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Intercountry Adoption > Country Information > Mexico Intercountry Adoption Information
See state summaries and advisory levels below for information on your specific travel destination. Some areas of Mexico have increased risk of crime and kidnapping.
Country Summary: Violent crime – such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery – is widespread and common in Mexico. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or restricted. In many states, local emergency services are limited outside the state capital or major cities.
Restrictions on U.S. government travel: U.S. government employees may not travel between cities after dark, may not hail taxis on the street, and must rely on dispatched vehicles, including app-based services like Uber, and regulated taxi stands. U.S. government employees may not drive from the U.S.-Mexico border to or from the interior parts of Mexico, with the exception of daytime travel within Baja California and between Nogales and Hermosillo on Mexican Federal Highway 15D, and between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey on Highway 85D. U.S. government employees should avoid traveling alone, especially in remote areas.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Mexico.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined Mexico has a moderate level of COVID-19. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
Do Not Travel To:
Reconsider Travel To:
Exercise Increased Caution When Traveling To:
Exercise Normal Precautions When Traveling To:
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
If you decide to travel to Mexico:
Aguascalientes state – Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution due to crime.
Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees.
Baja California state – Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping.
Transnational criminal organizations compete in the border area to establish narco-trafficking and human smuggling routes. Violent crime and gang activity are common. Travelers should remain on main highways and avoid remote locations. Of particular concern is the high number of homicides in the non-tourist areas of Tijuana. Most homicides appeared to be targeted; however, criminal organization assassinations and territorial disputes can result in bystanders being injured or killed. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
U.S. government employees must adhere to the noted restrictions:
There are no other travel restrictions for U.S. government employees in the state of Baja California. These include high-traffic tourism areas of border and coastal communities, such as Tijuana, Ensenada, and Rosarito.
Baja California Sur state – Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution due to crime.
Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Baja California Sur, which includes tourist areas in: Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, and La Paz.
Campeche state – Exercise Normal Precautions
Exercise normal precautions.
Chiapas state – Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution due to crime.
Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Chiapas state, which includes tourist areas in: Palenque, San Cristobal de las Casas, and Tuxtla Gutierrez.
Chihuahua state – Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping.
Violent crime and gang activity are common. The majority of homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations. Battles for territory between criminal groups have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S. citizens and U.S. government employees, including restaurants and malls during daylight hours. Bystanders have been injured or killed in shooting incidents. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
U.S. government employee travel is limited to the following areas with the noted restrictions:
Direct travel to the Ciudad Juarez airport (officially called Abraham Gonzalez International Airport) and the factories located along Bulevar Independencia and Las Torres is permitted. Travel to San Jeronimo is permitted only through the United States via the Santa Teresa U.S. Port of Entry; travel via Anapra is prohibited.
U.S. government employees may only travel from Ciudad Juarez to Chihuahua City during daylight hours via Federal Highway 45, with stops permitted only at the Federal Police station, the Umbral del Milenio overlook area, the border inspection station at KM 35, and the shops and restaurants on Federal Highway 45 in the town of Villa Ahumada.
U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Chihuahua, including Copper Canyon.
Coahuila state – Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping.
Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Coahuila state. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
U.S. government employee travel is limited to the following areas with the noted restrictions:
U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Coahuila state.
Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping.
Violent crime and gang activity are widespread. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
U.S. government employees must adhere to the following travel restrictions:
Durango state – Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel due to crime.
Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Durango state.
U.S. government employees must adhere to the following travel restrictions:
There are no other restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees.
Guanajuato state – Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel due to crime.
Gang violence, often associated with the theft of petroleum and natural gas from the state oil company and other suppliers, occurs in Guanajuato, primarily in the south and central areas of the state. Of particular concern is the high number of murders in the southern region of the state associated with cartel-related violence.
U.S. government employees must adhere to the following travel restrictions:
There are no other restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees, including to San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato City, and surrounding areas.
Guerrero state – Do Not Travel
Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping.
Crime and violence are widespread. Armed groups operate independently of the government in many areas of Guerrero. Members of these groups frequently maintain roadblocks and may use violence towards travelers. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
Travel for U.S. government employees is limited to the following area with the noted restrictions:
U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of the state of Guerrero, including Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, and Ixtapa.
Hidalgo state – Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution due to crime.
Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees.
Jalisco state – Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping.
Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Jalisco state. In Guadalajara, territorial battles between criminal groups take place in tourist areas. Shooting incidents between criminal groups have injured or killed innocent bystanders. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
U.S. government employees must adhere to the following travel restrictions:
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S government employees to: Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Puerto Vallarta (including neighboring Riviera Nayarit), Chapala, and Ajijic.
Mexico City – Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping.
Both violent and non-violent crime occur throughout Mexico City. Use additional caution, particularly at night, outside of the frequented tourist areas where police and security patrol more routinely. Petty crime occurs frequently in both tourist and non-tourist areas. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees.
Mexico state (Estado de Mexico) – Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping.
Both violent and non-violent crime are common throughout Mexico state. Use caution in areas outside of the frequented tourist areas, although petty crime occurs frequently in tourist areas as well. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees.
Michoacan state – Do Not Travel
Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping.
Crime and violence are widespread in Michoacan state. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
Travel for U.S. government employees is limited to the following areas with the noted restrictions:
U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of the state of Michoacan, including the portions of the Monarch Butterfly Reserve located in Michoacan.
Morelos state – Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping.
Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Morelos state. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees.
Nayarit state – Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel due to crime.
Violent crime and gang activity are common near the border with Sinaloa.
U.S. government employees must adhere to the following travel restrictions:
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S government employees to other parts of Nayarit, including tourist areas in: Riviera Nayarit (including Nuevo Vallarta, Punta Mita, Sayulita, and Bahia de Banderas), and Santa Maria del Oro.
Nuevo Leon state – Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping.
Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees.
Oaxaca state – Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution due to crime.
Criminal activity and violence occur throughout the state.
U.S. government employees must adhere to the following travel restrictions:
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees to other parts of Oaxaca state, which include tourist areas in: Oaxaca City, Monte Alban, Puerto Escondido, and Huatulco.
Puebla state – Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping.
Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees.
Queretaro state – Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution due to crime.
Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees.
Quintana Roo state – Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution due to crime.
Criminal activity and violence may occur in any location, at any time, including in popular tourist destinations. Travelers should maintain a high level of situational awareness, avoid areas where illicit activities occur, and promptly depart from potentially dangerous situations.
While not directed at tourists, shootings between rival gangs have killed or injured innocent bystanders. Additionally, U.S. citizens have been the victims of both non-violent and violent crimes in tourist and non-tourist areas.
There are no travel restrictions for U.S. government employees in Quintana Roo state. However, U.S. government employees are advised to exercise increased caution after dark in downtown areas of Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen, and to remain in well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones.
San Luis Potosi state – Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution due to crime.
Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees.
Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping.
Violent crime is widespread. Criminal organizations are based in and operating in Sinaloa. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
Travel for U.S. government employees is limited to the following areas with the noted restrictions:
Sonora state – Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping.
Sonora is a key location used by the international drug trade and human trafficking networks. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
U.S. government employees must adhere to the following travel restrictions:
Puerto Peñasco: U.S. government employees may travel between Puerto Peñasco and the Lukeville-Sonoyta U.S. Port of Entry during daylight hours via Federal Highway 8 only.
U.S. government employees may not travel to areas of Sonora south of Federal Highway 16 and east of Federal Highway 15 (south of Hermosillo), as well as all points south of Guaymas, including Empalme, Guaymas, Obregon, and Navojoa.
U.S. government employees may travel to San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas and Alamos; travel to Alamos is only permitted by air and within city limits.
Tabasco state – Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution due to crime.
Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees.
Tamaulipas state – Do Not Travel
Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping.
Organized crime activity – including gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault – is common along the northern border and in Ciudad Victoria. Criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments.
Heavily armed members of criminal groups often patrol areas of the state and operate with impunity, particularly along the border region from Reynosa to Nuevo Laredo. In these areas, local law enforcement has limited capacity to respond to incidents of crime. Law enforcement capacity is greater in the tri-city area of Tampico, Ciudad Madero, and Altamira, which has a lower rate of violent criminal activity compared to the rest of the state.
U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
Travel for U.S. government employees is limited to the following areas with the noted restrictions:
Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros: U.S. government employees may only travel within a limited radius around and between the U.S. Consulates in Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros, their homes, the respective U.S. Ports of Entry, and limited downtown sites, subject to an overnight curfew.
U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of the state of Tamaulipas.
Tlaxcala state – Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution due to crime.
Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees.
