Contact 
Account 
You’ve probably heard that Mexican Bureaucracy can be disorganized and sometimes frustrating. It’s one of the main reasons why having the right contacts and access to the right information can save you a lot of time and frustrations.
For example, there is a change to the residency card design this week (example below) and due to this change all printers at INM must be re-formatted.
Now, how does this imapct you?
The change to the design means that we can expect that some INM offices will have further delays until they are all caught up with applicants coming in for Canje, renewals, or any reason why they would need to print a residency card.
We are seeing some offices take as long as 4 weeks to get your appointment, process your Canje and receive your card in hand. And you couple this with the fact that December is right around the corner- which means a lot of INM offices will close for about 2 weeks for the holidays.
Canje- by the way- is the term used by immigration in Mexico for the process of exchanging your residency stamp and turn it into a residency card. It’s the last step in the process of you getting your residency in Mexico.
If you’d like more info on residency in Mexico, check out my Guide to Residency Visas
However not all INM offices have the same timeline.
Also, keep in mind that these changes take time to reach every INM office nationwide. Meaning that this new design and reformatting of printers may not be at the INM office near you- yet. There are still a lot of offices around Mexico where you can easily get your residency card in as little as a few days. Which is important if you need to leave Mexico right after getting your card.
If you are working with an immigration facilitator, talk to them about your expected timeline. So you can plan your travel
Exit and Re Entry Permit
Because you cannot leave Mexico once you have started the Canje process, it’s smart to plan ahead. For a lot of people, staying 4-6 weeks in Mexico while they wait for their card isn’t an option at this moment.
So what can you do?
Thats where you can apply for an exit and re entry permit. Which is written consent from INM to leave the country for a period of up to 60 days. That way you can leave Mexico and come back to get your card. An immigration facilitator can help you apply for this.
But sone of you may only plan on making a single trip to Mexico for residency for the time being. or you may beed yo speedy up the residency process encause you have plans yo travel around Mexico on a scouting trip.
That’s why I sometimes recommend going to the INm office that is most convenient for you at your current situation. and in some cases, there are still offices with a quick turnaround time.
INM Offices in Mexico That Process In A Few Days
The current offices that we are aware of where the process takes only a few days to give you an appointment, process your canje and give your card are:
- Los Cabos
- Juarez
- Manzanillo
- Mazatlán
- Mexico City
- Puebla
- Huatulco
Also, because there have been so many changes to immigration in the last year we can almost expect there is a reform of some sorts coning.
That’s why we recommend applying for residency sooner rather than later. You don’t have to live in Mexico to remain a resident.
So, if you qualify today, take advantage of this!
Don’t wait until changes happen and you are no longer eligible
If you need help with applying for and obtaining residency, we recommend a variety of immigration facilitators.
If you’re already a customer, I recommend applying for your residency sooner rather than later. Get in touch with a facilitator soon and start your application process.
To get access to our recommended contacts, check out our Complete Mexico Relocation Guide
We not only give you a directory of contacts, but we also give you a lot of other easy to follow instructions to help you research a variety of things regarding your move to Mexico. It saves you time, money, and frustrations.
Not sure if the guide is right for you? Check out our reviews.
Submit a Comment