May 30, 2024 • 38 mins
Have you ever wondered what it really takes to secure residency in Mexico? Join us for an exclusive interview with Adriana Vela, an experienced immigration specialist based in Playa del Carmen, who shares her invaluable insights into the residency process. From her personal journey moving from Argentina to Mexico to the nuances of temporary and permanent residency options, Adriana breaks down the essential steps you need to take, including why it's crucial to begin your application from your home country. Learn about the special COVID-era program designed for those with expired tourist visas and discover the differences between residency and citizenship.
Tired of navigating confusing paperwork and long consulate lines? We cover the challenges you might face and why seeking professional assistance can make a world of difference. Adriana offers practical tips for dealing with varying requirements across different immigration offices, emphasizing the importance of patience, especially when language barriers come into play. Understand how property ownership can impact your residency application and get clarity on the benefits of temporary versus permanent residency. Plus, we dive into how residency status affects your ability to spend time outside of Mexico and the practicalities of maintaining your residency cards.
Gain a new perspective on managing your finances in Mexico with the advantages of opening a Mexican bank account. We discuss the convenience and discounts available to residents and touch on valuable government benefits, such as the INAPAM card. Adriana also sheds light on the recent changes in renewal procedures for residents and shares tips for planning your residency journey. Finally, get a taste of local culture with an introduction to the informal Mexican Spanish term "güey" and its everyday use. This episode is packed with actionable advice and personal stories that will leave you well-prepared for your own residency adventure in Mexico.
We are incredibly thankful for engagement and stories from our listeners, who have found their own sense of 'home' across the globe. Stay tuned as we continue to share the wisdom and wanderlust of those who've charted their unique international courses. We'd love to hear your comments and questions. Email them to expatslikeus@gmail.com
For more information and content, follow Expats Like Us on Facebook and YouTube
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
One of the main things we needed to research and
prepare for before our move toMexico was obtaining Mexican
residency.
It's important and there areseveral ways to go about it.
Options include permanentresidency, temporary residency
and several others.
In our case, erica was eligiblefor dual citizenship, chris
applied for temporary residencyand Sherry and I applied for
(00:24):
permanent residency.
In each case, we started theapplication process back in the
US and completed the processwithin the required 30 days in
Mexico.
We were lucky to find aknowledgeable immigration
specialist to assist us withthat process.
Welcome to Expats Like Usexploring the world of US expat
(00:48):
life in Mexico.
In each episode, we'll meet newpeople and hear their personal
stories.
We'll also learn more about theexpat life and get a few tips
on everything from making yourmove to settling in and living
your dream.
Let's dive in.
Let's dive in.
Today we're thrilled to betalking with Adriana Vela.
(01:10):
Her company, immigration toMexico is located in Playa del
Carmen.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Adriana, recently spoke to Chris and I over Zoom.
First tell us a little bitabout yourself.
Where?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
did you grow up and what led you to Playa del Carmen
and your role as an immigrationspecialist?
Okay, well, yes, I was born inArgentina and I lived part of
the time in Buenos Aires, whichis the capital, and well, there
I always worked with foreigners,with expats, let's say,
especially from people from USand from Canada and from Europe
(01:48):
too.
And well, one day I met myhusband, who is from US too,
from Boston, and after someyears we decided to come to
Mexico, to come closer to US,let's say to US.
So well, we came first toMerida, and then we fell in love
(02:15):
with Playa del Carmen, and 12years ago we moved to Playa, to
Playa.
And well, here I startedworking for a Canadian and
Mexican law firm and some peopleknow me from there and later I
(02:37):
became independent.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
So when I started working in immigration here,
Okay, how long have you beenindependent on your own?
Around eight years.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Okay, how long have you been independent on your own
?
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Around eight years.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Okay Now yes, Time passes fast.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, yeah.
And as an immigrationspecialist, what is your role
and how do you assist peopleseeking residency in Mexico?
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Well, what I do is to help people who want to get
their residency here, forexample, sometimes I help them
giving them coaching, since,well, when they are outside
Mexico, when they are in the USor in Canada, I tell them what
(03:24):
to do, but we don't help withthe appointments at the
consulates Because, as you mustknow, the process starts in out
of Mexico.
Outside of Mexico, it starts inthe place where you live in
general.
Where you live in general, and,well, we coach them and tell
(03:48):
them, for example, give themtips about what to do and where,
to which consulate to go, tomaybe which is the easiest or
the lowest with lowestrequirements, et cetera.
And then, once they come herewith their visas, and then, once
(04:10):
they come here with their visas, we help them along their
process in Playa del Carmen, orit can be in Merida, or in
Mexico City, or in San Miguel deAllende too.
So we have different locations.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Now, if somebody finds themselves already in
Mexico, is it possible to get aresidency here if you haven't
started in your home country atthe consulate?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Well, you need to fulfill some requirements.
For example, one could be tohave a Mexican wife or husband
or Mexican parents, or a Mexicanson or husband or Mexican
parents, or a Mexican son ordaughter.
Another way is if you, forexample the person, traveled to
(04:54):
Mexico between 2015 and the endof 2022, and they have an
expired tourist visa you call it, but it's called FMM an expired
stay, here, they can apply forfour years of residency.
(05:18):
This is a program that appearedduring COVID, because there
were so many people illegal herethat they gave them the
possibility to be legal in aneasy way, because in this way,
they don't have to show anyfinances.
Well, they will have four yearstogether and then they can get
(05:41):
permanent residency.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Oh okay, that's kind of a loophole around the system,
isn't it?
And that's still going on, butthat's a product of COVID.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
It's going on, yes, and it happened some years
before too.
I remember that it happenedaround seven years ago, but it
lasted maybe one year or twoyears.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
And then, after COVID , they did it again, and it goes
on.
I don't know, nobody knowsuntil when.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
But so far, so good.
How do your clients typicallyfind?
Out about your service?
Do they connect with you beforestarting their process in their
home country or once theyarrive in Mexico?
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Well, sometimes I have a website and, well, some
people find us when they are intheir own countries, because
some people say that they aresearching in Google and they
find my website, so they contactme, or some others.
Well, it's from word to mouthor on Facebook, in social media
(06:47):
or in Instagram.
So some people find me whenthey are in their own countries
and some others when they movehere.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Okay, so sometimes when I say that I have permanent
residency, people assume thatpeople that don't know assume
that I'm a Mexican citizen now,but I'm not.
