New Immigration office in Chapala

New Immigration office in Chapala

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The Immigration people from Guadalajara confirmed this afternoon that there will be a new office to serve the area , however as of this date , they do not know when and where.

They do not know if they will be able to come on Wednesday any longer. They will post the information on the building.

If they do not come you can go to apply for the visas in Guadalajara at Av. Alcade 500 4th floor

The Guadalajara reporter will have an article on the meeting with the Immigration people. It was very informative and useful so I am sure the article will answer lots of questions.

May 14, 2010, 5:43 PM

Post #2 of 29 (4549 views)

Re: [Vichil] New Immigration office in Chapala

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Or visit Ajijic Law for 800 pesos and forget the hassle till things smooth out

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

Vichil

May 14, 2010, 7:37 PM

Post #3 of 29 (4525 views)

Re: [sparks] New Immigration office in Chapala

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That is the information we were given today. The procedure is no big deal, the immigraton people speak English so I really do not see the big deal about learning the system and doing it yourself.

When I first came here I did not speak Spanish and I did it then. The Immigration people of the time decided that being French I should understand Spanish and I did it.
I now speak Spanish and know a whole lot more than I did 10 years ago and I would not dream of paying 800 pesos to have someone fill out a simple form for me.
It is good to personally know these people and learn about the laws of this country. A trip to Guadalajara is just an excuse to go to a nice restaurant or go shopping so why not?

May 15, 2010, 6:39 AM

Post #4 of 29 (4476 views)

Re: [Vichil] New Immigration office in Chapala

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I went to Ajijic Law after learning the Chapala procedure of 3-4 visits only on Wednesdays if they show up and driving from Joco. After dealing with Manzanillo immigration for the last five years I didn't have the patience for Chapala.

I'm sure I'll get back to doing my own with this new online application and assume facilitators will loose business with this new system as people catch on

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

Demonio

May 15, 2010, 10:03 AM

Post #5 of 29 (4433 views)

Re: [Vichil] New Immigration office in Chapala

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Vichil, I agree with you. While paying a measly 800 pesos to avoid all the bother is tempting, I enjoy the challenge of doing it myself. I call it a challenge because EVERYTHING that deals with the MX government can be frustrating to say the least. I speak Spanish fluently and am of Mexican descent, so it's a lot easier for me. I can imagine how intimidating it could be for some. But hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

"What we've got here is a failure to communicate."

esperanza

May 15, 2010, 10:55 AM

Post #6 of 29 (4420 views)

Re: [Demonio] New Immigration office in Chapala

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I also agree with Vichil.

My partner, who speaks Spanish quite well, just finished applying for her switch from FM-3 to FM-2, under the new regulations. She did it all herself. It took 10 hours in the INM offices, spread over three days. I suspect even a 'facilitator' would have had the same time spread: the problems were related to the new regulations and the INM officers' lack of familiarity with them, not related to any other issue.

The satisfaction of having done it herself was worth the hassle.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

tashby

May 15, 2010, 6:49 PM

Post #7 of 29 (4382 views)

Re: [esperanza] New Immigration office in Chapala

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Quote

The satisfaction of having done it herself was worth the hassle.

While I agree with this in principle, I'm sorry, but spending 3 days and 10 hours at an IMN office doesn't sound very satisfying to me.

This year, being this year, we chose the lazy route for our FM3 renewals.*

Originally we got our FM3s (in the US) by ourselves, and when we got to Mexico we registered them ourselves. We also renewed them the first year ourselves. I admit that felt kind of satisfying in a learning-the-ropes kinda way. But this year our renewal dates fell squarely inside the Semana Santa y Pasqua time period, AND there were THE BIG UNKNOWN CHANGES looming just a month away, AND the nice folks who come out to Chapala from Guadalajara once a week had been reportedly MIA, week after week.

No thanks.

(We also had guests coming to stay with us during that time and didn't want to drive to Guadalajara just to shuttle paperwork.)

Sometimes convenience is worth the price. We passed the FM3s off to a (700 peso) facilitator. Glad we did. Especially when one of them came back with the wrong year typed into the prorroga. The WRONG YEAR???

*Admittedly, converting an FM3 to and FM2 is a more interesting puzzle, and I probably would have chosen to personally bang my head against it as well. Congratulations to Judy!

don pedro

May 16, 2010, 6:16 AM

Post #8 of 29 (4322 views)

Re: [tashby] New Immigration office in Chapala

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oh yes,paperwork,lineups,dealing with bureaucrats is huge fun. we determined that, when we moved here, we weren't gonna do it when all it costs is $500-800pesos ta have someone else do our fm's and imss. it's bad enough we gotta deal with the canucklehead gummint from time ta time-SNORK!
one year i even got them done fer nada by a gummint official here because of what i done fer them and this year i got my CURP that way too[i just hadda go sign the form,is all].
even before retiring i never lined up fer nothing except a national hockey league game.
retirement means doing watcha wanna do that's pleasant to ya. some of us don't like this stough and some of us got nuthin' better ta do, i guess.
http://chapalamexicoinfo.createforumhosting.com
naivete is a chronIc disease and by its very nature;the afflicted never know they have it.-SNORK!

