Job Discussion Forums

[Samantha]

Isla, I really believe it will be easier, just as PhilK mentioned. The new law was written to make it easier for immigrants (from the southern border) to become permanent and have rights in Mexico, not to make things more difficult for them.

T, the only reason I can think of for someone from north of the border, living here full-time, to remain a "temporary resident" is to keep a foreign plated car here. Seriously. If expats want to split time between here and up north, they should be considered temporary residents. I don't think this is the big deal it's being made out to be. I think this will be the best change yet (and yeah, I've seen lots of changes over the years, along with local interpretations of said changes). I understand people don't like change, but we should be used to it, living in Mexico.

[Tretyakovskii]

Samantha wrote: "T, the only reason I can think of for someone from north of the border, living here full-time, to remain a "temporary resident" is to keep a foreign plated car here. Seriously. If expats want to split time between here and up north, they should be considered temporary residents."

I understand you to mean, those who actually have a choice as to whether to ask for temporary residence, or permanent residence, can elect, which would mean they can qualify for either. Art 139 gives us the exhaustive list of those who can qualify for permanent residency. Here's what it says-

La condici�n de estancia de residente permanente prevista en el art�culo 52, fracci�n IX, de la Ley se otorgar� a la persona extranjera que demuestre alguno de los siguientes supuestos:
I. Tener reconocimiento de la condici�n de refugiado, otorgamiento de protecci�n complementaria, asilo pol�tico o determinaci�n de ap�trida en t�rminos de la legislaci�n en la materia;
II.Tener v�nculo con mexicano o persona extranjera residente permanente, conforme a las hip�tesis de unidad familiar en t�rminos de lo previsto en el art�culo 55 de la Ley;
III. Ser pensionado o jubilado con ingresos mensuales suficientes para su manutenci�n durante su estancia en el territorio nacional;
IV. Que cumple con las categor�as y el puntaje m�nimo requerido por sistema de puntos, conforme a las disposiciones administrativas de car�cter general que emita la Secretar�a y que ser�n publicadas en el Diario Oficial de la Federaci�n;
V. Tener situaci�n migratoria regular por cuatro a�os consecutivos, en el caso de los residentes temporales;
VI. Tener parentesco en l�nea recta ascendente o descendente hasta el segundo grado con mexicano por nacimiento, y
VII. Tener situaci�n migratoria regular por dos a�os consecutivos como residente temporal, siempre y cuando la condici�n de estancia se haya otorgado por tener relaci�n conyugal o de concubinato o figura equivalente con mexicano o residente permanente y que subsista dicha relaci�n.

Outside of these, permanent residency is not an option. Notice the ability of a retiree to go straight to permanent residency, without any time in temporary residency. Many others will still need four years in temporary residency. I believe that credit will be given for time spent in FM2/3, and Inmigrante/No Inmigrante, towards this four year requirement.

[Isla Guapa]

Tretyakovskii, thanks for posting the above message. I saw it on another expat forum but had forgotten the details. It looks like I will qualify for permanent residency under #V. I wonder if that will require that I still file monthly tax statements or if that will become optional. A ver qu� pasa...

[Guy Courchesne]

[Samantha]

Bingo!

[Tretyakovskii]

"It sounds like this is aimed more at those crossing the southern border."

On the contrary, it's more about recognizing those whom Mexico might like to see remain in the country, long term. Here's the details on the point system for obtaining permanent residency, such as are available at this time:

CAP�TULO SEGUNDO, DEL SISTEMA DE PUNTOS

Art�culo 124. El sistema de puntos para que las personas extranjeras puedan adquirir la residencia permanente, establecer� criterios de selecci�n para atraer personas extranjeras inversionistas o con alta competencia en �reas como la ciencia, la tecnolog�a, el deporte, las humanidades y las artes o aquellos que fortalezcan y fomenten el desarrollo y competitividad en el territorio nacional.

Art�culo 125. Los criterios de selecci�n podr�n incorporar, entre otras, las siguientes categor�as:

I. Nivel educativo;
II. Experiencia laboral en �reas de inter�s para el pa�s que tengan gran demanda y poca oferta;
III. Experiencia laboral en otras �reas;
IV. Inversionista;
V. Aptitudes en ciencia y tecnolog�a;
VI. Reconocimientos o premios internacionales;
VII. Dominio del idioma espa�ol, y
VIII. Conocimiento de la cultura mexicana.

La Secretar�a establecer� mediante disposiciones administrativas de car�cter general que se publicar�n en el Diario Oficial de la Federaci�n, las categor�as; la ponderaci�n de puntos que corresponda a cada categor�a; as� como el puntaje m�nimo que se requiera para ingresar por esta v�a.

La Secretar�a en conjunto con las dependencias que estime convenientes, revisar� el sistema de puntos cada tres a�os, y en su caso publicar� en el Diario Oficial de la Federaci�n, la adici�n, modificaci�n o supresi�n de categor�as; la ponderaci�n de puntos que corresponda a cada una de ellas; as� como los puntajes m�nimos y dem�s datos que estime pertinentes.

