After six times that he was denied his visa, today, on the seventh occasion that he tries it, Don Santos Beltrán is happy because it was approved, which will allow him to go to Texas, United States (USA), to meet two of his their children, after 20 years of not seeing them.
Don Santos is part of the group of 36 fathers and mothers who are beneficiaries of the Corazón de Plata Program, who, supported by the Government of Zacatecas, attended the United States Consulate General in Monterrey, Nuevo León, for their consular interview to obtain the B1/B2 visa.
This group of older adults is the second of nine who, through the Corazón de Plata Program, have been on the waiting list since 2020, the year in which, due to the pandemic, consular authorities postponed group appointments until this date in 2023.
Before leaving Zacatecas for Monterrey, the head of the Zacatecano Migrant Secretariat (Sezami), Iván Reyes Millán, came to greet the elderly, wishing them luck in this process for which they have waited a long time.
Upon leaving his consular interview, visibly moved, Don Santos expressed: «They did give me my visa, I am delighted with life, very happy because I am going to see my children, I have not seen them for 20 years.»
He acknowledged that he came with very little hope of being given a visa, because six times he had tried to process it and it was denied, and today, on the seventh attempt, they gave it to him. «Thanks to you, to everyone involved, above all thanks to God,» he said.
The Zacatecan fathers and mothers, beneficiaries of the Corazón de Plata Program, attended the Applicant Service Center (CAS) on Monday for fingerprinting and photography, and on Tuesday, for their interview at the US Consulate General in Monterrey.
Of the 36 older adults who attended, 16 are women and 20 men, originally from communities in 12 municipalities, such as Ojocaliente, Río Grande, Chalchihuites, Guadalupe, Pinos, General Francisco R. Murguía (Nieves), General Pánfilo Natera, Sombrerete, Fresnillo , Nochistlán, Mazapil and Sain Alto.
If the B1 / B2 tourist visa is approved, fathers and mothers, over 60 years of age, will be able to go to the reunion with their sons and daughters, who live in the US, whom they have not seen for 20 and even more than 30 years.
The Government of Zacatecas, headed by President David Monreal Ávila, through the Zacatecano Migrant Secretariat, provided advice and support to the group of older adults who were enrolled in the Corazón de Plata Program, for their sons and daughters who are part of the Casa Zacatecas Federation in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
To be attentive to the health of traveling mothers and fathers, medical personnel from the Zacatecas Health Secretariat (SSZ) provided accompaniment to the group.