(This post was edited by don pedro on May 16, 2010, 6:18 AM)

May 16, 2010, 2:28 PM

Post #9 of 29 (4254 views)

Re: [don pedro] New Immigration office in Chapala

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I've spent a lifetime being self sufficient, a DYI(r) because I can, because I enjoy it and mainly because I'm cheap! But, since retiring I see life through a different prism; like a gardener (watering is more boring than watching paint peel), not pumping my own gas (like I have a choice?), washing my own car, and I might even pay someone to wash the windows on mi casa this year. But when it comes to my FM3, there is absolutely NO hesitation, I'm not only glad to pay someone else to deal with it - I'm excited!

Life is waaaay too short to deal with the aggravation of some things - this one being a prime example. (if I could figure out how to do it, I'd pay someone to go to the dentist for me - I'm working on that)
http://www.chapalaweather.net

don pedro

May 16, 2010, 2:33 PM

Post #10 of 29 (4247 views)

Re: [stevebrtx] New Immigration office in Chapala

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wayda go steve-ya gots it right- obviously bubinski and frau are jist too cheap-SNORK!so how was yer lunch with the large one at roberto's?
http://chapalamexicoinfo.createforumhosting.com
naivete is a chronIc disease and by its very nature;the afflicted never know they have it.-SNORK!

May 16, 2010, 3:28 PM

Post #11 of 29 (4229 views)

Re: [don pedro] New Immigration office in Chapala

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Ah, comida with the man from Alabama was magnisafunt. I laughed and told him he had achieved an absolute exceptional status in that I had taken bankers to lunch for 30 years and absolutely always wore a suit (in the Chicago years, a vest) and he was the first banker I ever went to lunch with in shorts - we chuckled. We spent excessive amounts of peso's, laughed a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon and agreed we'd do it again soon.
http://www.chapalaweather.net

don pedro

May 16, 2010, 3:54 PM

Post #12 of 29 (4220 views)

Re: [stevebrtx] New Immigration office in Chapala

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my bankers had me pay fer lunch too, while i wore my 3 pc. suit with the gold watch and chain in my vest.
i guess since he and frau won't pay someone ta facilitate them-they are still cheap like in his banker days-eh!
my ex father in law was the senior vp fer one of the biggest banks in canada just short o' being the chairman which ya kin only be by being a big "p". so bubinski was only a lowly minion because he ain't no big "p",jist a boring minion-jaja!
http://chapalamexicoinfo.createforumhosting.com
naivete is a chronIc disease and by its very nature;the afflicted never know they have it.-SNORK!

May 16, 2010, 4:08 PM

Post #13 of 29 (4214 views)

Re: [don pedro] New Immigration office in Chapala

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You senile ol bag of wind .... put a plug in it

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

Hound Dog

May 16, 2010, 4:12 PM

Post #14 of 29 (4211 views)

Re: [don pedro] New Immigration office in Chapala

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i wore my 3 pc. suit

A redneck Alberta three piece suit. Cheap tennis shoes, pink polka dot boxer shorts and black knee socks along with one of those Canadian fishermen´s hats with the two-bit flies reading "Eat at Ed´s" . If Pedro ever walked into an OXXO they would immediatly sound the alarm while he was stealing a hotdog and lifting an iced XX Lager.

Vichil

May 16, 2010, 5:23 PM

Post #15 of 29 (4186 views)

Re: [don pedro] New Immigration office in Chapala

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Pedro

Keep on paying someone to fill out your FM3 form over and over, if it makes you feel good.

I would only do that if I had a conflict or did not feel like doing it. I went to the Immigration meeting on Friday, got all my questions answered , will be inmigrado after August 1 and will not have to worry about ever applying again.

After that last application I will go shopping and blow some money in a nice restaurant in Guadalajara. I rather spend my money that way, to each his or her own.

Reefhound

May 16, 2010, 5:56 PM

Post #16 of 29 (4180 views)

Re: [stevebrtx] New Immigration office in Chapala

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It's not a problem I'll have to deal with for quite awhile if ever, but just out of curiousity for those who pay "facilitators", how do you know you are dealing with someone who is honest? How do you know you're really legal and the documents genuine as opposed to you having just bought counterfeits? Just asking.

May 16, 2010, 6:09 PM

Post #17 of 29 (4172 views)

Re: [Reefhound] New Immigration office in Chapala

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Pedro,

Consider my original response to your question as "polite rejoinder" obviously TMI on my part, and nothing more. When I commented on lunch with Bob, it was certainly not an invitation to open the gateway of your experiences with bankers etc. Had I, or Bob, wanted to elaborate on the experience of the day we certainly would have posted for public consumption.

So, if I may "edit" my original response to your question regarding my lunch with Bob: "It was enjoyable" - end of comment.

Steve
http://www.chapalaweather.net

May 16, 2010, 6:52 PM

Post #18 of 29 (4156 views)

Re: [Reefhound] New Immigration office in Chapala

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Quote

It's not a problem, there are some obvious ones we "all" use, you don't go with some guy who asks "do you want an FM3? - I can get you a deal".