Can you explain the differencebetween residency and
citizenship?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yes, residency is that you can live here without
renewing your stay, let's sayyou can live legally.
And citizenship to be a citizenyou need five years of legal
residency Okay, and to be in thelast two years before getting
(07:33):
the citizenship.
You should be in Mexico most ofthe time.
So those are the mainrequirements to be a citizen.
And the citizen will have aMexican passport.
The resident won't, because theresident will be will keep
their own nationality.
Citizens too.
(07:54):
They can have two or threenationalities, but citizens will
have a Mexican nationality,let's say a Mexican passport.
So when they come to Mexico,they are Mexicans.
Mexican nationality, let's sayand Mexican passport.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
So when they come to Mexico, they are Mexicans, and
when they are in their country,another country they belong to
the other country, but not toMexico.
Okay, when they are here, theyhave to use the Mexican passport
.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Okay, so a citizen can also vote in this country,
right?
Yes, okay.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
They can vote and they can have own land in
restricted areas.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
That is important.
If you want to buy a propertyhere, it's important in this
area, which is 330 miles fromthe coast, let's say you need to
well to be a citizen or to getit through, as you must know,
(08:56):
fideicomiso, which is a trust ora company.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Okay, I hadn't thought about that as being.
A benefit of being a citizen isyou don't have to do the Fede
Comiso.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Yes, yes, I would like to be a citizen.
I think that this year I'mgoing to be after the well, the
end of the year, sorry, themiddle of the year.
I will try to do it.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
It's an advantage, let's say to do it.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Okay, it's an advantage.
Let's say, barbara, I wanted tobecome citizens.
After our residency, we have atemporary apartment.
What would we have to do toextend that, to become a citizen
?
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Well, for example, you, as your wife is Mexican
right.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Correct.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Okay, so you can do it after two years of residency.
After two years of temporaryresidency, you can be a citizen.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
And what would I have to do?
I have to take a test, or isthere a process?
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Well, if you are over 60 years old, you don't have to
take any test.
If you are under 60, well, yes,you should learn Spanish.
Can you speak Spanish?
No?
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Well, yes, the exam is not very easy.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
It's a bit difficult because you have to read a lot
about history, about the cultureof Mexico.
They give you a lot of booksand you have to study.
Okay, maybe.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I'll do it until I'm 60.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
No, maybe you can wait until you are 60 to do it,
and so you will not have to sitfor the test.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Okay, it's kind of similar to in the US.
If you're trying to become acitizen in the US, you have to
know a lot of answers to a lotof history questions, and people
who are born in the US mightnot know the answers to those
questions.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
No, the same here, because here sometimes they ask
some strange questions, forexample about recipes for food
which are the ingredients ofmole, for example, or I don't
know Many things which not onlypeople know apart from history,
etc.
It's not very easy.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Okay, so what are the different types of residency
that are available, and whywould someone choose one over
the other?
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Well, the different types, well, the most important
are temporary residency andpermanent residency.
That before they were calledFM2 and FM3.
Some people still call them inthat way, but this is not used
anymore.
Those names are not usedanymore.
(11:51):
Now they are temporaryresidency and permanent
residency.
And then you can have unityfamily, for example, residency,
many others, but in this momentI don't remember.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
So how is if I'm a temporary resident?
How is that different from mebeing a permanent resident?
I mean, there's obviously Ihave to go make that.
I have to go and re-up that orre-submit or continue that no.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
if you are a temporary resident, well, after
four years you have to doanother process and get
permanent residency.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Yes, or you can be a permanent resident directly.
For example, you can get apermanent residency in the, in
the consulate outside of Mexico.
If you show enough financialresources, you can get permanent
residency directly and which isthis is much easier and cheaper
(13:01):
for you because you have to doonly one process With temporary.
You would have to renew oneonce and then to get permanent,
so you would have to do threeprocedures With permanent only
one.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
So my wife and I got permanent because we could.
But I understand that therequirements, the financial
requirements, have changed andthey've gone up quite a bit.
Is that true?
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Every year they change because they are linked
to the minimum salary in Mexico,so the minimum salary goes up
every year.
So the minimum salary goes upevery year.
So the financial requirementsare linked to this income, to
this salary, so they alsoincrement every year.
(13:55):
So every year it will be moredifficult to get a residency
here.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
And do you know what the financial requirements are
for 2024?
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yes, I have here.
I have some consulates whichare the lowest.
I prepared, which is, forexample, phoenix.
Phoenix, it has a proof ofmonthly income of $2,530.
It's in Phoenix.
(14:28):
In Raleigh it is $3,100.
And in McAllen $3,458.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
The income.
But if you want to show yoursavings or, yes, your investment
, it is $42,000 or $51,000 or$57,000 in the three different
(14:59):
consulates.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
You just have to show that amount of money in your
bank for a year.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
For a year, for 12 months, yes.
And if you want to getpermanent residency in Phoenix,
the income, the pension, has tobe minimum $4,200, in Raleigh
$5,100, and in McAllen $5,700per month.
If you want to show savings, inPhoenix it is 168,000, in Rally
(15:33):
2007 and in McAllen 2013.
These are the minimum, butthere are others which want more
or require more.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
How come it's different from one consulate to
the next?
Speaker 3 (15:53):
I think that it's different because they consider
the rate, the exchange rate,according to the day when they
do the calculation.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
I think Okay, so they do it on different days and the
answer is different.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Wow, yes.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Or at least that's the best guess we have as to why
that is right.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Yes, and some consulates are easier than
others.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Right, go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
No, no, no, and it's easier.
In some of them it's easier toget an appointment than in
others.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
You know that yeah, we, uh, we had problems getting
appointments at some and we wentto another one and it was
instant, so yeah, so, and.
But then they asked me, whydidn't we go to the other
consulate?
And I said, well, we got anappointment here, you know, and
they were okay with that yes,because some, some consulates
(16:51):
want you to live around theconsulate yes, right example,
miami.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
If you want to apply in miami, you need to have an
address in Miami.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
For example, in California too, I think, but in
other places.
No, you can go, they don't careOkay.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Yeah, we did ours in Omaha, nebraska, and we lived a
couple hours from there.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
But yeah, they were fine with it.
Not many people live there.
They go there no.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Right, no, everybody else that was there were were
Mexicans dealing withimmigration in the United States
.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
We were the only ones applying for immigration to
Mexico when we were there, soour application process went
really smoothly and we credityou for your advice and your
assistance, and I'm guessing thesmoothness of that process is
not the case for everyoneseeking residency.
