Well done on doing it the proper way unlike most, glad that Mexico is tightening up on the abuse going on by so many gringies who are the first to complain that immigration is too lax in their own countries
Thats dope. I just got here on the 17th. We are only planning being here for about a month, even tho we were granted 6 months visa, we planning on moving here permanently in the near future
Congrats, we’re Canadians living in Florida on temporary visa, if US doesn’t work out for long term, we hope to make Mexico our plan B. Are you retirees?
I heard the other reason they are cracking down is because of all the migrants coming from other Central/South American countries headed through Mexico to the US 🤷♀️
Like nomad capitalist says it’s best to have your plan B ready. Get 2nd passport now because the trend is for countries are going to make it harder and harder for entry. The days of easy travel are over.
I arrived in Mexico in March 2020, overstayed my FMM after September, and got my Temporary Residency April of this year with the Regularization program. Just mentioning this to counter the "2019 and before, only" statement. Great video, thanks so much!
The fine for overstaying is not 594 pesos (that´s what you pay when you lose the FMM). Penalty for overstaying depends on duration and can be several tousands of pesos. If you overstayed for a long period of time, consider leaving through the land border (although you might be controlled at Tijuana airport), or show up at the airport shortly before the gate closes (it´s risky be normally they let you board and you escape migration).
Hi Alex. Just a quick comment on your "Immigration Changes" video. I recently left/reentered Mexico to renew my FMM. My 3rd time. Things have changed! I own property here and have a clean record. But, none of that mattered. The ONLY way they would allow me back into Mexico was to show them I had purchased an airplane ticket to leave Mexico when my (new) FMM expires ... 180 days. (The cost was exorbitant because I had to buy a ticket 6 months in advance. They would NOT accept a bus or any other type of ticket. Had to be a plane ticket.) The departure-ticket-6-months-in-advance is a very expensive option costing quite a bit per month over the 6-month FMM. But, it was the only way to get my new FMM, or any other entry visa. That's the way it is now ... I suppose. Viva the Residency Approach!
These are some really significant changes. In all my trips to Mexico in recent years, I *NEVER* paid attention to the number in the lower left corner of my FMM card. I really can't say for certain if it said 180 every time in the past. It looks like the one we have now says 15 which means we have to leave tomorrow. I suspect that's the case because when we arrived at midnight on the 3rd, it was already the 4th when we passed through customs and the guy asked when we were leaving and we said the 19th--exactly 15 days later. We were kicking around the idea of staying through Saturday but I guess we really have to leave. If we don't get seats on the flight tomorrow and have to spend an extra night, I'll be panicking that it could jeopardize our ability to come back in the future.
I just returned from Miami to Mexico City on Sunday, November 21.. I have been living in Mexico on the 180 day Tourist Visa for the past year and a half. When I walked up to the Migration Officer ( I speak fluent Spanish ) I exchanged pleasantries with him and asked him to give me 180 days.. he said no. He could only give me 30 days. I argued with him and told him I always got the 180 day Visa but he said they changed the policy a month ago. Now in order to get the 180 days you have to show a return trip ticket. He said that's the only way they will give the 180 days. I continued to plead with him in Spanish and he finally relented and gave me 120 days. He was adamant that he couldn't give me the 180 days without showing the return flight ticket ..
@April's Wandering This has actually always been the rule here (The person to whom you are speaking with has the decision making power). Also, each country has different rules applied to them which is also always being updated. The easiest way to renew an expiring stay is to travel to Belize, and then cross the border to Mexico to renew the vIsa (if applicable).
I'm glad I got my Mexican passport at the Registro Civil some years ago. So for that group of people of Mexican descent born outside of Mexico, they can opt to register their birth with a Mexican Consulate and gain Mexican citizenship through familial ties. Maybe it's easier said than done, but it's worth the trouble later on. Like in this case about INM changes.
@@paulc1014 years ago, you needed your birth certificate with apostille and your parent(s) Mexican birth certificate. The process could be started at a Mexican consulate but ultimately needed to be registered in Mexico, at a registro civil. That was then, I don’t know about now. Also, back then, I had to have my US birth certificate translated into Spanish. But only by a translator authorized by the registro civil.
@@paulc1014 Depends on the type of citizenship you are looking to get. If your parents have Mexican Citizenship, then you will need one of their B/Cs plus your B/C translated into Spanish if it is not already in Spanish as well as being apostilled. For those of us who have lived here a sufficient amount of time for our particular circumstance, we just need to be able to pass the test and converse with issuing authority in Spanish.
@@ayuanabradford3206 again, if you’re of Mexican descent born to Mexican citizens beyond Mexican borders, you have citizenship by default. You just have to register it, which is far, far easier than getting hitched.
