Moving to the USA from Mexico: Visas, TN, Green Cards and Where to Apply

No. Mexico is not among the 39 countries restricted by Proclamation 10998 (effective January 1, 2026), and it was not on the 75-country immigrant visa pause from January 2026.

The main current issue is: Since August 25, 2026, the State Department has paused immigrant visa interviews at US embassies and consulates worldwide while consular officers are trained on public charge reviews. Scheduled interviews were moved to later dates, and no restart date has been announced as of September 2026. Visitor, student, and temporary work visas are not part of this pause. Details: immigrant visa pause.

Because every Mexican immigrant visa is processed in Ciudad Juarez, the freeze affects a very large number of families. Temporary visas (TN, H-2A, H-2B, E, L, F-1, B-1/B-2) continue.

For an overview of every route, see our guide to US immigration and how US immigration works.

Yes. Mexico is not in the Visa Waiver Program. Mexican citizens use either:

• a B-1/B-2 visa for business or tourism, or
• a Border Crossing Card (BCC), a B-1/B-2 visa in card form (the "laser visa"), which allows visits to the US border zone and, with the right entry permit (Form I-94), travel further inside the country.

Both require the DS-160, a fee, biometrics, and usually an interview at a US consulate. Visitors cannot work in the US. The State Department's guidance is to apply for a visitor or other temporary visa at the US embassy or consulate in the country where you live. Applying elsewhere is possible but can make it harder to show you qualify.

TN visa. Under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Mexican professionals in listed occupations can work for a US employer. Unlike Canadians, Mexicans must get a TN visa at a US consulate before going to the border. You need a job offer letter, proof of your degree or license, and the occupation must be on the USMCA list. TN status is granted for up to 3 years at a time and can be renewed. Spouses and children get TD status but cannot work.

E-1 and E-2. Mexico has had E-1 and E-2 treaty status since 1994 (under NAFTA, now the USMCA). The State Department lists specific consulates for E visas: E-1 cases in Monterrey and Tijuana, and E-2 cases in Ciudad Juarez and Mexico City.

H-2A and H-2B. Mexico is the largest source of H-2A farm workers and a major source of H-2B workers. A US employer must get labor certification and file a petition. Employers and recruiters are not allowed to charge you recruitment fees; report anyone who asks. See scam protection.

H-1B. Since February 27, 2026, the H-1B lottery gives more entries to higher wage levels. A separate $100,000 fee on some new H-1B petitions (from a September 2025 proclamation) is being fought in court, with judges split as of September 2026. See H-1B $100k fee.

Mexico has its own column in the Visa Bulletin because demand is so high.

• Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of US citizens: no annual cap, so no wait for a visa number.
• F2A (spouses and minor children of green card holders): usually a shorter wait, though Mexico's F2A dates can trail the rest of the world.
• F1, F2B, F3, and F4: Mexican applicants face some of the longest waits of any country, commonly two decades or more in F3 and F4.
• Employment (EB-2, EB-3): Mexico's dates are often close to rest-of-world dates.

If you ever entered or stayed in the US without authorization, you may face a 3-year or 10-year bar when you leave to attend your visa interview. Some people can apply for a provisional unlawful presence waiver (Form I-601A) before leaving. Talk to a licensed immigration lawyer before you travel. See visa denials and waivers.

The US has one of its largest consular networks in Mexico:

Most posts use separate Applicant Service Centers (CAS) for fingerprints and photos. Book through the embassy's website and see our visa interview guide.

For immigrant visas, the State Department's Mexico page lists:

• Police certificate: required if you are over 18 and lived in Mexico for 6 months or more. First get a state certificate of no criminal record (Carta, Certificado, or Constancia de No Antecedentes Penales) from the state security ministry or state attorney general's office where you lived. If a state certificate is not available, get the federal certificate (Constancia de Antecedentes Penales Federales) online.
• Birth certificate: the acta de nacimiento from the state civil registry (Registro Civil). Many states issue certified copies online.
• Marriage and divorce: the acta de matrimonio and acta de divorcio from the Registro Civil.

You also need police certificates from other countries where you lived for the required period.

Mexican immigrants and their families live in every US state. The largest communities are in California (Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and the Central Valley), Texas (Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and El Paso), Chicago in Illinois, and Phoenix in Arizona. Fast-growing communities are in Georgia, North Carolina, and Colorado. The Mexican government runs a large network of consulates in the US that help nationals with passports, IDs, and legal referrals.