30/12/2021
A reminder about the harsher immigration policies currently in place, and a reminder that the RNE has been extended for 2022, and will now accept applicants whose first entrance was in 2020.
We need to talk about visas, changing immigration policies and their enforcement, and the anxiety I see the situation causing in expat groups.
We also need to talk about what you can do if you're now here irregularly.
This is going to be long, so please grab a beverage and get cozy.
The portion immediately following this is my own observations, followed by excerpts from a published live interview with an executive senior immigration officer from CDMX, with my analyses added.
His contributions have been edited for clarity and denoted with an asterisk.
A major increase in immigration's efforts to detect, detain, and deport those who are here "irregularly", (a term INM uses instead of saying illegally) has been very apparent across Mexico in recent months.
This change comes after decades of lax rules for tourists and border runners, and overly complicated procedures for residency.
The latter has been being resolved steadily over the last decade, and now the former topic is being addressed, due to a multitude of factors.
One important change is the new National Registry of Foreigners (RNE), which has made it extremely simple to obtain temporary residency.
To apply you don't have to leave Mexico or show financials, and the process is usually done in one day.
Requirements are simple: Multiple previous trips to Mexico between 2010 and 2019, and an expired FMM.
When pitching the idea to a friend in government, the group that was most concerning to me were pandemic-grounded snowbirds, as well as the large number of expats who live here comfortably all year long, yet do not meet the consular financial requirements, and have to do border runs every 6 months.
Also taken into account were the horrible optics and lasting damage that large scale deportations would have caused for Mexico and the visitors involved. The government agreed and introduced the RNE.
By creating this program the government has added a great new path to residency.
So now, in addition to the pre-existing application methods, which include financial solvency visas, a very comprehensive family unity program, and the refugee program, amongst others, México has made it incredibly easy to obtain residency just by having overstayed your visa, and having visited previously.
With this new reality in mind, INM has decided to take a stronger stance regarding those who still haven't sought legal status.
They "see no reason not to have gotten regular."
An interesting feature of the family unity visa is that it allows a person with residency to grant residency to their parents due to their familial connection, without showing financials or visiting a consulate.
This can mean that aging parents can easily come live in paradise, family by their side, with access to excellent and affordable hospitals and doctors, as well as great in-home care.
I feel like that aspect really shows how much Mexico cares about keeping families together. 💜
*Recently a post regarding changes to INM's policies on irregular tourists, expired FMMs, and serial border runners began making the rounds.*
I feel it has information worth sharing, so below includes portions of the interview, some parts edited for clarity, and with some of my thoughts as someone who is heavily involved in the industry of Mexican residency.
(As mentioned above, the source of the information marked with an asterisk is a live interview with a senior executive immigration official from Mexico City.)
*INM has been more diligent recently in attempting to crack down on the misuse of tourist visas.*
*The intent is not to punish travelers but rather to educate and inform them of their options for residency.*
Agents are much more active in the public sector, establishing checkpoints on roads, boarding buses, checking for legal status, and detaining anyone not in compliance, after which they're given a few days to a couple of weeks to pack and leave Mexico.
*They are also asking travelers for more information, such as their itinerary, intended length of stay, reservations for hotel accommodations and dates, return tickets, etc.*
*🏖️Your average tourist who comes to Mexico maybe once every couple of years will continue to be given appropriate lengths of visitation according to their reservations, tickets, and itinerary; generally 30-180 days on their FMM (multiple migratory form).*
They are not affected by the changes.
*🗻 Snowbirds will be evaluated by inm agents who consider a tourist's age, retirement status, tickets, etc. They may be given the full 180 days on their FMMs if the agent is satisfied with their answers regarding the particulars of their plans.*
*Due to this increased scrutiny, this group is being heavily encouraged to seek residency through the RNE process, or through a financial solvency visa.*
*INM is also emphatically requesting that those who own property in Mexico obtain residency.*
*💻Digital Nomads and those working remotely for companies in countries outside of Mexico.*
This is a rapidly growing job sector, with many younger adults living in Mexico and similar countries, but maintaining jobs remotely in their home countries.
This phenomenon may be a small silver lining to the pandemic. Many of those originally forced to work from home at the onset of the pandemic have chosen not to go back to the office, as companies realize that home-based employees are just as efficient, if not more so.
Our company has noticed a huge increase in the last 18 months in 25-40 year olds moving to the Yucatán, including single people, couples, and young families, who have applied for residency with us while they work online.
I estimate that the average age of our clients has dropped by about 25 years during that period due to this influx of younger residents.
Leaving behind offices, commutes, and overpriced rentals in favor of a much lower cost of living in a gorgeous setting and a new culture seems like a recipe for happiness that many younger adults are taking full advantage of.
Unfortunately, immigration seems to be being toughest on this age group, giving them much less than the 180 days most request.
*INM very much wants the members of this group to obtain residency, because unlike the snowbirds who traditionally spend 4-5 months per year here, this group tends to maintain a year round base here.*
INM is especially reminding members of the community who often have young children in school that they need CURPs, which only come with residency.
*INM agents have increased scrutiny of this group and is more thoroughly assessing each individual's situation based on their age, accomodations, stated length of stay, return plane ticket, repeated back-to-back stays, and the basis of their income, among other factors.
The length of the tourist visas given is now trending shorter to encourage them to obtain residency visas.*
*🤔 Repeat or Serial Tourists*
INM has been keeping a digital record of your comings and goings since 2010.
They know how many visa runs you've made, and can also tell how many times you bought a fake FMM.
*INM agents have your entire trip history dating back to 2010 at their fingers, they know if you've been doing back-to-back 6 month FMMs for years.*
*They have started declining 180 day visas to those who are clearly using them to live in Mexico year round while avoiding the "hassle" of residency, and agents have begun occasionally denying entry altogether.*
So, if you've applied for more than one 180 day visa in the last couple of years, look at the RNE program, or the financial solvency visa.
*The revolving door of 180 entries is no more, and attempting it will get you flagged. Once they have residency, the welcome mat will rolled back out.*
*Other red flags that agents look for when assessing visas are accusations or convictions for criminal activity, visiting places with connections to terrorism, , your country of origin, and more.*
Another aspect not discussed in the original interview is the very large numbers of refugees coming up from El Salvador and Haiti, among other countries. Xenophobia is alive and well here, and the Mexican population in general favors deporting South and Central Americas, as well as those from the Caribbean.
Consequently, INM usually has programs set up to stop them from entering illegally, and from overstaying.
But, that means they have to apply the same rules to everyone, meaning if you're irregular, you're going to be escorted out of the country pretty soon.
Pick the program you qualify for, do it soon, and get your residency sorted.
Please feel free to message us with any questions regarding what you may qualify for!
Bottom line. Contact a consulate, INM or your preferred immigration service, and get yourself legal asap!
Photo credit: Casey Leonard 2021
