The helpful young lady at the Mexican Embassy in London promised to send me an email, and she was as good as her word. I had it, and all the information I need. I think. And providing I understand it all correctly, then this visa business should all be very, very straightforward. For me, anyway. I know that a lot of people whose circumstances are different may have some problems ahead.
I simply need to turn up at the embassy with Mrs P and a bunch of documents, and my visa will be ready two of three days after that. The documents? My passport. Her passport. Some passport sized photographs of myself. And our marriage certificate – apostille not required! Oh, and I need to bring originals and copies of all those. The consular fee is £22, and I have to pay a further £150 for the visa proper in Mexico when we get there.
The visa is good for two years I think, but doesn’t permit me to work. That’s not a problem – once I am in Mexico I can apply to have the visa changed to include work. I dare say another fee will be involved. There is a final requirement though. It seems almost too easy, and almost pointless. Unless I have misunderstood, I simply have to provide some bank statements from the last six months that shows there has been, on average, a balance of £903 or more in my bank account. If so, that is again no problem. Have I got it right…?
Original y copia de comprobante de inversiones o cuentas bancarias con saldo promedio mensual equivalente a trecientos días de salario mínimo general vigente en el Distrito Federal ($18,699.00 peso mexicano o £901.35 durante los últimos seis meses
After two weeks of constantly phoning the number provided on the London Embassy’s webpage, the call was both connected and answered! I was promptly given another number to ring – this wasn’t the correct number for visa enquiries. Which either failed to connect or went straight to an answering machine. Day after day.
But yesterday, Mrs P found a new number to ring. From where I do not know. She wouldn’t explain this piece of magic. It was magic because this number lead to a phone which was also answered. Happy days. Further, it was answered by a very pleasant and helpful Mexicana. She gave me some basic info – Mrs P and I will need to go to the embassy together with a selection of documents. What documents? She gave me an email address to write to, and she would reply with the list.
Our marriage certificate is of course a must. And we have that, so no problems. Except, there may be a problem. Does it need to be apostilled? She wasn’t sure, and will let us know. And if so, will we need to get it apostilled in Milwaukee where the wedding took place? Or can we pop into the US Embassy in London? Will I have a visa in time to spend New Year in the United States of Mexico. Will that country even still exist? We will find out shortly. In the meantime, let us pray…
I suspect this could turn into an epic series of blog posts, documenting my efforts to obtain my Mexican visa. Perhaps it will be useful to people who come after me. Or forewarning for those who might want to put their lives to more productive use than enduring this process.
I phoned the Mexican Embassy in London today. Again. The line produced a range of results, from ‘this number isn’t recognised’ to an engaged tone. Until one o’clock, when the visa section shuts. Then their answerphone cuts in, telling me to leave a message or ring back some other time. Great. Mexican efficiency, or an overload of curious visa applicants?
The embassy website does show one bit of information that I like:
As of November 9, 2012 came into force new rules on immigration, in order to regulate the entry and exit of foreigners and Mexican national territory, as well as transit and residence of aliens in it. This, in a framework of respect, protection and safeguarding of human rights, contribution to national development and preservation of sovereignty and national security….
2. Visa Authorization family unit: Mexicans have the right to the preservation of the family unit so they can apply for a visa at the Consular Section for entry of the following aliens:
……
II. Spouse, which will be granted the status of temporary resident’s stay for two years, after which it may acquire the status of permanent resident stay as long as the marriage subsists
Which suggests an easier passage for me and my Mexican bride. But then there’s a bit I don’t like the look of so much…
If a foreign national wants to live in Mexico with his/her Mexican spouse, the Mexican national must apply for the entry permit of her/his spouse as Family Economic Dependant (Dependiente Económico) in Mexico before the National Institute of Immigration (INM).
Does that second passage suggest that Mrs P must be in Mexico? And if so, then where must I be? The UK? Or is it possible to get away with being in Mexico? Answers on a postcard, please. Or, alternatively, clever suggestions / interpretations / guesses…
I’ve been looking out for Mexican dining options since arriving back in the UK in 2011. Sadly, most of the restaurants I’ve found purporting to be providers of fine Mexican cuisine are non-starters. I won’t even waste my time in walking through the door. The menu displayed on the window or door tells me all I need to know – Tex Mex. Which is not, of course, Mexican. It might be a good Tex Mex restaurant, but it’s not what I’m looking for.
I held out hoped for Wahaca, following the owners TV series. But that turned out to be 99% Tex Mex too. Not real Mexican food. I’ve since discovered Benitos Hat, but the atmosphere was a little dull. And Mestizos, but the staff aren’t the friendliest and the £55 Independence Day charge was extortionate.