We are in quite a situation ourselves. We planned to travel across Mexico for 6 months. Arrived here on the 15th of November from the UK with a return ticket on the 10th of May and a full itinerary. Immigration at Mexico city gave us 60 days and refused to look past half our hotel bookings. We cannot change our return ticket. We have 2 choices: Try and get the FMM extended at INM immigration or leave for Central/ South America and come back before our flight in the 10th of May. I understand that Mexico.wants to crack down on immigration but it is our first time here and their consulate website should make the crackdown official and stop saying that they give up to 180 days for visa free travel.
I wonder if you buy your tourist visa online for a land crossing, if they have changed that also, as to what amount of time you can request? I used to do that and come back via TJ. Even if I asked for 90 days it would always give me 180. No one would say anything when crossing, just stamp it.
If you can't get your time extended at the local/state INM office in one of the states, you have to fly out of Central America on May 10th and transfer to your departure flight in the Mexico City airport. If you are caught in Mexico after the allotted 60 days, you could be deported. Maybe you can consult with an Immigration Attorney in Mexico.
Just bought a condo in Puerto Morelos. I suppose my plans right now are to just keep it as a vacation rental and not live there full-time. However, if I ever decide to live in my condo full-time, sounds like I will have to jump through some hoops. Thank you for your video! You seem like such a great person!
This must be for Queteraro. I qualified in P:V. for the regularization program in August 2021 after my extended humanitarian compassion visa ended in March 2021. Though they had started the regularization program then, I did not know about it till August and by that time which worked for me they changed it in July to any overstays. Now they just changed it to you had to have visited more than once to apply for the program. Yet talking to an Immigration lawyer in Nayarit yesterday for my roommate, she has never heard this. As they say, Mexico is consistently inconsistent. As well, INM offices do have certain autonmony in making decisions, most likely on a case by case basis. I appreciate your video as you do explain things well.
Consistently inconsistent is right 🥲I'm so glad to hear that you were able to qualify for the regularization program & thank you for sharing your experience in Puerto Vallarta. I heard just yesterday from one immigration source that the program is only operating in La Paz and Merida, but this obviously isn't the case...hopefully, we can get some clearer answers soon!
@@alex-wittman Thanks for your reply. You are welcome. The program is here P.V and the Nuevo Vallarta INM in Nayarit. My friend in Tijuana said, it is starting in Ensenada also. So much different info! Lol
@@lolasdogrescue You overstayed? What part of Mexico? When did you enter and was this the first visit? Two qualifications for the regularization program. You can do it yourself though much faster with an immigration consultant.
As a native Mexican i must say: if one police officer stops you and ask for anything (no one will but anyway) you only need to cough a little bit and the police will run away like there is no tomorrow without anymore questions
This is a good video for a summary of the immigration changes. I do have an important note though You said that the regularisation program is only for people who arrived in 2019 or before and have been living in Mexico since. That's not really accurate. I got my 4 year residency in Mexico, arriving most recently in March 2020. Another fellow I talked to got it - they did confirm that he had entered Mexico once in 2019 or before, but he hadn't been living here. He just came here a few times on holidays. I know you're in Qro and they did introduce that rule there. However, that's not true in all states. For example in Nayarit, Quintana Roo and Guerrero - at least for a while - they did not have that criterion. I understand you got your information from an immigration expert. To me, this confirms that we should be skeptical of immigration experts, and even skeptical of the INM themselves. I was told a few times by the INM that it was impossible for me to change my FMM for a residency card in Jalisco, that it was illegal for them to do it, and there was no way any immigration office was doing that. I went to live in Queretaro and did it there, a relatively painless process for Latam bureaucracy.
There is zero consistency. My husband and I both applied for the regularization program, I was approved but they kept telling him he didn't meet the criteria, needed proof of income, etc. This was in the same INM office and we had the exact same paperwork/criteria/etc. but had different results because we were assigned to different agents. fortunately my husband came back with a lawyer and was able to complete the process successfully.
Immigration law in Mexico were very lax and now with all the mass illegal immigration coming to the country obviously things had to change as any normal country. When I travel to Russia, I had to have at all times with me my passport and a paper with the registration of the hotel that I was staying. Although police never came up to me and asked to show my papers and my trip was all O.K. Now Ecuatorianas have to visa to enter the country because many Ecuatorians visitors enter the country as tourist and decided to stay or make the journey to the Mexico- U.S border and now it seems the Venezuelans will also be imposed the visa regime.
Good information. When I was a kid no one needed papers to go either way across the border. You would just say "American Citizen" when coming to the States, and when going to Mexico they would just wave you on in.
Thank you for the update. Very important information. Just to verify Alex’s information, I am in the process of moving to Mexico so I know first hand that this information is accurate.
