Moving To US From Mexico: Guide to US Visas and Key Steps

Mexicans are world-renowned as hard-working, family-oriented, and industrious people who have no problem getting their hands dirty if it means improving the lives of their loved ones. When it comes to moving from Mexico to US, Mexican people are the most welcomed foreigners in the US. And we’re not just saying that; we have the numbers and historical facts to prove it. 

Mexican immigration to the US has a long history, dating back to the middle of the 19th century. Since those times, more than 150 years ago, the proud people of Mexico have played a vital role in making the US a great country. 

Today, more than 37 million people of Mexican descent live in the US. And according to the latest information from the US Immigration Department, more than 105,000 Mexican nationals received a Green Card in 2021, making Mexico the top nation in the world for the number of US Green Cards issued.  

However, getting a US Green Card is not the only way to move to US from Mexico. And that’s exactly what we’re going to talk about in this article. 

So, if you’re interested in learning about moving from Mexico to US, you should definitely stick around. We’ll explain the different types of US visas for Mexicans and share some of the key steps everyone moving to the US should know.

But before we do that, let’s briefly discuss the main reasons Mexicans chose to move to the US in such great numbers. 

4 Main Reasons For Moving From Mexico to US

There are many reasons for moving from Mexico to US, and it would be impossible to fit them all in a single article. That’s why we’ll solely focus on a couple of the main ones. They are as follows:

Higher Living Standard

Although an average monthly salary is not always the most accurate standard for evaluating a country’s living standard, it is a great indicator of it. And what do the numbers say? Let’s take a look. 

In Mexico, the average monthly salary is around $1,000. In contrast to that, in the US, the average monthly salary is around $6,500 (or 6,5 times greater). Even though the average cost of living in the US is higher than in Mexico, the amount of money you can earn in the US is more than enough to make up for it. 

More Job Opportunities

The US has long been known as the land of opportunity. This is in no small part thanks to the many job opportunities available in the country. According to the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (June 2024), there are more than 8 million open job positions in the US. This is one of the main reasons why Mexicans want to move to the US. 

Larger and More Stable Economy 

Mexican Pesos, as the main currency in Mexico, has gone through many ups and downs in the past decade or so. The same goes for the entire Mexican economy. In contrast to that, the US economy (since the 2008 crash) has been extremely stable and has continued to generate new jobs thanks to both the country’s financial and technological development sectors.

Additionally, the US economy is much bigger than that of Mexico. To be more precise, the US 

economy is around 25 times larger than Mexico’s. The yearly GDP of the US is around 25 trillion dollars, while Mexoc’s GDP is just around 1 trillion dollars.

More Real Estate Investing Opportunities

Although not necessarily a reason to move to the US, we feel it’s important to note that a considerable number of Mexicans are buying investment properties in the US. In fact, they are one of the most prolific buyers of US-based real estate. 

According to the latest statistics on foreign real estate investment, Mexicans represent more than 11% of all foreign buyers and have spent around 4,2 billion purchasing houses in the US. 

Moving From Mexico to US: Types of US Visas for Mexican Citizens

The biggest issue that most Mexicans face when looking to move to the US is finding information about the types of US visas available to them. To help you navigate the difficulties, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular US visas for Mexican citizens, and we’ve put them into two distinct categories:

1. Non-immigrant US Visas for Mexicans

Non-immigrant US visas are usually easier to obtain and are often viewed as a first step to permanent residence in the States. Getting one of these visas will allow you to move from Mexico to US and stay there on a temporary basis (from a couple of months to a couple of years, depending on the type of visa).

The most popular types of non-immigrant US Visa for Mexicans include:

US Tourist Visa for Mexican Citizens: B-2 Visa

A US tourist visa, also known as a B-2 Visa, gives Mexican citizens permission to visit the US for vacation or medical treatment. The duration of this type of Visa can vary, but it is usually granted for up to 6 months (or half a year). 

US Business Visa for Mexican Citizens: B-1 Visa

A B-1 business visa allows Mexican nationals to temporarily visit the US to attend business meetings or seminars, negotiate contracts, and other business-related activities. The B-1 visa is usually granted for up to 6 months (or half a year). 

US Student Visa for Mexican Citizens: F-1 Visa

An F-1 visa allows Mexicans to stay in the US for the duration of the academic program (usually a couple of years). Before getting an F-1 visa, a Mexican citizen first needs to get accepted to one of the SEVP-approved schools. Apart from studying, an F-1 visa allows students to apply for US mortgage loans and get certain part-time jobs.

US Exchange Visitor Visa for Mexican Citizens: J-1 Visa

A J-1 visa allows Mexicans to visit the US in order to participate in exchange programs for the purpose of education, culture, or business. The duration of this visa depends on the type of exchange program and can last from a couple of months to a couple of years. 

