Consulate General of the United States Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

A consular officer at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate must determine that the adoptive child qualifies for a visa before you adopt or obtain legal custody of the child.  Do not adopt or obtain custody of the child until the consular officer issues an Article 5 Letter.

Mexico and the United States are parties to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Therefore, all adoptions between Mexico and the United States must meet the requirements of the Convention and U.S. law and regulations implementing the Convention.

Mexico has a complex system for adoptions, involving the Mexican Central Authority (MCA) and the Secretary of the Exterior Relations based in Mexico City and 31 adoption authorities (one in each Mexican state).  The civil code in each state may vary, so prospective adoptive parents need to be aware of the state from which they plan to adopt and its applicable adoption laws. The Mexican Central Authority and the Secretary of the Exterior Relations finalize all adoptions.

NOTE: Special provisions apply to adoptions initiated before April 1, 2008. Click here for more detailed information.

Additional Information:

• If you are adopting an orphan or have adopted a foreign-born orphan child, click to see general information on immigrant visas for adopted children.