What documents need to be apostilled by married US citizens while obtaining Permanent Resident visa?

My wife and I were told that our US marriage certificate would need to be apostilled --- a requirement by the Mexican government while approving both of us for Permanent Visas.

Do they typically require any other documents also to be apostilled?

Do any of the documents typically needed to be translated from English to Spanish?

I was told that to get my marriage certificate apostilled, that I would need to send an official copy of the document to the appropriate office at Florida's state capital. And that they will apostile (authenticate) the marriage certificate.

Any advice / information will be greatly appreciated.

The Sec'y of State's office will generate the apostiled document. In many states you can order this online. As I recall this is the only document you need in addition to your passport.

Perhaps Spencer will weigh in to ensure this is correct.

You only need that marriage certificate if your wife is being claimed as a dependent. If you are each getting your own visa's then no marriage certificate is required. This is the best way to go if you can show the earnings or savings account for both of you. As a dependent there could be problems for your wife if you pass away.

David and Bob,

Thank you for the information and feedback!

Rich

8 years ago, the wife had to be claimed as an independent because she wasn't old enough to qualify as a rentista. In addition to the apostille, also had to provide a letter vouching for her financially and morally. That may have changed when they replaced the FM2 & 3 with the temporary and permanente statuses.

What is the legal age to qualify for a visa?

Most consulates dont ask for apostilled documents just recently issued ones HOWEVER it is a good practice to bring apostilled / legalized recently issued certificates in case you need them for marriage, divorce, probate, immigration or property issues. They are easier to get and less expensive if you get them before you come down as you can send things by regular mail and if it takes a week there is no urgent transaction waiting on them.

As far as Bobs question for minimum age, that seems to be rising. Internal rules seem to be changing. A few years ago we got many clients in their 30s permanent resident visas, then last year we heard from inside sources that they were imposing a minimum age of 50 or 60 and now some consulates dont want to give them to anybody and use their discretion to deny. In Chapala to jump ahead before the four years from temp to perm they want to see you receive a pension, well that is excluding self employed people who are have hundreds of thousands in the bank and can be over 70 but dont get a dollar in pension income or social security. Go figure!

I retired 2.5 years ago. I had sufficent money saved for retirement (IRA's and 401k type plans) to do so. I am now 60 and my wife is 55.

I am not old enough for my Social Security pension yet. While I do receive a pension from a previous employer, it is not large enough to qualify my wife and I for a Permanent Visa. But the retirement money I have saved is sufficient --- it easily qualifies us over the minimum amounts published by Mexico this year for the PV (104,000 USD this year per the Mexican consulate nearest me in Florida).

Would the consulate in Florida make the decision on whether my retirement savings qualifies us during our interview at the consulate in Florida? Or would this be decided at the Guadalajara immigration office after we arrive in Mexico?

You shouldnt have a problem and if they only give you temporary we can get you permanent as you have at least 1 dollar in pension to place you in the pensioner category and then can qualify with assets, get yours first and then we can tag your wife onto your permanent as a temp and then she goes perm after 2 years.

Anyone have a good link to download the forms for temporary and permanent residency. The forms you take to the Mexican consulate in the states for application? Thanks

Have you checked the website of your local consulate?

Yes, and I cannot seem to find the forms to download!

Bimini6,

If you send me a PM (private message) and include your email address, I can forward documents to you that I received from the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, DC. in January of this year.  I had emailed a consulate in Florida asking for this information and the reply came from the Embassy in DC with these 2 documents:

1st document is the Visa Application Form --- used for either Perm or Temp visa application.

2nd document explains the requirements for a permanent visa, how to make an appointment with a consulate near you, and what to bring with you for the permanent visa appointment/interview.  Note: This document discusses the permanent visa only, it does not discuss the temporary visa requirements.

Humble Administrator: I am a newbie on the forum and could not find a way to attach these forms to either this forum discussion or to attach them to a private message. Is there such a way?

Yes, when you create a new post just below the send button is another section that let's you attach documents.

Thanks Bob!  I just opened a new topic but was unable to upload them. Got this error message:

Could not upload file : exceeded total storage space. (Free space : 1)

Assuming someone needs to delete some files to make room for news ones before upload can work.

Bimini6 sent me a PM. I have sent them the 2 documents through email to them. Thank you.

Thank you to RGFlorida!