US Work Visas for Mexican Citizens: H and L Visas

The most common types of US work visas available to Mexican nationals are:

• H-1B visa — This US visa is for Mexicans with specialized knowledge or a higher degree in a specific field of work. It can be renewed for up to 6 years. To learn more, check out our article on the H-1B visa lottery. 
• H-2A visa — This US visa is for Mexican nationals who want to move to the US for seasonal agricultural work temporarily. It can last up to a year and can be renewed multiple times.
• H-2B visa — This US visa is for Mexican nationals who want to temporarily move to the US for temporary non-agricultural work (construction, landscaping, hospitality)
• L-1 visa — This US visa is for Mexicans who are employed by a multinational company and are being transferred to a US-based office. It can last up to 3 years (L-1A) or up to 1 year (L-1B) and can be renewed. 

US Specialty Visas for Mexican Citizens: E and O Visas

The most popular specialty US visas for Mexicans are:

• O-1 visa — This US visa is for Mexican nationals with extraordinary ability in fields such as art, science, education, business, or athletics. It can last up to 3 years and can be renewed. 
• E-1 visa — This US visa is for Mexican nationals who are involved in substantial trade between the US and Mexico. It can last up to 2 years and can be renewed. 
• E-2 visa — This US visa is for Mexicans who are investing a substantial amount of money in a US business. 

US K-1 Visa for Mexican Citizens

K-1 or fiance visa allows a Mexican to move to the US and stay there for a period of 90 days in order to get married to a US citizen. After the marriage comes to fruition and all the legal paperwork is done, a Mexican citizen can apply for a Green Card. 

US TN Visa for Mexican Citizens: 

The TN visa allows Mexicans and Canadians to work in the US according to the rules and requirements set by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The visa is granted for up to 3 years and can be renewed. 

Spouses and children (under the age of 21) of TN visa holders are eligible for the TD (trade dependent) visa, which allows them to accompany the TN visa holder and move with them to the US. Holders of the TD visa can not work in the US but can go to school (i.e., attend educational institutions). 

2. Immigrant US Visas for Mexicans Moving to the US

Immigrant US visas allow Mexican nationals to move and work in the US permanently. They provide a pathway for obtaining a Green Card. The most popular types of immigrant US visas include:

Family-Based US Visas for Mexican Citizens

These types of visas are separated into two distinct groups — immediate relatives and family preference categories. 

Immediate relatives (IR) visas are:

• IR-1 — For spouses of US citizens
• IR-2 — For unmarried children of US citizens who are under 21 years of age
• IR-3 — For orphans adopted by US citizens from abroad
• IR-4 — For orphans adopted by US citizens in the US
• IR-5 — For parents of US citizens who are at least 21 years of age

Family preference categories are visas for more distant family relationships. They include the following types of US visas for Mexicans:

• F1 — For unmarried children of US citizens who are 21 years of age or older
• F2A — For spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of Green Card holders (i.e., permanent residents)
• F2B — For unmarried children of Green Card holders who are 21 years of age or older.
• F3 — For married children of US citizens
• F4 — For brothers or sisters of US citizens (who are at least 21 years of age) 

Employment-Based US Visas for Mexicans

These visas are for Mexican nationals who have a job offer from the US (that falls under specific categories) or who have exceptional abilities that can benefit the US national interests. There are different types of immigrant employment-based US visas, and they are:

EB-1 Visas for Priority Workers

EB-1 US visa for Mexicnas includes the following categories:

• EB-1A — For Mexicans with extraordinary ability in their chosen field of work (e.g., science, education, art, business)
• EB-1B — For Mexicans who are considered superb professors or researchers
• EB-1C — For Mexicans who are managers or executives of multinational corporations

EB-2 Visas 

EB-2 visas are for Mexican nationals who possess advanced degrees or exceptional ability in their chosen fields. The categories of EB-2 visas are:

• EB-2A — For Mexicans with an advanced degree or an equivalent of one
• EB-2B — For Mexcians with exceptional ability in their line of work
• EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) — For Mexicans whose abilities can benefit the US national interests 

EB-3 Visas

EB-3 visas are for Mexicans who are considered skilled workers, professionals, or regular workers. The types of EB-3 visas are:

• EB-3A — For Mexicans with a bachelor’s degree
• EB-3B — For Mexicans who are considered skilled workers and have at least 2 years of work experience
• EB-3C — For Mexicans who are considered as unskilled workers and have less than 2 years of experience 

EB-4 and EB-5 Visas

EB-4 visas are reserved for Mexicans, which the US government classifies as special immigrants (e.g., religious workers, members of the US armed forces, government informers, etc.). 

EB-5 visas are for Mexican nationals who invest at least $900,000 in a commercial business approved by the US government. Also known as the “Gold visa,” holders of the EB-5 visas and their families can immediately qualify for a US Green Card, which is precisely why this visa is extremely expensive. 