What types of problems mightpeople run into if they don't
(17:52):
know the process or they don'tseek out your help?
What sort of problems mightarise?
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Well, first, the main problem is to get an
appointment in the consulate.
But we don't deal with thisbecause we know how it is, how
time demanding it is, and itwill be a lot for us if we have
to help everybody to get anappointment in the consulate,
(18:19):
because you have to open thepage of the consulate every day
to see when they open thecalendar, et cetera.
So it will be terrible,terrible, a lot of work.
So well, the people have todeal with this part.
And second, once they come here, if they want to do it by
(18:41):
themselves, it seems to be easy.
But it's not so easy because,for example, I tell you because
of my experience, when I camehere the first time I applied
with somebody and then thesecond time I said, well, no,
it's easy, it will be easybecause I can speak Spanish, et
(19:02):
cetera.
It's easy, it will be easybecause I can speak Spanish, et
cetera.
And then I have to return likefive times to the immigration
office and wait like two, threehours every time, because I
always made a mistake, becauseyou have to be very, very
precise filling in the form,then you have to know how, which
kind of letter, what kind ofletter you have to submit.
(19:24):
Now it's a bit easier becauseyou have most of the
requirements are online, buteven that it's not so easy
because sometimes the letter isnot included.
For example, for Canche, theletter is not included in the
(19:47):
mini-city or it's a name, andwell, that is the main problem.
I think that to see which arethe requirements for each
immigration office to, becausenot all are the same.
Employer Carmen, they want thiskind of paperwork.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Right.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
It makes it easy another.
So even if you go toinformation and they tell you
what to do or you can see itonline, it's a challenge,
especially if you cannot speakSpanish.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Right, I can't even imagine trying to get through
that system with not knowing anySpanish at all.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Yes, some people do it, but when they have time they
need patience to return severaltimes until they do it.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
To me getting the residency.
It's kind of a lot of people's.
It was my first experience withlearning patients in Mexico
Because you need that for somany things Getting driver's
licenses and getting your RFCand registering your car and all
that but kind of the firstdelve into that patient patience
(21:03):
thing is getting your residency.
We had somebody who there wassomebody put a post on social
media here and said I had to bein line for two hours getting my
residency and it was brutal andhow do people put up with this?
And it's like I just wanted tosay that's the fastest I've ever
heard anybody getting throughthat.
(21:24):
That was really easy.
You will definitely learnpatience when you move to Mexico
with things like that.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
Yes, and here, for example, in Playa, it's so hot
because they make you waitoutside and there is a roof
which is plastic and crystalclear and the sun is there all
the time, so it's terrible likea greenhouse, and people have to
wait there Before you couldwait inside, but after COVID
(21:56):
they told everybody to waitoutside.
So it's very, very, very bad.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
So it's very, very, very bad okay, um, in our cases,
we had purchased homes beforewe moved to mexico.
Does does owning a home help atall with residency or make any
difference at all?
Speaker 3 (22:20):
I couldn't understand .
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Oh, we owned homes before we got our residency.
Does that make a difference inthe residency process?
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Well, sometimes you can apply through your home,
through your property, but theproperty has to be over $500,000
.
The property cannot be cheaplet's say so you can apply
through your property and youcan get temporary residency
(22:52):
through your property or if youshow them together with your
finances.
If you show them the title deedof a house or a property, it
will help because it's importantto have property here for them,
that you have property.
You have something in Mexico,so it will help with your
(23:13):
application.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Okay, so if you have a temporary residency, is there
a certain amount of number ofdays that you're allowed to
leave the country or that youhave to be in country?
Speaker 3 (23:24):
No, no, there are no requirements.
Even if you have permanent,there are no requirements.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Okay, so you could get temporary residency.
Once you're done, you can spend300 days.
Yes, many people do that, okay.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
As soon as they have their residency, they leave.
No, then they come back.
Maybe it's advisable to return,maybe once or twice a year at
least.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Right.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
But some people well, can't, can't, do it.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Okay, so I'm a permanent resident.
I could leave and come back in10 years, and I'm still a
permanent resident.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Apparently In theory.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Not that I'm going to do that.
We love it here.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
No, no, of course not .
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Well, so many of our friends and neighbors spend only
part of their time in Mexico.
A lot of them are from Canada.
They usually spend 180 days ormore in Canada.
Is there any advantage for themapplying for temporary or
permanent one over the other,other than the process of having
to renew temporary?
Speaker 3 (24:38):
If they have permanent, it's better.
It's much better Because youdon't have to think about
renewing that anymore, so itwill be better.
But some people, if they don'tget a residency, it will be okay
.
They are less than 180 days peryear here, maybe they don't
(25:00):
need to get residency, but ifthey own property, it's good to
have residency because you cansave some income how do you call
it Income tax when you sell theproperty?
Okay, Okay.
So you need to have residencyfor that.
Okay, okay, so you need to havea residency for that.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Okay.
So when we got residency, weboth got cards residency cards.
How important is that card?
What happens if I lose thatcard?
Or, you know, I find that I canuse that for identification
different places.
What happens if I lose that andI'm a permanent resident?
So I don't go through theprocess again.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Yes, you should, Because when you leave the
country, you have to show theresidency, the card, and when
you get in too.
So you should go to theimmigration office and do a
process to get another card.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
It's called reposición.
This is another kind of processfor the people who lose their
residency.
And if you lose the residency,the resident card, outside
Mexico, it's a big problem.
Oh, I bet Because you will haveto go to a Mexican consulate
and say that you lost yourresident card and they will give
(26:18):
you another visa.
They will stamp another visa onyour passport and then you have
to come to Mexico and doanother process, like the first
process you did called canje.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
But to get another resident card.
Okay, because some people losetheir card and they come into
Mexico and show their cell phonewith a photo.
But it's not good, it's notgood.
No, no, no.
They have to go to the Mexicanconsulate to get another visa
(26:54):
and to do the process in Mexicoto get another car.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Okay, so you use the word conje and I know what that
is.
They wrote that when I firstcame and I had the visa in my
passport, they wrote conhe atimmigration, at the airport.
What does that mean?
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Well, conhe means exchange.
You have to exchange the visathat they gave you in the
consulate to the resident card.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
So you will get the resident card.
