Mexico at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Available |
| TN professional status (USMCA) | Available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | Yes: some categories move more slowly |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Not eligible |
| Entry restrictions | None |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | U.S. Embassy Mexico City and Consulates in Ciudad Juárez, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Matamoros, Mérida, Monterrey, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo and Tijuana. Immigrant visas (including K-1) are processed in Ciudad Juárez. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to Mexico right now
- Mexican professionals can use TN status under USMCA but, unlike Canadians, must first get a TN visa at a U.S. consulate.
- Mexico has its own line in the Visa Bulletin, so some family and employment green card categories move more slowly than for most countries.
- No country-specific entry restrictions were in place as of October 2026.
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from Mexico
Family petitionSponsor children, adult sons and daughters, or siblingsMarriage green cardGreen card through your U.S. citizen or resident spouseTN visa (USMCA)Professional work status for Canadian and Mexican citizensH-2A / H-2B visasSeasonal and temporary farm and non-farm work visasE-2 investor visaTreaty investor visa to run a business you invest inB-1/B-2 visitor visaVisit the U.S. for business, tourism or familyF-1 student visaStudy at a U.S. college, university or language school
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from Mexico visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. Mexico is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from Mexico get an E-2 investor visa?
Yes. Mexico has an E-2 treaty with the United States, so its nationals can qualify for the E-2 treaty investor visa by making a substantial investment in a U.S. business they will run.
Can people from Mexico enter the green card lottery?
Mexico was not eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, and someone born in Mexico may still qualify through a spouse born in an eligible country.
Where do people from Mexico have their visa interview?
U.S. Embassy Mexico City and Consulates in Ciudad Juárez, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Matamoros, Mérida, Monterrey, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo and Tijuana. Immigrant visas (including K-1) are processed in Ciudad Juárez.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in Mexico?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
More countries in the Americas
Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.