LEGAL RESIDENCY STATUS IN MEXICO

By Juan Hurtado

Foreigners can go legally into the Mexican country in agreement to the following conditions

a) Non Immigrant (non resident)
b) Immigrant (resident)


Non Immigrant, is the foreigner that with a specific permit granted by the Mexican Government Secretary goes legally and temporary in to the Mexican country, in one of the following characteristics

Tourist. With health and recreation purposes only, for a six months temporary stay not extendible.improrrogables.
Transmigrate. Foreigners that go across the Mexican country to a different one, and are allowed to stay in the national territory no longer than thirty days.
Visitors. Those that want to perform lucrative activities, being those legal and honest activities, with authorization to remain in the country for no longer than one year, but if its with purposes to observe investing activities or to perform these, you can renew yearly your temporary permit for up to four renewals, with multiple departures and entrees.
Member of Counsel. To assist a companies Board Of Directors meetings and sessions, with a temporary permit of one year, that can be renewed yearly for up to four times for one year each renewal, with multiple departures and entrees, and staying no longer than thirty days not extendible in the country in each time that assist to these events.
Political Protection (asylum). For protection of foreigners life and freedom from his own country political persecutions, for the time that the Mexican Government Secretary judge convenient.
Refugees. For protection of security, life and freedom of foreigners when they've been threaten with generated violence or foreign aggression, or with intern conflicts or other kind of circumstances that disturb his own country public order.
Students. Those that want to initiate or complete studies in school programs in this country, with annual renewals for as long as the studies last, or the time that's necessary to obtain its certificate.
Distinguished Visitors. In special cases, the Mexican Government Secretary will grant courtesy permits to reside in the country for no longer than six months, to investigators, scientists, journalists or prominent people with international prestige.
Local Visitors. The migratory authorities can authorize a temporary visit for no longer than three days to foreigners that visit sea ports or frontier cities.
Provisional Visitors. The Mexican Government Secretary can authorize as an exception for no more than thirty days, the provisional landing of foreigners that arrived Mexican territory through a harbor or an airport with international services without the legal documents.

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The migratory status of immigrant is granted to foreigners who have the intention to immigrate to Mexico or reside on a permanent basis within the country. Normally, the final intention is to obtain the migratory status of permanent resident (immigrated) in the Mexican Republic.

This status enables foreigners to reside definitely in Mexico, and to be considered, according with Mexican laws, as Mexican citizen, excluding the voting rights.

The migratory status of immigrant has a duration of five years, and such status needs to be renewed yearly. After the fourth renewal, the foreigner has the right to apply before the Mexican government for the migratory status of permanent resident (immigrated). The duration of the migratory status of immigrated is for life.

The immigrant characteristics are:

Bondholders. The one who lives on their income from investments. Investors. To invest their capital in the industry, commerce or services, according with the national laws. Professionals. To practice a profession. Fiduciary Position. To assume a Board Of Directors duty or Chief Executives commission in companies.
Scientists. To supervise and perform scientific investigations.
Technicians. To perform investigations applied in to production fields, that the Mexican Government Secretary considered that can't be performed by Mexican professionals. Family Related. To live and depend economically with a Mexican lineal consanguinity parent.
Artists and Sportsman. To perform artistic or sports activities.

The essential difference among the migratory status of non immigrant and immigrant, is that the first one is for foreign workers who have no intention to reside in a permanent way in Mexico. Even, the migratory status of non immigrant gives a major flexibility to travel abroad. The migratory status of immigrant imposes limitations related with the time that the person can remain abroad.

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In respect with the foregoing, foreigners residing in Mexico must also fulfill with the requisites of the legal status granted subject to their job or personal activity in Mexico. We offer professional services, that free our clients working in Mexico of any preoccupation regarding to their migratory status during their stay here in Mexico.

If you have any question or need more information please contact us.

 

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