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Immigration and Legal Issues

Visas, Marriage, Divorce, Children, Birth & Death

Visas:

• Driving across the border
• Moving to Mexico’s a Breeze
• Immigration Overview
• Taking Children/Grandchildren into Mexico
• What Stuff Can I Bring In ? (As a Tourist)

Birth to Death and In Between

• “Know the Law in Mexico.” – Series Index
• It Takes More Than “I DO” to get Married In Mexico
• Getting married in Mexico
• Tying the Knot – The Mexican Way
• So you are in Mexico, married to a Mexican citizen and want to move to the U.S.
• Discussion Thread On Getting married in Mexico

Working in Mexico

• Requirements for Going to Mexico as Business Visitor
• Work Permits for Mexico: Advice from an old hat.

Embassies & Consulates

• Listing of Mexican Embassies World Wide
• Mexican Embassy to Canada
• Listing of Mexican Consulates in Canada
• Mexican Embassy to the USA
• Listing of Mexican Consulates in the USA

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• Calendar of Mexico’s Religious Days and Festivals

** Mandatory Paid Holiday    Red = National Holiday   GREEN = Religious

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• Canadians considering visiting, living part-time or relocating to Mexico are well advised to access the wealth of information provided “on-line” by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and the very supportive Embassy and Consulates.

• Canadian Embassy To Mexico – Mexico City

  The Embassy’s Web Page provides considerable useful information. As well, they provide a significant number of links to other Government of Canada Sites that are useful to the traveler and business person coming to Mexico.

• Canadian Embassy, Consulates and Honorary Consuls in Mexico
  The following Page provides the locations and links to the webpages for each location.

• Map and Listing of Embassy and Consulates

• Mexican Embassy to Canada

• Listing of Mexican Consulates in Canada

The post Information For Canadians In Mexico appeared first on MexConnect.

General Information for Residents &/or Home Owners

• Taxes Here, Taxes There, Taxes Everywhere
• Uncle Sam Has Something To Say About Your Mexican Home
• Where There’s a Will There’s a Way
• Tax Highlights for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Going Abroad Publication 593.
• It’s That Time of Year Again – Expat Taxes 101
• U.S. Tax Obligations Related to the Sale of Mexican Real Estate. Mexican Homestead Tax Exemption
• Myths About Overseas Voting

General Information for Travelers and Visitors

• Health and Safety Information – Review of Health, Safety, Disease, Official Health Data and USDOS information.

US Services in Mexico

• US Embassy to Mexico – Mexico City, D.F.

Mexican Services in the US

• Listing of Mexican Consulates in the USA
• Mexican Consulate in New York, New York – Excellent site for general information.

Other sites of interest!

• • OK, Now I want to move back home to the US.

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In July 2002, I moved from Boston, Massachusetts, to Monterrey, Mexico, with the intention of remaining there for the rest of my life. It was an “international love affair” that brought me there. But I have had my doubts. Is my love for this man strong enough to keep me happy in a foreign country for the rest of my life? Will I be able to adapt to my new life and my new home? Will I be able to find a good Greek salad in Monterrey?

My transition has not been easy, but I have learned more in these five months than in my whole four years at an Ivy League college. I wish that I had known someone who had been through something similar, who could advise me, or at least tell me more about what actually living in Mexico is like. I hope that this column will serve as that “someone” who can give advice and simply share experiences about adjusting to life in Mexico. I will include both serious, practical information and anecdotal stories about my encounters with Mexican culture and society.

