Survival Guide Foreigners Mexico

Survival Guide for Foreigners in Mexico – Immigration Issues

You are a foreigner full of dreams in Mexico. As fate would have it, there is an immigration issue. Your immigration document has (please choose as appropriate):

  1. Been Robbed
  2. Been Lost
  3. Expired

The thought of leaving the country brings on a feeling of angst. What do you do? You head straight to the Mexican immigration office. What should you expect? Follow the instructions from the Mexican immigration office website, deliver the documents required, wait a few days and problem solved.

The Mexico Immigration Office

Despite Mexico’s immigration offices having fully established procedures in order to  make the visa processes, renewals, and other migratory procedures simple and easy; they can often turn out to be a long and tedious process.

When you visit an immigration office in México, it is very common to hear howls of despairs related to the different approaches offered for one single procedure. One officer will instruct you to provide one set of documents, whilst another officer will ask for something different.

How to Survive a Trip to the Mexican Immigration Office

  1. Write your FULL name in all the requests the immigration authorities ask you complete: In México, you have to write your full name in every paper you sign. If you have forgotten to write your second name on one piece of documentation when in your passport a second name is present, there will be complications.
  2. Your signature has to be exactly the same as it appears in your passport: Try to sign all your documents exactly as you have signed the Passport, in order to avoid questions or comments from the immigration officers such as:
  • The signature is false; invalid request.
  • Are you trying to falsify the signature?
  • It is not the same signature as it appears in the Passport. Please return when the signature is authentic.
  1. Carry ALL your papers. In addition to your passport and the regular requirements established by the immigration authorities for each procedure, don’t forget to bring every document you have with you, along with numerous copies.
  2. The color of ink is very important. Try to sign all your documents with blue or black ink, and on a smooth surface, to avoid suspicions of falsification.
  3. Try to arrive as early as possible to the offices. The best hours to visit the immigration offices are between 9 and 10 o´clock. After 10 am you could be facing huge crowds and long waits.

Biz Latin Hub can assist with your immigration issues or visa processing

At Biz Latin Hub, we have the people in place and expertise to assist you in every aspect of entering the market and doing business in Mexico. We offer a comprehensive portfolio of corporate support solutions, including accounting & taxationcompany formationlegal services, and visa processing.

That allows us to offer tailored packages of integrated back-office services to meet every individual need for our clients in Mexico, as well as the 16 other markets around Latin America and the Caribbean where we have teams in place.

Let us help you through the process of registering your company to be able to apply for a Mexico work visa for any foreign employees you have, as well as supporting you in the process of applying for those visas.

Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you achieve your commercial goals.

Or read about our team and expert authors.

Key services offered by Biz Latin Hub
Key services offered by Biz Latin Hub

The information provided here within should not be construed as formal guidance or advice. Please consult a professional for your specific situation. Information provided is for informative purposes only and may not capture all pertinent laws, standards, and best practices. The regulatory landscape is continually evolving; information mentioned may be outdated and/or could undergo changes. The interpretations presented are not official. Some sections are based on the interpretations or views of relevant authorities, but we cannot ensure that these perspectives will be supported in all professional settings.
Legal Team Mexico

Legal Team Mexico

Legal Team Mexico is the Biz Latin Hub leading experts on doing business in Mexico The Team writes on the news, doing business, law, and changing regulations. The team are experts in corporate law, Administrative law, Employment law, Immigration law and legal advisory services. Read more about them here. You can contact Legal Team Mexico via our "contact us page".

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