Ruminations of an Expatriate

I’ve been living legally in Mexico a bit over two years now, and I expect to stay. Here’s how I approached my immigration.

Moving to another country, I think, one must accept that they are ignorant as to the ways and means of their new locale and not judge things based upon their home country frame of reference. That is, what may appear to me as such, is probably, in reality, much different. I may not understand, for example, why a roadway was built as it was or why the bank requires the generation of so much paperwork; but, hey, the folks designing roadways here or managing the banks are just as smart and educated in modern ways as are those in the USA who design roads or manage banks (many of the banks here, in fact, are owned by multi-national corporations). Thus, there must, given local considerations, be a reasonable explanation behind the particular road design or bank policy. Additionally, I understand that my proficiency with Spanish is such that misunderstanding on my part is often likely.

I pateintly await my turn, I always keep in mind that I am an interloper, and I don’t complain. I try to live by the Beatles golden rule, something to the effect that the love that you take is equal to the love that you make.

I had, in July, 2005, completed the sale of the thirty acres along the Satsop River in Washington state which I owned for over thirty years; I had decided to move to Merida to check it out; I had rented an apartment through the internet from a fellow who must be amongst the finest landlords in the world; and arrived at the Merida airport on October 1, 2005, where my landlord met me to take me home.

I entered Mexico pursuant to a FMT, a tourist visa, valid for ninety days. Sometime in mid-December, 2005 I ventured to the immigration office in Merida to inquire as to the procedure for renewal of my FMT. I returned a couple days later with the required documents, made application for a 90 day extension, and picked up my approved extension a week later.

The following February I again walked to the immigration office to inquire as to the requirements for applying for an FM3 visa, which would authorized my Mexican residency. The pleasant receptionist produced a check list and marked in yellow the documents I would need to submit along with my letter of application.

A week later I returned to submit my application and supporting documents, and a week later returned to pickup my FM3.

The following July, after I had purchased a Ford Courier pickup in Merida, I traveled to Washington State to apply for a Menaje de Casa visa at the Mexican consulate in Seattle and returned with my pickup full of household items which had been in storage. Applying for and receiving the Menaje de Casa visa was accomplished in one work day. I reentered Mexico with my household goods with no problems.

Shortly after moving to Xalapa in 2006 I visited the local immigration office to submit necessary documents so as to register my change of address. Again, a week later I returned to pickup my FM3 reflecting my change of address.

The following January I returned to the immigration office to renew my FM3 for another year. Again, I returned a week later to pickup my renewed visa.

Every immigration office, consulate, and customs official with whom I’ve dealt has been pleasant, helpful, efficient, and very patient with my often insufficient Spanish, telling me “no te preocupes” when I apologized for my poor Spanish. Here in Xalapa I am recognized by the immigration office staff, as in addition to my own business I have accompanied two other gringos there to translate for them.

The point of all this is that, if you think you might want to move to Mexico here is my recommended approach.

I have read many accounts of others’ applications for visas at Mexican consulates in their home countries, mostly the USA and Canada; and based upon those accounts and my experience I recommend that those moving here arrive here using a FMT, which hopefully you had asked be validated for 180 days. If yours is good for only ninety days, don’t worry, the renewal process is a breeze and it will provide experience in dealing with the immigration office.

Keep in mind that your chosen destination’s popularity with immigrants will determine the wait at the immigration office. The Merida office is a very busy place and a wait of an hour is usual, perhaps even longer now.

Apply for your FM3, or other class of residency visa, at the immigration office at your chosen destination in Mexico, not in a consulate in your home country. Why? Because the staff at the immigration offices deal only with immigration matters; and are, thus, more familiar with the procedures. Consulate staff deal with sorts of matters and are there primarily to serve the needs of Mexican citizens living in the area.

Once you have your FM3 then you may turn your attention to the menaje de casa visa process. You will need return to your home country to apply at a Mexican consulate nearest your previous home, and then you may import your household goods, either yourself or through a moving company.

Don’t get excited about buying one of those places you’ve been drooling over as you peruse the online real estate sites. After all you may ultimately decide you’d rather be somewhere else. Merida, for example,  is a wonderful city with wonderful locals, but it is just too hot for me, so I moved on. So rent a place to live while you explore your destination.

If you decide to stay in your chosen destination and buy property, renting for a while will provide an opportunity to educate yourself as the ways and means of real estate transactions and dealing with architects and contractors. The gringo discussion boards here are replete with immigrant tales of woe relative to their dealings with realtors, architects, and contractors, which in most case may have been avoided by an informed consumer.

So, don’t get excited and take it one step at a time. Why spoil retirement with unnecessary stress?

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