If you are applying for Dual Citizenship, you will need to present certified legal documents, such as a birth certificate, to officials in Mexico. Chances are, you will need an Apostille on your documents in order for them to be recognized as valid.
What is Dual Citizenship?
If you are from Mexico and are a citizen in both the United States and Mexico, you need proof of nationality when crossing the border back into Mexico. Dual Citizenship provides this proof, that you are indeed Mexican and are a citizen of both countries. If you don’t apply for Dual Citizenship, you could be in trouble when you cross the border and face hefty fines.
Applying for a Dual Citizenship
To complete the paperwork associated with your Dual Citizenship, you will need to provide either originals or copies of one of your parent’s birth certificate, as well as proof that you are a U.S. citizen, such as a California ID, California Driver’s License, Passport, or Certificate of Naturalization. If you are a woman and married, you must provide proof that you are married, a Marriage Certificate.
This is not quite enough. You also need to proof that these documents are valid. This is where an Apostille comes in. An Apostille is basically a “seal” issued by a State official who has verified that the birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc, is valid and legal.
If you need an Apostille on your birth certificate, marriage certificate, or other other document when applying for Dual Citizenship, please call us at 415-239-6600 or visit our website. In the meantime, there are some ways you can assure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
If you need an Apostille on a Birth Certificate, Death Certificate, or Marriage Certificate for Dual Citizenship:
- Check the Date and Location the Certificate was Issued: The certificate must be issued within California; Birth and Death Certificates must be certified within the last 5 years.
- Verify the Signature: Make sure it’s been signed by a County Clerk/Recorder, Clerk Recorder, Assessor/Recorder, or, for Birth and Death Certificates, an official from the Department of Heath Services.
