Visa under the new rules

I decided to deal with my visa early this year rather than wait till the last minute and was interested in the new process. I got to Immigration a minute before 9am and got ticket #11. It was a quarter to 12 before I finished with my paperwork. The reasons for it being so slow were people coming in for new cards that had arrived, people making a second trip to be finger printed and half the people didn't know the rules had changed and had to have all the options explained to them. I had a great interviewer and the prettiest one in the building. I was pleased with myself that I didn't have to revert to English once. She allowed me to be finger printed the same day when I told her I drive a kid to school every day. Others are making 3 trips but I'll make only two.

I took in the online form and a request letter but all they wanted was my old visa, my passport and 6 months of bank statements. The income level was not mentioned so I assume renewals are using the same levels as before. Only new applicants need to meet the $1900-2000us levels. I walked away with a 2 year visa that will be ready in 3-4 weeks with a cost of about 4800 pesos.

I was surprised to see so many people that didn't know the rules had changed. I guess they don't spend much time on the Internet. Two couples were forced to move to permanent resident because they had 3 or 4 renewals. Their only other option was to leave the country and apply at a Consulate. The guy interviewing them also asked if they owned a house and needed their fideicomiso (bank trust) and copies of tax records. Why he as asking about owning a house I have no idea because it will not effect the outcome. These poor uninformed people didn't know the difference between a fideicomiso and a presta nombre which is what they had but insisted it was a fideicomiso. Maybe they just wanted to shake their heads YES to everything because they were so lost?

Captain of the Port of Manzanillo

New Immigration Office

Retirees forced out of Mexico

Well it certainly seems that  way with the new immigration rules published this morning.   I know tons of people who either own a home or rely on cheap rent so do well with the old income requirements of $12-1300us a month.   To raise that limit almost $800 is going to be a problem for many.  It gets especially spooky when people who have lived here for 10+ years as home owners talk about being forced to sell and leave because their house is not worth $195K and they have a modest income.   Then we have all the people, mainly on the coast, who own Ejido land and don't have title so value of the house is irrelevant ... it's not really theirs.  I'm in the twilight zone as far as income but adjusting it now would not give me the 6 months required in January.   Do we need to look for another place to live?

TEMPORARY RESIDENTS

• Original and copy of proof of investments or bank accounts with an average worth over the previous year equivalent to $95,000.00 USD;
• Original and copy of documents that prove that the foreigner has had for the previous six months an income from a job (outside of Mexico) or a pension that pays at least $1,950.00 USD per month;
• Proof of a any familiar bond with another Temporary or Permanent Resident or a marital (or equivalent) bond with a Mexican;
• Original and copy of a notarized public deed showing ownership (or trust rights) to a property in Mexico worth at least $195,000.00 USD; 
• Proof of participation of at least $100,000.00 USD in a Mexican company;
• Proof of ownership in heavy equipment or machinery in Mexico worth more than $100,000.00 USD; OR
• Proof of doing business in Mexico and legally creating at least 5 jobs for Mexicans.

PERMANENT RESIDENT

• Original and copy of proof of investments or bank accounts with an average worth over the previous year equivalent to $95,000.00 USD;
• Original and copy of documents that prove that the foreigner has had for the previous six months an income from a job (outside of Mexico) or a pension that pays at least $2,400.00 USD per month;
• Proof of parent-child bond with a Mexican citizen by birth (this would be birth certificates of everyone involved, plus any other documents proving the citizenship of the Mexican citizen);
• Proof of the same parent-child bond with another Permanent Resident; OR
• Proof that you have enough points (based on a points system that still hasn’t been published).