Permanent(e) at last!

Yes, we're nearly there!  But first, a bit of history:

When we moved to Mexico four years ago, it was for the long run, not just a place to go for a while.  So as soon as we could, we filed for an FM2 Inmigrante visa.  Skipping the lesser FM3 visa allowed us to move forward at a speed about 4 years faster.

Then the law changed.  They lumped both the FM3 and the FM2 into a Residente Temporal.  (Why did we pay more for the FM2, you might ask...?)

Finally, we qualified to apply for the Permanente Residente, but the law had changed yet again and unless we could file our paperwork in person on the day before our Temporal expired, we were out of luck.  And we couldn't - we'd be floating around the Caribbean on that date and a facilitator couldn't stand in for us.

And since the laws had changed again (and our Temporal visas would have expired), we would need to 1) apply for a visa at a Mexican consulate in a country to which we were entitled to travel; 2) get permission to remain in Mexico for no more than 30 days on our tourist visa; if granted 180 days, we would be out of luck as the standard-length FMM would be considered an abandonment of our intention to become a permanent resident; 3) apply for a 'real' visa card within 5 days of landing in our home town and all within 30 days of arrival in the country.

Now to our current situation.

To obtain the Mexican Visa that was pasted into our passport, we had to jump through some particular hoops: proof of solvency, proof of marriage, have a valid passport good for an additional 6 months, passport pictures, and pay the fee for the visa (the least of our worries).  So we got the special passport pictures (Mexican) and took them with us, made copies of everything (Mexico is big on copies, but one needs to provide them with the original documents), and have proof of solvency (another technicality that caused concern).

Solvency if provable if you present 12 months of bank statements with an ending balance of $3,500 (plus a lesser fee for any additional people) - we weren't sure that each month would have quite enough money in the bank; OR an ending balance of $450,000 US; OR a property deed for a Mexican  house worth a minimum of $450,000 US; OR, if retired, a social security benefit letter for a minimum of $3,500 US/month + the extra people fees.  With my SSAN letter and government pension, I could qualify under that option ($3,500/month plus $1,500 for Michael as we were legally married).  So we brought our SSAN letter and a year's worth of Direct Deposit statements from my retirement association.  (They don't issue a letter each year as does SSA.)

We thought we were good to go.  Michael even called the Visa Department of the Orlando Consulate to verify that we actually had an appointment for that Monday at 8 AM.  Yes, good to go; fine.

So we go off and cruise for a week with Facebook friends, then return to WDW for a few days of additional vacation.

On Monday morning we call a Lyft taxi and trundle off to the Consulate from WDW Animal Kingdom Lodge, arriving just at 8 AM.  The guard whisks us into the waiting room and delivers us to the window for Permanente visas.  And then the fun began.

First of all, they seemed to think that we were to be there on Tuesday morning, not Monday, as the consul had taken a few days off and they thought he would be in by 10:30 - or not.  Or, we might need to come  back the next day to get his signature.  As it turns out, we were still there when he arrived!

Then they insisted that we have our bank statements, not the letters that we had brought.  Well, we had them - back in Mexico.  So the clerk tried to find a local branch of the library so we could walk there and print out our bank statements and copy them.  (Oh, and we needed two copies in addition to the original - one for each of us.)

When she couldn't find a nearby library listed on the internet, she did let us use her computer and printer to get the needed bank statement forms and she ran all the additional copies!  What had begun as a problem turned into a helpful experience.  Whew!

Then we had to have an interview as to why we wanted the visa, they took our photos (in addition to the ones we brought with us), and ran a fingerprint check (want to be careful about who they are letting enter the country, I guess; we might be terrorists).

All of this takes time, as there was lots of going to a back office and conferring about our progress.

Finally, we were called up again (what could they want now!?!) and sent to the cashier to pay for our visas and off we went to call for another cab.  Animal Kingdom Lodge is about 25 miles from the consulate, so we were happy to have discount codes for our rides to and from WDW.

So, armed with our Mexican Visa pasted into our passports, a couple of days later we flew home to Mexico.  The plane was only partially full (good), but another, larger plane stuffed full of people had landed before ours and they were mostly foreigners (US citizens) standing in a great, long, snaking line (bad).  A lot of college-age guys in suits with lots of paperwork in their hands.  So we waited and chatted with the nearby folks in the same line.

The line was eventually whittled down to about two lines in length when we noticed that agents were packing up, turning off their lights, and going home!  A guard came over and took those at the end of our line to the Nationals' section where there was still an agent working.  And even though we were at the end of the line, she wouldn't include us in that group!  Grrr....

Eventually, someone opened up the Diplomat line and we were scooped off to go through that section.  At least the agent there was familiar with our pasted-in Visa so that presented no problem.  We had been warned that if the agent mistakenly marked 180 days on the visa paperwork instead of 30 days, INM (Immigration) would consider it our fault, not the agent's, and we would need to go back to the foreign country and start over again.  No longer could we simply walk into the local INM office and file for a visa; we had to begin in a consulate.  Luckily Orlando had one so we could visit them while we were at WDW.

So we had our new Permanente visa card pictures taken the day after we arrived (Thursday), met with our facilitator (also on Thursday), he got the new paperwork on Friday and we signed it and took it to the bank for payment and he filed it on Monday - within our 5-day  limit.  Whew!