It's the first process you doto be a resident here.
Call Canje.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
Or exchange.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Okay, very good.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
What tips would you have for someone considering a
move to Mexico and what advicewould you have for them?
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Well tips, well to be patient.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Right, we all give out that tip all the time.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
Yes, tip all the time , yes and um.
Well, to try to learn spanishif they can.
Um, if they want to open a bankaccount here, it would be good
for you, for for them to.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
I don't know which others so so what are the
advantages of having a Mexicanbank account?
I don't have one because I'vejust never had a reason to get
one yet.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
For example, my husband doesn't have one and he
always takes out money from ATMswithout any problem.
Some people want to do it,maybe to pay, if they have to
pay the fee, for example themaintenance fee of their condos,
or they have to pay somebody.
(28:49):
But if you don't have one,there is no problem.
There is no problem at all.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
Yeah, we've never run into a problem.
And people always look at mefunny and say you don't have a
Mexican bank account and I sayno, I haven't had a reason to
have one.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
No no, you can order stuff off Mercado Libre.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Right Mercado Libre, you don't need Mercado.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Libre.
Or, for example, if you lose,for example, your credit card or
debit card from US, you canhave one from here to use
meanwhile.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
Right, that's a good point.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
Or if your US 1 expires or something and you're
not paying attention and ittakes some time to receive it
here, or maybe sometimes it'sdifficult to receive things here
, to receive mail here, becausemaybe they don't find your house
or I don't know differentproblems.
(29:49):
So it takes quite a long timeto receive a credit or debit
card.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Yeah, yeah.
So we had one of our listenersask this question and it's
basically about permanent ortemporary residence.
Does getting your residencyentitle you to any government
benefits, like the INAPAM card?
Can you get that?
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Well, no, the INAPAM card is not issued anymore to
foreigners.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
But I don't know if it's something temporary or
forever.
Okay, we don't know.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
But I don't know if it's something temporary or
forever.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
Okay, we don't know.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
But it's important, for example, to get some
benefits.
For example, in the ADO bus orany bus around Mexico.
If you show that you have yourresidency, they can do a
discount, they can do a discount.
Or if you go to Xcaret or tothe different parks, you can get
two by one.
Or if you go to thearchaeological sites too, or in
(30:50):
the ferry to go to Cozumel, Idon't know, to go to Isla
Mujeres too, I think.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Yeah, so we went to Isla Mujeres and, yeah, we got a
discount with our resident card.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
I forgot about that.
If you have in a pub, thediscount is bigger.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Right.
Speaker 3 (31:08):
Yeah, but if you have the resident card it's good too
.
Or in some restaurants you showthat you are a local and they
do a 10%.
In some pharmacies they do 5%,for example in Sam's or in
Walmart, I think 5%.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
And well, no, or well , if you want to sell your
property.
Oh yeah, yes, you will have agood benefit.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
Right.
So if someone were listening tothis or watching this and they
want to get a hold of you andtake advantage of your services,
at what point in the processshould they do that and how
should they do that?
Speaker 3 (31:51):
Well, if they have the visa from the consulate
outside of Mexico, it's better,because we can start talking
about what to do here andplanning.
And if they can call me whenthey have already plans for
their trip, it's better, so wecan plan the dates to meet, et
(32:15):
cetera.
And or if not, well we can meet.
Well, they can contact mebefore when they are thinking
about getting residency.
Well, I can give them tips abouthow to make an app Because we
sorry, we write a blog, we havea blog in our website and there
(32:40):
we have different articles, so Ican show them one of the
articles about how to do this,how to do that, how to register
to get an appointment in aconsulate, and give them some
tips for them to start theprocess there.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Plus, then they are on your radar, so you know
they're coming and you're kindof prepared to offer your
services.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
We prepare the trips of the people.
As soon as they know they havethe flights to come.
Yes, we prepare this.
The only detail now, forexample, is if people want to
renew or to get permanentresidency after having temporary
residency and they want torenew when they are out of
(33:27):
Mexico, we will need theoriginal passport and the
original resident card to get anappointment in Mexico, because
before we could do it withphotocopies and now we will need
the original.
So it's not so easy now to getappointments if the people are
(33:51):
not in Mexico.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
They're in the United States along with their
passport and their card.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
Yes, you don't want to ship that off, so In their
card, right?
Yes, okay.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
You don't want to ship that off, so is there
anything?
Speaker 3 (34:12):
else that you want to add.
That's important for people toknow about getting residency.
Oh, I think we talked abouteverything.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
Okay, right, right, and we'll put a link to your
blog or we'll put an address toyour blog on the podcast.
Okay, thank you to your blog.
Or we'll put a an address toyour blog on the on the podcast.
Okay, thank you.
One of the things that we do isa game that we play called que
padre and que malo, and itdescribes what we love most
about living life in rivieramaya.
Is que padre, que malo isthings that maybe we're not
(34:36):
adjusted to yet and having aharder time adapting to give us
one thing you would describe asque padre and one que malo well,
I think it is all the, thelandscape, you know, the beaches
, the, all the cenotes, thenature right um, yeah, and also
(34:57):
the peace that you live here,that you are not stressed in
general, Although, well, it'sgetting a bit more well with
more cars, more people now, butit's better than living in a
city to live here.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
Well, and Kemalo I think that the heat Just lately.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
we're recording this in its middle of May and, man,
it's gotten hot here lately.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
Yes, but this year it was not so soon, let's say,
because I was waiting for Marchto be hot, and March and April
were good.
Yeah, yeah, yes, but now it'sstarting.
Yes, but now it's starting.
So well, that is the bad part.
But if you can relax, go to thepool and go to the beach, it's
(35:47):
fine.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
We have plenty of water and we have the Caribbean
Sea and all of that.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
We can't complain, no .
Speaker 1 (35:54):
Okay, well, thank you for joining us.
Adriana Vela, from Immigrationto Mexico.
Thank you so much for sharingyour insight into the
immigration process.
Speaker 3 (36:04):
Thank you very much, you too, for inviting me.
Great podcast.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
All right Thank you.
Speaker 3 (36:10):
See you later.
Thank you, bye-bye.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
Bye.
In each episode of Expats LikeUs, we're going to teach you a
new Mexican slang word.
This is something you may notfind in your phrasebook or your
online Spanish class or yourSpanish app or wherever you're
learning your Spanish.
Instead, this is a term usedprimarily by Mexican Spanish
speakers.