Veracruz state – Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution due to crime.
Violent crime and gang activity occur with increasing frequency in Veracruz, particularly in the center and south near Cordoba and Coatzacoalcos. While most gang-related violence is targeted, violence perpetrated by criminal organizations can affect bystanders. Impromptu roadblocks requiring payment to pass are common.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees.
Yucatan state – Exercise Normal Precautions
Exercise normal precautions.
There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Yucatan state, which include tourist areas in: Chichen Itza, Merida, Uxmal, and Valladolid.
Zacatecas state – Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping.
Violent crime, extortion, and gang activity are common in parts of Zacatecas state. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.
U.S. government employees must adhere to the following travel restrictions:
There are no other restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees.
Last Update: Reissued with updates to health information.
Mexico is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Convention countries is done in accordance with the requirements of the Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); and the IAA’s implementing regulations; as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of Mexico.
The Mexican Central Authority is comprised of both federal and state entities. The two federal authorities are the Secretary of Exterior Relations, or Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE), which issues key Hague Adoption Convention documentation including the Article 23 Certificate, and the National System for the Full Development of the Family, or Sistema Nacional para el Desarollo Integral de la Familia (DIF), which coordinates national policy for child and family welfare, including processing of domestic and intercountry adoption cases and authorization of foreign adoption service providers in Mexico. Both of these federal entities and are headquartered in Mexico City.
Intercountry adoptions outside Mexico City must also involve one of the 31 state DIF offices, one in each Mexican state. The state DIF offices issue the Article 16 and Article 17 letters, important Hague Adoption Convention documentation. The civil code in each state may vary, and prospective adoptive parents need to be aware of and abide by the applicable laws of the state from which they plan to adopt. Though state and regional DIF offices play an important role in intercountry adoption cases, all intercountry adoptions must be processed in coordination with the national DIF office and SRE, which are the entities with the authority to certify Convention compliance for intercountry adoptions.
Prospective adoptive parents must initiate their adoption application in Mexico by submitting it to the SRE through a U.S.-based adoption service provider that is both Hague accredited in the U.S. and approved to provide services in Mexico by the Mexican Central Authority. Prospective adoptive parents must ensure that the adoption service provider they choose is both on the U.S. list of Hague-accredited adoption service providers, as well as on national DIF’s list of adoption service providers authorized to work in Mexico, listed below. Failure to work with an adoption service provider that has obtained authorization from national DIF could delay adoption and could result in the Mexican Central Authority’s refusal to issue the Hague certification required for visa issuance.
ORGANIZATION | WEB PAGE |
INTERCOUNTRY CHILD FOUNDATION INC. | www.childfound.org |
MLJ, ADOPTION, INC. | www.mljadoptions.com |
INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION NET | www.intercountryadoptionnet.org |
THE OPEN DOOR ADOPTION AGENCY | www.opendooradoption.org |
THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO | www.catholiccharities.net |
HANDS ACROSS THE WATER | www.handsacrossthewater.org.au |
NIGHTLIGHT CRISTIAN ADOPTION | www.nightlight.org |
Prospective adoptive parents who hold dual Mexican and U.S. citizenship are cautioned that only plenary adoption (full adoption) is considered valid for intercountry adoption. A U.S. visa can only be issued to children adopted through a full adoption completed as a result of a Hague Convention adoption process. The full adoption decree must state that the parents with dual nationality reside in the United States and must clearly state that the adoption is an intercountry adoption.
To bring an adopted child to the United States from Mexico, you must meet certain suitability and eligibility requirements. USCIS determines who is suitable and eligible to adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States according to United States immigration law.
Additionally, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law to be eligible to immigrate to the United States on an IH-3 or IH-4 immigrant visa.
In addition to the U.S. requirements, prospective adoptive parents need to meet Mexican requirements to adopt a child from Mexico:
Because Mexico is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, children from Mexico must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for adoption. For example, the adoption may take place only if the competent authorities of Mexico have determined that placement of the child within Mexico has been given due consideration and that an intercountry adoption is in the child’s best interests. In addition to Mexico’s requirements, a child must meet the definition of Convention adoptee to be eligible for an immigrant visa that will allow you to bring him or her to the United States.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
WARNING: Mexico is party to the Hague Adoption Convention. Do not adopt or obtain legal custody of a child in Mexico before a U.S. consular officer issues an “Article 5 Letter” in the case. Read on for more information.