Now we wait for an appointment to go in and give them our fingerprints and finally to pick up the Permanente Visa the next week.  Whew again!  Another couple of weeks and we should be set - for life -- or until the government realizes that this jump to permanente due to the new law to the permanent status eliminates everyone's annual visits with accompanying payment of fees!  So we'll expect to eventually be told that they want us to come in for some sort of interim check-up, but grumble as we might, we're used to change.

And we'll soon be legal - again.  We nationalized our van last year in anticipation of the change (Permanente folks cannot drive a car with foreign license plates, you know).  That should just about do it except for the annual car license renewals, emission check-ups, and that sort of thing.  At least there will be one less savings account for the visa fees on the Excel spreadsheet.

Farewell, Victor - well, not completely

Today one of our best friends, Victor Rivadeneyra, took the first step in his new adventure in life.  After several years in San Miguel de Allende, Victor is heading to a new job in Puerto Vallarta!  Victor was the person who worked out the details for our last two houses and was an intermediary with the owners (our Spanish is rather rudimentary, don'cha know).

We've been through a lot, both good and everything else, with Victor and look forward to visiting him in PV.  In fact, we'll be delivering some of his things in mid-September after he returns to SMA.  Should turn into a beach trip  for us....  His family still has a condo here in SMA, so until that sells, I'm sure he'll visit from time-to-time.

I'm also sure we'll keep in touch with him (Facebook is great for this) and visit often.  Michael loves the beach!  I keep offering to move there (even found a house near Costco...), but Michael is smart enough to know that, although the altitude is much lower (sea level vs 6700 feet) and that there is an airport, the heat and humidity would probably do me in!  If only there was a location that combined both a lower altitude and a reasonable combination of heat and humidity for most of the year.  After all, it's only icky for part of the year! And the house had a lovely pool!

The next three weeks will go slowly, I know.  Starbucks will not hold the same attraction of running into and chatting with Victor,  but then we get to drive back to PV with more of his belongings when he returns to SMA to finish packing for a few days.  Our trip will most likely include a stop for breakfast at New York, New York - a wonderful restaurant in Guadalajara where his mother lives - before heading on to PV.

Best of luck, Victor - and we'll see you both soon and often. [The pups love the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm!]

WDW Vacation

We've returned home, after a cruise in the Eastern Caribbean with friends and some time at WDW.  Here are some notes:

WDW

We went to WDW after a cruise with 14 Facebook friends (most of whom we only knew via Facebook), and it's a good thing as I'd have been pooped if we'd done WDW before cruising.   Hot and humid, we'll never do that again!

When we arrived at Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village, they had a room ready for us - although we had arrived hours before check-in time.  A Plus.  However, it was nearly at the end of the corridor, so a l-o-o-ong walk from the lobby each time we went somewhere or returned to the room. A Minus. Those who whine about the length of corridors at Boardwalk have nothing to complain about.

Seeing the giraffes and antelopes from our room each time we returned to the room or woke up in the morning was an exceptional treat - like having your own private zoo.  Bus service made everywhere else in the World no more than 20 minutes away.  They do keep the buses at meat-locker temps, though.

Visited Hollywood Studios (rain caused us to rethink visiting it after picking up our Tables in Wonderland card and asking Guest Services to set the order in which our multiple admission tickets were used on the new Magic Bands+.  Had dinner at 'Ohana with a cousin of Michael's whom he had not seen in 40 years!  Great time was had by all.  The restaurant was packed as was a large waiting area, too.

Sunday, we went on a Sunrise Safari led by an animal care supervisor.  Interesting to see the animals first thing in the morning when they're awake.  Not as wonderful as the Wild Animal Trek we took last year, but I didn't have to traverse a ramshackle bridge, either.  And breakfast was a treat at Pizzafari!  No, not cold pizza, the chef had outdone himself with African dishes.  We found out that we really like Pap (made of white corn meal and topped with cheese or African-spiced tomatoes). Sounds like the restaurant may go the way of all flesh to make way for the Avatar attraction.  I'll miss that Pecan Bread Pudding with Plantains and a Praline Sauce.

Then it was off to EPCOT for some attractions, both old and new to us, dinner at Biergarten, and a Tequila Tasting with friends at the Mexico pavilion after IllumiNations and the park closed.  Yes, there were still buses available at midnight!

Monday, we took a Lyft taxi to the Mexican consulate in Orlando to jump through the hoops to get a Permanente Visa (more in a separate entry).  Returned for lunch at Animal Kingdom's Yak & Yeti restaurant and then off to Fort Wilderness for the Hoop-Dee-Doo! dinner show.  A bit cheesy but good.  I prefer the BBQ ribs at Disneyland's Big Thunder Restaurant, but they served the biggest strawberry shortcake I've ever seen - or tried to finish off!  No, didn't quite make it....

Tuesday was Magic Kingdom day with dinner at Be Our Guest.  Our pager for dinner didn't work, so they sent a cast member out to find us, walked us to our table, and introduced the dreamy Kurt.  The food was the best meal we've had at WDW!  My Pork Rack Chop was nice and moist and Michael's Strip Steak was super!  I know what I'm ordering the next time....

Watch for the story of our quest for a Permanente Visa which will be written after we finally have the cards in our hands!