Mexico has closed entry for CIS citizens? — Migration Rules

Officially, Mexico is closed to citizens of all countries of the world. But every day someone is denied entry. This has always been the case, but since the spring of 2021, the Kazas have become widespread. It’s strange for many to hear that you can get a Mexico visa, but you still can’t get into the country. Many people do not understand why all the entry criteria have been met, but the country is still not empty. We, for our part, cannot answer the question of how to legally secure entry to Mexico with a 100% guarantee.

It is allowed, there are other powers in the world, when entering them you don’t know until the last minute whether they will let you in or not. Each of them may have its own reasons for denying entry to foreigners. Mexico now also has such a reason — illegal migration to the United States, which passes through its territory. Since the start of Joe Biden's presidency, the number of migrants seeking asylum in the United States has reached a record number. It has never been easier to get to the USA. But first you need to get to Mexico.

Of course, Mexico doesn't like it when people climb through her neighbor's window through her yard. Lacking a formal option to restrict entry based on citizenship, it began informally restricting entry based on suspicion of migration intentions. It sounds something like this: «we do not believe that the purpose of your visit — tourism». Mexico Migration Service — autonomous structure, its decision is final, and other states whose citizens are en masse not allowed into Mexico are unlikely to be indignant, knowing where their citizens are actually going through Mexico. Consulates try not to interfere when someone is detained at the airport.

All Mexican statistics are in the public domain. Let's take the statistics of arrivals by air (number of people) for only five CIS countries, the names of which in Russian end with «-stan» and the citizens of whom are most often denied entry.

The numbers, of course, are not comparable to the 1,000,000 detained asylum seekers that the United States reports, but they do show a certain trend. That one million population is dominated by citizens of neighboring Central American countries, with Haitians recently added to the mix. Many of them are also residents of Central Africa.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in San Diego is counting the 150 Russian-speaking asylum seekers crossing the border in Tijuana each week. That's about half the plane. How many citizens of Russia and the CIS fly to Mexico for vacation, and how many cross the border is not known. How many of these Russians have second citizenship of CIS countries is also not known. It is not known how many are not empty to Mexico; it is not known how many were denied a visa (the Mexico Consulate in Istanbul processes up to 500 applications per week); it is not known how many got to Mexico through Guatemala, and not by plane…

There is nothing wrong with immigration or seeking asylum. Every person has the right to choose a better life. But since Mexico is involved in the US refugee scheme, and migrants create problems for it with its neighbor, it also has the right to doubt the tourism purposes of passengers arriving from a number of countries. Over the past 2 years, citizens of Uzbekistan have begun to come to Mexico 10 times more often. It is unlikely that, given their low salaries, they chose Mexico for vacation, especially since they were traveling abroad for the first time in their lives. Lately, Mexico's migration service has been denying entry rather rudely, simply taking «from treasuries» still at the exit from the plane and without particularly understanding the documents. In addition, she is accused of inhumane treatment of those who are kept in a special room at the airport while waiting for a flight home. The delicacy disappeared as soon as there were too many potential immigrants.

Mexico has closed entry for CIS citizens? Formally — no, I didn't close it. But events show that the migration service treats citizens of these countries as unwanted guests. They are most often denied entry without even asking a single question. It is believed that after scanning the passport on the computer of the migration service employee, some kind of alarm lights up, and the attitude towards the foreigner changes dramatically.

Visa Mexico also does not guarantee entry? No, it does not guarantee and for some citizenships it does not mean anything at all. If when issuing a visa, most of the problems are associated with basic poor preparation of documentation, then when entering Mexico, most of the problems are now based on citizenship.

The electronic permit for Russian citizens, which replaces a visa, in a number of cases has ceased to fulfill its functions. We are talking about Russians born in the CIS countries. First, the tour operator refuses to sell them a tour under the pretext that Mexico prohibits entry to those born in the CIS. If Mexico had prohibited it, it would have blocked such citizens from obtaining an electronic permit, but at the same time, it issues them an electronic permit. But a tourist goes to get a visa, buys a tour, boards a travel company plane, flies to Mexico, and is denied entry without significant justification. This is exactly what the ban on entry of CIS citizens looks like.

What does it have to do with CIS citizens if the guest of the state has Russian citizenship? Despite the fact that the majority of current Russians born in the CIS countries after the collapse of the USSR have a second citizenship of these countries. Russian citizenship increases the chances of getting to Mexico, but does not guarantee it.

We cannot explain how the staff of the Mexico Migration Service understand that they are dealing with potential immigrants with a Russian passport. Any airline is obliged to transfer information about passengers to the migration service before arrival. It is allowed, it is somehow connected.

I'm an ordinary travelerWhat do I have to do with Mexico's problems with migrants? We are very sorry for those genuine travelers who were denied entry, mistaking them for potential immigrants. Unfounded complaints — really big problem. These are fragments of that war with migrants, which is going on in the north and south of Mexico, and which is almost invisible in the resort of Cancún. Not all citizens of your country are ordinary visitors, and you just fell under the hot hand.

Schengen, Japanese, British visa? In the current situation, they are no better than the Mexico visa. First they will look at citizenship, and then at visa.

Residence Permit in the EU? Permanent resident status in an EU country will not only allow you to enter Mexico without a visa, but also almost guarantees entry. Because of the fact that with permanent residence in the European Union they are unlikely to move towards the United States. But with a temporary residence permit in the EU you still need a visa.

Are there guarantees of entry to Mexico for residents of CIS countries? There are no legal guarantees. We will not write about illegal ones. Return ticket, hotel reservation, money for the trip — it's all secondary. Primary — How does a migration service employee react to citizenship.

Are fromkaz legal to enter? Yes, they are legal. From the migration service officer makes the final decision whether to allow entry into the country. It is allowed and required to influence decision making, although most often it is useless. Once a decision on refusal has been made, only a Mexican court can change it, which will take time. It is possible to appeal only through a diplomatic mission, but there are still no guarantees of subsequent entry.

What to do if you are denied entry to Mexico? No matter how offensive it may be, you just have to accept it and get on the plane. And then try to fly again. For the money, this is also the best option.