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Oria_Xu

Hi all!
I will be moving with my family from the EU to GDL next summer.
I have applied and been approved for a permanent visa (retiree) here at my Mexican consulate.
The next step is to go to Mexico (GDL) to get my permanent resident card within the next 180 days.

I have been told this can take up to 6 weeks, is this true? If so, is there any way to speed it up? Like by hiring a lawyer or going to a less crowded offices outside of GDL?

I mainly ask this due to logistics, as i don't want to book a 6 weeks trip but end up getting my card after 1 week. Or the other way, book for 2 weeks and end up needing to change all my booking because my card isn't ready.
Also, i would love to not have to spend 6 weeks away from my family... the shorter, the better!

If anyone could tell me roughly how long it took for them that would help a lot!
Regards,
Steve

Chilangolite

Since your visa is only good for 30 days it needs to be done before your visa expires. At least mine was.

Oria_Xu

Chilangolite wrote:

Since your visa is only good for 30 days it needs to be done before your visa expires. At least mine was.


Hey, thanks for your reply... but i am not sure if you misunderstood my question or actually answered it :)
Once you enter Mexico you have 30 days to go to the INM and start the procedure to get your "real" card, this I know.

But does this mean, that my  card is sitting there waiting to be picked up, or do I have to go to the INM to start the process of having it made?
Because i have been told that once i enter Mexico, it can take up to 6 weeks for my Card to be done. And i can only leave Mexico once i have my "real" resident card.

So to cut it short:
Once i enter mexico, i have 30 days to go to the INM.
-Do i get my permanent resident Card on the day i go to the INM?
-Or does this only start a bureaucratic process, and if so, how long does it take until i get the card?

Thanks!

alleycat1

Chilangolite wrote:

Since your visa is only good for 30 days it needs to be done before your visa expires. At least mine was.


They don't need to process you in 30 days. The form you get when they take your 30 day "canje" FMM card is your temporary in process migration document. It is valid untill they finish processing you. It can take as long as they want.

alleycat1

Oria_Xu wrote:
Chilangolite wrote:

Since your visa is only good for 30 days it needs to be done before your visa expires. At least mine was.


Hey, thanks for your reply... but i am not sure if you misunderstood my question or actually answered it :)
Once you enter Mexico you have 30 days to go to the INM and start the procedure to get your "real" card, this I know.

But does this mean, that my  card is sitting there waiting to be picked up, or do I have to go to the INM to start the process of having it made?
Because i have been told that once i enter Mexico, it can take up to 6 weeks for my Card to be done. And i can only leave Mexico once i have my "real" resident card.

So to cut it short:
Once i enter mexico, i have 30 days to go to the INM.
-Do i get my permanent resident Card on the day i go to the INM?
-Or does this only start a bureaucratic process, and if so, how long does it take until i get the card?

Thanks!


It starts the process only part 2. You have completed part 1. Here in my city of San Luis Potosi it takes 21/2 to 3 weeks or since 2013 all these years and stll last year when I last helped an American I know. My German friend last summer had his Mexican consulate RT visa in his passport and they processed him in 13 working days for final approval and 3 working days later picked up and signed the ledger for his Residente Temporal with a work permit and got his RT card.

Oria_Xu

It starts the process only part 2... it takes 21/2 to 3 weeks or since 2013 all these years and stll last year when I last helped an American I know. My German friend ... they processed him in 13 working days for final approval and 3 working days later picked up ... his RT card.


Ok thanks that does answer the question and gives me a better time frame to work with.

Do you maybe happen to know if this process is faster/slower depending on where you go? Or is it around the same everywhere (which it should be since everything runs over the Mexitel system).

alleycat1

Oria_Xu wrote:

It starts the process only part 2... it takes 21/2 to 3 weeks or since 2013 all these years and stll last year when I last helped an American I know. My German friend ... they processed him in 13 working days for final approval and 3 working days later picked up ... his RT card.


Ok thanks that does answer the question and gives me a better time frame to work with.

Do you maybe happen to know if this process is faster/slower depending on where you go? Or is it around the same everywhere (which it should be since everything runs over the Mexitel system).


I have read on other Expat site 3 or 4 weeks but here it is less. Cancun is slower and Lake Chapala and some times Mexico City all about 4 weeks average. If you tell me what city I might have read comments from foreigners doing the immigration process there recently.

mexicogc

Hi, first you have to process your request in the state you will be living so if City: Guadalajara then INM: Jalisco

In my case, we arrived and live in Nayarit on August 26th 2017, went on the Monday 28th (first visit: pictures, payment at bank, get a reference code to follow status via internet site of INM), if recall proprely 2nd visit was the following Monday or Tuesday for fingerprints and finally the official permanent residency cards were ready by the Friday September 8th and we picked them up on the following Monday September 11th (so total time frame 2 weeks). Friends of mine got there's with a few days in Guerrero (Zihuatanejo) and 4 weeks in Jalisco (Puerto Vallarta).

