Mexico: closure of visa section in Mexico City (28/04/2009)

Given that Mexico is of course next to the USA, some readers of this Board might like to know :-

Please be advised that the Visa Section at the British Embassy in Mexico City is closed until further notice. Please check locally for further information.

-: as per this UKBA webpage.

John, Do you think this could be just a response to the Swine Flu outbreak in Mexico and the attempt to protect Embassy workers from having too much contact with the general public and thereby reducing the potential risk? Or does it have to do with £££'s?

I hope this is cleared up by August. My fiance will need to apply for his Tier 1 dependent visa there.  

Thanks for the info, John.

After speaking with my fiance's family yesterday it seems almost the entire city is shut down. All public activities and many government buildings are closed so I guess it makes sense that the embassy would follow suit.

Do you think this could be just a response to the Swine Flu outbreak in Mexico and the attempt to protect Embassy workers from having too much contact with the general public and thereby reducing the potential risk?

Absolutely .... yes!

Or does it have to do with £££'s?

No, not at all!

This is all to do with Health & Safety! Can you imagine it, a member of staff in the Visa Section dies .... because UKBA insist upon keeping the section open! They just can't take the risk! They have to close the visa section .... now!

I hope this is cleared up by August. My fiance will need to apply for his Tier 1 dependent visa there.

I would not worry. In the event that it is still closed then, before August I would expect alternative arrangements to have been announced.

Well it's not just the British Embassy, but the US Embassy as well closed as of 04/25/09:
http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/main.html.

I really hope the UK doesn't ban travel here, I don't know what I'd do if they did, I think I'd fall apart  :\\\'(

I really hope the UK doesn't ban travel here, I don't know what I'd do if they did, I think I'd fall apart  :\\\'(

Unless you live in Mexico, I really wouldn't worry about this of all things...really. Plus, I doubt that they can 'ban' travel...they'll issue advisories (which they already have) but I sincerely doubt the airlines will stop flying. http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/united-states.

Unless you live in Mexico, I really wouldn't worry about this of all things...really. Plus, I doubt that they can 'ban' travel...they'll issue advisories (which they already have) but I sincerely doubt the airlines will stop flying. http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/united-states.

Besides, if it gets so bad that government has to actually issue a high-level no-travel advisory like they do for places like Ivory Coast or Iraq, you probably don't want any loved one traveling anyway.

I really hope the UK doesn't ban travel here, I don't know what I'd do if they did, I think I'd fall apart  :\\\'(

You and me both! My wedding is going to be in Mexico on August 15th and all of my in laws live there!

Unless you live in Mexico, I really wouldn't worry about this of all things...really. Plus, I doubt that they can 'ban' travel...they'll issue advisories (which they already have) but I sincerely doubt the airlines will stop flying. http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/united-states.

Thanks for that link, and I know I'm being kinda silly and all, I guess that's why I come here sometimes I only worried since I have all these things planned, so I'm trying to keep that in mind and keep up with what's going on in the world.

You and me both! My wedding is going to be in Mexico on August 15th and all of my in laws live there!

I'll be sending good vibes in their direction, hopefully they can escape the worst of it *hugs*

Edit: my initial post looks kinda selfish is retrospect, and it really does seem like a silly point now I guess

I'll be sending good vibes in their direction, hopefully they can escape the worst of it *hugs*

Edit: my initial post looks kinda selfish is retrospect, and it really does seem like a silly point now I guess

  Thank you!

BTW, I don't think your post sounds selfish! 

Thank you!

BTW, I don't think your post sounds selfish! 

Hopefully now that everyone knows kinda what's going on, and that it is what it is, people in Mexico can take the measures they need to in order to keep from coming into contact with it. I think the first few days of these things are the worst since no one really knows what to do, but I'm sure your in-laws will be cautious and smart about it and they'll end up being okay once it's all blown over

I just posted in a moment of panic really, I've been having those the closer it gets to May unfortunately Those that I talk to on a daily basis can attest to that unfortunately.

Thanks for that link, and I know I'm being kinda silly and all, I guess that's why I come here sometimes I only worried since I have all these things planned, so I'm trying to keep that in mind and keep up with what's going on in the world.

I'll be sending good vibes in their direction, hopefully they can escape the worst of it *hugs*

Edit: my initial post looks kinda selfish is retrospect, and it really does seem like a silly point now I guess

No, I don't think you're being silly. I had a pretty similar "OMG What will we do if?" reaction, too!

No, I don't think you're being silly. I had a pretty similar "OMG What will we do if?" reaction, too!

Thanks I have my sheepish moments where I feel like a dork after I post something. Steve isn't worried about catching anything, he called his GP just in case he needs to do something extra (he has Crohn's and as such, is slightly immune compromised due to his medications) and she told him just wash his hands and all that jazz. I just have my moments of 'omg panic mode' at least once and a day 

And I totally derailed the thread in the process as well, urgh