In an email that raises more questions than it answers, the State Dept. has advised AILA's State Department Liaison Committee that the post in Mexico City "has taken away from the call center the ability to make NIV appointments for TCNs. However, officers may still make appointments for such applicants." The call center was only utilized for posts in Mexico through which an NVARS or 900 number appointment was not available. Thus, while the NVARS appointment system, the 900 number system, and the Mexico City number for Mexican posts not on the 900 or NVARS system all appear to be shut down, it may be possible to obtain an appointment directly from the consular post, if you can reach the post. According to DOS, "an officer, unlike the call center, can better understand the risk that a specific applicant might face in seeking visa services at a border post." DOS continues to emphasize that this is a short-term measure. We hope to learn the meaning of "short-term" shortly.
AILA is attempting to obtain clarification on a number of issues related to the question of third country nationals obtaining visas in Mexico and Canada such as: how cases for which appointments already are set will be handled, if the cable regarding the additional security checks will be declassified, if DOS will back off the appointment bar for certain nationalities or types of cases, and how INS will handle reentry after the appointment, particularly if the individual is subject to the additional security checks that have been widely reported.
More information will be posted as it is obtained.