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Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

Excited to have renewed my FM2 for the last time, I'm kind of looking ahead to next year!

Has anyone here actually completed the Declaratoria de Inmigrado and received this status?

I've found out some information, but have many questions. So far, I understand (2011 information):

1) You have to pay $892 for the reception and study stage, then, if approved $3414 for the actual application

Q: What things can cause your application to be refused, and then what happens regarding your documention? I understand you remain as inmigrante, but do you have to start the cycle of refrendas again?

2) You have 6 months after the end of your final FM2 refrenda to apply.

Q: If you don't apply, same question as above.

3) You must inform immigration within 30 days of change of address, civil status or activity (you can do any legal activity).

Q: How is this done. With a complete set of paperwork, as per FM2/3, or a simple letter? Is there a charge for this kind of notification?

Thanks in advance.

notamiss · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:43 pm Post subject: Re: Looking Ahead...

It was about 8 years ago, so I don�t know how much anything has changed since then. It was just like a regular renewal in terms of the forms, documents, etc. that I had to submit. No difference whatsoever. The only noticeable difference from a renewal was that it took 6 months to get it back instead of 1 month.

mejms · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 390

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

mejms wrote:

mejms · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 390

notamiss · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 1:12 am Post subject:

Well, it wasn't me you asked but I can tell you why I've been a resident for 8 years without applying for nationality yet. Inertia, reluctance to devote time and attention to the tramiter�a and studying for the exam, and reluctance to surrender my passport for the duration (with the accompanying difficulties in international travel, should I have to make a trip while document-less).

I do intend to do it � someday � ma�ana.

MotherF · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 2:04 pm Post subject:

I'm with notamiss.
The main reason why I've never done it is inertia--plus I don't live near a Relationes Exteriores office. So that's an additional hassel.

But there's more to it than that--I'm not patriotic about any place and to me "citizenship" of one nation is enough.

Another is it's not the legal rights and responsiblities that come with citizenship that make me "American", it's my cultural heritage, education, upbringing and shared experiences with other Americans that make me American. So in that sense, I will never be Mexican, no matter how long I live here. And haven't you ever heard that Sting song? Englishman in New York. That song sums up how I feel about it--I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien. And there's something comfortable in that.

I'm not saying I'll never become a citizen, I seriously think about it every so often--I used to especially think about it when I'd get frustrated with immigration, but for the last several years the renewal process has actually been easy so I don't mind.

Oh and notamiss--this may have changed because I was told this by Relationes Exteriores the year my daughters were born--they don't take your passport off you. Or maybe that's just Americans?

notamiss · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 2:46 pm Post subject:

No, you're probably right; after I posted the above, someone else also told me that you don't surrender your passport any more, and that you keep your FM2 until your nationality is granted. So I have one less excuse for getting around to it.

It's interesting to compare different views on nationality; I don't see it the same way as you. While being Canadian is an essential part of my identity that can't be uprooted, I don't view acquiring another nationality as being in opposition to being Canadian; even more so since since the nationality under consideration corresponds to the place where I live, and is the nationality that all the rest of my immediate family have.

In summary, I don't view getting nationality to be a sort of secular "sacrament" that disappoints because it doesn't have the power to turn one from an alien into a Mexican.

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

notamiss · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:09 pm Post subject:

OK, I think I get it. From what you Americans have said, your instinct is to view nationality in the same framework as the majority of people view relationships; you feel it's right to be monogamous, or at least serially monogamous.

It's not that we Canadians are polyamourous, just that we don't tend to view nationality in those terms (speaking for myself). This may be a result of the fact that while both countries allow dual citizenship, Canada is more open to it.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I suspect that it might be generally true that more USAians are rather 'wedded' to their national identity than Canadians. However, there are plenty of exceptions (me, among them). I know quite a few who have dual/multiple citizenships. I'm actually considering whether I want to keep my US citizenship - it's not in fact doing much for me, nor will it in future....

MotherF · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 6:35 pm Post subject:

Of course, Phil, is British...

But if being stateless were not a problem--that's the option I'd choose. What makes me American is cultural, not legal or political and in that sense I'll never be anything but American, though I'd choose to be nothing, if that were a viable option. To use your analgy notamiss, I'd prefer not to be in a seriuos relationship with any country.

All the members of my immediate family are Mexican. The children are both--I don't think my husband will ever had dual citizenship, so also not taking on dual citizenship myself keeps us even that way. (Except of course for the fact I'm welcome in his country, and he is not in mine.)

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

mejms · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 390

Wow. I didn't realize that for many of you citizenship was a philosophical issue. Not that it shouldn't be. That's fine.

I'm purely practical when it comes to this. No, I'll never be Mexican in the sense that I'm American. Citizenship is simply a matter of making my life easier and that of my family. If you don't plan on moving, changing jobs, etc. and therefore see permanent residency as adequate, I understand. I, however, like to leave my options open when it comes to providing for my family and even the possibility of us going to the US to live. If we do that for some time and come back, I really don't want to start all over again with immigration. And if we were to leave and come back, I'd likely be going into business for myself, which citizenship makes cheaper and much easier as well.

I don't feel like I need to be infatuated with all things Mexican to become a Mexican citizen. It's political for me.

I don't see any point in putting it off now. If I don't go through with the naturalization process now, I'll just have to go through the immigration process next year. What's the difference? Like I said, naturalization takes a bit longer, but doesn't necessarily take up more of your time. I'm all for making my life simpler.

amaranto · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 133 Location: M�xico, D.F.

I've been trying to figure out if it is okay for the US government to find out you have become a Mexican national. Is it okay to have dual citizenship if you were born American?

I read that a statement that renouncing your US citizenship suffices, and I don't know if Mexican immigration notifies the US of your new status if you become Mexican. Does anyone from the US have any experience in this regard with being naturalized as a Mexican? I would personally like to possess dual-citizenship for practical reasons.