Mexico’s Adoption Authority
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Family Law Office
(Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores, Dirección de Derecho de Familia-SRE)
National System for Family Development – National and State offices
(Desarollo Integral de la Familia-National DIF)
Mexico has designated SRE, National DIF and the 31 state DIF offices to perform various central authority functions. SRE is the lead authority to which all applications and Convention process communications must be submitted. National DIF coordinates national policy for domestic and intercountry adoption cases and is in charge of authorization of U.S. adoption service providers in Mexico. State DIF offices handle much of the hands-on processing of intercountry adoptions, including making a referral to a child and providing written documentation regarding the child’s background.
Note: If any of the following occurred prior to April 1, 2008 (the date on which the Hague Adoption Convention entered into force with respect to the United States), the Hague Adoption Convention may not apply to your adoption: 1) you filed a Form I-600A identifying [Country] as the country where you intended to adopt; 2) you filed a Form I-600; or; 3) the adoption was completed. Under these circumstances, your adopted child’s visa application could continue to be processed in accordance with the immigration regulations for non-Convention adoptions. For more information, read about Transition Cases.
The Process
Because Mexico is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, adoptions from Mexico must follow a specific process designed to meet the Convention’s requirements. A brief summary of the Convention adoption process is given below. You must complete these steps in the following order to meet all necessary legal requirements. Adoptions completed out of order may result in the child not being eligible for an immigrant visa to the United States.
1. Choose a U.S. accredited or approved adoption service provider
2. Apply to USCIS to be found eligible to adopt
3. Be matched with a child in Mexico
4. Apply to USCIS for the child to be found eligible for immigration to the United States and receive U.S. agreement to proceed with the adoption
5. Adopt (or Obtain Legal Custody) of child in Mexico
6. Obtain a U.S. immigrant visa for your child and bring your child home
1. Choose a U.S. Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Provider
The recommended first step in adopting a child from Mexico is to select an adoption service provider in the United States that has been accredited or approved to provide services to U.S. citizens in Convention cases. Only accredited or approved adoption service providers may act as the primary provider in your case. The primary adoption service provider is responsible for ensuring that all adoption services in the case are performed in accordance with the Hague Adoption Convention and the laws and regulations of the United States. Learn more about Agency Accreditation. The accredited adoption service provider must also be authorized to operate in Mexico. Mexico requires foreign prospective adoptive parents to use an adoption service provider that has been authorized by Mexican Central Authority:
ORGANIZATION | WEB PAGE |
INTERCOUNTRY CHILD FOUNDATION INC. | www.childfound.org |
MLJ, ADOPTION, INC. | www.mljadoptions.com |
INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION NET | www.intercountryadoptionnet.org |
THE OPEN DOOR ADOPTION AGENCY | www.opendooradoption.org |
THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO | www.catholiccharities.net |
HANDS ACROSS THE WATER | www.handsacrossthewater.org.au |
NIGHTLIGHT CRISTIAN ADOPTION | www.nightlight.org |
2. Apply to USCIS to be Found Eligible to Adopt
After you choose an accredited or approved adoption service provider, you must apply to be found eligible to adopt by the responsible U.S. government agency, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), by submitting Form I-800A. Read more about Eligibility Requirements.
Once USCIS determines that you are “eligible” and “suited” to adopt by approving the Form I-800A, your adoption service provider will provide your approval notice, home study, and any other required information to the Mexican Central Authority as part of your adoption file . The Mexican Central Authority will review your application to determine if you are also eligible to adopt under Mexican law. All adoption files must first be sent to the SRE, which will send them to the corresponding offices of the national SN DIF.
3. Be Matched with a Child by in Mexico
If both the United States and Mexico determine that you are eligible to adopt, and the Mexican Central Authority has determined that a child is available for adoption and that intercountry adoption is in that child’s best interests, the Mexican Central Authority may provide you with a referral for a child. The referral is a proposed match between you and a specific child based on a review of your dossier and the needs of a specific child in Mexico. The adoption authority in Mexico (usually the state DIF) will provide a background study and other information, if available, about the child to help you decide whether to accept the referral or not. Each family must decide for itself whether or not it will be able to meet the needs and provide a permanent home for a particular child. If you accept the referral, the adoption service provider communicates that to the adoption authority in Mexico. Learn more about this critical decision.