Today's word is Way Way.
(36:39):
Spell that G-U-E-Y, g-u-e-e -y.
I see that around here there'sa store called I way yes what
does that mean?
it's commonly used for friendssimilar to dude, hey, dude, hey
way okay it means dude, hey,dude, yes, all right, thank you
very much, erica kowalski fromMi Vida, margarita, and all of
(37:04):
our discussions on our YouTubepage Follow, like, subscribe and
leave us a review.
Thank you to today's guest,adriana Vela.
(37:28):
Thanks also to my co-host,chris Kowalski, and co-producers
Erica Kowalski and Sherry Busse.
Most of all, thank you fortuning in to Expats Like Us and
thank you for interacting withus on social media.
Next time we'll bring you morefirsthand information about your
international move.
Until then, remember our homesare not defined by geography or
(37:49):
one location, but by memories,events, people and places that
span the globe.
One of the main things we needed to research and
prepare for before our move toMexico was obtaining Mexican
residency.
It's important and there areseveral ways to go about it.
Options include permanentresidency, temporary residency
and several others.
In our case, erica was eligiblefor dual citizenship, chris
applied for temporary residencyand Sherry and I applied for
(00:24):
permanent residency.
In each case, we started theapplication process back in the
US and completed the processwithin the required 30 days in
Mexico.
We were lucky to find aknowledgeable immigration
specialist to assist us withthat process.
Welcome to Expats Like Usexploring the world of US expat
(00:48):
life in Mexico.
In each episode, we'll meet newpeople and hear their personal
stories.
We'll also learn more about theexpat life and get a few tips
on everything from making yourmove to settling in and living
your dream.
Let's dive in.
Let's dive in.
Today we're thrilled to betalking with Adriana Vela.
(01:10):
Her company, immigration toMexico is located in Playa del
Carmen.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Adriana, recently spoke to Chris and I over Zoom.
First tell us a little bitabout yourself.
Where?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
did you grow up and what led you to Playa del Carmen
and your role as an immigrationspecialist?
Okay, well, yes, I was born inArgentina and I lived part of
the time in Buenos Aires, whichis the capital, and well, there
I always worked with foreigners,with expats, let's say,
especially from people from USand from Canada and from Europe
(01:48):
too.
And well, one day I met myhusband, who is from US too,
from Boston, and after someyears we decided to come to
Mexico, to come closer to US,let's say to US.
So well, we came first toMerida, and then we fell in love
(02:15):
with Playa del Carmen, and 12years ago we moved to Playa, to
Playa.
And well, here I startedworking for a Canadian and
Mexican law firm and some peopleknow me from there and later I
(02:37):
became independent.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
So when I started working in immigration here,
Okay, how long have you beenindependent on your own?
Around eight years.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Okay, how long have you been independent on your own
?
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Around eight years.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Okay Now yes, Time passes fast.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, yeah.
And as an immigrationspecialist, what is your role
and how do you assist peopleseeking residency in Mexico?
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Well, what I do is to help people who want to get
their residency here, forexample, sometimes I help them
giving them coaching, since,well, when they are outside
Mexico, when they are in the USor in Canada, I tell them what
(03:24):
to do, but we don't help withthe appointments at the
consulates Because, as you mustknow, the process starts in out
of Mexico.
Outside of Mexico, it starts inthe place where you live in
general.
Where you live in general, and,well, we coach them and tell
(03:48):
them, for example, give themtips about what to do and where,
to which consulate to go, tomaybe which is the easiest or
the lowest with lowestrequirements, et cetera.
And then, once they come herewith their visas, and then, once
(04:10):
they come here with their visas, we help them along their
process in Playa del Carmen, orit can be in Merida, or in
Mexico City, or in San Miguel deAllende too.
So we have different locations.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Now, if somebody finds themselves already in
Mexico, is it possible to get aresidency here if you haven't
started in your home country atthe consulate?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Well, you need to fulfill some requirements.
For example, one could be tohave a Mexican wife or husband
or Mexican parents, or a Mexicanson or husband or Mexican
parents, or a Mexican son ordaughter.
Another way is if you, forexample the person, traveled to
(04:54):
Mexico between 2015 and the endof 2022, and they have an
expired tourist visa you call it, but it's called FMM an expired
stay, here, they can apply forfour years of residency.
(05:18):
This is a program that appearedduring COVID, because there
were so many people illegal herethat they gave them the
possibility to be legal in aneasy way, because in this way,
they don't have to show anyfinances.
Well, they will have four yearstogether and then they can get
(05:41):
permanent residency.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Oh okay, that's kind of a loophole around the system,
isn't it?
And that's still going on, butthat's a product of COVID.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
It's going on, yes, and it happened some years
before too.
I remember that it happenedaround seven years ago, but it
lasted maybe one year or twoyears.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
And then, after COVID , they did it again, and it goes
on.
I don't know, nobody knowsuntil when.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
But so far, so good.
How do your clients typicallyfind?
Out about your service?
Do they connect with you beforestarting their process in their
home country or once theyarrive in Mexico?
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Well, sometimes I have a website and, well, some
people find us when they are intheir own countries, because
some people say that they aresearching in Google and they
find my website, so they contactme, or some others.
Well, it's from word to mouthor on Facebook, in social media
(06:47):
or in Instagram.
So some people find me whenthey are in their own countries
and some others when they movehere.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Okay, so sometimes when I say that I have permanent
residency, people assume thatpeople that don't know assume
that I'm a Mexican citizen now,but I'm not.
Can you explain the differencebetween residency and
citizenship?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yes, residency is that you can live here without
renewing your stay, let's sayyou can live legally.
And citizenship to be a citizenyou need five years of legal
residency Okay, and to be in thelast two years before getting
(07:33):
the citizenship.
You should be in Mexico most ofthe time.
So those are the mainrequirements to be a citizen.
And the citizen will have aMexican passport.
The resident won't, because theresident will be will keep
their own nationality.
Citizens too.
(07:54):
They can have two or threenationalities, but citizens will
have a Mexican nationality,let's say a Mexican passport.
So when they come to Mexico,they are Mexicans.
Mexican nationality, let's sayand Mexican passport.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
So when they come to Mexico, they are Mexicans, and
when they are in their country,another country they belong to
the other country, but not toMexico.
Okay, when they are here, theyhave to use the Mexican passport
.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Okay, so a citizen can also vote in this country,
right?
