Please also see my compiled information from USCIS and the US Department of State.

Some useful links

• U.S. Embassy in China

• U.S. Embassy in Mexico

• U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez (CJ), Mexico

• U.S. Consulate in Tijuana (TJ), Mexico

• U.S. Embassy in France
  Specifically, information about non-immigrant visa services can be found here.
  Please be forewarned that it takes at least 3 weeks from the date you mail in your visa application if visa officers require you to take the interview after reviewing your application, which is quite commonplace. (Dec 2002)

• U.S. Department of State visa services
  For the latest information about the U.S. visa services

• Stanford University I-Center
  Stanford University's International Center provides quite useful information for international students and scholars. Most relevant to F-1, J-1 and H-1B visa holders.

Preparation of application materials

• The list of application materials my parents and I prepared for applying B-1/B-2 visa in Guangzhou, China in May 2002

• The list of application materials I prepared for renewing F-1 visa in Ciudad Juarez (CJ), Mexico in Oct. 2002
  It is also a nice LaTeX template for typesetting academic papers. :)

• The list of application materials I prepared for renewing F-1 visa in Tijuana (TJ), Mexico in July 2003
  Another nice LaTeX template. :)

• UCSC official transcript
  In short, one just goes to the Registrar's Office (located at Hahn Student Services), fills out the request form and pays the money. It indeed takes 2 weeks to get the transcripts according to my experience.

• UCSC International Scholar and Student Services
  where you get advice on visa trip and endorsed SEVIS I-20.

• New visa photo requirement
  In short, 2 x 2 in., top of hair to bottom of chin (1 - 1 3/8 in, or 25-35mm), eye level from the bottom of the photo (1 1/8 - 1 3/8 in, or 28-35mm), white or off-white background.