United States It is one of the most chosen destinations for immigrants from Mexico and from all over the world. In fact, the United States is the country that receives the most international migrants per year. The opportunities for stability and growth offered by the neighboring country are very tempting.
However, obtaining a visa that allows legal residence in the country it may seem like an overwhelming process. If you are considering the possibility of immigrating to the United States, but you don't know where to start, here we will tell you all the necessary requirements to do so.
How to immigrate to the United States?
To immigrate to the United States from Mexico, there are a series of necessary steps that must be followed if we want to reside in the country legally and not be deported. The first thing to think about is the type of visa you are going to apply for.
The United States issues visas that allow you to stay in the country for different reasons, these are: study, work, marriage, tourism, business and medical treatment. Some of them are temporary (with the possibility of renewal) and others are permanent. The latter are made official with the obtaining of the famous Green Card o Green Card.
All immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications must be managed in the Immigrant Visa Unit at the Embassy of the United States of America in Mexico, or at one of its consulates.
Requirements to immigrate to the United States
The process to process any of the visas to immigrate to the United States involves the following steps:
1) Complete Form DS-160: is the online Non-Immigrant Visa Application form. Once completed, it will be necessary to print the confirmation page of the form with the barcode to present at the interview.
2) U.S. Department of the United States Department of Appointment and Visa Information System: in this step, you must register in the system and right here you can schedule an appointment at the Applicant Service Center (CAS).
3) Attend the appointment at the CAS: There, officials record your biometric information and schedule a personal interview. It is necessary to bring your current Mexican passport and the DS-160 form sheet.
4) Attend the personal interview with the consular agent: Depending on the type of visa requested, you may be required to pay before the interview. In that case, you must come to your interview with the payment receipt.
It should be remembered that each type of visa has its own times and requirements, so It is necessary to obtain in-depth information on the website of the United States Embassy in Mexico or at the Applicant Service Center, and follow the detailed steps to complete the application process.
Before making any request, remember to consult with a lawyer specializing in immigration procedures and rights about the different options available to you.
What are the causes of emigration to the United States?
The globalized world is experiencing the problems of multiple social, economic and humanitarian crises of all kinds. People migrate in search of better job opportunities and a better quality of life.
Year after year, millions of inhabitants around the world face major structural problems that make it difficult to access and build a decent life in their countries of origin. This is why many choose to emigrate and provide for their families from abroad.
And in that regard, the United States emerged decades ago as one of the best destinations to achieve this. According to a 2022 report by the International Organization for Migration, the United States reached 51 million international migrants in 2020, and almost half of them come from Latin America.
Advantages of immigrating to the United States
One of the main advantages of immigrating to the United States is that, within the Western world, The United States emerged as the most developed country and has one of the strongest currencies, the US dollar. Its economy is stable and its financial system is one of the strongest in the world.
While living costs in certain states can be very high, the quality of the services and security they offer is one of the biggest advantages for those who settle there.
Another positive point for the United States is that It is geographically very close, so you will find a large Latino community spread across the country. This factor favors diversity and cooperation between communities, and reduces the impact of uprooting with the country of origin.
How many Mexicans immigrate to the United States each year?
The migratory corridor formed by Mexico and the United States is the largest in the world. This resulted in the registration of some 11.6 million Mexicans living in the United States in 2017, and according to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2018, there were already 36 million people of Mexican ethnic origin in the United States.
The migratory flow from Mexico to the United States continues to grow every year, although unfortunately, many do not have the possibility of entering the country legally. This led to an increase in the number of detainees at the border: there were about 808,339 cases in 2022, although many come from other Central American countries.
According to the Government of Mexico, The migratory trend to the north is decreasing: For the year 2023, an estimated annual number of 125,000 Mexicans were estimated to migrate temporarily or permanently to the neighboring country. However, the figure has not yet been updated.