Overview
- Using only a Border Crossing Card is accepted for land entries from Mexico and for recreational boats or ferries arriving directly from Mexico.
- The card is not sufficient for flights or commercial maritime routes, and all U.S. airports require a valid passport with the BCC or a passport with a B1/B2 visa even for destinations inside the border zone.
- Stays are limited to 30 days within set border areas: up to 25 miles in California and Texas, 75 miles in Arizona, and 55 miles or to I‑10 in New Mexico.
- Presenting only a BCC outside the permitted modes or zones can result in denial of entry and negative annotations on a traveler’s immigration record.
- For travel beyond border zones, CBP directs Mexican travelers to carry a valid passport with the BCC or use a passport with a B1/B2 visa, with reporting stressing the card remains valid but limited rather than banned.