Art�culo 126. La persona extranjera que pretenda ingresar al territorio nacional a trav�s del sistema de puntos debe presentar la solicitud de visa ante la oficina consular, debiendo adjuntar el formato de precalificaci�n debidamente llenado y los documentos que acreditan las categor�as que cumple.

Lo anterior conforme al procedimiento y requisitos previstos en las disposiciones administrativas de car�cter general que ser�n publicadas en el Diario Oficial de la Federaci�n.

Art�culo 127. La persona extranjera titular de la condici�n de estancia de residente temporal o la persona extranjera que al t�rmino de alg�n encargo oficial desee permanecer en el territorio nacional, podr� solicitar por la v�a del sistema de puntos el cambio a la condici�n de estancia de residente permanente, o bien, la autorizaci�n de la misma.

Para efecto de lo anterior, debe presentar la solicitud de tr�mite correspondiente ante el Instituto, debiendo adjuntar el formato de precalificaci�n debidamente llenado y los documentos que acreditan las categor�as que cumple.

Lo anterior conforme al procedimiento y requisitos previstos en las disposiciones administrativas de car�cter general que ser�n publicadas en el Diario Oficial de la Federaci�n

[Samantha]

Just a suggestion, but why don't you post the entire Spanish document link in it's entirety so that everyone can translate it and weed through it if they want? I would have done that except it really isn't something pertinent to most of us on the forum, especially at this point. The rules need to be defined and applied yet, so until then all this is just words (in Spanish). A super big deal is being made out of this, when it really is very simple, IMHO.

[Guy Courchesne]

[Tretyakovskii]

[MotherF]

I'm not really concerned about myself as I'm directly related to Mexican citizens.

But if we hire someone new, on an indefinite contract--Do they go directily to permanet resident?

And technically, we initially hire people on a 6 month contract, that is renewed once, then become indefinite after completing a year. So will that mean they must go twice in their first year--then never again after their 3rd time?

And costs--any mention of costs? it seems like there is a potential for a significant loss of revenue! But then IMN should have lower opperating costs as well, without every FM2 holder returning each year.

[Tretyakovskii]

Hi, M.F. Take a look at my post near the end of page three where, for what it�s worth, I wrote some observations about the issue you�d raised.

Under the new pricing scheme, longer duration, temporary residency documents will cost more, but there is a savings compared to the cost of the one year documents.

[Tretyakovskii]

I've got a question some of you may have had direct experience with. In obtaining permission to settle in Mexico as a family member, where is the source of information on the exact amounts and means by which you establish economic solvency?

I tried a search in the Diario Official de la Federacion and got nowhere.

Anyone?

[Samantha]

Not nearly everything is in writing. And that which is, is often ignored. That's why it's important to wait and see what each office does with the information in those long boring pages. Maybe I have lived here too long, but getting whipped into a frenzy without knowing how it really will shake out seems pointless.

To answer your specific question, here is my take from experience: as long as the Mexican spouse has a steady income and can prove it, that's good enough for most INM offices. That and a bunch of different paperwork. I guess they figure if you choose to marry a Mexican national, you have already decided to live within whatever means he or she can provide.

Another thing we learned is if a Mexican man/woman of lesser means applies for Inmigrante status for a spouse from, say, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, they do not (because they cannot) pay the same rather hefty immigration fee that the rest pay. The goal has been to keep families together and legal in Mexico, according to our local INM office. There are laws and links and then there is the real world.

[Tretyakovskii]

[Tretyakovskii]

(In reading the following comments, please keep in mind it is nothing more than an opinion, informed by a careful reading of the new law and regulations, nothing more.)

Getting back to the subject of visa free entry, I think what we can say about it is that there is reasonable uncertainty about how this will be handled for those who enter after 9 November. What you are reading is my understanding of what this law says.

Under the current law, it wasn't necessary to declare your intent. Under the new law it appears to me that, if you don't, you will be classified "Visitante," in one of the several categories, and unable to apply for a change of status, afterwards.

On the FMM there are little boxes for the INM official to indicate whether you're entering with a visa for an FM2 or FM3, among other things. The new law speaks of the agent noting, in the case of visa free entry, the intent of the person entering the country.

If it were me who was entering with the plan to teach English, I'd be carrying all my documentation establishing my credentials, and declare it was my intent to seek a teaching position in the D.F., for example, and once I had an offer, to apply, in country, for an FM3 (everyone is still using this terminology, in practice).

Here's the important point, it seems to me: once the official ticks the box for an FM3, you will have just 30 days in which to find a job and get an application for FM3 submitted, or leave the country. Enter as a Visitante, and be given 180 days, you cannot then change status, as the new law reads.

My theory about why this may reconcile the issues involved is that, once the agent ticks that you will be seeking an FM3, applying for one is consistent with the notation, you are not entering as a "Visitante" and you are not seeking a "status change" in the meaning of that term as it is used in Art 53 of the new law, and 141 of the new regulations.
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