What is a Border Crossing Card?

A Border Crossing Card is something that comes in handy for particular types of travelers who want to enter the United States. It will be available for a specific period, during which you can legally cross the border to the United States. But what exactly is this crossing card, and who needs it? Here is all you need to know about this travel document.

What Is a Border Crossing Card?

A Border Crossing Card (BCC) works not only as a BCC but also as a B1/B2 visitor’s visa. The identity document is usually given to Mexican citizens who want to enter the United States. Basically, the card is mostly used by people who want to visit the border areas of the United States, especially when they arrive by sea or land from Mexico.

The document comes in the form of a laminated card and is pretty much the same size as a credit card. It uses enhanced technology and graphics too. You will be able to use such a card for the entire period specified on the card. On the front of the card, you can find an expiration date.

As previously mentioned, this card can work as a B1 or B2 visa when you present it with a valid Mexican passport. With this card, you can visit the States for multiple reasons, whether it’s for pleasure, for business, or both of these.

It is important to note that the validity of the card is usually ten years, but when you enter the United States using this document, you can only stay for a short time. In general, on each entry, you will be allowed to stay for about 30 days within a specific area.

Another important thing to remember is that while it allows for entry into the States, the card will not allow you to work in the country.

Who Qualifies for a Border Crossing Card?

Only those who are Mexican citizens and live in Mexico can apply for a BCC. Therefore, you need to be both a citizen and a resident. This is the major requirement for BCC qualification.

Added to that, there are some eligibility rules that you need to meet, which are the same as when you’d be applying for a B1 or B2 visa. The requirements are:

• You should have enough money to be able to pay for your visit and travel
• You need to have significant ties to Mexico, which means you should either own a business or own land (which would make you return to Mexico after your stay in the U.S. for a temporary period)

The good thing about the application process is that it’s the same as the one where you apply for a one-time visitor visa.

How to Obtain a Border Crossing Card

If you want to get a Border Crossing Card, you need to know the application process.

First of all, you have to make an application, which can be done if you use the usual procedures set by the Mexican consular sections. If you take a look at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico websites, you can find out more details about this part.

Then, you must make sure you have the proper documentation which, luckily, doesn’t force you to stockpiles of paper on your desk. All you need is a valid Mexican passport when you apply for your card.

But apart from that, you also need to pay the fees for the Border Crossing Card. If you’re 15 or over the age of 15, then you will have to pay a $160 fee when applying. On the other hand, if a Mexican child needs a BCC, then the fee will be reduced. It will only cost $16 to obtain a BCC for a child.

Still, in order to be able to obtain a BCC, the child must have at least one parent with a valid BCC or one that is at least applying for a BCC. If the child becomes 15 years old while owning the reduced BCC, then you will have to pay the full fee to receive a new, valid BCC that lasts for a full 10 years.

How Long Is a Border Crossing Card Valid for?

As mentioned earlier, a Border Crossing Card will be valid for 10 years. However, it is important to mention the fact that this validity refers to the period during which you are allowed to cross the border. So, if you enter the United States with this document, you cannot remain in the country for the rest of the valid period of your card. You have to go back within a certain amount of days, or else you’d be staying in the country illegally if the period expired.

To be more specific, by staying in the U.S. past the amount the BCC allows you to, you will have what is known as “unlawful presence”, which might affect your ability to enter the United States as a consequence.

The amount of time you can spend in the U.S. after having entered with a BCC is usually 30 days.

How Far Can You Travel Within the U.S. with a Border Crossing Card?

With a Border Crossing Card, you will only be allowed to travel up to 25 miles beyond the border into Texas and California. Meanwhile, in New Mexico, you are allowed to go up to 55 miles from the border, as well as up to 75 miles into Arizona.

It is possible to travel farther or stay in the U.S. for longer, but you will have to go to the U.S. port of entry and talk to a Customs and Border Protection officer. This will allow you to request an I-94. Just be aware that a small fee might be required for this.

When you receive your I-94, you will be able to see the type of status you have now, as well as the period during which you are allowed to stay in the U.S. If you have a BCC, you are going to get a B1/B2 status.

Another thing to know when requesting an I-94 is that it is not given in card form anymore. Nowadays, it will be issued electronically while at the seaport. If you enter by land instead, you can receive the I-94 in paper form.

So, in case you are getting an electronic I-94, you will have to download it online after entering the U.S. If you go to the I-94 website of the CBP, you will have to introduce your birth date, name, entry date, passport information and type of status.

Conclusion

A Border Crossing Card can be a valuable document for any Mexican citizen who intends to travel to the United States. Working as a B1 or B2 visa, it can prove to be useful if you don’t want to travel too far from the border. As long as you have valid documentation and can afford to pay the fee, you can obtain one after application. Make sure that you don’t end up spending too much time in the U.S. on one entry, though.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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