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Among the bilateral relations of countries around the world, the relationship between Mexico and the United States is undoubtedly one of the most important. Both the broad binational dimension of economic, commercial, tourist, cultural and academic exchanges, as well as the presence of millions of Mexicans in the United States and millions of Americans who have decided to live or work in different areas of Mexico, demonstrate the enormous significance of the relationship.
One of the institutional elements of the relationship is the granting of visas, residence authorization or work permits that countries grant to formally document such exchanges. Visas are authorizations that a country grants to a foreign citizen to temporarily enter a country and stay for the time established by the visa. While Mexico does not require visas from U.S. tourists and eventually requires the completion of a document, the Multiple Immigration Form, the United States does require a visa for Mexicans to enter the country.
The idea exists that Mexico’s immigration system is designed to attract U.S. citizens easily and quickly –tourism is one reason–, but the United States’ system is specifically designed to deter people who do not have the documents required by the law from entering the U.S. However, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City recently announced significant changes to open appointment dates for the granting of visas to Mexicans to visit the United States for the “purpose of reducing waiting times for interviews and facilitating travel for work, study and pleasure”. This was recently stated by Daria Darnell, the Minister Counselor for Consular and Consulate Affairs at the United States Embassy in Mexico. This initiative is a good sign, which contributes to a continuing strengthening of the bilateral relationship that is so important to both countries.
