Job Discussion Forums

[mejms]

Hello folks,

I'm due to apply for Mexican citizenship any time in the next few months. I'm not worried about the Spanish aspect of the exam, but I am concerned about the history and cultural part. I went to the Foreign Relations office a couple weeks ago and they gave a book recommendation to prepare, but I'm wondering if anyone has any of their own recommendations for books, dvds, etc on Mexican history. Material in either English or Spanish is fine. Thanks!

[jaimem-g]

The Course of Mexican History by Meyer, Sherman and Deeds is in its ninth edition, and expensive, but you can probably get an older edition for cheap. I think this is a good read, but it is a textbook and about 700 pages long.

I've read some of the SEP textbooks for secundaria in Spanish years ago and they aren't too difficult. What book did they recommend? How difficult is the test? I don't think many of us know much about it. I would like to know more even though I'm now just a frequent visitor to Mexico.

The US test for citizenship has gotten a lot of attention - much more than it deserved along with the negative attention brought to immigration. I worked in this together with ESL in adult school for 30+ years so my motivation for asking is to compare what it's like to become a citizen in Mexico. Years ago I lost my FM3 and it was a big hassle to get a new one. I was illegal and couldn't travel anywhere for about 6 months, so I know what that feels like.

Please keep us informed. This is probably important for a number of posters who have more need for this than I, but I'm interested, too.

[TeresaLopez]

Since you said Spanish was OK, I found this link, which might be of interest.

http://www.sre.gob.mx/tramites/nacionalidad/guia_estudio.pdf

I know of one person who became a citizen and she said that they told her to know all the answers to all the questions, but that she wouldn�t be asked all of them. They also told her she had to learn all the verses to the national anthem, which she did! I think that alone should qualify you, hehe. But, she was only asked for the first and last verses.

[notamiss]

You can find the study guide online, though it may take some searching to find the current one, as they change every 6 months or something. I found these links, they probably don't reference the current one. http://mexicomyspace.ning.com/profiles/blogs/study-guide-for-mexican?xg_source=activity
http://www.sre.gob.mx/tramites/nacio...ia_estudio.pdf

I think I saw somewhere that the test is about 10 or 15 questions. Also someone who wrote the SRE to ask for the link to the current study guide and they gave it to them.

[mejms]

Thanks for all the responses, everyone. The link I was given at the Foreign Relations office for a study guide:

http://www.sre.gob.mx/tramites/nacionalidad/guia_estudio09.pdf

They also recommended "Nueva Historia M�nima de M�xico" (abridged version.

I understand that the questions are facts and dates, so memorizing the correct answers from the study guide could work, but I without a doubt want to understand the history and all of its contexts. The exam is actually good motivation for me to take some intiative. My family visited us a few weeks ago, really curious about the history of this old city, and I wish I had known a lot more to share. Isn't that so often the case? We know some history of all the places where we don't live. Never knew enough Boston either...

Keep it coming with DVDs and books...

P.S. Learning the national anthem by heard is sound advice too.

[TeresaLopez]

[quote="mejms"]
My family visited us a few weeks ago, really curious about the history of this old city, and I wish I had known a lot more to share. Isn't that so often the case? We know some history of all the places where we don't live. Never knew enough Boston either...
[/quote

I wonder what it is about human nature that makes this so. When I lived in Chicago I almost never visited museums, but rather went to Milwaukee for their festivals and such. Once I moved to Milwaukee, Chicago suddenly became much more interested, and I did a lot more �touristy�stuff than I did when I lived there.

[Samantha]

The test is (was) comprised of 5 random questions (4 of which you must answer correctly) out of 100. Additionally, there was a requirement for writing a paragraph about why you want to become a Mexican citizen. You will need to be fluent enough in Spanish to get through the whole process. The test changes every few months, in addition to the questions being randomly selected each time. The test is not the first thing that happens when you apply, so you will have plenty of time to prepare later.

There is plenty of paperwork, and then months (even years in some cases) pass, and finally an invitation to write the test within the next 30 days. If you have been studying one test and it changes just at the time they notify you,
start studying the new possible questions. Then comes more waiting. There is no way of speeding things up in Mexico City when it comes to the naturalization process, but by this stage most of us have already practiced years of patience.

[donato]

Out of curiosity, if you are married to a Mexican citizen and want to become a citizen are the requirements the same?

[tjteachin]

Out of curiosity, when you get Mexican citizenship, do you also retain the citizenship of your native country?

My dad is Mexican, so I got double nationality, keeping my U.S. citizenship.

[TeresaLopez]

[Samantha]

That's correct, Teresa. A person married to a Mexican can apply sooner, but all the requirements are the same. No free passes or special treatment.

[Phil_K]

geaaronson (I think) posted 100 sample questions a few year back. Worth a search.

[Samantha]

There used to be a forum dedicated to this topic (questions and possible answers) with quite lively discussion. The test questions were updated as they were released.

[mejms]

[Samantha]

Did you miss reading my response about 7 posts above yours?