The document checklist
Every document the move actually requires — what each one is and why you'll need it. Check them off as you gather them; your progress saves alongside your roadmap.
Heads up
Your visa lives in the passport it's stamped in
The visa is physically bound to the passport it was issued in. If your passport has short validity left, renew it beforestarting the visa process — otherwise you'll spend years traveling with two passports, or redoing paperwork. Check your expiration date before anything else on this page.
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Before you fly
Valid passport
Your visa gets stamped into this exact passport. Check the expiration date before anything else — if it expires within a couple of years, renew it BEFORE starting the visa process (see the heads-up on this page).
DS-160 confirmation page
The printed confirmation of your online visa application. The consulate won't see you without it — print it and keep a digital copy.
Employer support letter
Describes your role, salary, and how the job fits the TN (USMCA) category or L-1 transfer. This is the core evidence at your consular interview — review it yourself before the appointment.
Título y cédula profesional
Proof you qualify for the professional visa category. Bring originals plus copies; some employers also ask for a certified English translation.
Updated CV / résumé
Consular officers cross-check your experience against the visa category. Make sure it matches the employer letter — inconsistencies cause questions.
Signed job offer
Needed for the visa, and again later as income proof for apartments and banks before your first US pay stubs exist.
Acta de nacimiento (certified copy)
Certified copy of your birth certificate — needed for some Texas processes and for any dependents' paperwork. Getting one from abroad later is a headache.
Marriage certificate (if your spouse is coming)
Required for TD or L-2 dependent visas. Certified copy, and consider a certified translation.
Mexican driver license
Lets you drive initially and is your reference for the Texas license swap at DPS. Insurance quotes also go smoother with a license history.
Medical and vaccination records, prescriptions
US doctors start from zero without them. Bring prescriptions written with generic drug names — brand names differ across the border.
After you land
I-94 entry record
Your official record of entry. Retrieve and save it from the CBP website a few days after arriving — the Social Security office and DPS both ask for it.
Social Security card
Arrives by mail about two weeks after you apply. Unlocks payroll, credit, and easier utility setup — keep the card somewhere safe, not in your wallet.
Signed lease + a utility bill in your name
Together these become your proof of Texas residency — DPS wants them for your license, and banks may ask too.