The State Department Visa Office has confirmed that the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez ("CJ") will cease taking appointments for third country national ("TCN"), i.e. nationals who are not Mexican, nonimmigrant visa processing effective November 1, 2002. The National Visa Appointment Reservation System ("NVARS") appointment system shows no more appointments available in CJ after that date. TCN no longer have the option to process at this border post, leaving the U.S. consulates in Canada as the only alternative border posts for visa processing.

CJ will continue to accept applications from all residents of its district, principally Chihuahua, plus the states of Durango and Coahuila. CJ will also continue to accept applications from any TCN who is a resident in Mexico (i.e., holds an FM-3) and from TCNs who live in the general El Paso area (southern New Mexico/west Texas) and work in Ciudad Juarez, on presentation of their FM-3 as proof of residence.