Yes, okay.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
They can vote and they can have own land in
restricted areas.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
That is important.
If you want to buy a propertyhere, it's important in this
area, which is 330 miles fromthe coast, let's say you need to
well to be a citizen or to getit through, as you must know,
(08:56):
fideicomiso, which is a trust ora company.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Okay, I hadn't thought about that as being.
A benefit of being a citizen isyou don't have to do the Fede
Comiso.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Yes, yes, I would like to be a citizen.
I think that this year I'mgoing to be after the well, the
end of the year, sorry, themiddle of the year.
I will try to do it.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
It's an advantage, let's say to do it.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Okay, it's an advantage.
Let's say, barbara, I wanted tobecome citizens.
After our residency, we have atemporary apartment.
What would we have to do toextend that, to become a citizen
?
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Well, for example, you, as your wife is Mexican
right.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Correct.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Okay, so you can do it after two years of residency.
After two years of temporaryresidency, you can be a citizen.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
And what would I have to do?
I have to take a test, or isthere a process?
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Well, if you are over 60 years old, you don't have to
take any test.
If you are under 60, well, yes,you should learn Spanish.
Can you speak Spanish?
No?
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Well, yes, the exam is not very easy.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
It's a bit difficult because you have to read a lot
about history, about the cultureof Mexico.
They give you a lot of booksand you have to study.
Okay, maybe.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I'll do it until I'm 60.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
No, maybe you can wait until you are 60 to do it,
and so you will not have to sitfor the test.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Okay, it's kind of similar to in the US.
If you're trying to become acitizen in the US, you have to
know a lot of answers to a lotof history questions, and people
who are born in the US mightnot know the answers to those
questions.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
No, the same here, because here sometimes they ask
some strange questions, forexample about recipes for food
which are the ingredients ofmole, for example, or I don't
know Many things which not onlypeople know apart from history,
etc.
It's not very easy.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Okay, so what are the different types of residency
that are available, and whywould someone choose one over
the other?
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Well, the different types, well, the most important
are temporary residency andpermanent residency.
That before they were calledFM2 and FM3.
Some people still call them inthat way, but this is not used
anymore.
Those names are not usedanymore.
(11:51):
Now they are temporaryresidency and permanent
residency.
And then you can have unityfamily, for example, residency,
many others, but in this momentI don't remember.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
So how is if I'm a temporary resident?
How is that different from mebeing a permanent resident?
I mean, there's obviously Ihave to go make that.
I have to go and re-up that orre-submit or continue that no.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
if you are a temporary resident, well, after
four years you have to doanother process and get
permanent residency.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Yes, or you can be a permanent resident directly.
For example, you can get apermanent residency in the, in
the consulate outside of Mexico.
If you show enough financialresources, you can get permanent
residency directly and which isthis is much easier and cheaper
(13:01):
for you because you have to doonly one process With temporary.
You would have to renew oneonce and then to get permanent,
so you would have to do threeprocedures With permanent only
one.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
So my wife and I got permanent because we could.
But I understand that therequirements, the financial
requirements, have changed andthey've gone up quite a bit.
Is that true?
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Every year they change because they are linked
to the minimum salary in Mexico,so the minimum salary goes up
every year.
So the minimum salary goes upevery year.
So the financial requirementsare linked to this income, to
this salary, so they alsoincrement every year.
(13:55):
So every year it will be moredifficult to get a residency
here.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
And do you know what the financial requirements are
for 2024?
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yes, I have here.
I have some consulates whichare the lowest.
I prepared, which is, forexample, phoenix.
Phoenix, it has a proof ofmonthly income of $2,530.
It's in Phoenix.
(14:28):
In Raleigh it is $3,100.
And in McAllen $3,458.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
The income.
But if you want to show yoursavings or, yes, your investment
, it is $42,000 or $51,000 or$57,000 in the three different
(14:59):
consulates.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
You just have to show that amount of money in your
bank for a year.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
For a year, for 12 months, yes.
And if you want to getpermanent residency in Phoenix,
the income, the pension, has tobe minimum $4,200, in Raleigh
$5,100, and in McAllen $5,700per month.
If you want to show savings, inPhoenix it is 168,000, in Rally
(15:33):
2007 and in McAllen 2013.
These are the minimum, butthere are others which want more
or require more.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
How come it's different from one consulate to
the next?
Speaker 3 (15:53):
I think that it's different because they consider
the rate, the exchange rate,according to the day when they
do the calculation.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
I think Okay, so they do it on different days and the
answer is different.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Wow, yes.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Or at least that's the best guess we have as to why
that is right.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Yes, and some consulates are easier than
others.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Right, go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
No, no, no, and it's easier.
In some of them it's easier toget an appointment than in
others.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
You know that yeah, we, uh, we had problems getting
appointments at some and we wentto another one and it was
instant, so yeah, so, and.
But then they asked me, whydidn't we go to the other
consulate?
And I said, well, we got anappointment here, you know, and
they were okay with that yes,because some, some consulates
(16:51):
want you to live around theconsulate yes, right example,
miami.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
If you want to apply in miami, you need to have an
address in Miami.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
For example, in California too, I think, but in
other places.
No, you can go, they don't careOkay.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Yeah, we did ours in Omaha, nebraska, and we lived a
couple hours from there.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
But yeah, they were fine with it.
Not many people live there.
They go there no.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Right, no, everybody else that was there were were
Mexicans dealing withimmigration in the United States
.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
We were the only ones applying for immigration to
Mexico when we were there, soour application process went
really smoothly and we credityou for your advice and your
assistance, and I'm guessing thesmoothness of that process is
not the case for everyoneseeking residency.
What types of problems mightpeople run into if they don't
(17:52):
know the process or they don'tseek out your help?
What sort of problems mightarise?
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Well, first, the main problem is to get an
appointment in the consulate.
But we don't deal with thisbecause we know how it is, how
time demanding it is, and itwill be a lot for us if we have
to help everybody to get anappointment in the consulate,
(18:19):
because you have to open thepage of the consulate every day
to see when they open thecalendar, et cetera.
So it will be terrible,terrible, a lot of work.
So well, the people have todeal with this part.
And second, once they come here, if they want to do it by
(18:41):
themselves, it seems to be easy.
But it's not so easy because,for example, I tell you because
of my experience, when I camehere the first time I applied
with somebody and then thesecond time I said, well, no,
it's easy, it will be easybecause I can speak Spanish, et
(19:02):
cetera.
