MEXICAN DOCUMENT TRANSLATION
Mexican Police Record Translation for USCIS
A certified translation of a Mexican police record (Carta de No Antecedentes Penales) for USCIS costs about $15–25 and is delivered in 24–48 hours, with a signed Certificate of Accuracy that meets 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Translation HelpDesk uses native Spanish-speaking specialists, and if USCIS rejects our translation we fix it free and cover your resubmission fee.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Reviewed by Victor Luján, Founder — certified translations since 2018
WHAT WE TRANSLATE
The Mexican Police Record (Carta de No Antecedentes Penales)
Mexico issues criminal-record letters at two levels, and USCIS/NVC cares which one you have. State certificates - the carta or constancia de no antecedentes penales - come from the Fiscalia General del Estado (state prosecutor's office) of each state, so someone who lived in several states may hold several. The federal document is the Constancia de Antecedentes Penales Federales, issued by the federal authority (formerly OADPRS under SEGOB). Some Mexican consulates abroad now also issue these for immigrant-visa applicants. The letter states the person's name, CURP, and that no record exists ('no se encontro registro'), with an issue date and QR verification; validity is short (about two years), so obtain it only when NVC requests it. For USCIS the certified English translation must reproduce the negative-finding wording exactly, the issuing office's full name, the folio and QR legend, and the date. Because the name must match the passport and visa forms, keep both surnames and all tildes; a mismatched or stale-looking translation triggers an RFE.
WHO ISSUES IT
Where Your Mexican Police Record Comes From
Mexican police and criminal-record certificates are issued by the national or state police and justice authorities described above — not the civil registry. Mexico has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 1995, so a Mexican public document is authenticated with a single apostille — no U.S. embassy or consular legalization is needed. Full Mexico apostille & authentication guidance →
USCIS REQUIREMENTS
How USCIS Wants Your Mexican Police Record Translated
For your Mexican police record, USCIS requires a complete English translation of everything on the page — the issuing office’s details, seals, and any marginal notes included — plus a signed certification of accuracy under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Machine translation cannot sign that certification. We reproduce the document's exact layout so an officer can compare it line by line against your Mexican original.
WATCH OUT FOR
Common Mexican Police Record Pitfalls
Mexican police and criminal-record certificates must show exact coverage dates and the issuing authority, and because they often expire quickly, the translation should be scheduled close to your filing date.
Native Mexican Specialist
A native speaker of your document's language handles it — not a generalist or a machine.
Format-Matched to the Original
The original layout, seals, and stamps reproduced in position.
USCIS Acceptance Guaranteed
If USCIS rejects it citing the translation, we fix it free and cover your resubmission fee.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Mexican police record translation cost?
A standard Mexican police record is typically $15-25 total, certified and formatted, delivered in 24-48 hours. Pricing is $0.05 per word; longer or multi-page documents are quoted exactly before you pay.
Is your Mexican police record translation accepted by USCIS?
Yes. Every translation includes a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). If USCIS rejects it citing the translation, we correct it free and reimburse your resubmission fee.
My acta has two surnames — how are names handled in the translation?
Mexican records carry a paternal surname (apellido paterno) and a maternal surname (apellido materno). We preserve both exactly as printed and matched to your passport and forms, because a surname mismatch is one of the most common triggers for a USCIS Request for Evidence.
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