Tourism is a one of Mexico's largest industries. And they want to make it harder for tourists to visit...? My recommendation: Columbia, Costa Rica and Peru are nice! Three years ago I got a Visa and for six months. I traveled all over Mexico. Spending my money on Airbnb, hotels, restaurants, entertainment and lots of other things. I spent the next six months doing the same in Europe. Point is, I had such a good time. I planned on doing it again in the spring. But after hearing this. Not only here but other channels too. I'll be saying goodbye Mexico. Hello Columbia! They still welcome Gringos with open arms.
@@JesusGarcia-cs9wl well I’m glad to hear that the States of Washington and Oregon still welcome gringos with open arms…..unless they are from California.
@@WiseOwl-1 Ok...I blame the misspelling on autocorrect. But... funny thing is! I have spent the last three summers vacationing on that river. Camping and windsurfing.
Up until this point, I’ve left the apartment/hotel with just my FMM and Wisconsin DL in my wallet, carrying my passport only for us and plane trips elsewhere in the country. This clears things up
I double and triple-checked with Ivonne about the passport thing, Christopher, because I know lots of people are used to keeping them locked up. For the time being, I recommend having it on you since an INM official or police officer could potentially give you a hard time about the driver's license..."better safe than sorry" were Ivonne's exact words!
Great video! Liked and Subscribed! This situation scares the crap out of me. My mom and dad moved down here to Mexico over 20 years ago. My dad passed away two years ago. Before COVID, I'd been coming down twice a year to visit for three weeks at a time. My mom was back in the U.S. for several months, but moved back down here in late June. She asked me if I would consider moving down here too. So on Sept. 1, I did. I do not meet the financial requirements to qualify for a permanente nor a temporal. If I did, I would get one straight away, even with the Consulate requirement. However, between my own financial situation and my mom's, I can afford to stay here. But legally I can only get the tourist visa. Our local lawyer said that I could just keep getting the tourist visa, but she may not have been aware of these crackdowns. It would really suck after finally being able to move down here that I might have to leave. I would gladly do whatever legal means are necessary to stay, if they would allow me to!
Start with an Mexican attorney in Mexico, not the U.S., you will probably find a way, don't panic, like a taxi ask for prices for the process, don't mean you will get ripped off but better to know, its shouldn't be much, maybe like the most 500 or 6 hundred
@@geraldarnoult We do have a Mexican attorney in Mexico, and we had a consultation with her last week. She is an immigration specialist and also spoke with INS about my situation. She assures me that I shouldn't have to worry, and if there are any issues when I am coming back in to Mexico, we can call her right away on her cell phone.
Is your Mom a Mexican citizen? After 20+ years there. Or a permanent resident? If she doesn't have proper documentation, she could be deported. It's a good idea for married men to get life insurance for their wives who typically outlive them.
Good job breaking down the changes but there is still a question that I’m sure everyone is wondering that is the elephant in the room and no one seems to be addressing it: We are now supposed to carry our passport and FMM with us on the street, to the beach, to the nightclub, thus becoming prime targets for theft of an extremely valuable item. Once thieves catch on to this anyone who looks like an American or Canadian foreigner now is more at risk. And then what do we do when we are at the beach, our passport is stolen while we are in the water, and a random check occurs? We have to get detained and spend a few nights or more in a Mexican jail while they sort it out? How is this POSSIBLY functional. I can see more checks at airports or on intercity transit but random checks within the city that can result in immediate detention in a Mexican jail (think worms in the food, yes it’s true my friend went to one) is absurd and is either not true or going to be a PR nightmare. Can we find out if people are really going to be jailed for not having their passport on their body when coming home from a restaurant? If this is the case count me out!!
Count me out of going to Mexico. Not worth it now. Had it on my list of places for spending a few months per year. Probably will never go there now. No thanks
For those of us who have had to carry our passports and various travel and vaccine documents for large portions of our life, this is such a small request. As for getting in the water, consider getting a waterproof pouch for your docs. Pretty simple.
Yes! People are detained and deported when they don't have original documents at a checkpoint or random stop. If you have roommates or friends in town bring the documents to the jail, then you may be released before they deport (assuming you haven't overstayed).
I spend alot of time in Mexico with my family. My wife, a Mexican, and her family have been asked to prove residency. My children and I have never been asked to prove anything, guess because we look American. I have been through 3 immigration checkpoints, within Mexico, checking for papers during the past 2 years, never once before.
The mexitel website has no appointments available for the past 2 weeks the only answer given is to keep checking back on Wednesdays they don’t say anything more than that they don’t say how far the back log extends maybe it could be over a year wait?
Look, just respect your host country. If you want to live in Mexico, then become a resident. The cost is low and now you are a contributing member of Mexican society. Stop the Border Run, boys and girls and grow up to be responsible adults. Remember, my friends, you are a guest. Be nice. Be respectful.