It's easy, it will be easybecause I can speak Spanish, et
cetera.
And then I have to return likefive times to the immigration
office and wait like two, threehours every time, because I
always made a mistake, becauseyou have to be very, very
precise filling in the form,then you have to know how, which
kind of letter, what kind ofletter you have to submit.
(19:24):
Now it's a bit easier becauseyou have most of the
requirements are online, buteven that it's not so easy
because sometimes the letter isnot included.
For example, for Canche, theletter is not included in the
(19:47):
mini-city or it's a name, andwell, that is the main problem.
I think that to see which arethe requirements for each
immigration office to, becausenot all are the same.
Employer Carmen, they want thiskind of paperwork.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Right.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
It makes it easy another.
So even if you go toinformation and they tell you
what to do or you can see itonline, it's a challenge,
especially if you cannot speakSpanish.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Right, I can't even imagine trying to get through
that system with not knowing anySpanish at all.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Yes, some people do it, but when they have time they
need patience to return severaltimes until they do it.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
To me getting the residency.
It's kind of a lot of people's.
It was my first experience withlearning patients in Mexico
Because you need that for somany things Getting driver's
licenses and getting your RFCand registering your car and all
that but kind of the firstdelve into that patient patience
(21:03):
thing is getting your residency.
We had somebody who there wassomebody put a post on social
media here and said I had to bein line for two hours getting my
residency and it was brutal andhow do people put up with this?
And it's like I just wanted tosay that's the fastest I've ever
heard anybody getting throughthat.
(21:24):
That was really easy.
You will definitely learnpatience when you move to Mexico
with things like that.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
Yes, and here, for example, in Playa, it's so hot
because they make you waitoutside and there is a roof
which is plastic and crystalclear and the sun is there all
the time, so it's terrible likea greenhouse, and people have to
wait there Before you couldwait inside, but after COVID
(21:56):
they told everybody to waitoutside.
So it's very, very, very bad.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
So it's very, very, very bad okay, um, in our cases,
we had purchased homes beforewe moved to mexico.
Does does owning a home help atall with residency or make any
difference at all?
Speaker 3 (22:20):
I couldn't understand .
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Oh, we owned homes before we got our residency.
Does that make a difference inthe residency process?
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Well, sometimes you can apply through your home,
through your property, but theproperty has to be over $500,000
.
The property cannot be cheaplet's say so you can apply
through your property and youcan get temporary residency
(22:52):
through your property or if youshow them together with your
finances.
If you show them the title deedof a house or a property, it
will help because it's importantto have property here for them,
that you have property.
You have something in Mexico,so it will help with your
(23:13):
application.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Okay, so if you have a temporary residency, is there
a certain amount of number ofdays that you're allowed to
leave the country or that youhave to be in country?
Speaker 3 (23:24):
No, no, there are no requirements.
Even if you have permanent,there are no requirements.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Okay, so you could get temporary residency.
Once you're done, you can spend300 days.
Yes, many people do that, okay.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
As soon as they have their residency, they leave.
No, then they come back.
Maybe it's advisable to return,maybe once or twice a year at
least.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Right.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
But some people well, can't, can't, do it.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Okay, so I'm a permanent resident.
I could leave and come back in10 years, and I'm still a
permanent resident.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Apparently In theory.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Not that I'm going to do that.
We love it here.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
No, no, of course not .
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Well, so many of our friends and neighbors spend only
part of their time in Mexico.
A lot of them are from Canada.
They usually spend 180 days ormore in Canada.
Is there any advantage for themapplying for temporary or
permanent one over the other,other than the process of having
to renew temporary?
Speaker 3 (24:38):
If they have permanent, it's better.
It's much better Because youdon't have to think about
renewing that anymore, so itwill be better.
But some people, if they don'tget a residency, it will be okay
.
They are less than 180 days peryear here, maybe they don't
(25:00):
need to get residency, but ifthey own property, it's good to
have residency because you cansave some income how do you call
it Income tax when you sell theproperty?
Okay, Okay.
So you need to have residencyfor that.
Okay, okay, so you need to havea residency for that.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Okay.
So when we got residency, weboth got cards residency cards.
How important is that card?
What happens if I lose thatcard?
Or, you know, I find that I canuse that for identification
different places.
What happens if I lose that andI'm a permanent resident?
So I don't go through theprocess again.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Yes, you should, Because when you leave the
country, you have to show theresidency, the card, and when
you get in too.
So you should go to theimmigration office and do a
process to get another card.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
It's called reposición.
This is another kind of processfor the people who lose their
residency.
And if you lose the residency,the resident card, outside
Mexico, it's a big problem.
Oh, I bet Because you will haveto go to a Mexican consulate
and say that you lost yourresident card and they will give
(26:18):
you another visa.
They will stamp another visa onyour passport and then you have
to come to Mexico and doanother process, like the first
process you did called canje.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
But to get another resident card.
Okay, because some people losetheir card and they come into
Mexico and show their cell phonewith a photo.
But it's not good, it's notgood.
No, no, no.
They have to go to the Mexicanconsulate to get another visa
(26:54):
and to do the process in Mexicoto get another car.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Okay, so you use the word conje and I know what that
is.
They wrote that when I firstcame and I had the visa in my
passport, they wrote conhe atimmigration, at the airport.
What does that mean?
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Well, conhe means exchange.
You have to exchange the visathat they gave you in the
consulate to the resident card.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
So you will get the resident card.
It's the first process you doto be a resident here.
Call Canje.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
Or exchange.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Okay, very good.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
What tips would you have for someone considering a
move to Mexico and what advicewould you have for them?
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Well tips, well to be patient.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Right, we all give out that tip all the time.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
Yes, tip all the time , yes and um.
Well, to try to learn spanishif they can.
Um, if they want to open a bankaccount here, it would be good
for you, for for them to.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
I don't know which others so so what are the
advantages of having a Mexicanbank account?
I don't have one because I'vejust never had a reason to get
one yet.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
For example, my husband doesn't have one and he
always takes out money from ATMswithout any problem.
Some people want to do it,maybe to pay, if they have to
pay the fee, for example themaintenance fee of their condos,
or they have to pay somebody.
(28:49):
But if you don't have one,there is no problem.
There is no problem at all.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
Yeah, we've never run into a problem.