• Jan 2003 – Who am I, and How did I end up in Mexico?
• Feb 2003 – Who Let the Dogs Out? A guide to crossing the border (both ways!) as painlessly as possible.
• Mar 2003 – Mexican Driver’s Ed
• April 2003 – Latin Lovers or Macho Men? – Mexican Machismo through the eyes of a Young, American Woman
• May 2003 – Part 1: Forget John Malkovich. – Being Amy Kirkcaldy: The 5.5 dimensions of Cross-Cultural Love
• June 2003 – Part 2: Forget John Malkovich. – Being Amy Kirkcaldy: The 5.5 dimensions of Cross-Cultural Love
• July/August 2003 – So You Want to Marry a Mexican? 5 Things they never told you…
• September 2003 – Crossing Over: Embracing My Mexican Life
• September 2003 – Special Guest article: A Bonding of Families and Countries – An International Wedding. A Mother’s perspective.
• October 2003 – “Mamitis:” When Adult Birds STILL Haven’t Flown From the Nest…
• November 2003 – Some Like it Hot….
• December 2003 – An Unexpected Visitor…
• February 2004 – A Dog’s Life
• March 2004 – Buying a Home in Mexico
• April 2004 – To Bribe or Not to Bribe? Traffic, Transitos, and Trying Times
• May 2004 – Odds and Ends, OR Forty Things Everyone Should Know.
• June 2004 – By the Way…
• July/August 2004 – Mexifaminomics: Mexican Family Economics
• December 2004 – Who Would Have Thought?

Amy Gray Kirkcaldy lives and works in Monterrey, Mexico.
When not teaching or learning how to dance cumbias, she is learning to live with her new husband Carlos and his family.

The post Learning to live in Mexico – index appeared first on MexConnect.

To rent or buy your home in Mexico?

Will you live in Mexico full time or spend only part of the year South of the Border? Renting, buying and building all offer distinct advantages. Which is right for you?

• To rent, buy, or build in Mexico?
• Linking up with the Chapala Lakeside: to rent or buy?
• Mexico real estate: timeshares

What are the special considerations to buying Mexico real estate? From the role of the home inspector, the realtor and the notary to the effect of currency exchange, you’ll find the following articles extremely helpful.

• Buying real estate in Mexico: an overview
• Buying real estate in Mexico and the Mexican notary public
• Mexican property appraisals
• On buying a new condo in Mexico: life’s lessons are never done
• The impact of currency exchange rates on your Mexican property: what to look out for and how to protect yourself

Buying real estate through a Mexico bank trust or fideicomiso

Understand the role of the bank trust to purchase property along the coast or border.

• How Foreigners can Purchase Real Estate in Mexico’s Restricted Areas
• Mexican Trusts: fideicomisos

Real estate in specific areas of Mexico

From cities to villages, mountains, desert or coast, there’s a place in Mexico for every taste.

• The Lake Chapala Real Estate Market
• A ten-year retrospective of Puerto Vallarta real estate
• A real estate overview of Puerto Vallarta
• Buying our Mexico dream property on Cozumel

Mexico real estate and taxes

How are foreigners taxed on property owned in Mexico? When two or more countries can claim jurisdiction, are you really a tax resident of Mexico? You need to be informed.

• Mexican taxes here, taxes there, taxes everywhere
• Uncle Sam has something to say about your Mexican home
• US tax obligations related to the sale of Mexican real estate: Mexican Homestead Tax Exemption
• Mexico real estate: where there’s a will there’s a way
• General legal, business and entry issues

Mexican Architecture

From colonial mansions to ultra-modern houses and condominiums, Mexican architecture is spectacular! Learn about the principal Mexican architects and architectural styles.

• The Houses of Luis Barragán
• Architecture of the Pacific Coast
• Architecture of the Hacienda
• Mexico City: Urban deconstruction
• Mi Pullman: remodeling a Mexican Art Nouveau townhouse — A series on restoring a historical home

General Information, Series and Forums

• The Mexican House: Home Construction and Home Maintenance in Mexico — a Series by J. Brad Grieve
• How to move abroad (to Mexico) and stay sane!
• Buying our Mexico dream property on Cozumel

Published or Updated on: July 22, 2011 by Index Page © 2011

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Tourists can obtain car permits at the border and also beforehand by applying at consulates on online.