4. Apply to USCIS for the Child to be Found Eligible for Immigration to the United States and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption
After you accept a match with a child, you will apply to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for provisional approval for the child to immigrate to the United States (Form I-800). USCIS will make a provisional determination as to whether the child meets the definition of a Convention Adoptee and will be eligible to enter the United States and reside permanently as an immigrant.
After provisional approval of Form I-800, your adoption service provider or you will submit a visa application to the Immigrant Visa Unit of the United States Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez, who are responsible for issuing immigrant visas to children from Mexico. A consular officer will review the Form I-800 and the visa application for possible visa ineligibilities and advise you of options for the waiver of any noted ineligibilities.
WARNING: The consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5 Letter”) to the Mexican Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen parents and a child from Mexico where all Convention requirements are met and the consular officer determines that the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. This letter will inform the Mexican Central Authority that the parents are eligible and suited to adopt, that all indications are that the child may enter and reside permanently in the United States, and that the U.S. Central Authority agrees that the adoption may proceed.
Do not attempt to adopt or obtain custody of a child in Mexico before a U.S. consular officer issues the Article 5 Letter in any adoption case.
Remember: The consular officer will make a final decision about a child’s eligibility for an immigrant visa later in the adoption process.
5. Adopt (or Obtain Legal Custody) of Child in Mexico
Remember: Before adopting (or obtaining legal custody of) a child in Mexico, you must have completed the four steps above. Only after completing these steps, can you proceed to finalize the adoption or be granted custody for the purposes of adoption in Mexico.
The process for finalizing the adoption (or obtaining legal custody) in Mexico generally includes the following:
*SRE will return originl documentation.
Note: Additional documents may be requested. The ordinary time for delivery of the certificate is up to five business days. Because of the pandemic, this period could be extended.
Note: All documents must be translated into the Spanish language; prospective adoptive parents should verify this requirement with the State DIF.
6. Obtain an Immigrant Visa for your Child and Bring Your Child Home
Now that your adoption is complete ,there are a few more steps to take before you can head home. Specifically, you must request three documents before your child can travel to the United States:
Birth Certificate
After finalizing the adoption process in court, the judge will issue a complete and final adoption decree stating the new name and parents. Adoptive parents should use this adoption decree to apply for a new birth certificate reflecting the child's new name and parents. The new birth certificate can be obtained by submitting the original final adoption decree or a certified copy of it to the Civil Registry office where the child's birth was originally registered. You may use this new birth certificate to apply for your child's Mexican passport.
Please note that Mexico requires that an adoption be finalized prior to the child's departure for the United States in order to meet Convention requirements. Court-ordered grants of custody for purpose of adoption in the United States do not comply with Mexico’s Convention requirements. Prospective adoptive parents who have not yet completed a full and final adoption in Mexico will not be able to obtain a new birth certificate for the child and will not be able to complete Mexico’s Convention process.
Mexican Passport
Your child is not yet a US citizen, so he or she will need a Mexican passport or travel document. Mexico requires that the child and both adoptive parents appear in person to apply for the child's Mexican passport. For more details on the Mexican passport application process and requirements, you should refer to the information provided by the SRE.
U.S. Immigrant Visa
After obtaining the new birth certificate and passport for your child, you must also finalize your child’s U.S. visa application with the U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. After the adoption (or custody for adoption purposes) is granted, make an appointment to visit the U.S. Consulate for final review of the case, issuance of a U.S. Hague Adoption Certificate or Hague Custody Certificate, final approval of form I-800, and to obtain your child's immigrant visa. This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you. As part of this process, the consular officer must receive the "panel physician’s" medical report on the child if it was not provided during the provisional approval stage. Read more about the Medical Examination.
Child Citizenship Act
For adoptions finalized abroad prior to the child’s entry into the United States: A child will acquire U.S. citizenship upon entering the United States if the adoption was finalized prior to entry and the child meets the requirements of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 .
For adoptions finalized after the child’s entry into the United States: An adoption must be completed following your child's entry into the United States for the child to acquire U.S. citizenship.
*Please note that if your child did not qualify to become a citizen upon entering the United States, it is very important that you take the necessary steps so that your child does qualify as soon as possible. Failure to obtain citizenship for your child can affect many areas of his life, including family travel, eligibility for education and education grants, and voting. Read more about the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.
The law requires U.S. citizens to enter and depart the United States on a valid U.S. passport. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue, or verify U.S. passports.
