Obtaining My Resident Visa - Done!

After having been approved for a resident visa by the Mexican Consulate in Chicago (Here is that process along with resources), I had to start the process at the immigration office in Mexico. I had learned that this could be a challenge because all the forms are in Spanish, both online and in paper. 

I hired an immigration attorney in Ajijic to do it for me and she was fantastic. Her fee? 1,800 pesos (about $90 U.S. Dollars). Well worth every centavo!

The immigration office's fee was 4,700 pesos (about $235.00). 

One of the most important parts of the process is to make sure you obtain the correct visa form when you come into the country. For me, it was at the airport. My attorney reminded me of this twice. When you go through immigration at the airport, show them the visa that the consulate placed in my passport. They will mark a big "30" on the immigration paper and give it to you. That's the first thing my attorney wanted when I met with her a few days after arrival. She was very relieved when I had it. Apparently, it's a big problem if you fail to get it. (Normally, you'll get one as a tourist. This had to be a special one with a big "30" marked on it with a sharpie.) The "30" indicates that you have 30 days to start the process with the immigration office.

So, I gave her my passport which had the consulate's visa affixed inside, the all-important little piece of paper from the airport, signed some documents allowing her to act on my behalf, and she took it from there. She said the process would take 4-5 weeks. In the meantime, I had to remain in Mexico. (If you do need to leave, she can submit a special request to the immigration office on your behalf, allowing you to do so for up to 60 days.)

She filled out the online bits and took my passport to the immigration office which was located in Chapala, about three miles away. 

A couple of days later, she emailed me to come get my passport. The immigration office had done what they needed to do with it.

A week later, she notified me that I had an appointment with the immigration office to get fingerprinted and photographed. Her assistant would meet me there at the appointed time. It all went well. Everything and everyone was on right time. 

About a week later, she notified me that my resident visa card was done, and I could go pick it up at an appointed time two days later. 

So, I'm officially a Mexican resident! I can now enroll in the public healthcare system. I can open a bank account. I can come and go as I please. I'm pretty sure this allows me to work. My card is actually green. I have a "green card."

I'm an American-Mexican. 

Another very important thing to do: 

Whenever I fly out of the country, I should fill out this two-part document at the IMM office at the airport and keep one part for when I fly back. It's so that the government can ensure that residents like me are leaving and coming back into the country properly. 

Failing to do this can void your resident visa. Wow. I would hate to have it voided and have to start this process all over again. 

So, to summarize the process: 

1) You have to start it at the Mexican consulate in the U.S. They do the main approving-stuff. Getting the appointment with them was the most challenging part for me. Emailing them seemed to work. Here is a list of all the Mexican consulates in the U.S. along with their email addresses. Here is a link containing the application to fill out.  The cost was $45

2) Come back to Mexico, (being sure to get that paper marked with 30 on it when you come through immigration.) You have 30 days to start the process with the immigration office in Mexico. I highly suggest hiring an attorney to do this part for you. It worked well and I was a Mexican resident within 3 weeks.  My attorney was highly recommended by lots of folks. Azucena Bateman Campos at ABC Legal. Email: legalabc@yahoo.com.mx

• Consulate fee: $45
• Attorney fee: 1,800 pesos (about $90)
• Immigration office fee: 4,700 pesos (about $235)
• Total: About $370. 

On a fun note: I took a taxi to the immigration office in Chapala to pick up my card. I got there about 20 minutes early and it began raining really hard. Luckily, there was an awning to stand under. I got my card, and it was still raining. I couldn't walk to the bus stop, for I had no umbrella, and torrents of water were gushing down the street. Finally, a taxi pulled into the parking lot. Yay!! It turned out to be the same taxi driving who'd dropped me off a half hour earlier. He was on his way back to Ajijic and saw me waiting there. That just goes to show you how lovely and nice the people are here in small-town Mexico. 

He got a big tip. 

I'd like to think I was lovely and nice, too. 

Mail in Mexico

I remember after my dad retired, he'd wait for the mail to arrive every day. Boy, if the carrier was 15 minutes late he'd get anxious, wondering where it was. I'll admit that I found his obsession with the mail a bit humorous. 

Before I left for Mexico, I got a little anxious about what to do about my mail as well. You can't just change your address with Amazon and have it sent here; not with your bank, either. It turns out, mailing something from the U.S. is quite expensive and takes quite some time. It's as if the Pony Express is used at the border or something. 

So, what to do?

Technology came through for me. 

"How do you get your mail?" you ask.

Okay, I'll tell you.

I use a virtual mailbox. It's pretty cool, works well, and is awfully convenient.

It's called US Global Mail and here's how it works: I signed up for it and they provided me with an actual street address. (It's in Houston TX.) I submitted a change of address form with USPS and now my mail goes to my address in Houston. When I get a piece of mail, US Global notifies me by email and provides a scan of the envelope for me to see. If it's junk or something useless, I can opt to have it shredded. If I want to see the contents, they'll open it and scan it (for $3.00). If it's something I need, like a new ATM card, there are several options for getting it to me at various costs. 

