| Not all tourists that visit Mexico are treated the same. | | | | The Mexicans that we've met, including the woman |
| As an example, those that come to traffic or use illegal | | | | working in our villa, would be happy to have their |
| drugs are treated rather harshly in Mexico, resulting in | | | | pictures taken, fingerprints, etc. but the system virtually |
| terrible vacations while south of the border! Another | | | | denies their legal entry into the States. As a side note |
| one that's probably not anxious to return to Mexico is | | | | of interest, upon returning to PV after our summer in |
| Dawg, The Bounty Hunter. He was not treated with a | | | | Tahoe last year, we discussed the above story with |
| great deal of dignity and respect, however he too | | | | our local US Consulate agent in Vallarta. She |
| might not have closely followed the Mexican laws as | | | | confirmed that visas to the US were just not being |
| he handcuffed his fugitive and hauled him out of the | | | | granted at this time because of all the immigration |
| country! On the other hand, as normal law abiding folks, | | | | related problems in the States. In comparison, it's a |
| we have been treated like family, like friends, almost | | | | cake walk getting into Mexico for US and Canadian |
| like royalty ever since we began making our | | | | citizens! |
| semi-annual visits to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in 1984, | | | | US and Canadian citizens are treated with respect, |
| when we purchased a condo in Mismaloya, about six | | | | dignity, and welcomed as guests in Vallarta. Of course, |
| miles south of Vallarta. Back in the 80´s, it didn't | | | | the economy in PV depends solely on tourism and it is |
| take much more than a photo identification in order to | | | | in the best interest of the locals to see that all tourists |
| get a Mexican FMT or tourist visa. Today, a passport | | | | have a pleasant and safe visit while in Paradise. In the |
| or certified copy of a birth certificate is required for an | | | | ten years that we've lived here, we're not aware of a |
| FMT visitor visa. These visas are good for staying up | | | | single robbery, burglary, picked pocket, or any other |
| to 90 days in Mexico; however you can ask for and | | | | crime committed on a foreign resident or tourist. It is so |
| often receive a 180 day FMT visa. There is no charge | | | | tourist friendly in Vallarta that there are now |
| for these tourist visas and they are easily obtained at | | | | approximately 50,000 North Americans living here |
| the departure airport or at the Mexican customs office | | | | during the "high season" of November through May. |
| when arriving by vehicle. Upon entering Mexico, the | | | | There are millions of tourists by plane or cruise boat |
| immigration agents stamp your copy of the visa and | | | | that visit PV each season and unless they're really |
| record your entry into their computerized data base | | | | looking for trouble, they'll never find it. Furthermore, in |
| with information regarding the length of your stay and | | | | 2001 the readers of Conde Nast Magazine voted |
| where you'll be staying. Upon leaving the country, you | | | | Puerto Vallarta the eighth best vacation destination in |
| return your copy of the visa and your departure time | | | | the world and the very friendliest city in the world. That |
| is entered into their system. In other words, visiting | | | | Conde Nast poll pretty well sums up the way tourists |
| Vallarta for less than six months is about as simple as | | | | or retirees are treated in Vallarta. |
| it could be. | | | | For those of us that are retired and having so much |
| Now, to put the above Mexican treatment of | | | | fun in Paradise that we don't want to leave in 180 |
| American and Canadian tourists requesting visas into | | | | days, we merely apply for an FM3 permit, a long term |
| perspective, let's compare it to what Mexicans must | | | | visitor permit which resembles a passport, costs about |
| do to legally visit the US. This can be best done by | | | | $100, and takes about a month to obtain. We must |
| telling the following story which is based on personal | | | | provide photos, fingerprints, proof of residency such as |
| experience and is typical of American immigration | | | | electric and water bills, and proof of self sufficiency |
| practice throughout Mexico. | | | | such as any bank statement. The FM3 allows a North |
| For many years, we thoroughly enjoyed our vacations | | | | American to stay in Mexico for one year and can be |
| in PV, so much so, that in 1997 we bought a beautiful | | | | renewed annually. This long term visitor status allows |
| villa and decided to make Vallarta our permanent | | | | the foreigner to bring his car into Mexico and keep it |
| residence. We have had a lovely couple working in the | | | | here indefinitely, as long as the FM3 is kept current. |
| villa for the past eight years. They are a kind, intelligent, | | | | Our Grand Cherokee Jeep still has the 1997 Texas |
| clean, honest, and church going couple with two of | | | | plates and no taxes have been paid on the vehicle |
| their three children now attending the University of | | | | since 1997. Unlike the US where everything must be |
| Guadalajara. As a bonus for their many years of hard | | | | politically correct, the Mexicans have no qualms with |
| work and loyalty, last year we offered the woman an | | | | profiling. If for any reason, a Mexican policeman gets |
| all expenses paid one week vacation to visit us in the | | | | the urge, he can pull over a foreign plated car and |
| Lake Tahoe area where we spend the summers. She | | | | check the status of the driver's FM3. For that reason, |
| has never been to the States and needless to say, | | | | everyone keeps a copy of their current immigration |
| she was very excited and looked forward to the trip. | | | | papers in the glove box of their car. |
| We called the US Consulate in Guadalajara to | | | | After five years of FM3 renewals, i.e., five years of |
