The Mexican Consulate General, Houston, Texas
Houston is known for having a large population of Mexican immigrants and expatriates, Mexican-Americans, and generally residents of Mexican descent. It has had the presence of a Mexican Consulate for over a hundred years, with the first established in 1921.
The Houston Mexican Consulate in Texas is headed by a consul general (a position that Alice Kerber Palma currently occupies) and serves Mexican immigrants living in Houston in many ways. For instance, if you need to renew your Mexican passport or process a visa from within Texas, you might need to visit the consulate building.
The Mexican Consulate may also offer helpful resources for Mexican immigrants eligible for US green cards under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
If you need to visit the Mexican Consulate for any reason, it would be beneficial to have some information about how it works and what you might be able to do there.
Basic Information on the Consulate of Mexico in Houston
Location
The Mexican Consulate building in Houston occupies a 50,000-square-foot area in Southwest Houston. The address is 10555 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77042, but its entrance is at 3200 Rogerdale Rd, Houston, TX 77042.
The area where the consulate is located is popularly known as Houston’s embassy corridor due to the number of consulates in the area. There are currently six embassies there, including the Mexican embassy. The other five are the consulates of Costa Rica, Indonesia, the Philippines, the Netherlands, and Honduras.
The consulate hasn’t always been in this location. It moved there in 2021, and the current building is about twice the size of the former, with four floors. It also boasts several public amenities, like its on-site parking lot and an art gallery, among other things.
The increased capacity of the consulate enables it to serve the many Mexican-Americans in Houston and other Houston residents interested in Mexico.
Working Hours
The consulate is typically open from 8 AM to 5 PM on Mondays to Fridays. However, the embassy may be closed on Mexican or American public holidays.
If you need to visit the consulate, it may be better to contact them beforehand and schedule an appointment. You can reach the consulate through the phone numbers in the following section.
Contact Information
If you require any information from the consulate or you’d like to schedule an appointment, you can contact the consulate staff on the phone during their open hours.
Many bilingual staff members are available, so you can communicate with them whether you speak English or Spanish.
There are different contact lines available depending on the service you require, as follows:
- Consular services – 424 309 0009
- Community Affairs and Culture – (713) 778-6116
- Information and Assistance Center for Mexicans (CIAM) – (520) 623-7874
- Switch line – (713) 271-6800
- Fax lines – (713) 779-0701, (713) 772-1229
Protection Emergencies -Special Phone Lines
The Consular Protection and Legal Affairs Department assists Mexican nationals who need help with civil, immigration, humanitarian, criminal, labor, and family issues. You can find the department on the second floor of the consulate building. If you have an emergency, you can visit them during working hours without scheduling an appointment. You can also contact them via the following lines:
- Exclusive emergency line – (713) 857 6504
- Direct telephone line – (713) 778 6102.
If you need more information about contacting the Mexican Consulate in Houston, you can visit their official website. You will find the names of key staff, their positions, and their emails there.
You can also schedule appointments on their website via this link.
Services Provided By the Consulate for Mexican Immigrants in the US
If you’re a Mexican national living in Houston, Texas, the Mexican Consulate can help you in several ways, including passport renewals, registration and issuance of marriage licenses, and registration of births. The costs of applying for any of these processes are available on their website. However, you may be required to provide certain documents depending on the specific process you’re applying for. Some of the standard consulate processes and the required documents for each are highlighted below.
Passport Application
You’d need to book an appointment to get a new passport at the Mexican Consulate. You’ll also need the following documents:
- Proof of your nationality, including birth certificates or a naturalization letter
- Proof of your identity, including Mexican school reports or Identity Cards
- In the case of married people who have changed their last name or who want their spouse’s name on their passport, a marriage certificate
Passport Renewal
To renew your passport, all you need is your expired passport. You’ll need to bring it to your appointment.
If there are any errors or observations on the passport, you’ll need to resolve them with the original identification document you used for the initial passport application, such as your official identification or birth certificate.
Visa Applications to Enter Mexico
Immigration laws worldwide require foreign nationals to obtain permits or visas before entering another country. Mexico is no exception to this practice. However, there are exceptions.
You can enter Mexico without a visa if:
- You are a US citizen or permanent resident.
- You’re from the UK, Japan, or the Schengen area countries.
If you’re unsure what the situation is in your country, you can check this list from the Government of Mexico Website.
The Visa Application Process
- To apply for a visa at the Mexican consulate, you would need to book a visa appointment online and be physically present at the consulate.
- On the day of the appointment, the consulate will review your application, check your official documents, and take your biometric data. They will also interview you.
- They may decide on the same day or within a few days of the interview. It may take between one to ten business days to receive a decision.
Do I Need an Attorney for My Appointment?
It is always a good idea to employ the services of an immigration attorney whenever you have an issue to resolve with the Mexican Consulate. From visa applications to resolving more complicated immigration matters, an experienced attorney could help you navigate the process and make it easier.
A good immigration attorney can also help you with legal matters such as naturalization, permanent residency, and other immigration-related issues. This will ensure that you comply with the law and all necessary documents are submitted correctly.
So, if you’re in the US and need help with any immigration process at the Mexican Consulate in Houston, do not hesitate to contact Andrew T. Thomas, Attorneys at Law, for quality legal assistance and representation.
Our attorneys are well-versed in the ins and outs of Mexican immigration law and have extensive experience dealing with the consulate in Houston. We offer comprehensive legal services to help make the process easier for our clients. We will also keep you updated on any law changes that might affect your case.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
