheduled before the consular appointment.
- Consular interview. At the embassy or consulate you selected.
Both are booked through the same AIS profile. Bring the DS-160 confirmation page with the barcode to both.
Why the booking screen shows nothing
In rough order of frequency:
- The fee has not activated. Mexican payment routes vary in activation time; check the method you used on the Mexico fee guide before contacting anyone.
- That post genuinely has no availability. Try the other posts before assuming the system is broken.
- You are on USTravelDocs rather than AIS. A profile on the wrong platform will never show Mexican appointments — see which appointment site is yours.
- The DS-160 was saved but never submitted, so no confirmation number exists to enter.
Rescheduling
Rescheduling happens in the same AIS profile. Posts commonly allow around three reschedules before the fee is at risk, and missing an appointment without rescheduling beforehand can void it, requiring the fee to be paid again.
The fee is generally usable for one year from payment and is tied to your passport and receipt rather than to a particular DS-160.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose any consulate in Mexico?
Yes. You select the post when creating your profile, and you may pick one other than your nearest. Because waiting periods vary widely between Mexican posts, this is genuinely worth comparing — but you must travel there for both appointments.
Is the appointment site the same as in other countries?
No. Mexico uses AIS at ais.usvisa-info.com, while much of Asia and the Middle East uses USTravelDocs. Profiles and fee receipts do not transfer between them, or between countries.
I paid the fee but cannot schedule. What is wrong?
Almost always the receipt has not activated yet. Check the timing for your payment method on the Mexico fee guide. Paying again does not speed anything up and is not refunded.
Do children need their own appointment?
Every applicant needs their own DS-160 and their own fee. Whether a child must appear in person depends on age and the post's rules, and some are exempt from the interview.
Can I get an earlier appointment?
There is a free emergency or expedited request, decided by the post on the evidence you provide, and a separate paid $750 expedited interview fee with narrow eligibility. Comparing waiting periods across Mexico's ten posts is often faster than either.