2012 IMN HANDBOOK IS ONLINE

The 2012 INM procedures are spelled out online in two documents.
Visa applications are detailed in this one.
The whole handbook , is here and it is huge.

First Read:
First time Residente Temporal applications-- income requirements
Submit documents proving one of the following assumptions:
Original and copy of proof of investments or bank accounts with average balance Monthly equivalent to twenty thousand days of general minimum wage in the District Federal during the last twelve months,
or
Original and copies of documents showing that has employment or pension unencumbered monthly income higher than the equivalent of four hundred days of current minimum wage in the Federal District, for the past six months.

400 times the minimum wage for 6 months

For Residencia Permanente
Retirees and pensioners:
Original and copy of proof of investments or bank accounts with average Monthly equivalent to twenty thousand days of general minimum wage in the District Federal during the last twelve months,
or
Original and copies of documents showing that pension income has higher monthly equivalent of five hundred days' wages current minimum in the Federal District, for the past six months.

500 times the minimum wage for 6 months

Rolly what does that work out to in actual dollars or pesos?

Thanks for posting.

400 x $62.33 = $24,932 pesos or a little over $1,900 dollars
500 x $62.33 = $31,165 pesos or a little over $2,400 dollars
Dollar amounts depend on the exchannge rate.
$62.33 is the rate for 2012. It wiil go up a little next year and every year.

Thanks Rolly. Great job as always.

Cheers,
raq

Don't intend to rain on anyone's parade here but it seems like there are way too many people who have forgotten to be realistic. As far as I have seen, the new regs were just put up on the website today and theoretically go into effect on Nov. 12th. Reflecting back 14 or so months - just how many times have we read on other forums or websites where someone claimed that they had the inside track on the new regs? If this drastic a change was implemented NOB, you can bet that there would be total confusion and we are talking Mexico! And then based upon previous experience, I personally cannot see the new regs being dispensed equally all over Mexico.

Maybe it is time for all the pontifications to grind to a halt, take a "chill pill", drink multiple cervezas followed by many shots of tequila? I can assure everyone that: when one quits slamming their head against the wall, the concussions will go away!

There may be a lesson in the fact that Spencer has posted very little on this topic today!

The new system starts Friday 9 Nov. Not next week.

Sorry Rolly but I based that statement on reading where the offices were closed until Monday. I have since read that some offices were saying they wouldn't begin processing before Wed.?

I stand corrected. 9 Nov was stated in the offical press release.

Thanks for the information Rolly and the link to the document. The short one on visas may have been thrown together in a hurry. Ex. for tramite 7, permanent residence, they state that you apply at the Mexican consulate (i.e. outside Mexico, I would think). And this permanent visa is stated to be valid for only 180 days. Maybe this needs clarification from the source.

As I understand it, that whole document deals only with first time applicants, not renewals. The application is done at a consulate in one's home country. The consulate then issues an interim visa good for 180 days witch is time enough to go to México and complete the process at an INM office.

Sparks has spelled it out very well in his current blog post. So, I ask the same question he is asking are we being forced out of Mexico?

http://sparksmex.blogspot.mx/2012/11/retireees-forced-out-of-mexico.html?spref=fb

WHAT'S UP WITH THIS???

There is no question that a lot of folks face a life changing problem with there new numbers.

Rolly, do you know anything new about the foreign plated car issue?

No. Aduana/Banjercito have not said anything yet.

Trailrunner wrote:Sparks has spelled it out very well in his current blog post. So, I ask the same question he is asking are we being forced out of Mexico?
http://sparksmex.blogspot.mx/2012/11/retireees-forced-out-of-mexico.html?spref=fb
WHAT'S UP WITH THIS???

It does look like many people who have less than 4 years residence when they have to renew their visa, may be forced out if they do not satisfy the point system, hefty monthly pension income or house value / investments. Those lucky enough to have been here at least 4 years appear to qualify for permanent residency based on that fact alone. Just over half way through the long handbook, "Artículo 44. Ficha del trámite para cambio de condición de estancia en la modalidad, de residente temporal a residente permanente: ...
Criterios de resolución:
I. El titular de la condición de estancia de residente temporal podrá cambiar a la condición de residente
permanente por:
a) Sistema de puntos;
b) Ser jubilado o pensionado que perciba del exterior recursos suficientes que permitan vivir en
territorio nacional, o
c) Que hayan transcurrido cuatro años desde que cuenta con permiso de residente temporal.
II. En el caso de solicitudes presentadas por haber transcurrido cuatro años como residente temporal, la
autoridad migratoria verificará tal circunstancia."
So this reads as if a), b) OR c) will permit the granting of residente permanente. BUT the preceding requisitos join point 5 (investment/income requirements for pensioners) AND point 6 (4 years of temporary residence). So it's not entirely clear.

Maybe one of the "points" in the yet-to-be-determined "Points System" will allow us to be grandfathered in. heh Just trying to find a way out. . .

Good god almighty!

These regs just came out today and we are all aware that your individual concerns are the most import thing to you but this is all about the big picture. Just what gives you the right to expect answers from Rolly or Spencer when it is perfectly obvious that all the details haven't been published? Hopefully you are aware that Rolly does have a life and Spencer answers to far more people than just you? Anyone with half a brain would refrain from passing on advice or interpretations at this point in time since they would be prime to be stabbed in the back if wrong.

Rolly used to have a life. He's not so sure now.

It is tough and frustrating. I am trying to make sense of it all but there are still gaps. There appear to be some people who will have to leave Mexico perhaps but alot will depend on what immigration allows.

On a good note there seems to be a 10 year visa with multiple entries which would be a cheap option for people who don't work nor need Seguro Popular, DIF card or IMSS and the cost was around $500 pesos. The visa is issued in the consulates so might be a good option for new people moving to Mexico.

I am sure more laws and changes will be published as time goes on but this is a huge change, and the last changes gave us much time to prepare and weren't so drastic, this new law seems anti foreigner and places more controls and while processing times are stated to be less there seems to be two to three steps for each procedure where before there was only one.

Also fees are much higher although they require less photos (3 instead of 5) so the 20 pesos you save on photos can be applied towards the extra $2,000 pesos in government fees.

Also we will charge more for our services as there seems to be two to four parts for the new procedures except for straight renewals (not counting the first one).

Get notarized certified copies of your current FM3 and FM2s as the law seems to read that replacements pay the full price so losing the document could cost you upwards of $4,000 pesos as you need to make a report to the MP, do all the application at immigration and pay government fees over again.

Well I guess it's time to plan an exit strategy!

If you go over to TOB, you will find 7 pages of experts spouting off and amateurs believing everything they read. Sooner or later exit strategies will probably emerge in full detail?

I am proposing to all the people who handle immigration stuff to prepare a list of questions we can present to immigration to get some clarification and to avoid unnecessary delays and problems with the implementation of the new system.

As far as being grandfathered in .... I've been here 7 years but only on 2nd renewal of current visa. Are those first 5 years gonna count?

I wonder what motivated the Mexican government to make these seemingly anti retiree changes to the immigration laws.

Chris:

It couldn't have anything to do with the way the US treats Mexicans going north, could it?