📘 Case Study: California Resident Legalizing a Birth Certificate for Mexican Dual Citizenship

Client Profile

Name: Alejandro R.

Location: Santa Ana, California

Goal: Obtain Mexican dual citizenship through his mother’s nationality by submitting his U.S. birth certificate to the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles.

🎯 Objective

Alejandro wanted to apply for Mexican citizenship by descent (“nacionalidad mexicana por nacimiento”) and needed to provide a U.S. birth certificate legalized for international use. The Mexican consulate does not accept apostilles alone unless the document meets specific formatting and translation criteria, so Alejandro sought professional help to avoid delays or rejection.

🧾 Required Documents

• Certified California birth certificate (long form)
• Valid Mexican passport and ID of his mother
• Spanish translation of the birth certificate
• Completed SRE (Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores) application forms
• Apostille from the California Secretary of State
• Notarized affidavit of identity and relationship (as advised by consulate)

🛠️ Process Overview

Orange County Apostille handled every step:

Step 1: Document Review & Verification

Alejandro emailed a scanned copy of his birth certificate. We verified that it was a certified original from the County of Orange and confirmed that the document was eligible for apostille.

Step 2: Apostille from California Secretary of State

Our team submitted the birth certificate to the California Secretary of State in Los Angeles for an official apostille. This verified the county registrar’s signature.

📌 Learn more about California Apostilles

Step 3: Certified Spanish Translation

We provided a certified Spanish translation that met consular requirements, including a signed certificate of accuracy from the translator. The translation was also notarized, which is a common request for Mexican consular use.

📌 Translation requirements for the Mexican Consulate

Step 4: Document Preparation for the Mexican Consulate

We arranged the documents in the following order:

1. Original apostilled birth certificate
2. Certified Spanish translation (notarized)
3. Notarized affidavit of identity (optional, but recommended)
4. Copies of his mother’s Mexican documents
5. Appointment confirmation and intake paperwork for Mexican dual citizenship application

🚚 Timeline

✅ Result

Alejandro submitted his complete packet to the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles, and the documentation was accepted without issue. He received his Acta de Nacimiento Mexicana (Mexican birth record) within 8 weeks and now holds dual U.S.-Mexico citizenship.

🗨️ Client Testimonial

“I had no idea how much paperwork and translation I would need just to get my U.S. birth certificate recognized in Mexico. Orange County Apostille handled everything for me—fast, professionally, and accurately. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

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🌍 Why This Case Matters

Many California residents of Mexican descent seek dual citizenship to:

• Obtain a Mexican passport
• Own property in Mexico
• Register for social benefits or retirement programs
• Preserve family heritage

However, one mistake in the document formatting, apostille process, or translation can delay your citizenship by months.

🛎️ How We Can Help You

Orange County Apostille provides:

• State-level apostille services for California birth certificates
• Certified Spanish translations for consular acceptance
• Document bundling and consulate-ready presentation
• Notarization of supporting affidavits
• Remote and mail-in services available

📞 Contact us today or submit your request at https://orangecountyapostille.org