DID YOU KNOW? # 2

DID YOU KNOW?

Subject: Matricula Consular Cards

Most states in the U.S. require federal or state issued identification for notary purposes as long as it was issued within the last five years and contains a photograph, signature, physical description of the bearer and identifying number. Examples include a driver's license, ID card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles or a foreign passport stamped by U.S. Immigration and Naturalization.

In the past two years, use of Mexican Matrícula Consular ID cards has increased tremendously and they are now being presented to notaries across the nation. Matrícula Consular is an identification card issued by the government of Mexico through its consulate offices. The card certifies the holder is a Mexican national living outside of Mexico, and states his or her birthplace and U.S. address. The card costs about $29 and is valid for five years.

The U.S. government has decided that, at this time, these cards are not a reliable form of identification due to the inability to verify the true identity of the card holder. Here are the primary concerns:

· The government of Mexico does not have a centralized database to coordinate the issuance of the Matrícula Consular ID cards. This results in multiple cards being issued with the same information.

· The government of Mexico issues the card to anyone who can produce a Mexican birth certificate and one other form of identity, including documents of very low reliability. There is a huge business involving forged Mexican birth certificates believed to be fueled by the demand for Matrícula Consular cards.