So you want to move to Mexico???
Guadalajara tourist info and good map can be
found at
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g150798-Guadalajara_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast-Vacations.html
Guadalajara is a very fascinating city, be sure and visit the Tonala and
Tlaquepaque artisan sections- muchas cosas!
More info on Mexico can be found at :
http://www.suite101.com/query.cfm?qt=Mexico&col=a+t&qc=t+a+l+d+h&Go.x=21&Go.y=9
and at www.iaqi.com/mexico
and at http://www.mexonline.com/websites.htm
and at http://www.mexicoanswers.com
and at http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/70/Living_In_Mexico.html
and info on Guadalajara at http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/guadalajara/Geliving.htm
and at www.detailshere.com/tenacatita.htm
where I devulge our favorite beach to you - lots of pics & info
If you are traveling to Mexico with minor children you need to read the information and requirements here
AND - I received this letter from a fellow very familiar and versed with Mexican culture and knowledge of the thought process on both sides. And after living here for eight years now I find his letter so blatantly accurate that I have to post it and share it with you. I do not consider this letter derogatory from either side. But it explains how the situation is probably better than any other resource I have come across. We love it down here. Yes, we gave up some things to make the transition. But people here treasure what is truly important; family, time, God - even if their affiliation for most here deals with a pagan religion for most part. And I would have to say the average Mexican will stop to help you if you are in trouble long before an average American will. And there is no better climate in the whole world. 75-85F 365 days a year here.
and www.liveinmexico.com
and http://tomzap.com/main.html
- Pacific Coast of Mexico
and http://www.mexonline.com/
and http://www.miguelsmexico.com/Real_Estate.html
regarding owning property in Mexico.
Also see www.casasyterrenos.com
Rentals can be found at http://www.mexicovacationrentalnetworks.com/
I moved to Mexico for the climate (it's 70-85 year round where we moved to); to get away from atmospheric pollution affecting our health by the US Gov't (see www.detailshere.com/chemtrails.htm) , for food that doesn't contain pesticides and chemical sprays because for most part they can't afford them, for economics - my property taxes here are less than $100/year compared to over $4000/year in the states, food is cheap - you can buy an 72# sack of oranges here for about $7 and have fresh squeezed OJ every day - fresh produce is extremely abundant and competitive; there is NO minority racism here as is found in the US (that I have come across yet anyway) - the people here are very friendly and helpful; the school I send my kids to in Guadalajara (Lincoln School) teach God and the bible right along with the academics and the parents have to attend sessions on how family, God, and children all tie in together. Mexico has not stuck it's nose in other people's business around the world like the US has; no one has an axe to grind with Mexico. There aren't fifteen countries gunning for Mexico to attack them with nuclear suitcase bombs and biowarfare. There are no resources to speak of worth fighting over and confiscating. It's just a peaceful country trying to go about it's own business. America has become the United States Empire. See http://www.rense.com/general21/USvsAmerica.htm for a good explanation of what I mean. That's a shame because the American people are good people, most have no idea what their government does behind their backs and how the gov't is setting them up for martial law and confiscation of life and property soon (see www.detailshere.com/worldaffairs.htm for more on this subject). We like it here; a lot. For us it was a one way trip. With several hot springs waterslide parks nearby in 80 degree weather, everything you could want from a major city within a half hour away, and the warm water ocean beaches four hours away; who wouldn't like it.
So you want to move to Mexico? Be sure and click on ALL the links at the top of this page to get more information. Moving to a foreign country, either permanently or for part of the year, is a big step, and often people teeter on the edge for years, see-sawing back and forth, not able to make up their minds. Even if you’ve traveled around Mexico and love it, you’ll find that living here is quite different from visiting.
You may need to make a test run before making a permanent move. To do this, carve out a time period of several months when you can actually live in Mexico. Take a few of your favorite things, rent an apartment and get a feel for the area. This experience may differ from the one you had as a tourist. You can stay in Mexico 180 days on a tourist visa (FMT that you get on the airplane or at the border). If you want to stay longer, apply for a Non-immigrant Visitante-Rentista (FM-3). You can get this type of visa at a Mexican Consulate in the U.S./Canada, or in Mexico. It merely allows you to live a year in Mexico, and it can be renewed. I am talking here of a non-work type FM-3. Getting an FM-2 work permit in Mexico is more complicated and difficult. To get an FM-3, You’ll need a passport, two passport photos, and proof of income (currently $1,500/month for an individual, and $750/mo for each dependant.) Cost is around $115 each for the FM-3. For more specifics.