Obtaining or renewing a passport is easy. The Passport Application Wizard will help you determine which passport form you need, help you complete the application form online, estimate your payment, and generate the form for you to print, all in one place.
In addition to a US passport, you must also obtain a visa. A visa is an official document issued by a foreign country that formally allows you to visit. Visas are affixed to your passport and allow you to enter a foreign nation. Mexico requires U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico for adoption purposes to obtain a visa for purposes of adoption prior to entering Mexico. Once in Mexico, adoptive parents will be given a certain period of time to register with the Mexican Immigration Authority (Instituto Nacional de Migración- INM). For information on obtaining a visa for Mexico, see the Department of State’s Country Specific Information.
Before you travel, it is always good practice to research about the local conditions, laws, political landscape, and culture of the country. The State Department provides Country Specific Information for every country in the world about various topics, including health conditions, crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, and any areas of instability.
When traveling during the adoption process, we recommend that you enroll with the Department of State. Enrollment makes it possible to contact you if necessary. Whether there is a family emergency in the United States or a crisis in Mexico, enrollment assists the United States Embassy or Consulate in reaching you.
Enrollment is free and can be done online through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
Post-Adoption/Post-Placement Reporting Requirements
Mexico requires post-adoption reporting twice a year for three years. All reports must be submitted to the SRE by an accredited adoption service provider that is also authorized to provide services in Mexico. We strongly urge you to comply with Mexico's post-adoption requirements in a timely manner. Your adoption agency can help you with this process. Your cooperation will contribute to that country's history of positive experiences with U.S. citizen parents.
Post-Adoption Resources
Many adoptive parents find it important to find support after the adoption. There are many public and private non-profit post-adoption services available for children and their families. There are also numerous adoptive family support groups and adoptee organizations active in the United States that provide a network of options for adoptees who seek other adoptees from the same country of origin. Take advantage of all the resources available to your family, whether it is another adoptive family, a support group, an advocacy organization, or your religious or community services.
Here are some places to start your search for support groups:
Note: The inclusion of non-U.S. government links does not imply endorsement of contents.
U.S. Embassy in Mexico
Paseo de la Reforma 305
Colonia Cuauhtémoc
06500 Mexico, D.F.
Tel: 011-52-55-50-80-2000.
Internet: mx.usembassy.gov
U.S. Consulate General Ciudad Juarez
Paseo de la Victoria 3650
Fracc. Partido Senecu
Ciudad Juarez, CP
32543, Mexico
Immigrant Visa Unit/Adoptions email: cdjadoptionsmbx@state.gov
Mexico Adoption Authority
Ministry of Foreign Relations (SRE)
General Directorate for the Protection of Mexicans Abroad
Deputy General Directorate of Family Law
Plaza Juarez, number 20, 17th floor
Colonia Centro, Cuauhtémoc, CP 06010, Mexico City, Mexico
Tel: 52 (55) 3686 5100 x 7543
dgpmexterior@sre.gob.mx
National System for the Integral Development of the Family (national SNDIF)
Federal Attorney for the Protection of Children and Adolescents (PFPNNA)
Francisco Sosa 439, Colonia Del Carmen, Coyoacan, CP 04100, Mexico City, Mexico
Tel. +52 (55) 3003-2200 ext. 4428, 4429, 4430 and 4434
Embassy of Mexico
Consular Section
2827 16th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009-4260
Tel: (202) 736-1000
Website: http: //embamex.sre.gob.mx/eua/
Mexico also has 50 consulates in the United States. A listing of them can be found at the following website: http: //www.sre.gob.mx/index.php/representaciones/consulados-de-mexico-en-el-exterior
Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, N.W. SA-17
Washington, D.C. 20522-1707
Tel: 1-888-407-4747
Email: AdoptionUSCA@state.gov
Internet: adoption.state.gov
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
For questions about filing a Form I-800A application or a Form I-800 petition:
USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC):
Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-913-275-5480 (local); Fax: 1- 913-214-5808
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov
For general questions about immigration procedures:
USCIS Contact Center
Tel: 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet: uscis.gov
Note: The Mexican Central Authority informed the U.S. Central Authority it does not issue statements of habitual residence in connection with the 2017 USCIS Policy Memo (PM 602-0095) regarding Criteria for Determining Habitual Residence in the United States for Children from Hague Convention Countries
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