Very timely, as always! Just got back from Mazatlan and La Paz. La Paz looks like my residency designation. Good to know your resource works in that city too. Thanks!
Hi Alex great clear video!!! Ivonne is so great, during our research stay last time she helped us so much, even finding us a factory and house in Queretaro at a sensible budget! I am British/Australian and my wife is Vietnamese, I got here 2 months ago and had no issues getting through for 180 days stay, we are the shareholders of World Contract Furniture here in Queretaro and will invest 100 million US dollars over the next 24 months. My wife will arrive from Hanoi a week before Christmas to begin the company restructure and we face the problem of obtaining temporary residency for 18 months to 2 years while restructuring the business. So my point is to everyone, it appears most immigration help is for Americans and not other parts of the world [such as Vietnam and Britain], Ivonne tried very hard but we still have to leave to get temporary residency such as interview in Canada or perhaps UK.
Just FYI: there is no such thing as a tourist VISA. This has always been the case. The FMM you mention is a permit to be in the country as a tourist, but IT'S NOT A VISA. The Immigration official has always had the discretion to give you a tourist permit for as little as a week or as MUCH as 180 days. The discretion has been made much more strict in recent weeks.
You're right, Cristina. "Tourist visa" has become a a synonym for the 180-stay on your FMM. As you said, it's always been up to the individual immigration officer.
I spent the past 6month planning a 90 trip in Mexico to start my travels. They only granted me 30 days. So, now I have to try and extend, because my other travel plans can’t be pushed up. So, feeling kinda stuck.
What questions do you have about the immigration changes happening in Mexico right now? Ask any questions you have about getting residency in Mexico! I also added some timestamps to help you navigate the video: 00:00 Intro 00:46 Goal of this video 01:16 My go-to immigration expert 01:42 Breaking down the immigration changes 02:15 Random checkups 02:37 Are these changes really changes? 03:32 How to avoid trouble in Mexico 04:23 Mexico's objective 04:46 Is your long-term plan living in Mexico on a tourist visa? 05:41 How many times can you renew your tourist visa? 06:30 Fewer than 180 days?? 07:23 Residency in Mexico 09:12 Regularization Program 11:22 What to do if you OVERSTAY your tourist visa
I have heard (rumors on Expat.Exchange) that Mexico lowered the financial requirements for TR and PR visas? Can you inquire if that is true and if so what are the new requirements? I am close to the "old" requirements but close is not good enough. Love your vlogs and info
@@jackwilliams9114 Hi, Jack! Some consulates are changing the way they calculate economic solvency. This article does a good job of breaking it down: www.mexperience.com/mexico-immigration-residency-uma-calculation/
@@phildodd5532 I realized they were raising the bar every year. But the means to calculate that bar has lowered the actual dollars needed to gain the PT & RT visas. Under the new rules, I more than qualify for the PT. Now I need to find out what consulates are actually using the new way to calculate the income I need. The article BB cited provides lots of useful info.
Hi Alex 👋🏽, I am in that same repeat FMM Boat and when reentering Mexico after seeking a COVID Booster Border INM told me flatly “You get 4 Days.” Flustered I explained I live and rent in Oaxaca and I don’t live in the USA (my Passport Country), I have no ties to that Country - I am 73 and live on my average SS income of $1560/month: which is less than adequate for the USA (or Canada). You can’t live on that. I thought I was being responsible not being on the Public Dole (or living in a Tent by the road ...) by choosing to help support Mexico’s economy with my monthly SS check. So NOW I am a deadbeat. I was Regularized once during the COVID pandemic so I know I am in the INM computer already. So, I had to go the Border for a new Visa, I thought, then was told 4 Days and then go back to your Country! I have lived in Oaxaca on the FMM for over 5 years but with 1 long expired Residency card and an uncertain duration FMM Visa I am jeopardized. Can you recommend an Immigration facilitator or Attorney in Oaxaca? My friends are all frightened and are discussing Ecuador as a Safer Haven.
Hi Chris, I'm sorry to hear you're in this situation. I don't have an immigration contact in Oaxaca. My suggestion is to check the expat Facebook groups, they almost always have recommendations. Wishing you all the best.
The bottom line and major caveat for securing a temporary visa is having 2k usd automatically deposited into your bank account every month. You really should tell viewers this, as many Americans cannot manage it this. The Mexican consulate in the US told me that 2k was not enough to meet the requirement for the temporary visa ! Huh? I'm a qualified teacher and looking to get a work visa through school employment.
My husband is from Mexico. I am from the US. He hasn't been home in over 20 years. We are finally leaving the USA for Good. He has his passport ready to go .I will also be applying for my Temporary visa because I'm married to him. Good Bye America.