In preparation for the big move, you may also talk to people who live there (on discussion forums, by e-mail, in person). This way you can find out some basics, but you won’t know if living like an expat is for you, until you DO IT.
You'll discover that things that are simple in your hometown take time and energy in a different country, especially if you aren’t fluent in the native language.You’ll have to find not only good restaurants, but markets stands that have the freshest fruits and veggies at the best price. You'll have to learn how to prepare them so they’re safe to eat. You need to know where to pay your bills (telephone, electric, Internet), how to dispose of garbage, where to buy five-gallon jugs of drinking water, who to call when the faucett leaks, what time the English language newspaper arrives each day, and more. If you drive, you need to find a parking space.Or, you need to learn the bus routes and schedules. Simple stuff isn’t so simple in a foreign land.
Even more importantly, you’ll have to adjust to a new culture. You can read about this culture and you can experience it as a traveler, but to live in Mexico happily ever after, you must become part of a new way of life, a new way of thinking, a new way of doing. You’ll always be an outsider, a foreigner, but to what degree? There’s no money-back guarantee that you’ll integrate into the daily rythmn.
For books on how to live in a foreign environment, The Intercultural Press offers a variety of publications from “Survival Kit for Multicultural Living,” and “Doing Business in Latin America,” to “Intercultural Marriage” or “The Art of Coming Home.” (Yes, you should expect re-entry adjustment once you return stateside after living in Mexico, even if just for a visit). For other books: Expatriate’s Bookstore or Virtual Mexico’s selection of 600 books.
Prepare for your Big Move with this checklist of Things To Know Before You Go. Or, surf around Mexico Mike's website. This guy is an acknowledged expert on living and traveling in Mexico.
For tips and insights into living abroad, subscribe to free e-mail newsletter. This is particularly helpful if you’re interested in the political and economic aspects. To subscribe, send e-mail to: irg@expat-repat.com. Put “subscribe repatnewsletter” in the body of your message.
Body language and gestures are important when you’re in a foreign environment. In addition to the ones here, let me add another. If you really mean “NO,” instead of shouting or getting frustrated because pesky vendors won’t go away, merely wave your index finger back and forth, calmly, gently. It works.
We love living in Mexico. For most part you are going to have to learn Spanish; but it doesn't take much along with charades and sign language to get you by.
In Mexico, there are 3 distinct immigration statuses. They are:
· No Inmigrante – Non immigrant – FM3 VISA – some short term visits of a non immigrant nature are not issued an FM3, these conditions are stipulated in the Law of Population.
· Inmigrante – Immigrant – FM2
· Inmigrado - Immigrated person – Permanent resident
FM3 VISA - A Non immigrant – is person who enters the country temporarily, for several days or several years for various reasons, but without the intention of residing permanently in Mexico.
The NON IMMIGRANT VISA is issued in eleven different categories, most, except for short term visits, require the application for an FM3 VISA, these are stipulated in the Law of Population, which are as follows:
1. TOURIST: This category grants a simple paper Visa and does not require applying for an FM3. Tourist is the person that enters the country for recreation, health, artistic, cultural or sports activities – activities that are not profitable or compensated. This permit is issued for a maximum of six months and is NOT renewable.
2. TRANS MIGRANT: is the person in transit to another country that travels through Mexico for up to 30 days, this permit is NOT renewable.
3. VISITOR: is the foreigner that enters Mexico for a specific profitable or non profitable activity and is granted for up to one year.
4. MINISTER OF A RELIGIOUS GROUP OR ASSOCIATION: is renewable every year for five years.
5. POLITICAL ASYLUM: This is for the foreigner that enters Mexico to protect their “liberty or life from political persecution in their country authorized for the term that the Secretary of Government deems appropriate.
6. REFUGEE: This is for the foreigner that enters Mexico to protect their “life, safety, or liberty when they have been threatened by generalized violence, foreign aggression, internal conflicts, massive violation of human rights.. that have obligated to flee to another country. The Secretary can renew this permit as many times as deemed appropriate.
