Immigration guide · Mexico
Mexico non-criminal record certificate for USCIS
Mexico's police certificate: the state one, the federal CAPF from OADPRS, which to request first, and how to prepare it for your U.S. immigration case.
- Signed by Jorge Cardona
- Double review and verification
- Price confirmed before you pay
U.S. immigration cases often call for a police certificate (constancia de antecedentes no penales). Mexico has two levels, according to the State Department:
- State certificates, called carta, certificado or constancia de no antecedentes penales. They are issued by your state’s Secretaría de Seguridad or Fiscalía General, and the name and format vary by state.
- The federal certificate, the Constancia de Antecedentes Penales Federales (CAPF). It is issued by the Órgano Administrativo Desconcentrado Prevención y Readaptación Social (OADPRS), part of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC).
For an immigrant visa, the State Department asks you to try the state certificate first; if you can’t get one, you provide the federal one. For any other filing, check your form or ask your attorney which one is required.
Before it’s translated, check that yours shows:
- Your full name, exactly as in your passport.
- The issuing authority and the issue date.
- The folio and verification details, if it is electronic.
- The authority’s signature or seal.
The data discrepancy trap
A common source of Requests for Evidence (RFEs) is a name mismatch. Officers compare the document with your passport. Say your passport reads ‘María José Pérez López’ but the certificate shows ‘Maria Perez Lopez,’ without the second given name or maternal surname. The document may be flagged. Check that spelling, accents and compound names match across all your documents.
How to get the document from the U.S.
- State certificate: each state has its own process, and several offer it online. Look for the portal of your state’s Secretaría de Seguridad or Fiscalía.
- Federal certificate (CAPF): requested through the OADPRS certificates portal.
- Have your CURP and an ID ready, and check the issue date: if your case asks for a recent document, request it close to when you’ll file.
A note on the apostille: If your document is going to Spain or another Hague Convention country, the apostille is usually added before the document is translated. Fidelis doesn’t provide apostille services. You handle that step with the Mexican authorities before you send us the document for certified translation.
Pricing and translation process at Fidelis
Here’s what a certified translation prepared for USCIS includes:
| Item | Details | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| First page (up to 500 words) | Includes a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy under 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3) and double review | $29 USD |
| Each additional page | Same order, any documents; for many pages we prepare a full quote | $25 USD |
| Optional notarization | Acknowledgment before a Florida notary public, only when the receiving organization requests it | +$30 USD per order |
| Standard turnaround | PDF ready for filing; 1–3 pages, after document review | 1–2 business days |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the federal and state certificates?
The state certificate is issued by your state's Secretaría de Seguridad or Fiscalía General. The federal one is called Constancia de Antecedentes Penales Federales (CAPF) and is issued by OADPRS, part of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection. For an immigrant visa, the State Department asks you to try the state certificate first and, if you can't get it, to provide the federal one.
What should I do if my non-criminal record certificate has expired?
Request a new one from the same authority that issued it before you send it for certified translation. A recent issue date avoids questions about whether the certificate is still current. If your case lists a maximum age for police certificates, follow that.
Official source
Review the applicable federal requirement directly at 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3) on eCFR .
Fidelis Certified Translations is an independent translation service and is not affiliated with, authorized, or endorsed by USCIS or any U.S. government agency. Final acceptance of any document rests solely with the receiving agency or institution.