Full Circle: Becoming Permanent Residents of Mexico

June 16, 2023 was a truly full circle moment for me. My father’s parents left Mexico seeking a “better life” in the US, and on that day, decades later, I found myself on a journey back to those roots.

Inspired by Dad

My dad was born in McAllen, Texas, and spent his youth growing up in Victoria, Texas. He was proud of his Mexican American heritage but always worked hard to shield my siblings and I from the discrimination he endured as a Hispanic. While my grandmother was expecting him, they moved from Monterrey, Mexico, to McAllen to provide him with the opportunity to be born in the United States.

While I was growing up, he told my brothers, sisters, and me stories of the struggles he endured. Some of these included only being allowed to enter restaurants through the back door to eat in the kitchen, not having permission to get a haircut at the barbershop, and only being able to swim at the public pool once a month on the day before they changed the water. At eight years old, his father passed away, and he became the man of the house and started working to help support his mother and his three siblings. From that moment on, he worked for the rest of his life.

Because my father spoke of Mexico so often and told tales of his relatives here, I’ve always been drawn to this country. We’ve visited many incredible places here, but ultimately, it was San Miguel de Allende’s beguiling call that we answered.

Decisions, Decisions

Once we were settled in our new home in San Miguel de Allende, we had an important decision to make. Do we continue living on a tourist visa that requires us to go back and forth to the US with expiration dates we can’t control, or do we take steps to become residents of Mexico? There are various types of residency visas available in Mexico, including temporary and permanent residency. We opted for permanent residency, which allows us to live in Mexico indefinitely without having to renew our visa.

Steps to Becoming a Resident in Mexico

Achieving residency in Mexico was a process that required careful planning and preparation. I’m going to provide an overview of the process, but if you want detailed information, here is a good place to get it. Caveat: You should know that the requirements change often, so if you are considering this, you’ll want to continue to check official resources for any updates. Here are the steps we took to make this dream a reality, and it goes without saying that this is our experience and not professional advice.

Step 1: Determine the Type of Residency

We researched the various types of residency visas available in Mexico. After considering our options, we decided on permanent residency, which allows us to live in Mexico indefinitely without having to renew our visa annually. This decision was based on our desire to fully immerse ourselves in the culture and make Mexico our long-term home.

Step 2: Gather Required Documentation

We began gathering all the necessary documents for our residency application:

• Our valid passports
• Completed visa application forms
• Recent passport-sized photographs
• Proof of financial stability, including bank statements and pension income
• Our marriage certificate
• Proof of residence in the US, such as utility bills and rental agreements

This step required meticulous organization, but we were determined to ensure everything was in order. We brought piles of paper and were over-prepared, but I preferred that!

Step 3: Schedule an Appointment with the Mexican Consulate

We scheduled our residency appointment with the Mexican Consulate in McAllen because we had heard that it was an easy place to get this done. We read many reviews of consulates to arrive at the decision. Given the high demand for these appointments, we made sure to book well in advance. It was purely co-incidental that McAllen was my dad’s birthplace and the gravity of that did not sink in until the day of the appointment.

To get there from San Miguel de Allende, we took a flight to Monterrey, then hopped on the “fancy bus” (as we call it) to the border at McAllen TX and walked into the US across the pedestrian bridge. It was a blast!

Step 4: Attend the Consulate Appointment

On the day of our appointment, we arrived at the consulate with all our required documentation at-the-ready. I was so nervous! It reminded me of that feeling you get during sorority rush. Will they choose us? There was a mass of people outside waiting and I had a sinking feeling we would be waiting quite a while.

We walked up to the door and noticed a sign that contained a list of Visa appointments for the day, and we were first on the list! In fact, while we were reading it, a worker popped out of the door and invited us in. The next thing I know, I was sitting at a desk as they ushered Anna back to the “integration room” with three reams of paper in her hands that outlined every aspect of our lives. I sat quietly watching all the people waiting outside start to parade into the numbered seats in the lobby.

In just 5 minutes, Anna returned, and they called me back. My interview began and they asked me questions that showed they were looking to see if we had consistency between our answers. I wasn’t worried, but for some reason I was trying not to look guilty; like when a police car pulls up beside you and you immediately check your behavior as if there is something you should be hiding!

A man and a woman were poring over our paperwork, chatting with each other. At the time, my Spanish was at the “I understand every other phrase” stage, so I was not able to pick up any clues on our status. No more than three minutes later, they were sending me back to the office where Anna was waiting. I entered and sat down, and we began to compare notes on our conversations.

Step 5: Approval and Temporary Visa

Ten minutes later, they returned with our passports which were sporting a brand new, extra-large sticker in the back proclaiming “approved for Residente Permanente!” But hold your horses: we’re not there yet!  The sticker is a temporary visa, which we had to use to reenter Mexico within six months. Ours was a quick return trip, so we walked back across the border, headed to the fancy bus, then got on the plane to our beloved San Miguel de Allende!

Step 6: Complete the Process in Mexico

Once home we had 30 days to visit the National Migration Institute (INM) to complete the residency process. For this we used a wonderful consultant named Maricela Medina who has helped hundreds of expats to do this very same thing. Maricela filled out the paperwork, scheduled the appointment and arrived very early at the IMN to save us the first spots in line! All we had to do was show-up and sit in the lovely chairs she had placed for us. We were in and out in about 45 minutes. Maricela currently does not maintain an online presence, so if you are interested in learning more from her, ping me and I will get you in contact.

Step 7: Receive Your Resident Card

About four weeks later, we returned to the IMN, again an appointment orchestrated by Maricela, and received our Permanent Resident cards. It was done!

Legacy and Love

Receiving our permanent residency in Mexico was a momentous occasion, symbolizing not just a legal status change but a heartfelt connection to my heritage. My father’s dream of a better life has come full circle, and I am proud to honor his legacy by embracing the culture and community that he once left behind. We are blessed to call San Miguel de Allende our home, and we look forward to every moment spent exploring its beauty and deepening our roots here. Viva la Mexico!