North Carolina, Raleigh- El Consulate General of Mexico in Raleigh could eventually provide assistance in the process of repatriating the body of a fellow citizen from the United States to Mexican territory.
“We are able to support families in these types of cases,” he told Enlace Latino NC the media consul, Óscar Solís.
Consular guidance
In the first instance, the Consulate will provide guidance, for example on what type of funeral agencies are most convenient in economic terms.
“The repatriation of bodies to Mexico is very expensive,” the official acknowledged.
It is worth mentioning - of course - that said cost will vary according to hiring preferences, but could amount to about $80,000.
Alliances with funeral homes for the repatriation of bodies to Mexico
By virtue of the above, the consulate took on the task of establishing alliances with funeral homes to achieve affordable prices with quality services.
In this way, the cost could be around $6,000, depending on each case.
For example, the amount varies depending on the destination of the remains.
“In those moments, hasty decisions are often made, but you have to be calm,” the consul recommended.
Another aspect to consider is the timing. For example, you have to wait for the hospital to release the body and that will depend on the circumstances that led to the death.
“When the family has many financial difficulties to cover the cost of a repatriation, there is a good chance that the Consulate will provide them with some support,” explained Solís.
Economic study
To provide this support, the Consulate will carry out an economic study of the applicant family to determine the real financial situation and, therefore, the need.
Based on this analysis, aid ranging between approximately $500 and $2,000 may be granted.
Due to the high cost involved in repatriating a body, an alternative that the authorities recommend is the transfer of ashes, which has a much lower cost.
On the other hand, the Consulate covers the visa, that is, it grants you permission to transport the body or ashes.
During 2020, approximately 46 visas were issued.
It should be clarified that it does not necessarily mean that the same number of repatriations occurred, because although it is true, the Consulate authorizes, it does not follow up to know if the process was completed.
Related: Consular assistance for Mexicans in the US: What you should know about CIAM
Step by step
- The first thing will be to contact the Mexican Consulate
- You must provide the details of the deceased person: Full name, date and place of birth.
- Additionally, you must verify the data with one of the following documents: Birth certificate, voter ID, passport, consular registration, naturalization letter, declaration of Mexican nationality, certificate of Mexican nationality and/or National Military Service card.
Other information that must be provided is the name, telephone number and address of family members or friends in both the United States and Mexico.
The identification of the appearing party must be provided.
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Funeral services
In the United States, to repatriate bodies to Mexico, the services of a funeral home in the United States and Mexico must be hired.
The Consulate has a list of reputable funeral homes you can contact in North Carolina and South Carolina.
In Mexico, during the process, the family will have to provide information about a funeral home in the place of origin to which the deceased person will return.
If you do not have this information, the Consulate can request it from the delegations or state governments in the different states of the Republic.
Once you have a funeral home in Mexico, gather the following information for the funeral director in the United States:
• Full name of the funeral home in Mexico.
• Full address, telephone and fax number.
• Name of the owner or manager of said funeral home.
•Name and exact location of the cemetery where the remains will be buried.
If the remains will be cremated, the Consulate General of Mexico can send the remains free of charge to the delegation closest to the relatives of the deceased person.
Costs and deadlines
The normal cost of transferring remains to Mexico depends on the type of services the family hires (type of coffin, viewing services in the US, special services, etc.).
The transfer must be carried out five to ten days after the death in most cases, depending on the cause of death, the availability of flights, the experience of the contracted funeral home, the authorization of family members, and the time in which the cost is met. of the transfer.
The Consulate recommends carefully reviewing the terms of your agreement before signing any document.
Mexican death certificate
The only identity of the republic that requires the death certificate prepared by the Consulate of Mexico is the Federal District.
If the family belongs to another state, you can register the death with the civil registry of your community.
The requirements to carry out the registration of the death are the following:
Present yourself at the offices of the Civil Registry Department with the following requirements (in original and two copies on both sides).
1. Certified copy of the death certificate.
2. Proof of nationality of the deceased
3. Current official identification of the declarant and proof of address in the United States.
4. Two witnesses of legal age with valid official identification and proof of address in the United States.
5. The cost per record is $13 dollars.
Consular certification
For the remains to enter Mexico, the Consulate provides the Embalming Certification or Cremation Certificate and Corpse Transit visa free of charge.
The funeral home must present each of the following documents:
- The original and copy of the Official Corpse Transit Permit (it does not have to be certified by a Notary Public, nor apostilled, but it must be translated into Spanish).
- Original of the Death Certificate apostilled, duly authenticated and translated into Spanish.
- Embalming Certificate apostilled and translated into Spanish, citing the embalmer's license number, the name of the deceased as well as the treatment that was applied to the corpse.
- Letter from the forensic doctor, specifying that there is no contagious disease (if applicable).
Once the documents are received in order, the visa and certification is carried out the same day and, if applicable, is sent by prepaid mail to the funeral home.
One detail to take into account is that the documents are subject to review; they must be in good condition, not mutilated or torn, without deletions or amendments.
Rights and obligations
The funeral home must:
- Respect the conditions of the service contract and carry out the transfer as agreed.
- Send the original documents and translations to the Mexican Consulate.
- Take care of the details for booking the flight with the airline.
- Provide a detailed itinerary of the arrival of the remains to Mexico.
Family members must:
- Provide the details of the deceased person.
- Decide carefully what services to hire.
- Cover the cost of the transfer as agreed.
General aspects of the repatriation of bodies
What factors influence the costs of repatriating bodies to Mexico to rise? The cost of the transfer may increase if you decide to choose a luxurious coffin or viewing services in the United States.
Can I take my family member's ashes with me on the plane? In many cases, ashes can be transported in the passenger hold. This information must be requested directly from the airline on which you will travel.
Can I travel on the same flight with my deceased relative? Yes, you must inform the funeral director that you wish to travel on the same flight as your family member.
In some cases it is better to first obtain confirmation that your family member is booked on the flight, before purchasing tickets.
This note was prepared based on an interview with the media consul, Óscar Solís, and consultation with the site from the Mexican consulate.
Maybe you might be interested in: Steps to schedule an appointment at the Mexican Consulate
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