I'm Legal!

Okay, I've been 'legal' for many years, but now I'm legal to stay in Mexico for another year.

This time, our second renewal for our third year in Mexico (That sounds confusing, doesn't it? How about: Our second time renewing the visa for another year, our third.), instead of using a facilitator, we decided to go half the way toward doing it ourselves.  (One can actually input the information into their system and let them bring it up to work on it.  We didn't go quite that far, but believe the Escritorio Publico probably made those entries for us.  If not, we may try doing the whole kit-and-caboodle next year - but see below.)

So we prepared as much as we could ourselves (forms with English translations are available on line) and then went to the Escritorio Publico [EP] across the street from the INM [Instituto Nacional de Migración] offices.  I should say I did as much as I could myself, because our visas aren't due for renewal until August 10th and Michael will renew his after the first of the month to split the cost of the visas over two months' income.

We have always had what used to be called an 'FM2' visa, the step below the equivalent of green cards, so that we could qualify for the green card as soon as possible and not be required to renew each year at 'great cost.'  The cost of an FM2 is greater than the FM3 - which many expats have - but we thought: Why pay for an FM3 for 5 years, then an FM2 for 5 years before getting our green card.  It was always our intention to stay in Mexico and there didn't seem to be a good reason to not just 'go for the gusto!'

Now INM is changing their procedures to follow the new laws, but it hasn't been announced just what the changes will be, so we're proceeding under the old regulations.  Word has it that the new visa versions will combine FM3s and FM2s and only require 4 years before green card status.  We'll see.  We're hoping that our college degrees may give us enough extra points to qualify even sooner.  As long as they don't require that I speak Spanish!!!

The cost for the Escritorio Publico is only $400 Mx pesos - about half of what a facilitator charges.  For this the EP fills out the necessary paperwork, takes your pictures, creates a document that you take to a bank to pay for the visa (the usual procedure here in Mexico, be it a visa or any other fee that is due), and then tidies things up and sends you across the street to the INM offices.

While facilitators make it simpler for you, the process isn't very complicated and the EP charges include photos, which would be an additional cost if using a facilitator.

We (Michael came along) had filled out the form - partially in English, partially in Spanish, so they translated it all into Spanish, took the pictures, sent us to our bank of choice to make the payment, and then sent us with the finished packet to INM.

Once there, we took a number and waited a short time for an official to help us.  Our papers were in order, so we signed a bunch of forms, forms were stamped officiously, and we were told to come back in two days.

Two days later we dutifully returned, took a number and waited for the officer at the visa window to call our number.  Here's where it got a little complicated.

I had stood in line behind the only other person in line when we arrived.  Then others lined up behind me.  At this time, Michael figured out that I should have taken a number, so I did - which placed me behind the others who had lined up behind me taking numbers as they did so.

So I'm okay with that.  However, while waiting interminably to be called, a couple of facilitators whose clients showed up after I did and took later numbers, approached the window and - miracle of miracles - their numbers were called out of order!!!  And some of them must have shown up earlier than expected, because it took quite a while to get their visas printed and issued to them.

Luckily the other facilitator who was lurking around only approached the window after I had finished my business, because I had decided that I wasn't going to stand for this and would cause a scene.  After all, someone had paid those facilitators plenty of money to stand around and wait to be called on their behalf.  If it was taking a while to reach them, so what?  If it hadn't been for Patty Garcia's clients who took so long, we all could have been out of there earlier.  The other folks who were waiting with me seemed to take it all in stride, but I was getting a little incensed about it.  Luckily, I didn't need to throw a hissy fit or get expelled or something. (Though the Federal policeman in our area was kinda cute!)

Although we can do the whole thing ourselves (getting our own photos for around half EP's total fee), it was certainly simpler to use the Escritorio Publico, knowing that this is what they do all day, the forms would be correct, pictures would be in the approved format and sizes, the paperwork for the bank would be correct, and life would be a lot simpler.

On the first day, we accomplished everything (including taking care of another EP client's payment at the bank) within an hour and 10 minutes.  The second day took a little longer, but we'll know the procedure for our next time (for Michael's turn after August 1st).

Anyway, I'm legal again and renewing early didn't change my expiration date.  One less thing to take care of before we head off for Santa Fe, New Mexico for the opera in mid-August.