And people always look at mefunny and say you don't have a
Mexican bank account and I sayno, I haven't had a reason to
have one.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
No no, you can order stuff off Mercado Libre.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Right Mercado Libre, you don't need Mercado.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Libre.
Or, for example, if you lose,for example, your credit card or
debit card from US, you canhave one from here to use
meanwhile.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
Right, that's a good point.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
Or if your US 1 expires or something and you're
not paying attention and ittakes some time to receive it
here, or maybe sometimes it'sdifficult to receive things here
, to receive mail here, becausemaybe they don't find your house
or I don't know differentproblems.
(29:49):
So it takes quite a long timeto receive a credit or debit
card.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Yeah, yeah.
So we had one of our listenersask this question and it's
basically about permanent ortemporary residence.
Does getting your residencyentitle you to any government
benefits, like the INAPAM card?
Can you get that?
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Well, no, the INAPAM card is not issued anymore to
foreigners.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
But I don't know if it's something temporary or
forever.
Okay, we don't know.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
But I don't know if it's something temporary or
forever.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
Okay, we don't know.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
But it's important, for example, to get some
benefits.
For example, in the ADO bus orany bus around Mexico.
If you show that you have yourresidency, they can do a
discount, they can do a discount.
Or if you go to Xcaret or tothe different parks, you can get
two by one.
Or if you go to thearchaeological sites too, or in
(30:50):
the ferry to go to Cozumel, Idon't know, to go to Isla
Mujeres too, I think.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Yeah, so we went to Isla Mujeres and, yeah, we got a
discount with our resident card.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
I forgot about that.
If you have in a pub, thediscount is bigger.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Right.
Speaker 3 (31:08):
Yeah, but if you have the resident card it's good too
.
Or in some restaurants you showthat you are a local and they
do a 10%.
In some pharmacies they do 5%,for example in Sam's or in
Walmart, I think 5%.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
And well, no, or well , if you want to sell your
property.
Oh yeah, yes, you will have agood benefit.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
Right.
So if someone were listening tothis or watching this and they
want to get a hold of you andtake advantage of your services,
at what point in the processshould they do that and how
should they do that?
Speaker 3 (31:51):
Well, if they have the visa from the consulate
outside of Mexico, it's better,because we can start talking
about what to do here andplanning.
And if they can call me whenthey have already plans for
their trip, it's better, so wecan plan the dates to meet, et
(32:15):
cetera.
And or if not, well we can meet.
Well, they can contact mebefore when they are thinking
about getting residency.
Well, I can give them tips abouthow to make an app Because we
sorry, we write a blog, we havea blog in our website and there
(32:40):
we have different articles, so Ican show them one of the
articles about how to do this,how to do that, how to register
to get an appointment in aconsulate, and give them some
tips for them to start theprocess there.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Plus, then they are on your radar, so you know
they're coming and you're kindof prepared to offer your
services.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
We prepare the trips of the people.
As soon as they know they havethe flights to come.
Yes, we prepare this.
The only detail now, forexample, is if people want to
renew or to get permanentresidency after having temporary
residency and they want torenew when they are out of
(33:27):
Mexico, we will need theoriginal passport and the
original resident card to get anappointment in Mexico, because
before we could do it withphotocopies and now we will need
the original.
So it's not so easy now to getappointments if the people are
(33:51):
not in Mexico.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
They're in the United States along with their
passport and their card.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
Yes, you don't want to ship that off, so In their
card, right?
Yes, okay.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
You don't want to ship that off, so is there
anything?
Speaker 3 (34:12):
else that you want to add.
That's important for people toknow about getting residency.
Oh, I think we talked abouteverything.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
Okay, right, right, and we'll put a link to your
blog or we'll put an address toyour blog on the podcast.
Okay, thank you to your blog.
Or we'll put a an address toyour blog on the on the podcast.
Okay, thank you.
One of the things that we do isa game that we play called que
padre and que malo, and itdescribes what we love most
about living life in rivieramaya.
Is que padre, que malo isthings that maybe we're not
(34:36):
adjusted to yet and having aharder time adapting to give us
one thing you would describe asque padre and one que malo well,
I think it is all the, thelandscape, you know, the beaches
, the, all the cenotes, thenature right um, yeah, and also
(34:57):
the peace that you live here,that you are not stressed in
general, Although, well, it'sgetting a bit more well with
more cars, more people now, butit's better than living in a
city to live here.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
Well, and Kemalo I think that the heat Just lately.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
we're recording this in its middle of May and, man,
it's gotten hot here lately.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
Yes, but this year it was not so soon, let's say,
because I was waiting for Marchto be hot, and March and April
were good.
Yeah, yeah, yes, but now it'sstarting.
Yes, but now it's starting.
So well, that is the bad part.
But if you can relax, go to thepool and go to the beach, it's
(35:47):
fine.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
We have plenty of water and we have the Caribbean
Sea and all of that.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
We can't complain, no .
Speaker 1 (35:54):
Okay, well, thank you for joining us.
Adriana Vela, from Immigrationto Mexico.
Thank you so much for sharingyour insight into the
immigration process.
Speaker 3 (36:04):
Thank you very much, you too, for inviting me.
Great podcast.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
All right Thank you.
Speaker 3 (36:10):
See you later.
Thank you, bye-bye.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
Bye.
In each episode of Expats LikeUs, we're going to teach you a
new Mexican slang word.
This is something you may notfind in your phrasebook or your
online Spanish class or yourSpanish app or wherever you're
learning your Spanish.
Instead, this is a term usedprimarily by Mexican Spanish
speakers.
Today's word is Way Way.
(36:39):
Spell that G-U-E-Y, g-u-e-e -y.
I see that around here there'sa store called I way yes what
does that mean?
it's commonly used for friendssimilar to dude, hey, dude, hey
way okay it means dude, hey,dude, yes, all right, thank you
very much, erica kowalski fromMi Vida, margarita, and all of
(37:04):
our discussions on our YouTubepage Follow, like, subscribe and
leave us a review.
Thank you to today's guest,adriana Vela.
(37:28):
Thanks also to my co-host,chris Kowalski, and co-producers
Erica Kowalski and Sherry Busse.
Most of all, thank you fortuning in to Expats Like Us and
thank you for interacting withus on social media.
Next time we'll bring you morefirsthand information about your
international move.
Until then, remember our homesare not defined by geography or
(37:49):
one location, but by memories,events, people and places that
span the globe.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.