7. STUDENT: is the foreigner that enters Mexico for initiating, completing, or continuing studies. *note, the person who completes a degree in Mexico under a Non immigrant Visa must change to an immigrant visa if they want to practice the profession in Mexico.
8. DISTINGUISHED VISITOR: Is the foreign scientist or humanist of international prestige. The Secretary may grant these visas for up to six months and can renew them.
9. LOCAL VISITOR: is the foreigner authorized for visiting maritime ports or border cities for less than 3 days.
10. TEMPORARY VISITOR: Are all foreigners that the Secretary authorizes for up to a 30 days stay when landing at maritime ports or airports.
11. JOURNALIST: is the foreigner that enters the country for journalistic activities.
“INMIGRANTE” – VISA FM2 – IMMIGRANT VISA
An immigrant is the foreigner that enters Mexico legally for the purpose of remaining permanently in the country, until he obtains the Immigration status of “Inmigrado” Immigrated person or permanent resident. This status requires applying for an FM2 VISA. The FM2 Visa is extended (refrendo) every year until completing five years. At the end of five years, the foreigner can apply for another FM2 visa or request a “Declaration as an Immigrated Person” (Declaratoria de Inmigrado) Once the status of ‘INMIGRADO” is granted, the foreigner can live and be involved in any legal activity in Mexico. This status is permanent and does not require further renewals or extensions. There are 9 categories of immigrant visa (FM2); they are as follows:
1. INDEPENDENT INCOME. This refers to the foreigner who wants to reside permanently in Mexico and live on resources brought from outside the country. These resources may include interest produced by the investment of capital in certificates, stocks, and bonds of the State or the national institutions of credit or others determined by the Secretary of Government or from any permanent income that comes from outside the country. The minimum amount required is presently 400 times the daily minimum wage (19,468 pesos) in the Federal District and 200 hundred days minimum wage (9,734 pesos) for dependent family members.
2. INVESTORS. Foreigners that seek immigration in order to invest their capital in industry, commerce, provided that it contributes to the economic and social development of the country and that is maintained during the time of the residency of the foreigner at a minimum amount of $40,000 pesos times the daily minimum wage in the Federal District.
3. PROFESSIONAL. The foreigner who immigrates in order to exercise a profession. The foreigner must document their credentials for that profession. They must validate any studies or university degrees in Mexico.
4. POSITIONS OF CONFIDENCE. The foreigner who immigrates in order to assume positions of supervision, sole administrator of a corporation, or others of absolute confidence in companies or institutions established in the Republic.
5. SCIENTIST. The foreigner who immigrates in order to direct or perform scientific research or diffuse scientific knowledge, to prepare researchers or perform work as docents.
6. TECHNICIAN. The foreigner who immigrates in order to perform research applied within manufacturing production or perform technical or specialized functions.
7. FAMILY MEMBERS. The foreigner who immigrates in order to live under the economic dependence of the spouse or a blood relative, “Immigrant”, “Immigrated person”, or Mexican in direct lineage without limit of degree or transversal up to the second degree.
8. ARTISTS AND ATHLETES. The foreigner who immigrates in order to perform artistic or sports activities.
9. ASSIMILATED PERSONS. The foreigner who immigrates that has had or has a Mexican spouse or child and that are not found to be covered in the latter sections. What is interesting is that if a foreigner comes to Mexico and has a child, they are eligible for immigrant status under this section, and are eligible for naturalization as a Mexican national after two years.
INMIGRADO – IMMIGRATED PERSON
The FM2 Visa is extended (refrendo) every year until completing five years. At the end of five years, the foreigner can apply for another FM2 visa or request a “Declaration as an Immigrated Person” (Declaratoria de Inmigrado) Once the status of ‘INMIGRADO” is granted, the foreigner can live and be involved in any legal activity in Mexico. This status is permanent and does not require further renewals or extensions. The person with this status can request Naturalization from the Secretary of Foreign Relations or stay with this status permanently.
COMMENTS
In Mexico, the declared objective of immigration law (the Law of Population) is to regulate immigration as to volume, structure, and distribution. One of the goals of immigration law is to distribute within Mexico, immigrants with the skills and abilities needed in different areas. Mexican immigration policy is designed to maintain the integration within the fabric of Mexican society of those persons who have left Mexico and assumed other nationalities, and to facilitate their participation in the political and social life of the country. It is all about eliminating those obstacles and barriers to remaining part of the Mexican extended community.