HOW LONG DOES THE DUAL CITIZENSHIP PROCESS TAKE?
Obtaining dual citizenship can be smooth, especially when all documents are in order. At Doble Nacionalidad Express, we handle both “perfect” and “non-perfect” cases.
- In a perfect case, everything matches seamlessly—names, dates, and details on all birth certificates involved are correct, with no discrepancies. Even the smallest error, like a misspelling, can impact processing time.
- For non-perfect cases, we take additional steps to address issues. These might include digitizing and searching for a Mexican parent’s birth certificate or correcting information on the American birth certificate.
Perfect Cases
A perfect case generally takes five to six weeks—sometimes less, sometimes more. This timeframe is an average estimate. This is what it entails.
Apostille is Key
In the process of obtaining Mexican dual citizenship, the apostille step is crucial. An apostille certifies the authenticity of your documents so that the Mexican government recognizes them. This step can be a bit time-consuming, especially since each U.S. state has its own protocol and processing times.
For instance, states like California and Arizona are known for quicker apostille processing, typically taking no more than two to four weeks. However, states such as Florida, New York, and Texas often require longer timeframes due to their specific procedures.
Doble Nacionalidad Express manages this entire process, ensuring that your documents are properly apostilled and ready for submission.
Because the apostille is one of the most time-intensive parts of the process, it’s essential for moving your application forward smoothly. Rest assured, our team handles the apostille with the utmost care and efficiency, saving you time and hassle.
Certificate of Nonexistence of Birth and Translation
Simultaneously, we translate documents. As of now, a high-quality translation can take three days to a week. Additionally, we purchase a Certificate of Nonexistence of Birth, which authorizes you to obtain Mexican citizenship. It takes around 4 days to receive one.
Non-Perfect Cases: When Extra Steps Are Needed
At Doble Nacionalidad Express, we understand that not all cases are straightforward. In non-perfect cases, we handle unique situations, like name discrepancies, to ensure your dual citizenship process moves forward successfully.
Sometimes, the legal name of a Mexican parent on your U.S. birth certificate doesn’t match exactly with the name on their Mexican documents. This difference may be as small as a spelling variation, but Mexican authorities are particular: the name must match 100% across both your birth certificate and your parent’s documents.
For cases like these, we do the following:
Correction on U.S. Birth Certificate
If you have the time, we can help you update your U.S. birth certificate to match the parent’s Mexican legal name. This option costs $150 and typically takes around 4 to 5 months. With the corrected birth certificate, your case can then proceed as a perfect case. For this, there’s no need to send us your original birth certificate; simply let us know if you choose this route, and we’ll guide you through the modification process.
So, if your case isn’t perfect, don’t worry! We have the experience and solutions to handle it, ensuring a smooth path to your dual citizenship.
Other Specific Scenarios:
If your parent's documents are outdated, we may need to replace them too. For instance, if they don’t have a birth certificate but have the information, we’ll initiate a search and digitization process, which could take two to three weeks. Overall, the timeline provided is an average based on our experience with legal services, human factors and case specifics come into play, making precise timelines difficult to guarantee.