Driving in Mexico is a wonderful way to see the country. Let MexConnect help you plan and enjoy your trip.

Crossing the border by car

• Banjercito Site for information about, and applying for (on-line) Temporary Importation of vehicles.
• Requirements and Procedures for Getting your Car Across the Border
• Entry of Private Vehicles into Mexico

Navigating Mexican highways and byways

Be alert when driving in Mexico. Review the Spanish language roadsigns before you take the wheel, and plan your driving routes in advance. Here are some helpful tips and information.

• Driving in Mexico  (A short practical guide.)
• Mexico’s road signs what they mean
• Different traffic whistles in Mexico mean different things
• Fear of driving in Mexico quickly healed
• Driving in Mexico — A personal perspective
• Mexican Driver’s Ed — A Monterrey perspective

Mechanical problems?

Mexico has excellent mechanics as well as dealership garages in the cities. But the parts of a car and the procedures have Spanish names. What should you expect should you have a mechanical problem while on the road in Mexico?

• A Mexican travel tool kit from the Sierra Madre Mechanic
• Mechanics in Mexico – A personal perspective
• Christmas Angels: You are never alone on the road!

Accidents: What you need to know

Unfortunately, accidents can happen everywhere. It’s wise to be aware of the laws in Mexico and what to do should you suffer a fender bender or something more serious.

• Surviving an accident in Mexico

Insurance

Did you know that federal law now requires liability insurance? Legal insurance is always a good idea when driving in Mexico. Find out what’s needed to protect yourself and others.

• Purchasing insurance for Mexico

Driving Routes

Mexconnect readers share their personal experience with these travelogues.

• The Baja Highway from Top to Bottom
• For Snowbirds and Other Highwaymen – Western routes to Jalisco
• Laredo to Lake Chapala – Incremental & Cumulative Itineraries
• Guadalajara to Oaxaca (for those on their way down further)
• Guadalajara to Laredo and Back (another way down (and back)

The post Driving in Mexico: Requirements, safety, routes appeared first on MexConnect.

• The Tragic Love Story of Alma Reed & Felipe Carrillo
• In Amber – A Tale of Mexican Discovery.
• Taking the “Waters” in México.
• A Tranquil Life at Casa Buena Vista.
• A Higher Vision of Mexico – Photographs of Mexico from Above
• Vázquez Hermanos Circus
• The Mexican Circus & White Bengal Tigers
• Planting the Seeds of Democracy.
• Mexico Facts – or – Gifts Mexico Gave to the World
• Bullfighting In Mexico – The Conquest of Fear – Latno Style
• Bullfighting in Mexico -The Life and Death Ritual – La Corrida
• Bullfighting – The Foundational Bull Ranches
• Winter Flying in Mexico – Paragliding Mexico’s Skies
• The 7th Natural Wonder of the World – Paracutín
• ¡Orquídeas!
• Orchids!
• Chaya!
• Border Promotions
• ¡Bandidos!
• Life of a New Chili Judge
• “Shooter” – The Mexican Earthquake
• Cockfighting – Chicken Soup for the Soul
• Power Surge
• Eat, Drink and be Merry
• 1910 – Founding of the Cruz Roja – Mexico’s Red Cross
• Where’s Everybody Gone?
• Winegums – A Pleasure Missed
• Is it Mañana Yet ?
• The 14 Step Program for Web Addiction
• When The Church Said “No” to Chocolate
• Just One And I Have To Go. The Joys of Pulque
• Tequila – More than just a Margarita
• My Outdoor Secretary
• Guadalajara Street Scene
• Why I Love to Dance Mexican Style
• Never, Ever, Play Poker With a Mexican Jesuit
• Mexican Pigeons Do Not Fly in a Straight Line!

The post “Cosmic Dust” Or “42” – Esoterica About Mexico appeared first on MexConnect.

