Will Visa Processing Be Affected by the Pause in Relations with the US Ambassador?

On the morning of Tuesday, August 27, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced in his morning press conference that he will "pause" relations with Ken Salazar, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. The president's statements come amid criticisms the diplomat has made regarding the Judicial Reform, which have caused disagreement between the two.

In this context, thousands of Mexicans have questioned—via social media—what it means that the relationship between López Obrador and Ken Salazar is "paused" and whether this could affect the process of obtaining a U.S. visa. It’s important to mention that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the visa application process has been impacted, causing long wait times for people trying to obtain this document.

Will the Pause with the U.S. Ambassador Affect Visa Processing?

Appointments to apply for a U.S. visa are very difficult to obtain, and when available, it can take several months, even years, to finalize the process. Therefore, President López Obrador’s statements have caused concern among Mexicans who are waiting to secure an appointment for this mandatory document to travel to the United States.

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Amid the speculation already circulating on social media, here’s an explanation of whether the "pause" might affect visa processing.
The "pause" announced by President López Obrador could end once there is a clarification from the U.S. Embassy regarding Mexico's Constitution and the government’s decisions, according to the president. However, the president also clarified that Mexico’s Foreign Ministry will continue its relationship with the U.S. Department of State; in this regard, it’s important to emphasize that visa processing will not be affected in any way.

In Which State is Visa Processing Faster?

According to the U.S. Department of State, the consulate in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, has the shortest wait times for obtaining an appointment and processing a visa.

• Mérida: May 29, 2025
• Monterrey: May 19, 2025
• Nuevo Laredo: May 23, 2025
• Matamoros: June 2, 2025
• Nogales: June 13, 2025

Conversely, there are locations where the process can take more than a year. Information from the U.S. Official Visa Information and Appointment Services shared a list of consulates where the process has longer wait times for those interested in applying for a U.S. visa for the first time, as some of them have appointment availability as far out as 2025 and 2026.

• Tijuana: July 24, 2025
• Mexico City: December 2, 2025
• Hermosillo: January 12, 2026
• Guadalajara: January 14, 2026
• Ciudad Juárez: January 16, 2026