Your "expert" is not first hand. I had 180 days and went to El Salvador for a conference for a week. When I came back they took my 180 days and only after negotiations gave me 20 days. Immigration asked for me to pay all my back 180 days visas. They are also only issuing 4 year residency visas. Do you want to risk buying or renting long term on that?
Thanks, never been. Was thinking of going to cdmx or playa to see how it is. Should I just apply for a temporary resident visa? I would prefer a 6 mo tourist visa but if I don’t get 180 days I would rather not go.
if you have a saving account of not less than about $35K for the last 12 months you can get a year, if you got lots more you can get a permanent res. card
Need to get a resident Visa or permanent residence in your home country? Haven't been to my home country in 11 years don't want to fly there during covet. What is the amount needed for permanent resident.
Hi Alex. One more question about Temporary Residency... Since much of the approval/disapproval for Temporary Residency is based on the decision of the Consulate Agent that interviews you, if I am not approved for residency, can I apply at another Consulate? If so, how much time between the 2 applications? Thanks for your help.
At the Detroit Consulate where I applied, they were looking over all the paper work BEFORE officially processing your application to make sure you met the requirements. If an applicant didn't have what they needed, they could set another appointment to come back.
Alex, great video and you explain everything so very well. I flew in to Mexico city 2 weeks ago asked for that 180 day but I was going to stay only 150 day but I got only 90 day and it's ok. I'm trying to live here i Mexico just visit and enjoy but this really was talking away my charm wanting to try to enjoy being here. Last I was here was in 2019 in January for my B day being only 5 day here so I don't know maybe I will never visit Mexico again, I'm going back to visit Hwaii and maybe the Philippines or Thailand next winter. If Mexico don't want me to be here spending my money I don't need Mexico. There is many other places out there in the world that is at least the same charm as Mexico is so ok, this is my story.
visa on arrival in Thailand is only 30days, you can get a visa from a Thai consulate or embassy for 60 days and can go on border run and get another 60 days, then you can extend at immigration office for 30 days more, so 5 months total. ... Mexico is easier... Thailand is more fun.
You may find that it's easier to get 90 days in Mexico than it is to get 30 days in Thailand or the Philippines. Mexico is simply enforcing their own laws. Computerized system is making it easier to do so. With Covid, the whole world is"cracking down" on immigration.
@@alex-wittman I'm not trying to move or to live in Mexico just visiting. I live in a beautiful country in Scandinavia where the air and water is clean and life is very relaxing and everything else. Ok, the winters I can stay away from eventhoug it has it's own charm. Ok, I'm all good I have good life and yes, I don't need to move to Mexico to have a good life so I'm blessed there thank Lord or God for that. Ok, life goes on. Thank you for your support and good luck with your own life.
Noooo! 😂 Changes in Thailand last year made it tougher to go there, so I was planning to go to Mexico instead next summer (also because I speak Spanish and like the idea of being on the same continent as family). I hope these changes don’t keep me from going there 😭
@@abbyabroad Hi Abby..Im in Thailand too. 16 years have a son and non thai partner. We were looking at Mexico too. Now with my work taking a hit-online teaching-we gotta hold off. We're both of Hispanic-Filipino descent. We feel like aliens here in the land of xenophobia.
Jessica Boser. You shouldn't be nervous. Moe than 65million people visit that country. You will not be the 1st one. it is in the top 6 or 8 most visited countries in the world. You're going to enjoy it and know.
I saw Haitians walking right past a checkpoint, and they weren’t even approached by authorities. I have lived in Mexico for over 20 years, and I just drove across the country into the USA and back. The only time I was asked for any ID was by US customs officers. I passed through 2 checkpoints in Mexico and the 26km checkpoint and was never asked for documentation … only twice asked if I owned the vehicle I was driving, that’s it. But, In the USA they wanted my passport, driver’s license, and even my INAPAM card (ridiculous). I was once asked some years ago for my FMM on a commercial bus when leaving the country (not new). I have always gotten 180 days for an FMM at the border, and that is still the norm at the discretion of INM. I have been given 90 days in the past (pre supposed “crack down”) when coming in by plane. People often get less than 180 days if they have a return ticket, are traveling for a conference, etc. I have never been randomly asked for my ID when at Starbucks or just wandering around inside a city …. it’s between cities where checkpoints are common and always have been. There is no official INM policy concerning any changes. In fact, the “regularización” program suggests leniency … not cracking down at all. I have not heard of anyone crossing by land getting less than 180 days unless they didn’t want to pay; in that case it’s 7 days for free. Bottom line, is carry your legal ID for your “estancia” status with you at all times. If you are carrying an FMM tourist permit, also carry your passport. Residency visas alone are sufficient ID.