Recently, I had received a new ATM card from my bank. It arrived at my new, Houston address, a scan of the envelope was sent to me, and I thought it was junk mail and had it shredded. Once I realized my error, I had my bank send a replacement. When it arrived at my Houston address, I had it Fed-Ex'd to me in Mexico. It was a whopping $38.00, but hey, it was trackable and I got it in three days.

There are several services like this, but I did my homework on prices, read reviews, and I'm very happy with US Global. Many businesses won't let you use a PO Box as your home address, but this service provides you with a real street address. Problem solved. The fee is $10 per month for unlimited pieces of mail. 

Of course, the best and most effective means of dealing with your mail is to simply go paperless as much as possible. It's efficient and, you know, the trees and all. . . 

So now, I'm like my dad when I get a notice that mail has arrived. I can't wait to see what it is. I'll even admit to glancing at the PDF on my phone . . . during church. 

My dad wouldn't have even done that. -- And he'd find such behavior a bit humorous. 

Morning Routine

My daily morning routine really does remind me of life in the monastery. Like in the monastery, it is often filled with incredible beauty. I know that sounds idealistic and that I'm looking at it with rose-colored glasses. Monastic life isn't all beautiful. Just like life in Ajijic, there is metaphorical dog poop on the sidewalks. But here goes:

I rise at 6:30 a.m. just as the neighborhood roosters are heralding the day. I think they're all screaming, "This is my territory! My hens. Don't screw with my hens!" I really think that's what roosters are cockadoodle doing. 

Water goes on to boil for my morning French-press Oaxacan coffee. Brush teeth. Fill the coffee press. By the way, French-roasted Oaxacan beans are incredible. Smoky, with a pungent, almost sour-salty background. A great way to begin one's day. 

I get these beans from a nearby "cafetería"

Shower: The water where I live is double-filtered and I know that costs money. The water is also heated by propane, and I know that costs money, too. My monastic vow of poverty kicks in and I've learned to enjoy a tepid "military shower": Get wet, turn off the water, soap up, scrub down, shave, shampoo, turn the cool water on, rinse, and you're done. I will always shower this way from now on. It's quick, does the job well, and is efficient. Why waste resources?

Morning Prayer Broadcast: I broadcast a morning prayer service along with a reflection for my parish every morning at 7:30 a.m. Monday-through-Saturday on Facebook Live. (If you'd like attend, here's the link) I spend a few minutes looking over the scripture readings in case there's a scary name like "Mahershalalhashbaz" or "Zaphnathpaaneah". Trust me, you need to have some Oaxacan caffeine in you to pull those off. I've been told that the attendees really enjoy the sounds of the birds outside (and the roosters). One two occasions, a couple of cats began "catting around" outside my window.  One time, there was a donkey braying. Feline mating yowls are hardly conducive to a prayerful atmosphere. I simply smile and say something nice about "all God's creatures", close the window, and soldier on. 

Morning Walk: Here's where the beauty comes in. I do a two-mile walk along Lake Chapala on the malecón (pier/boardwalk thingy) in the cool, mountain air. Sometimes, the clouds cover the tops of the mountains like a duvet.

Ajijic has the second-best weather in the world according to National Geographic. (I was finally able to find out the top spot -- It's Nairobi.) The temperatures during my morning walk are usually in the low 60s during the summer. (Upper teens for Celsius folks). The thing that really makes it paradisiacal is that the people are so outgoing and friendly here. You seldom pass anyone without saying a "Hola" or a "Buenas días."  

It's utterly delightful.

Along the malecón

I live at Namaste Village, an interfaith intentional community, in Ajijic. At 9:00 a.m., we have our "morning session" which consists of a presentation of the Daily Word from Unity church. This usually lasts about 40 minutes. Again, this reminds me of monastic life; the rhythm of attending and tuning in to something profound on a disciplined, regular basis. You can check out Namaste Village here. The sessions are also broadcast on Zoom and YouTube. Here's an example. It's a great place to retire and I can vouch for that. 

By 10:30 a.m., I'm usually out the door and down to the central plaza where I enjoy a leisurely café Americano at the same shop where I get those Oaxacan beans. Then, it's across the street to the beautiful St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church (Parraquia San Andrés Apostól) where I pray Noonday Prayer and spend a few quiet minutes in meditation. Unlike churches in the States, this one is left open to the public during the day. It's such a beautiful space, so this is truly a gift. 

One the way home, I usually stop by one of the many fruterias to pick up my bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables for the day. Mangoes, papayas, avocados, are my go-to's to have on hand. To us Americans, they are so incredibly inexpensive and taste much better than anything you'd find there. For example, three giant, juicy mangoes were 14 pesos (about 70¢). The clerks there are so very friendly and seem happy to help me with my Spanish. 

Me: Que son esos? ("What are those?")

Clerk: Membrillos! (Quinces). 

Then, it's back home for lunch. I keep it simple: Guacamole on tostadas followed by the aforementioned mangoes and papayas. 

And that, my friends, is my morning. Like I said, it pretty much stays the same -- Just like in a monastery. 

But I will admit to watching banal YouTube videos for a while after lunch. In the monastery, it would have been a trashy novel.