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Consular Information Program
Before traveling, obtain the Consular
Information Sheet for Mexico and any other countries you plan
to visit. You should also check to see if the Department of State
has issued a Travel Warning or Public Announcement for the country
or countries you will be visiting. Travel Warnings
are issued when the Department of State decides, based on all
relevant information, to recommend that all Americans avoid travel
to a certain country. Public Announcements are issued
as a means to disseminate information quickly about relatively
short-term and/or trans-national conditions which would pose significant
risks to the security of American travelers. Consular Information
Sheets are available for every country in the world. They
include such information as the location of the U.S. embassy or
consulate in the country, unusual immigration practices, health
conditions, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and
security information, and drug penalties. A description of political
disturbances may be included in the Consular Information Sheet
under an optional section entitled "Areas of Instability." On
limited occasions, the Department also restates in this section
U.S. Embassy advice given to official employees. Consular Information
Sheets present information so that travelers can make knowledgeable
decisions concerning travel to a particular country. Countries
where we suggest that you not travel will have Travel Warnings
as well as Consular Information Sheets.
How to Access Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings and
Public Announcements
By Internet
The most convenient source of information about travel and consular
services is available from the Consular Affairs home page on the
Internet s World Wide Web. The address is http://travel.state.gov.
If you do not have access to the Internet at home, work or school,
check with you local library to see if it has access to the Internet.
In Person/By Mail
Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements
are available at any of the regional passport agencies, field
offices of the Department of Commerce, and U.S. embassies and
consulates abroad, or, by writing and sending a self-addressed,
stamped envelope to the Office of American Citizens Services,
Bureau of Consular Affairs, Room 4811, U.S. Department of State,
Washington, D.C. 20520-4818.
By Telephone
Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings may be heard
any time by dialing the office of American Citizens Services at
(202) 647-5225 from a touchtone phone. The recording is
updated as new information becomes available.
By Fax
From your fax machine, dial (202) 647-3000, using the
handset as you would a regular telephone. The system will instruct
you on how to proceed.
Entry Requirements
Proof of citizenship and photo identification are required for
entry by all U.S. citizens. A passport and visa are not required
for a tourist/transit stay of up to 180 days. A tourist card,
issued by Mexican consulates and most airlines serving Mexico,
is required. Minors require notarized consent from parent(s) if
traveling alone, with one parent, or in someone else's custody.
Mexican regulations limit the value of goods brought into Mexico
by U.S. citizens arriving by air or sea to $300 per person and
by land to $50 per person. Amounts exceeding the duty-free limit
are subject to a 32.8 percent tax. Upon arrival in Mexico, business
travelers must complete a form (FM-N 30 days) authorizing the
conduct of business, but not employment, for a 30-day period.
If the business traveler departs and re-enters, the 30-day period
begins again. For further information concerning entry requirements,
travelers may contact the Embassy of Mexico at 1911 Pennsylvania
Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006, telephone (202) 736-1000,
or any of the Mexican consulates in major U.S. cities. In response
to the increased interest in immigration matters in the U.S.,
Mexican authorities may scrutinize more closely the visa situation
of U.S. citizens residing or working in Mexico. U.S. citizens
planning on working or living in Mexico should apply for the appropriate
Mexican visa (FM-2 or 3).
Visitors intending to participate in humanitarian aid missions,
human rights advocacy groups or international observer delegations
should contact the nearest Mexican Consulate or Embassy for guidance
on how to obtain the appropriate visa before traveling to Mexico.
This is particularly relevant in light of the tension and polarization
in Chiapas and the international interest the situation there
has attracted.
Returning to the United States Caution! Make
certain that you can return to the United States with the proof
of citizenship that you take with you. Although some countries
may allow you to enter with only a birth certificate, U.S. law
requires that you document both your U.S. citizenship and identity
when you reenter the United States.
The best document to prove your U.S. citizenship is a
valid U.S. passport. Other documents that establish U.S. citizenship
include an expired U.S. passport, a certified copy of your birth
certificate, a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of
Citizenship, or a Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. citizen. To
prove your identity, either a valid drivers license or
a government identification card that includes a photo or physical
description is acceptable.
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