Hi 👋 I have questions about maintaining my dual citizenship, Do you think it is more difficult now to go through the process? Should I wait until next year?
I know a guy that went back to Mexico from the US, and the police thought he was from Central America. The police asked him for his papers, and he didn't have any, he responded very nervously, "I'm Mexican." The Police didn't believe him, so they asked him to sing the National Anthem. He was inside the bus surrounded by a bunch of strangers trying to sing the anthem. Very timidly, he started singing: "Mexicanos al ...# grito..de ????" He stopped because he couldn't remember the lyrics. The Police shouted very agitated, "you are not Mexican." The guy responded with a broken voice, "Yes I'm, I just don't remember the words." Instead, he started whistling the anthem. The police men started laughing, and they let him go.
I was asked to sing the anthem once too when entering an archeological site that was free for Mexicans but not free for non-citizens. I think it was supposed to be free for everyone, but the gatekeeper was cleaning up getting a lot of pesos.
The bottom line for people that are living in Mexico on FMMs is that they now need a temporary Mexican Visa. To get that, you need to be hired by a company(US company) or be a freelancer and make a consistent salary of probably at least 27k USD/ year as a bare minimum in order to get a temporary Mexican Visa. This, according to immigration officials, is to ''ensure that you won't be a burden on the Mexican government'', and while I think that proving that you have enough money is good, I think that I'm also aware that this amount of money is far more than what is necessary to live in Mexico. It's like telling a foreigner that you can get a US visa but you have to be able to prove that you make at least $100k/year to ensure that you aren't being a burden on the US government. Oh sure, I can get a job where they pay me $40/hour as an engineer but try making that amount of money from an online business. Of course, it's doable, it just requires creating your own business is all.
When you have your temporary visa, and you are living in Mexico, you could look for work. If you can find someone who wants to hire you, you then have to go to the INM(Instituto Nacional de Migración) and ask for a work permit. Only then will you be able to work at a Mexican company. Although, I'm wondering why you'd want to do that considering that most jobs don't pay the equivalent of at least 27K USD/year in Mexico. I'm not sure if that figure is before taxes or after taxes. I almost want to say it's after taxes. So maybe before taxes, it might be 34k USD.
Thanx for this. I'm here too and need to take some action. I don't know that my rural location will shelter me from prying eyes of the INS and its affiliates
I’m really bummed out by this. Was planning to return to live for a year by hopping out once but now that won’t work. I’m on extended partial sabbatical by choice and don’t have $35+k in savings. This will force me to start working again almost full time to qualify (with monthly income, from what I understand) for temp residency or to just abandon the plan entirely. Bye bye summer off in Argentina 😕 Sucks because I can definitely afford to be here for years just working part time and using some savings. I could take a whole year off if I wanted 🤷🏼♀️
That sounds so unpredictable, the days you could get to be in Mexico!? I am looking for a country to stay in for about 35 days, or so. I want to return to Colombia, but I can't go back until January 1st. Should I even consider Mexico?? I need to have a place I can stay put, until I can go to Colombia. Now I'm afraid to take a chance if they just decide not to let me stay. I'm not rich, I can't just travel around. What should I do? Thanks
If you don't have a history of traveling to Mexico frequently, you'll likely receive the days you ask for from the immigration official. They may ask for a return flight as well as proof of accommodation during your stay.
I got 35 days. I took a flight to Belize by seccna and got 180 days upon my return.They IMM did not like me doing that. I had to visit an imigration in Belize, and I did not. I have to go back to my home country, YUK, and visit Mexico immigration there.
I tried applying for residency while in Mexico after watching this video. I arrived in Oct 2019 and haven''t left due to COVID and have been paying to renew my tourist visa for the last 2 years. However, they told me that the Programa de Regularización is only for people who have been leaving and re-entering Mexico from 2015 onwards and as I hadn't left I could only apply to residency outside of Mexico, which doesn't make much sense as I am living here now, I have a Mexican boyfriend and applying in my home country isn't an option due to corona virus. I am in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca- I'm wondering if the rules are different in different towns/states in Mexico or if it's just this INM office that has this rule. Has anyone in my situation was able to apply for residency in Mexico under this program? Cheers!
I've been hearing a lot of different things about the regularization program, Danielle. It seems that it's differing from state to state and some states don't even offer it as an option.
Call the INM offices in different states and you'll probably find a way. It sounds like you would meet the criteria even in some of the stricter states
I've lived full time in México and have permenant residency status.... And before the start of temporary or permenant.... I had since 2001 my fm 3....id like to apply for citizenship.... the offices of relaciones estertores have been mostly closed since the pandemic.... Could you help inform us with s video explaining the process?