But advice, INM office hours are from 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday (arrive early before opening, get pictures and copies in advance, have a valid address in the State "because permanent residency status means living permanently in Mexico, avoid holiday period "Navidad, Semana santa, Pascua, etc..." if you change address you have 90 days to inform INM.

You can contact them before your trip by phone or email preferably in Spanish but usually someone speaks English.

The internet site for INM Jalisco with 3 offices

https://www.inm.gob.mx/gobmx/word/index.php/jalisco/

Adios y buen dia a todos, GyC

Chilangolite

Oria_Xu wrote:
Chilangolite wrote:

Since your visa is only good for 30 days it needs to be done before your visa expires. At least mine was.


Hey, thanks for your reply... but i am not sure if you misunderstood my question or actually answered it :)
Once you enter Mexico you have 30 days to go to the INM and start the procedure to get your "real" card, this I know.

But does this mean, that my  card is sitting there waiting to be picked up, or do I have to go to the INM to start the process of having it made?
Because i have been told that once i enter Mexico, it can take up to 6 weeks for my Card to be done. And i can only leave Mexico once i have my "real" resident card.

So to cut it short:
Once i enter mexico, i have 30 days to go to the INM.
-Do i get my permanent resident Card on the day i go to the INM?
-Or does this only start a bureaucratic process, and if so, how long does it take until i get the card?

Thanks!


I see. Yes you have to go and apply again.
1, They will give you an application and instructions on what to do. Once you have completed the requested items you will go back.
2. You will go back again and get your fingerprints taken.They will also cancel your visa
3.They will give you a date in which you can come and receive your ID.
4. Once you receive your ID you can then leave the country.

And yes the process could take up
to 6 weeks. More if you are not Johnny on the spot.

Oria_Xu

Thanks for all the replies, you did help clear this up!

I only have one followup question about this:

mexicogc wrote:

...have a valid address in the State... if you change address you have 90 days to inform INM.


Does this mean I can only come to Mexico and get "part 2" started once i move there?
We planned it like this:
I wanted to go to Mexico in April of next year and my family would stay back home.
During my time in Mexico i wanted to get my permanent resident card and visit a couple of houses to buy or rent.
Once home we would go over the houses for buy/rent, maybe then go back to Mexico to rent/buy and then as soon as the school year is over we would all move to Mexico.

mexicogc

Sorry, what I meant is you need an address could be the hotel/B&B you rented in April (they didn't asked us to see the lease) but when you come back and move to anothe place you need to advise INM within 90 days of the move so:

1st trip April (don't forget big Easter holidays April 16th to 24th): one address to get the permanent residency status
2nd trip mid-May: even if different address, you would have till mid-August to advise INM ( no concern)
3rd trip end June: new and final address, you would have 90 days to advise INM

Question: what will be the residency status of your family members? Check if you intend to request reunification of families (I think the process starts in your home country and you would need to have the permanent residency status for 1 year (not sure).

Personally, I would contact the Mexican embassy or consulate nearest to you for more info.

Adios y buena suerte en su proyecto, GyC.

mexicogc

Sorry, sent in double, GyC.

Oria_Xu

Ah great, thanks again for the clear answer! And thanks for the holiday reminder!!

mexicogc wrote:

Question: what will be the residency status of your family members? Check if you intend to request reunification of families (I think the process starts in your home country and you would need to have the permanent residency status for 1 year (not sure)


Yes they will join me via the reunification of families and yes it will be done here once i am back in April/Mai (since its only valid for 180 days).

The main point of this was, since the whole move depends on me having permanent residency, I wanted my Visa and resident card to be all done before selling all our belongings and house here.

Thanks again to everyone, for all the information you provided!
Regards,
Steve.

grapenut

I AM ACTUALLY 'ILLEGAL' IN MEXICO. MY PASSPORT EXPIRED HERE WHILE VISITING MY SON WHO LIVES HERE. SO I DECIDED TO STAY. BEEN HERE OVER A YEAR; ALLOWED TO STAY 6 MOS. WHAT I DO IS LEAVE MEX FOR 5 MINUTES(BUY FMM CARD AT BORDER $20)GOOD FOR ANOTHER 6 MONTHS,.NOW, AM MARRYING A MX NATIONAL SO ILL BE A MEX CITIZEN.

Oria_Xu

grapenut wrote:

I AM ACTUALLY 'ILLEGAL' IN MEXICO. MY PASSPORT EXPIRED HERE WHILE VISITING MY SON WHO LIVES HERE. SO I DECIDED TO STAY. BEEN HERE OVER A YEAR; ALLOWED TO STAY 6 MOS. WHAT I DO IS LEAVE MEX FOR 5 MINUTES(BUY FMM CARD AT BORDER $20)GOOD FOR ANOTHER 6 MONTHS,.NOW, AM MARRYING A MX NATIONAL SO ILL BE A MEX CITIZEN.


Ok? Good for you!

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