That leaves just Lupitas, behind Charing Cross Station on the Strand. Not cheap, but not expensive either – a fair price. Genuine Mexican food. And a Mexican atmosphere. Mexican staff! It’s a real little piece of Mexico in London. We had a booking for last night at 9.30pm, but our plans changed and we had to do dinner earlier. They were heaving, but still managed to smile and find us a table for four. Look no where else for your Mexican experience in London!
Viva Mexico Cabrones! I hope you all had a jolly good time if you were out celebrating Hidalgo’s big night.
The Olympics, Paralympics are over. Completely finished. No more turning on and off flames or waving Union Flags, or singing God Save the Queen, or pretending to sing the second verse of God Save the Queen, of which no one knows the words. It is over. But what a blast it was. Patriotism is something that has become controversial in some people’s eyes in recent years, with an accusing light shone (quite rightly) on the negative aspects of nationalism. But there’s nowt wrong with cheering on your band of brothers, and sisters, in a positive, competitive and sporting arena. And boy did we cheer.
Many great things have come out of the Olympics. Team GB won a bucket load of medals. The country had something to be happy about. The recession, austerity, murders and the impending implosion of the universe in general were all consigned to small columns buried deep in the back pages of newspapers. And Boris Johnson took a giant step towards becoming Prime Minister one day soon. You don’t know Boris? He’s the most brilliant, bumbling buffoon you could ever wish to see. A most loveable buffoon. Who tells it like he sees it. Sort of. His Team GB parade speech was great. His GQ speech better. And getting stuck on a zipline was no embarrassment. That’s the great thing about being a buffoon. There’s no such thing as a gaffe or awkward moment. Did you watch those videos? You might doubt my sincerity. But he’s definitely a PM in the making. Watch this space.
I cheered on the British team as loudly as anyone. In my rather reserved, not-very-loud manner. Except in the football. I cheered on Mexico. I would have cheered on Mexico even if they had come up against the British team. I cheered them on from the beginning. It turned out to be a great decision, given that they won gold. I paid no attention to the British team whatsoever. I’ve given up on England and Britain as far as national football is concerned. I still think it’s a disgrace that the English FA, and all other significant national FA’s didn’t simply resign from FIFA the moment that Qatar were awarded the right to host the 2022 World Cup. But then the FA are, and have for a long time been, an utter disgrace. A shambles. A national embarrassment.
I can’t quite believe they picked Roy Hodgson to be England manager. It’s as unbelievable as FIFA ranking England the 3rd best team in the world, when quite clearly they are not deserving of a place even in the top ten. For the Olympics they chose Stuart Pearce. Who is everything wrong about English managers. Some would describe him as a safe pair of hands. I’d describe him as the same old ‘one foot in the grave’ sort of chap. He didn’t pick Beckham for the Olympics. It was, Pearce claimed, a decision he made based on form. Beckham has been knocking in 30 yard screamers for LA Galaxy all season. Instead he picked Ryan Giggs. Who can barely get through a match.
Pearce is an idiot. You might think his prior record qualifies him. He managed Manchester City, a club he took from high up in the Premier League to near relegation, setting records for low scoring. He then lead England youth teams to various humiliating thrashings in world tournaments. So it made complete sense to install him as Great Britains first manager in decades…
I’m beginning to digress. Anyway, the upshot is this. I’m going to go and live in Mexico someday soon. I’ll never be Mexican, no matter what any document says. But I want to engage in being at least a little Mexican from time to time. I remember in the 1980′s, British Asians got a hard time for supporting the Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan cricket teams when they played England. Which was completely unfair. But still, it’s good to support your adopted country. And I have no problem in casting aside my home nation in favour of Mexico as far as international football is concerned. This is, it has to be said, my own way of protesting at the ineptitude of the English FA and the scam that is the England team. And I can be won back. But I don’t see that being likely in the foreseeable future. I make this pledge to Mexico – I will cheer on El Tri in Rio in two years time. Even if they play England.
As far as the Olympics are concerned though, I’ll stick with Team GB. One of the joys of having multiple allegiance is, of course, being able to pick and choose according to whim and current form! I’ll sign off my coverage of the London 2012 Olympics with one final video. One last blast of unashamedly brash patriotism. Courtesy of the Last Night of the Proms.
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Just over two years ago, I put this site/blog to one side. My career as an English teacher in Mexico had ended. What more did I have to say on the subject? I had new projects to explore and develop. But life often works in circles and very soon I will be returning to Mexico, [...]
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