Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

Bubba

Sep 28, 2003, 10:38 AM

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Immigration Lakeside Visits

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I suspect that the decision by Mexican Immigration to cut back on visits to and the extent of services rendered at San Antonio is an event that bodes poorly for Lakeside INM service. This probably also means a great deal more than meets the eye up to and including the cancellation of the Lakeside service altogether eventually.

About 10 days before this announcement, we were approached by local Mexican petitioners in downtown Chapala and asked to sign on behalf of an INM employee who had been accused by someone of soliciting bribes as related in a local Spanish language paper. As we have had nothing but excellent service with never even a hint that we should proffer money for the service nor that it would be accepted if we did, we were grateful for the opportunity to sign the petition on her behalf.

Unfortunately, the petition apparently failed to meet its goal of convincing the powers that be in Guadalajara of the integrity of the process at San Antonio. We have no idea of the origin of these complaints that I consider to be unjust at best but suggest that readers of this forum memorize the route to INM offices in Guadalajara for future reference.

Who knows how this got started or who started it but it seems a shame to me that Lakesiders must now pay for what appears to be the mean-spirited accusation or, perhaps, accusations by some malcontent(s) whose motives are unclear but whose actions will have a negative impact for us all.

I for one wish to personally thank the INM employees who ventured down here twice weekly and showed remarkable restraint in dealing with foreigners some of whom showed no interest in learning their language or extending elementary courtesies.

Which reminds me of a story. My wife showed up in San Antonio recently late for an appointment with INM to renew our FM-3 and was reprimanded by the man in charge of appointments for being late. She told him (truthfully) that it was because she was delayed in her Spanish class. He was so pleased that he let her in next anyway. However, from that point on he only spoke Spanish to her. Thank God she wasn't lying.

(This post was edited by Bubba on Sep 28, 2003, 10:44 AM)

juan david

Sep 28, 2003, 2:07 PM

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Re: [Bubba] Immigration Lakeside Visits

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I missed the announcement as I am still in the north woods trapping bear, skinning fish and mending the snowshoes in case I need them before heading south in 2 weeks. Is the San Antonio office closing or will I be able to register my freshly minted FM3 there later this month?
" let sleeping dogs lie"

Bubba

Sep 28, 2003, 5:50 PM

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Re: [ian] Immigration Lakeside Visits

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According to tha Guadalajara Reporter, the San Antonio office will now be open on Wednesdays only instead of the previous Tuesday and Thursday openings. The Reporter says that Wednesday hours will be 10:00AM to 2:00PM. Time will tell.

A further modification of service at Lakeside is that INM representatives will be here strictly to receive paperwork and deliver visas. Local staff will have no decision making authority but will simply perform a function similar to that performed if one approached the clerical window in Guadalajara.

The INM indicates that this change is needed to improve efficiency and "transparency". I think we grown-ups know how to interpret bureaucratese when we see it no matter where we may be in the world.

'Nuff said.

(This post was edited by Bubba on Sep 28, 2003, 5:51 PM)