The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City launched a program on March 20 allowing first-time B1/B2 visitor visa applicants to move appointments to an earlier date without additional fees.

Key Points:

  • Earlier appointment slots will be open throughout 2024 at no cost for first-time Mexican visitor visa applicants with existing visitor visa appointments in 2025 or later.
  • Eligible and selected applicants will receive email notifications from donotreply@usvisa-info.com with instructions on rescheduling to an earlier appointment date.
  • If the appointment system does not show availability, applicants should check back periodically as new appointment dates will be added throughout the year.

Additional Information: The U.S. Embassy and its nine consulates throughout Mexico issued 2.3 million visas in 2023, the highest number to date. Consulate officials noted that the new program is expected to substantially reduce wait times for hundreds of thousands of applicants and facilitate travel for more Mexican nationals to the U.S., “This promising initiative demonstrates the U.S. Embassy’s commitment to reducing wait times for visa interview appointments and facilitating legitimate travel to the United States, including for work, study, and leisure.”

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Mexican government announced that Peruvian nationals arriving for tourism or business will soon require a Mexican visa to enter the country.

Key Points:

  • Beginning April 20, Peruvian nationals must have a visa to enter Mexico for tourism or business purposes unless they:
    • Have a valid or unexpired multiple-entry visa from Canada, the U.S., Japan, the United Kingdom, Ireland or any country belonging to the Schengen area.
    • Are a permanent resident of Canada, Chile, Colombia, the U.S., Japan, the United Kingdom, Ireland or any country belonging to the Schengen area.
  • Scheduled trips made prior to April 20 do not require a Mexican visa.

Additional Information: More information regarding visitor visas can be found here.

BAL Analysis: Peruvian nationals who do not meet one of the exemptions could face more administrative processes and incur additional costs to travel to Mexico for business and tourism purposes.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Mexican government requires companies that employ foreign nationals to update their corporate registration certificate after filing their taxes each year.

Key Points:

  • Companies employing foreign workers must update their CRC with the National Immigration Institute (INM) no later than April 30.
  • The tax filing deadline is March 31; the corporate registration filing must be completed within 30 days after filing taxes.
  • Employers should also notify INM of any additional company changes (e.g., legal representation, registered address, legal name, branches, etc.) to keep their corporate file up to date. This notification must be made within 90 calendar days of the date of the change.

Additional Information: To prevent any delays or complications, companies should work with INM to validate certificates before the end of April. Companies may be required to have an individual make an in-person appearance to complete the company registration process at their local regional office.

BAL Analysis: Companies are encouraged to update their CRC as soon as possible after they receive their annual tax declaration confirmation, no later than April 30. If an employer’s CRC is not updated on time, INM may delay or reject its immigration applications.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Brazilian and Mexican governments have agreed to resume allowing citizens of the other country to apply for e-visas for tourist and business travel.

Key Points:

  • The Brazilian and Mexican foreign ministers announced they will resume use of e-visas for citizens of each country for tourist and business travel in the upcoming months.
  • Until the new system goes into effect, Brazilians may enter Mexico with a valid visa or if they are permanent residents of Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States or some Schengen Area countries.

Additional Information: The governments have not yet announced when the agreement will go into effect. The countries previously had a mutual e-visa agreement, but Mexico suspended e-visas for Brazilian nationals in August 2022.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT — MEDIUM

The Mexican government has announced that it will verify job offers abroad to prevent fraudulent activities.

Key Points:

  • Mexican authorities will begin verifying job offers before immigration procedures can continue.
  • Mexican nationals looking for jobs in Canada and the United States are encouraged to use the Online Employment Portal to avoid fraudulent postings.
  • More information regarding the job verification process is available here.

BAL Analysis: The Mexican government introduced the new job verification measures to protect its citizens against fraudulent activities.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT — MEDIUM

The Mexican government will require companies that employ foreign nationals to update their corporate registration certificate after filing their taxes for the 2022 fiscal year.

Key Points:

  • Companies employing foreign workers must update their CRC with the National Immigration Institute (INM) no later than April 30.
  • The tax filing deadline is March 31; the corporate registration filing must be completed within 30 days after filing taxes.
  • Companies that have an REPSE certificate must submit it in order to update their registration file.

