Consulate General of the United States Merida, Mexico

Thank you for your interest in applying for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. We strongly encourage all U.S. citizens with children born in Mexico to apply as soon as possible after the birth of the child. If approved, the child will be issued a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (CRBA), which is an official record confirming that the child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth. A CRBA can be issued only before the child reaches 18 years of age.

Parents seeking to obtain a CRBA for a child must be able to demonstrate to the interviewing consular officer that:

• At least one of the parents is a U.S. citizen
• The child is the biological child of the U.S. citizen parent(s); and
• If only one of the parents is a U.S. citizen, the U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the United States prior to the birth of the child; if both parents are U.S. citizens, at least one of them must have resided in the United States prior to the child’s birth. The period of physical presence in the United States required to transmit citizenship to a child born abroad varies, depending on the date of birth of the child and the marital status of the parents.

To apply, follow all of these steps carefully (see step number 4 on how to make an appointment):

1. Fill out and print the DS-2029 form (PDF 50 Kb)
2. Fill out and print Affidavit of Parentage and Physical Presence (PDF 132 Kb). (main page, supplementary page.
3. Gather all documents to bring to interview, including but not limited to:

• Original or Certified Copy of the Mexican Birth Certificate, a provisional copy cannot be accepted.
• Proof of Parents’ Citizenship: Please show one of the following documents for one or both parents: US Passport (valid or expired); original U.S. birth certificate; or original Certificate of Naturalization.
• Proof of Both Parents' Identity: Driver’s license, State ID card, School ID, Mexican Voting Card, Passport.
• If only the child’s father is a US citizen, proof of parents’ relationship: If parents were married prior to the date of conception, please provide an original or certified copy of the marriage certificate and divorce decree (if applicable). If parents were not married at the time of conception, please provide proof of the existence of the relationship at that time (dated photographs, joint bank account statements, personal letters and cards, etc.).
• Prenatal Documents: ultra sounds, prescriptions, medical records, receipts.
• Documents from hospital where the applicant was born: identification bracelet, crib card, discharge orders, hospital bill.
• Photos of Pregnancy and From Hospital: Photos taken of mother during pregnancy and in the hospital before and after the birth.
• Photos of the child from birth to present.
• Proof of parents’ presence in Mexico: INM tourist card, FM-2, FM-3, Mexican passport
• If only one parent is a US citizen, proof of the parents’ physical presence in the US: The parent must prove at least 5 years of physical presence in the US, at least 2 of which are after the age of 14. The period of physical presence need not be continuous. Presence must be proven with concrete evidence (school records, tax forms with W-2, earnings statement, pay receipts, passport stamps). Please note that if the child was born before Nov. 14, 1986, the parent must prove 10 years physical presence, at least 5 after the age of 14.

Documents in addition to those listed herein may be required following interview with a consular officer.

4. Make an appointment:

Schedule an appointment at the ACS Appointment System site.

5. Arrive at Consulate:

With all of the above documents and prepared to pay fee ($100 USD).  Applicants can pay in cash (in either dollars or Mexican pesos) or with a credit card.  Please note that incomplete application forms and affidavit of physical presence will not be accepted.

6. Both parents and the child must appear in person for appointment.

Note: Some parents choose to apply for a CRBA and U.S. passport for their child at the same time.  If you are interested please follow instructions for first-time, minor passport applicants by clicking here.  Be prepared with required form and payment, and in addition to the CRBA appointment please schedule a passport appointment.

We look forward to seeing you!

Options for Parent Not Able to Transmit U.S. Citizenship to Child

A consular officer will inform you, verbally and in writing, of the decision regarding your child’s application.  If a parent has not accrued sufficient physical presence in the U.S. to transmit his/her U.S. citizenship to the child, the child will be denied a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.  Options to still obtain U.S. citizenship for the child then include:

• The U.S. citizen parent may file an immigrant visa petition for the child. If the child is approved an immigrant visa and enters the U.S. on this visa before turning 18 years old, he/she will automatically become a U.S. citizen (Child Citizenship Act of 2000). For more information please visit the U.S Consulate General Ciudad Juarez website and the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.
• Under certain circumstances U.S. citizen grandparents of the child may add their time in the U.S. to the time of the U.S. citizen biological parent so the child may naturalize. This is under Section 322 of the Immigration and Naturalization Act and is adjudicated by a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in the United States. For more information on this procedure please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website and the N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322.