Job Discussion Forums

[Tretyakovskii]

I had mentioned that I'd be seeing if I could exchange my FM3 for an FM2 at renewal time, and said I'd provide an update. I went today to INM and explained that I'd had an FM3 a total of one year and, with their permission, was working as a teacher of English "de manera independiente". I explained that I wanted to change my calidad from "no inmigrante a inmigrante".

The person I spoke with seemed to be one of the senior people there. He clarified with me what I was seeking, asked me for specific documentation, all of which I had- evidence of jobs I now hold, and what they pay; plus, my last three monthly tax declarations and evidence of taxes paid for independent contract work I've done- and said to check online in about ten days to see if my request had been approved.

It's my impression that here they screen the cases for merit at intake, so I am taking their agreeing to accept my request as a good sign.

If this change is approved, and things continue on track, I should be able to apply for a change to "inmigrado," or apply for citizenship, in two years.

[Tretyakovskii]

For those who might like to explore this further, here is the website for the Mexican Immigration law/regulations I've spoken of-

http://www.sre.gob.mx/index.php/-carta-de-naturalizacion-por-haber-prestado-servicios-o-realizado-obras-destacadas-en-materia-cultural-social-cientifica-tecnica-artistica-deportiva-o-empresarial

[Isla Guapa]

[Tretyakovskii]

Yes, Isla, it's about shortening the path from inmigrante, or inmigrado, to citizenship, but I feel the principle is the same, contributing to the development of the nation; and, if you are in an INM jurisdiction, like Oroo, which typically requires five years in "no inmigrante" status before allowing a transition to "inmigrante" and, typically, five more years in that status before moving to inmigrado, or citizenship, it's nice to have a convenient rationale for speeding up the process written into the immigration law.

If they deny my request to go to inmigrante status, I'll be back at square one, with no harm done for asking!

[Samantha]

Whatever happens with INM becomes a moot point once we encounter the SRE. Trust me....there is no hurrying them along, no matter how important we believe we are.

[Tretyakovskii]

I was told today that my request for a change of calidad from FM3 (which I'd held for one year), to FM2, had been approved, so that closes the loop, so far as this step is concerned.

[Isla Guapa]

Congratulations!

[Tretyakovskii]

Thanks, Isla. Unless I learn something new in the meantime, or the rules or my situation changes, I plan to ask for Inmigrado status two years from now, relying on that section of immigration law I mentioned on this thread.
____________________

Surviving immigration: I've spent a lot of hours sitting in immigration, waiting my turn and observing the staff at work. This has given me plenty of time to think about the best strategies for dealing with this part of life, here.

The total volume of work, and individual pieces of paper processed through INM is, in many places, truly enormous. Keeping this flow going smoothly through the system so as to avoid a hugh "pile-up," and resulting backlog, is no easy task; yet, they seem to manage to do it. There being so many cases of a routine nature to process, and a number which are not so easy to evaluate and process, they cannot afford to do what is sometimes suggested, "to cause trouble," even if they are, individually, tempted to do so by a particularly annoying or demanding applicant for a visa.

I've found, in most areas of life, it pays to try to understand things from the other person's point of view; and, when dealing with a big bureaucracy (anybody else have trouble spelling that word? I always have), to "have all my ducks in a row", making their job as easy as possible, and giving them the least reason to need to take time to deal with omissions or errors in what I've submitted. My wife's application, for a V. Rentista, was legally much simpler, and required far less paperwork than mine did, so we didn't bother to seek legal counsel; but, with my application for a V. Professional, and permission to work "en forma independiente," it was important that it be as well prepared as possible. For this reason, I met twice, before submitting it, with legal counsel.

One other thing I've found useful through the years in dealing with any bureaucracy is think the best of other people: I try to believe, and act on the belief, that they are well intentioned toward me and wish to do well by me, and others. Take INM, for example: it will not help me get through the process, personally, nor help speed my paperwork through the process, to imagine that they are, beneath a smiling exterior, evil/corrupt/dishonest/malevolent, or any number of other negative things I could think about them. Instead, I try to imagine they are people like me- but with a more boring job- who get up in the morning wishing for nothing more than to get through their day with a minimum of hassles, and to get back home to their families.

The last thing I'd like to say is that, when communicating with those who work in an office like this, should I hear something that sounds somewhat "negative," I don't assume I've understood, perfectly, what they've said, and it's implications for me. I find it's better to remain calm, take time to listen further, and ask a mild question or two, to clarify. I often find I've simply misunderstood them. And, if what I've heard is something like, "come back in a week," I assume it is for good reason, known only to them, that they have said so- smile, and accept it.