United States•North America

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BCC — Border Crossing Card

Work

At a Glance

Processing Time

1–3 weeks

Estimated Cost

USD $15–$215

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

1 month

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

Not specified

PR Pathway

None

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote not required

Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$52,000

Quality of Life

185/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

For Mexican nationals for short visits to the U.S. border zone. Valid for tourism and brief business within 25 miles of the border.

The Border Crossing Card (BCC), or Form DSP-150, is a US visa for Mexican citizens and residents who need frequent short trips to the border region. It functions as a hybrid B-1/B-2 visitor visa and border crossing document for tourism, shopping, and brief business.

Stays cap at 30 days within 25 miles of the border (75 miles in parts of Arizona and New Mexico) under a ten-year validity. With a passport and Form I-94, holders gain full B-1/B-2 privileges for travel beyond the zone for up to 6 months. Fees are $185 (age 15+) or $15 (under 15); work and long-term study are barred.

This visa is ideal for Mexican residents with strong home ties who need a durable, low-friction way to make repeated short visits to the US border region.

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Cost Breakdown

MRV application fee (age 15+)USD $185

MRV application fee (under age 15)USD $15

Form I-94 (travel beyond border zone)USD $30

optional

TotalUSD $15–$215

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

1 month

Eligible Nationalities (1)

Mexico

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be a Mexican citizen and resident of Mexico

Must meet B-1/B-2 visitor visa qualification standards

Must demonstrate strong ties to Mexico (employment, family, property)

Must have no immigrant intent

Must have financial ability to support the US visit

Must pass background and security check

Must provide biometric data (fingerprints and photograph)

Must attend in-person interview at a US consulate or embassy in Mexico (unless waived)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid Mexican passport

DS-160 confirmation page

Proof of ties to Mexico (employment letter, school enrollment, property deed, bank statements, or family ties documentation)

Compliant visa photo

Fee payment receipt

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Functions as both a B-1/B-2 visa and border crossing card in a single document
Valid for 10 years — no repeated applications needed
Allows multiple entries throughout validity period
Convenient land and sea entry for Mexican border residents
No I-94 needed for short stays within the border zone
Accepted as a WHTI-compliant travel document for land/sea re-entry

Worth Knowing

Travel without I-94 restricted to border zones only (25 miles in CA/TX, 55 miles in NM, 75 miles in AZ)
Not valid for air entry to the US — land and sea only for BCC-only travel
I-94 required (with $30 fee) for travel beyond the border zone or stays up to 6 months
No work authorization of any kind, including remote work
Card is voided if holder abandons Mexican residency or violates US immigration law
Violations of stay or geographic limits can result in revocation and future inadmissibility
Renewal requires a full new application — no streamlined track