Hospitals

Hospitals in Mexico range from small town clinics to third level government hospitals with prestigious research departments and cutting edge technology. The same can be said for private hospitals. In general, we have have found care here to be excellent and, in some ways, more humane than it is north of the border.

• • Private care The editor’s first experience with private hospitals was in 1978. Appendicitis necessitated a trip to Guadalajara’s Mexico-American hospital, where emergency surgery was followed by wonderful care.I discovered that private hospitals did not accept insurance policies from north-of-the border and required a patient to pay upon release. Sometimes this is still the case. They do, however, facilitate the paperwork for the patient’s reimbursement.More and more, private hospitals are accepting insurance policies for payment, but it is essential to ask at the time of admission or beforehand, if possible.Hospitals expect a family member or friend to stay in the room with you, and a couch or cot is provided.Many Mexican physicians do post-graduate training in Europe, the US or Canada and are fluent in English. Nursing staff tends to be less fluent in English. A dictionary tucked under the pillow isn’t a bad idea.
    • My Three Nights in a Mexican Hospital

• Government-run hospitals (IMSS etc)
  • A personal response to the documentary Sicko: an open letter to film director Michael Moore – “I’ve discovered Mexico’s health care system to be professional, caring and very affordable.”
  • Know the Law in Mexico: Medical Coverage and Hospitals
  • IMSS – Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social

  Doctors

  While no one enjoys going to the doctor, it’s good to know there are extremely competent professionals on hand when a medical need arises. Most hospitals have a list of specialists with practice privileges. So do the consulates. That’s a good place to begin.

  Dentists

  Expert dental work can be much less expensive in Mexico than it is elsewhere. Many of our readers make appointments for crowns, bridges, dentures and non-emergency periodontal surgery before coming down.

  • Have Crown, Will travel – A dental vacation
  • Just South of the Medical Border

  Elective procedures / Medical tourism

  Medical tourism is growing in popularity, and procedures performed by highly skilled professionals can cost from 1/4 to 1/2 what they do in other first world countries. Cosmetic surgery, operations to correct obesity, hip and knee replacements and Lasik eye surgery are only a few of the procedures opted for in Mexico. Of course, cosmetic surgery prices and all other procedures vary per factors involved.

  Robert H. Page MD and Curtis P. Page MD, authors of travel health guidebooks, assist in coordinating elective procedures in Mexico. So does International Surgeons of the Americas (ISA Surgical).

  Health insurance

  While Medicare will not cover health care in Mexico, a number of private insurance policies cover emergencies for people traveling in Mexico. International insurance is available, as are policies underwritten by Mexican insurance companies.

  • International Insurance Plans for Foreigners in Mexico
  • Insurance in Mexico…A Variety of Options

  Healthy living and travelling

  Mexico’s mild climate makes it easy to get outside and exercise almost every day. In addition, the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables are a wonderful substitute for processed foods. It’s important to make healthy choices.

  • Traveling with Heart Disease
  • Sunburn and Sun Safety
  • Water Safety

  Alternative treatment

  Holistic medicine, Reiki, homeopathic therapy and other alternative treatments are widely accepted and available in Mexico.

  • Temazcal
  • Villas Buenaventura Cosalá Resort and Health Spa
  • Massage Exchange with a Traditional Maya Massage Therapist
    

  Resources

  • ISA Surgical links patients to world class surgeons in Mexico
  • MedToGo: Mexico Health and Safety Travel Guide, 2nd Edition – By Robert H. Page MD and Curtis P. Page MD
  • Yucatan Healthy Traveler’s Handbook – By Robert H. Page MD and Curtis P. Page MD
  • AA – Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in Mexico in English
  • International Insurance Plans for Foreigners in Mexico
  • Purchasing Insurance for Mexico
  • I’ve discovered Mexico’s health care system to be professional, caring and very affordable.
  • IMSS: The Hard Way – Personal Experience
  • Taking the “Waters” in Mexico

  Published or Updated on: October 24, 2012 by Mexconnect Staff © 2012

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