| determine the required procedure for Mexicans to visit | | | | living more than 180 days per year in Mexico, you are |
| the US. First, a current passport is required, so within a | | | | then given the option to continue with a new FM3 or |
| month, she had obtained her new passport. We were | | | | convert to an FM2. The FM2 requires the same |
| also informed that she needed a copy of her bank | | | | documentation as the FM3 but costs a little more and |
| account statement in Mexico, a copy of her marriage | | | | still requires annual renewal. The main difference is that |
| license, a copy of her property deed, employment | | | | an FM2 designates the holder as an immigrant rather |
| records, and a letter of invitation from us would be | | | | than a visitor. This is a critical difference as it pertains |
| helpful. We wrote a half page typed letter of invitation, | | | | to the treatment of capital gains on the sale of real |
| thanking her for the years of dedication and service, | | | | estate. Exemption from capital gains tax is granted |
| and then helped her assemble all of the required | | | | only to those that can provide proof of primary |
| documents into a single file folder. Again we contacted | | | | residency in Mexico for at least five years, with |
| the US Consulate, informed them that all of the | | | | primary residency being anything greater than 180 |
| required documentation was in order, and scheduled | | | | days per year. The FM2 document clearly proves |
| an appointment for her interview. On the day of her | | | | primary residency for longer than five years. After the |
| appointment, dressed in her Sunday best, she took the | | | | fifth year of holding an FM2, the holder becomes |
| folder full of required documents and the cover letter | | | | eligible for a permanent resident alien status and no |
| of invitation to the US Consulate in Guadalajara which | | | | longer is required to renew his FM2 on an annual basis. |
| is a five hour drive from Vallarta. The US Consulate | | | | All of the aforementioned immigration documents can |
| was packed with hundreds of Mexicans and they put | | | | be obtained at the local Mexican immigration office, |
| her in a line with about 50 others, probably all having | | | | which for us living in Paradise, is right here in Vallarta. |
| the same appointment time. She indicated that not a | | | | The FM3´s or FM2´s are stamped and |
| single person of the 50 Mexicans ahead of her was | | | | recorded every time you leave or enter Mexico. |
| granted a visa. Finally, after an hour and a half, she | | | | Compared to the US, you've got to give the Mexicans |
| made it to the front of the line. They interviewed her | | | | credit; they have a much better handle on who's in and |
| for less than two minutes, said her letter of invitation | | | | who's out of their country. In summarizing, due to the |
| wasn't notarized, and basically threw her out just like | | | | relative ease in obtaining the proper immigration papers |
| the previous fifty people. Of course, during our phone | | | | in Mexico, there is virtually no reason for any American |
| conversation, they never mentioned a requirement of | | | | or Canadian to be here undocumented. If any problem |
| notarization of the letter of invitation when they listed | | | | were to ever occur, both American and Canadian |
| the requirements. In fact, the letter was not even a | | | | Consulates are located in Vallarta to assist you. |
| requirement, but only a helpful addition to her list of | | | | For those really serious about living in Mexico, after |
| requirements. In all probability, the Consulate handed out | | | | establishing your primary residence in Mexico for five |
| very few, if any, visas for travel to the US that day. | | | | years and learning a fair amount of Spanish, for about |
| From what our friend witnessed during her two hours | | | | $1,500 and with the assistance of a local immigration |
| at the US Consulate, they granted zero visas that day. | | | | attorney, you can apply for Mexican citizenship. Once |
| After getting her hopes so high and being so excited | | | | all of the applications have been submitted and an |
| about the vacation, after spending her money on the | | | | interview with the immigration agent is completed, the |
| passport, the money for the five hour journey to and | | | | waiting period is approximately 18 more months. If and |
| from Guadalajara, the night spent in Guadalajara, the | | | | when granted, you will hold dual citizenships and have |
| time to assemble all of the required documents, and | | | | pretty much all the rights of a naturalized Mexican |
| the two hours in the Consulate, there was virtually no | | | | citizen. Although most of the natives in Vallarta speak |
| chance of getting a visa to the US for a Mexican | | | | some degree of English, unlike the US and Canada, |
| citizen and the worst part of it was, the employees of | | | | Mexico has a primary language. It is Spanish and the |
| the Consulate knew it. | | | | immigration officials make it crystal clear when |
| Why in the world would the US Consulate treat the | | | | interviewing for Mexican citizenship. It's not until the two |
| thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of | | | | hour interview in Spanish is completed that you learn |
| Mexicans that way when they are trying to visit the | | | | that the interviewing attorney speaks fluent English! |
| US legally? It's no wonder that millions of Mexicans are | | | | However, to their credit, they do accept Espanglish |
| sneaking across the border undocumented. It's got to | | | | which is our hybrid between English and Spanish. |
| be a lot easier, faster, and perhaps cheaper to sneak | | | | Of course money talks, but from what we've |
| across the border, thus resulting in the US having no | | | | experienced for ten years, the Mexicans treat the |
| clue as to who has entered the country, where they | | | | Gringos substantially better than the Gringos treat the |
| are, how long they're staying, or what they're doing. | | | | Mexicans. |