Additional Information: To prevent any delays or complications, companies should work with the INM to validate certificates before the end of April. Companies may be required to have someone make an in-person appearance to complete the company registration process at their local regional office.

BAL Analysis: Companies are encouraged to update their CRC as soon as possible after they receive their Annual Tax Declaration confirmation no later than April 30. If an employer’s CRC is not updated on time, the INM may delay or reject its immigration applications.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Mexican government has expanded a pilot program to expedite entry processes for foreign nationals entering Mexico through airports.

Key Points:

  • Immigration authorities are no longer requiring foreign nationals entering Mexico through any airport for tourism or short-term business purposes to complete the Multiple Immigration Forms (FMM). Previously, the program was only available to those entering through the Guadalajara and Cancun airports
  • Instead of requiring the FMM, immigration authorities are stamping foreign nationals’ passports, indicating their length of legal stay within the stamp.

BAL Analysis: The Mexican government has implemented the program for expedited entry with the goal of streamlining the entry process for foreign nationals traveling for tourism or short-term business purposes.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Mexican government has announced that it will modify its visa procedures for Brazilian nationals traveling for tourism or nonpaid business activities.

Key Points:

  • Beginning Aug. 18, Brazilian nationals traveling will no longer be able to apply for e-visas to enter Mexico for tourism or nonpaid business activities.
  • Brazilian nationals intending to enter Mexico for tourism or nonpaid business activities will need to apply for a visa at local Mexican consular offices by scheduling an appointment on this website.
  • Brazilian nationals may still be eligible for an e-visa if they hold a current visa issued by Canada, Japan, the U.K., the U.S. or a Schengen Area country; or they are a permanent resident of Canada, Japan, the U.K., the U.S., any Schengen Area country or any Pacific Alliance country.
  • Brazilian nationals who obtain visitor visas from Mexican consular offices will be able to stay in Mexico for up to 180 days per each entry.

BAL Analysis: Brazilian nationals who are planning travel to Mexico for tourism or nonpaid business activities should expect additional administrative processes and increased costs when applying for Mexican visas.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Mexican government has launched a pilot program to expedite entry processes for certain foreign nationals entering through the airports in Guadalajara and Cancun.

Key Points:

  • As of Aug. 2, immigration authorities at the Guadalajara and Cancun airports are not requiring foreign nationals traveling for tourism or short-term business purposes to complete the Multiple Immigration Forms (FMM).
  • Instead of requiring the FMM, immigration authorities are stamping foreign nationals’ passports, indicating their length of legal stay within the stamp.
  • As of Aug. 2 the Mexican government has not expanded the pilot program to other points of entry but may do so without notice.

Additional Information: Foreign nationals are able to obtain an electronic FMM online through this website. Once the form is completed, travelers can present the form to show to immigration authorities upon arrival, who will then stamp the travelers’ length of legal stay in Mexico.

BAL Analysis: The Mexican government has implemented the pilot program for expedited entry with the intent of streamlining the entry process for foreign nationals traveling for tourism or short-term business purposes.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Mexican government has launched a pilot program to expedite entry processes for certain foreign nationals entering through the airports in Guadalajara and Cancun.

Key Points:

  • As of Aug. 2, immigration authorities at the Guadalajara and Cancun airports are not requiring foreign nationals traveling for tourism or short-term business purposes to complete the Multiple Immigration Forms (FMM).
  • Instead of requiring the FMM, immigration authorities are stamping foreign nationals’ passports, indicating their length of legal stay within the stamp.
  • As of Aug. 2 the Mexican government has not expanded the pilot program to other points of entry but may do so without notice.

Additional Information: Foreign nationals are able to obtain an electronic FMM online through this website. Once the form is completed, travelers can present the form to show to immigration authorities upon arrival, who will then stamp the travelers’ length of legal stay in Mexico.

BAL Analysis: The Mexican government has implemented the pilot program for expedited entry with the intent of streamlining the entry process for foreign nationals traveling for tourism or short-term business purposes.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.