Moving From Mexico to US: Mexican Communities in the US 

The latest estimates indicate that around 37 million people of Mexican origin live in the United States. The majority of Mexicans live in the following three states:

• California (around 34% of the entire Mexican population in the US)
• Texas (around 26% of the entire Mexican population in the US)
• Arizona (around 5% of the entire Mexican population in the US) 

US counties with the highest number of Mexican Americans are:

• Los Angeles County (around 3,5 million Mexicans or around 74,9% of the County’s population)
• Harris County (around 2,1 million Hispanic people, with the majority of them identifying as Mexican) 
• Cook County (around 1 million Mexican Americans, who represent around 20% of the County’s population)
• Dallas County (around 1,05 million Hispanics, with the majority of them identifying as Mexican)

Moving From Mexico to US in 4 Key Steps

The process of moving from Mexico to the US is not going to be the same for everybody. People are different; they come from various backgrounds and will have vastly different journeys. That’s why it’s impossible to give you an A to Z manual on how to move from Mexico to the US. The best we can do is share the main steps you’ll likely have to do, no matter the exact circumstances of your situation. These steps are:

1. Prepare Documentation

Before you even start looking at the types of US visas you might be eligible for, the first step is to prepare general documentation (i.e., documents you’ll most likely need regardless of the visa type). The types of documents you should prepare include:

• A valid and up-to-date passport
• Birth certificate
• At least 2 passport-sized photos (for your visa application)
• Various financial documents (pay slips, bank statements, etc.)
• Proof of education or work experience (e.g., various diplomas or relevant documents that outline your professional experience)

Additionally, depending on the type of visa you end up applying for and your specific situation, you might also want to look into preparing the following documents as well:

• A marriage certificate (in the case you’re married)
• A military record  
• Police and crime records that show you are not involved in any pending legal cases
• Medical report 

2. Find the Right Visa

There are many different types of US visas for Mexicans. They can be divided into two distinct categories — non-immigrant and immigrant visas. 

On the one hand, immigrant visas are a more permanent solution and will make it easier to pursue a US Green Card and, ultimately, US citizenship. But they are much more challenging to get. On the other hand, non-immigrant visas are temporary but are a great first step that can make the process of getting permanent US residency much easier. 

How you choose to go about this is up to you, but we would advise you to look into both non-immigrant and immigrant visas and try to find the type of visa you are eligible for. And, to learn more about different types of Mexican visa to USA, check out the heading above. 

3. Find a Place to Stay

With the documents and visa out of the way, it’s time to find a place to stay in the US. There are two ways you can go about this — buy a house in the USA as a Mexican or find a place to rent. 

Which one you choose could depend on your current financial situation. 

If you have very limited funds, renting might be the way to go. There are around 44 million rental units in the US, and finding the one that suits your finances shouldn’t be a huge issue. 

Depending on the type of rental you’re interested in and how many roommates you’re comfortable with, your monthly rent can be between a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand dollars per month.  

However, buying a house is the better of the two options. It allows you to put down permanent roots in the US and make the transition of moving to a foreign country much smoother. 

Because of how developed the financial system in the US is, you don’t need a lot of money to get started. In fact, to buy US property, you don’t need to have a Green Card, US credit score, or history. All you need to do is find the right mortgage broker who can help you get a mortgage loan in the US and have enough money to cover the downpayment (usually around 25% of the property’s value). 

Check out our article on the average house cost in the US, where we analyze the average property values for each US state to see if there’s anything in your price range. And remember, you don’t need to pay the full price of the house you’re interested in. You only need to have enough to cover the downpayment. 

Want to buy a house in the US as a Mexican? NRI can help. To get a mortgage loan, you don’t need a Green Card or US credit score. Contact us or book a free consultation if you want to learn more.

4. Get Ready to Move

After you’ve done the steps above, you’ll be well on your way to making a successful move from Mexico to the US. However, there are still a couple of other things you should consider doing to make the transition even smoother:

Prepare Enough Money to Cover the Moving Costs

Depending on how much stuff you intend to bring with you, moving from Mexico to US can cost you a pretty penny. Obviously, the more stuff you have and the larger the distance between your place in Mexico and your new home in the US, the more money you’ll have to spend on it. With all that in mind, you should be prepared to spend anywhere between $4,000 to $12,000. 

Apply for an SSN or ITIN

If you’re eligible for it, you should try to get a Social Security Number (SSN). By getting one, you’ll make the entire transition much easier as you will pretty much have the same rights as a US citizen. However, if you can’t get an SSN, your second-best option is to get an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number). With ITIN, you can easily open a US bank account and can also apply for ITIN mortgages (a specialized type of US loan available to all ITIN holders).

Learn About US Tax Laws

The entire responsibility for paying US taxes falls on you. Meaning that if you make even the slightest mistake, it can cost you a lot of money and time. That’s why you should try to learn as much as you can about Federal US tax laws and tax laws of the state you’re going to move to (each US state has different tax laws).