@@alex-wittman Mexico to me means freedom. A country with not all the crazy laws and rules of America. I feel like I can truly relax in Mexico and not keep up with looks. Having to carry papers with me all the time worries me. I believe it's to stop all the people flying into Mexico and then land crossing the border to USA and not targeted towards Americans. But what's to stop a corrupt cop from stopping me and making my life a living hell. I was born in Mexico so i don't have to go through all these hoops but my wife and daughter weren't so I'm a bit worried.
@@ren1018 if you were born in Mexico, you can look into getting them into the process so they are dual citizens. I don't know your specific situation so I can only offer a little bit of insight. My dad was born in Mexico and is now a naturalized us citizen but I'm working on my Mexican citizenship so I'm a dual citizen and less hassle about visas. Good luck!
Hi Alex, love your channel. The information you supply is great and very informative. You talked about Host Relocation. My husband and I are planning to move to Mexico, but we need legal advice and since you mention Yvonne from Host relocation i was wondering if you would be so kind as to send us the link to her. We their help with starting the processes from here in Miami Florida before we make the move to Mexico. Look forward to hearing from you and we will keep on watching your channel. Thank you very much. Oh by the way you also mention that you can supplies us with a guide on how to apply for Permanent Residency in Mexico. By the way I am Mexican Citizen living in the states on a Permanent Resident card since 1962 and reason why we want to move to México is to retire in Mexico.
You state that you are a Mexican Citizen. Mexican Citizens require neither Visas nor Permanent Residency. I have this conversation/discussion/argument every time I travel on my US Passport. The Immigration Agent states that I am ‘American Citizen’, To which I answer “Si, pero naci en Mexico, y soy Mexicano.” (“I was born in Mexico, making me a Mexican National”) I point out the line in my passport which shows “Mexico” as ‘country of birth/nationality’. That almost always ends the problem, and they wave me through. BUT, I always have an up-to-date copy of my Mexican birth certificate which has always resolved any and all problems.
How do I know how many days I've been given? The agent didn't tell me anything when I arrived. He just asked where I was going and how long I was going to be here. I'm an airline employee and fly stand by and am never 100% certain of my departure date. I've never stayed more than a month, though. I'm here now. Arrived on November 3. Planning to leave Friday but may stay the weekend. Definitely not more as I have to be home to work next week. This never concerned me until all the coverage I've seen about these changes lately.
@@alex-wittman Hi, there! Thanks for your reply. Yep, there it is in the "Temporalidad" box: "15." Wow. I tell you, my first trip to Mexico was January 1996. Since then I've come countless times (9 trips in just the past 12 months!) and I never ever bothered to look at that box. My assumption is that it always said 180 but I have no idea I never looked. We landed around 11:45pm on the 3rd. The immigration line in Mexico City was about 45 minutes long so by the time we got to the agent it was after midnight, i.e. November 4. I watched him change his stamp from the 3rd to the 4th. We filled in the name of our hotel in Mexico City and he asked if we'd be going anywhere else. (Never been asked that before.) We told him and then he asked when we were leaving and we said the 19th (never been asked that either). That must by why he put 15. What a conundrum as we were toying with the idea of staying through the weekend since we don't have to be back at work till Monday. We'll leave tomorrow (or attempt to leave, what with the flying stand by) but my next trip will be early December and I'm trying to figure out how to approach that one...We don't buy tickets so we don't ever have fixed plans. But we never stay more than a few weeks anyway. I'm all about being honest. But I don't want to say that I plan to stay 3 weeks and then be told I have to leave in 15 days or whatever. Not sure why they'd do that. I get it if some expat really lives here and is doing border runs. But for those of us who are legitimately here for short-term tourism, what could be their intent to limit that?
I'm an American white female on my husband's account and this important due to my comment. Going into the port of entry through Brownsville Texas doesn't ask for anything. I was there in June and left in July than again in September and wasn't asked for any documents upon exiting. Police stopped me and didn't ask for any documents either. All i did was paid upon entering and exiting. Alao upon exiting, they check the vehicle to make sure not bringing back anything or anyone illegal. In 2019, I had to provide my Birth certificate, license and was asked questions when exiting Mexico Everytime. All 3 time's, I drove into Mexico without the required documents. If you get caught, pay the police and they'll let you go. It's all about money. Someone isn't telling the truth.
Were you stopping to fill out an FMM at the border? This is more important now than ever & isn't something that people crossing at the land border always do.
I think that is taking place due to the great influx of Central Americans into Mexico, most trying to reach the US border, but others are choosing to stay there in the meantime.
@@alex-wittman Thank you for this amazing info! Your channel and amazing resources will help me when I decide to make my move. Can't wait for the next vids!
Looking at the REGULIZATION/AMNESTY program: in my circumstance I had a temporary residency visa issued in 2013 , it expired in 2016, I left Mexico before it expired and never did anything more about it. Now I want to return permanently. Can I qualify for the regulization program if I went back into Mx. on a tourist visa and attempt to apply there under this program ?