My lawyer was the former lawyer for the city of Chapala, there are several more well known, so it's really not a problem.

The problem I had when I was on one of my DYI kicks was to "go to the papelaria, you know, the "blue" one in San Antonio next to Mario's" (that's how we navigate here) So, I go there and ask for FM3 forms and at first there is a total disconnect, then it's "oh, si, una momento" - and literally 10 minutes later a lady shows up with the worst copies I've ever seen - I looked at them and drove to Margo's office and paid for the service.

Edit: Ha, well, your question may be answered as we read. After my answer I see a post on another forum directing people to the exact same place I had ZERO luck, guess you just have to be here and trust your instincts.
http://www.chapalaweather.net

(This post was edited by stevebrtx on May 16, 2010, 6:55 PM)

tashby

May 16, 2010, 6:56 PM

Post #19 of 29 (4153 views)

Re: [Reefhound] New Immigration office in Chapala

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Quote

...How do you know you're really legal and the documents genuine as opposed to you having just bought counterfeits?....

In the case of an FM3 annual renewal, I figure if it comes back with the year entered incorrectly it must have passed through official hands.

As to the honesty of facilitators, it never occurred to me to worry about it.

P.S./EDIT: Regarding the above post, as always, everyone's mileage varies. I've used the service of the "blue papeleria" in San Antonio twice - during registration and renewal - and had no problem at all. She just types up the forms (yay! typewriters!)....that's all she does. And she charges nowhere near the 700ish peso fee we're talking about. Full-service facilitators actually drag the papers back and forth to the IMN offices. And if it's just an easy-peasy situation like ours, you don't need a lawyer to do that.

(This post was edited by tashby on May 16, 2010, 7:07 PM)

May 16, 2010, 7:44 PM

Post #20 of 29 (4136 views)

Re: [Reefhound] New Immigration office in Chapala

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You don't just go to any lawyer. Someone like Ajijic Law does multiples every week and have a reputation to uphold. Decent services like that won't be found all over Mexico

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

johanson

May 16, 2010, 8:29 PM

Post #21 of 29 (4129 views)

Re: [sparks] New Immigration office in Chapala

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Although, there are other good folks as well, I use Ajijic Law too. I've used Adriana Perez now for 13 years. Their webpage is www.ajijiclaw.com

Reefhound

May 16, 2010, 9:00 PM

Post #22 of 29 (4121 views)

Re: [johanson] New Immigration office in Chapala

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Their prices are listed on their website and they are nothing like the $500 to $800 pesos being mentioned here. The site lists $2100 pesos for FM3 renewal and $3800 pesos for FM2 renewal.

FM2 - http://www.ajijiclaw.com/FM2%20Information.pdf

FM3 - http://www.ajijiclaw.com/FMT%20&%20FM3%20Information.pdf

(This post was edited by Reefhound on May 16, 2010, 9:03 PM)

tashby

May 16, 2010, 9:34 PM

Post #23 of 29 (4104 views)

Re: [Reefhound] New Immigration office in Chapala

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Bored much?

When you move here, you can either....

a) do it yourself

or

b) find someone who'll do it for you at the price you're willing to pay. (Sorry, "Betty" does have a website.)

It's not that complicated.

johanson

May 16, 2010, 9:34 PM

Post #24 of 29 (4104 views)

Re: [Reefhound] New Immigration office in Chapala

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Remember that the www.ajijiclaw.com prices also include the fee you must pay to the Mexican government which was $1294 for my FM 3 in Dec and of course more for an FM 2.

So for a FM 3 renewal, for one it was 2100-1294 or $806. Or for a pair, 3800-1294-1294 or $1,212 which is $606 per person. That sounds pretty good to me. Sadly I don't understand why you find those prices so high, Reefhound.

I know another firm that charges the $1294 plus $150 US for an FM 3. What's that? At 12.5 pesos per dollar or $1294 plus a fee of $1,875. That is a heck of a lot more than either $606 or $806.

Sure, I could get my FM-3 on my own. But now that I'm retired, I'm too busy. I know that sounds weird, but many of you know what I mean. If I had nothing to do, you are darned right, I would consider doing it on my own. And occasionally I might. But I'm too busy. There's Rotary, the tech support I give each morning at an ISP and my article for the Reporter.

So I would rather pay, so that I can do the things that I like to do or am ordered too do by my evil doctor. Can you believe it, he has ordered torture (I have to exercise hard 32 minutes per day, 7 days per week). What I hate most about this Doc is that he's right. I'm loosing weight and I have cut my blood pressure meds in half. If I could only be lazy and fat like I want to be :).

So the choice is yours. If you want to do the work, great. Go for it. If you've got other things to do, consider getting someone else to do the dirty work. Me, I would rather pay someone a fair price here in Mexico to do it for me. It's not that much and so much easier.

Sure if I had to really watch my money, I would do it myself. Thank God, I'm retired an don't have to skimp.

(This post was edited by johanson on May 16, 2010, 11:11 PM)

Anonimo

May 17, 2010, 4:00 AM

Post #25 of 29 (4081 views)