Matamoros is located south of the city of Brownsville, TX. Brownsville is located at the southern most tip of Texas. The Rio Grande River separates the United States and Mexico in that area.

You can either do everything yourself or you can get professional help from agents in the area who can provide you help with the following:

• Mexican permit for legal entry into Mexico
  
  
• Prepaid application fee bank draft. This helps ensure that you will be on time for your appointment.
  
  
• Round-trip transportation to/from the US Consulate in Matamoros, Tamaulipas.
  
  
• Round-trip airport shuttle service in Brownsville.
  
  
• Take you to the Mexican office
  
  
• Take you to the USCIS office for new I-94.
  
  

Here is a list of some agents that offer these services:

• Consular Trip Services
  
  
• VisaStamping.com
  
  
• Mexico Assistance Services
  
  

(Disclaimer: We are not associated with these agents in any way and we don't endorse their services. This link is provided only for informational purposes. As always, you assume all liability when working with them.)

Please note that such agents are not immigration attorneys and do not provide any legal advice, documentation assistance, etc. Also, they are not affiliated with the US Consulate or any other government agency. They only provide support for logistics, as mentioned above.

This border post is more convenient to people living in the Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio areas. If you are flying from other areas, the nearest cities that you can fly to are either San Antonio or Austin. Though the cities of Brownsville and nearby Harlingen have airports, they are quite small.

Hotels in Brownsville, TX:
America's Best Value Inn
825 N. Expwy. 77/83
Brownsville, TX 78520
Tel: 956-504-3331

Holiday Inn
3777 North Expressway
Brownsville, TX 78520
Tel: 956-547-1500

Other hotels in the area include Days Inn, Hawthorne Suites, La Quinta Inn, Best Western, Red Roof Inn, Super 8 Motel, Motel 6, Executive Inn, and Palace Inn.

There are not many restaurants near Days Inn. There is one Chinese restaurant and Burger King.

The Brownsville/Matamoros area has three border crossings. The "International Bridge" crossing is open 24 hours.

If you have spare time, you can visit nearby South Padre Island. It is simply superb. If you have a small child, you can also visit a nearby zoo.

You drive to the Mexican border and park nearby. You go to the Mexican immigration office at the border and get a border permit. You have to pay 50 cents to cross the border. Please keep the change ready. After crossing the border, you take a taxi to the nearby Banamex Bank to get the draft for the Visa Application fee. Once you have this draft, you can take a cab to the consulate. At the consulate, you stand in line. There is no need to worry even if you are late for an appointment.

If your child is a US Citizen, you should carry his/her passport or birth certificate. If your child is an Indian Citizen, be prepared to wait an additional 2-3 hours as they perform additional checks in their database for stolen children.

Small children are allowed into the consulate even if they don't require visa stamping. There is a play area inside the consulate. If the line is very long and you have small children, you can request the security guard to let you in, and they usually will. It is very hot and humid outside. It is recommended that you carry a stroller for the baby as it is useful not only at the consulate, but also at the airport and other places. Before going to the consulate, you should feed the baby properly so they are ready for at least 6 to 7 hours. You are allowed to carry milk inside the consulate. You can carry some cookies or other light food and keep them outside with an agent, if you have one. Once your stamping is done, you can feed the child again at the I-94 office, as there is a long wait here as well.

Once you enter the consulate, your papers will be checked by the staff and you will be given a number. Pay attention to the numbers being called. If you miss your number, you will miss your interview.

Next, you will be called for getting your picture taken. You will also be required to have your fingerprints taken.

Next, you will be called for an interview. You may be asked several questions relevant to your situation.

You will be given your stamped passport nearly 30 to 45 minutes later. You will get your passport as well.

Once you have your passport stamped with the visa, you can take a taxi back to the border to the I-94 office.

You must carry a proof of address such as a driver's license or electricity bill to the I-94 office. The officer will check the passport, I-797, and you will be called for fingerprints. Next, you wait until you are called. You may be photographed and fingerprinted again. You will have to fill out another form, which contains questions similar to the questions in the DS-157. You will be issued an I-94. You have to pay $6 for each I-94.

Next, surrender your Mexican border permit and enter the US.