@@alex-wittman Thanks for that, on the card or more accurately on my photo copy of the card it says "RESIDENTE TEMPORAL" - is this the residency card needed?
I've heard that the requirements for residency are kind of high. Financially, I meet them, but they're kind of high and I'm wondering why so high. It seems as though Mexico wants less expats in the country? Not sure, I'm sure there's a reason.
I applied for residency at the Mexican consulate in Detroit & you can take a look at the financial requirements here if you're interested: consulmex.sre.gob.mx/detroit/index.php/servicios-para-extranjeros/visas-en-ingles
How long can an American even visit now? My husband and I were to fly (me from Arkansas, him from Bogotá) and reunite there then we were going to go back to Colombia together. My husband arrived 1st on Nov 4th he got to Mx city, the immigration claimed that since the AirB&B host on his papers didn't answer they phone, they took him, locked him up, stole his luggae, watch, money, wedding and engagement rings, necklaces, he was held for 24 hours with no food or water, told to sleep on a fithy bathroom floor. And then flew him back to Colombia with nothing. We both had all our paperwork and for my service dog. Our trip is ruined and we lost LOTS of money!!! All my husband's things, all his clothes, our original documents and his files! Mexico is extremely PREJUDICE of Colombians!!!!!
Hi Alex, a quick question. If a backpacker who's on the go and who needs a mandatory visa to enter Mexico, apply for a mexican tourist visa from a third country (not from the country he/she holds passport)?
I would first check to see if the passport you hold is from a country on this list: consulmex.sre.gob.mx/toronto/index.php/en/servicesforeigners/doclegalization/52-conservices/225-visitors-who-do-not-require-a-visa-with-a-stay-up-to-180-days
@@alex-wittman No its not in the list. I hold a Indian passport and requires a visa to enter the country and I am a frequent traveler and a backpacker, hence my question. Thanks
Hey Alex- I'm applying for my temp residency in December (finally got an appointment)! I have watched your other videos on this about 70x . I'm hopeful this will help me get through it and hoping not much has changed since. Questions- 1- when you were answering questions about why you wanted to live in Mexico, can you elaborate on the best way (in your opinion) to state that without them getting the wrong idea? 2- Do you know if Host Location can help folks in CDMX with the INM part 2 part of the process or is this just a Queretero service? Lastly- i too have always felt wrong about living in MX on a tourist Visa. This was the push I needed to do the right thing. I'm legit so nervous tho ahhhhhhh
Congrats on taking steps toward getting your residency, Jennifer! I think you can't go wrong with saying you want to learn Spanish and travel. At my visa appointment, I said I had remote work capabilities which meant I would live anywhere & I had decided I wanted to live in Mexico. I definitely recommend reaching out to Ivonne. She has helped people in CDMX & if she can't, she will recommend a colleague of hers. Good luck & keep us posted!
You can got to INM when it's close to the expiration date and ask to renew it. There's a chance you could be denied but there's also a chance it could be extended.
My partner and I booked a flight into Mexico City Nov 28 and are also planning to stay around 5 months. We were told they like to see a return ticket so we booked a round-trip with the return flight in early April. We also plan to show some accommodation for the first two weeks and I'm hoping that will be sufficient information to get 6 month visa. All the info I'm finding is a bit confusing though. Do we need to apply online before coming? Is 180 days the maximum they will give for tourist visa? Can we apply again in country or will we need to do a visa run at the end of 180 days?
Hi, Ingrid! It sounds like you've done your due diligence, but when you show the immigration official your documents, it will be up to them to decide how long of a stay to grant you. The tourist visa isn't something you apply for ahead of time. You can try reapplying in-country, but it's not something that I would count on since again it is up to the INM official.
I’m planning to move there sometime around February. To Merida. My plan was to get a r/t ticket somewhere around 5 months after arriving. I want to rent an Airbnb for about 2 months while I search for a more permanent home. I’ve heard that you have to show proof of where you are staying & they might only grant you the visa for those amount of days… so 60 days would suck because I need time to find my more permanent residence. I’m getting a buyout from my apt in Los Angeles (part of an increased gentrification going on) so will have the financial requirement in the bank when I move, but I thought you had to show proof of the amount in the bank for 1 year before you could apply for the temporary residency. If it doesn’t have to be a year, I would like to apply for the temp residency on my first trip back to the states. Any advice or know how in this?
Hi, Rochelle! I suggest checking the financial requirements at the specific consulate where you plan on applying. At the Detroit consulate where I applied, you had to have the required amount in your. account for at least 12 months. If you go the monthly income route, you have to show proof of making at least the minimum amount for at least six months.