It’s official…I’m a permanent resident of Mexico! 10 Steps to Getting Your Permanent Residency, CURP Number and INAPAM Cards

I just received my permanent residency card, my CURP number and card, and my INAPAM (senior citizen) card for Mexico.  I am relieved and excited.  For those of you that have been following my story (see blog posts dated July 9th, 2013 and August 5th, 2014), you know it’s been a challenge.  I am writing this post to outline the steps I took for obtaining permanent residency status in Mexico. 


After my first experience of attempting to acquire my permanent resident card, I decided to hire an immigration specialist.  Please note that many people do not use this type of service and had no problems getting the results they wanted.  I was not that fortunate, so I decided to go this route.

Step One: 
In researching and reading Playa.info and In The Roo forums, I selected two (2) immigration professionals to interview.  Both charged $50.00 USD for their consultation fee, and both agreed to apply the $50.00 USD fee to the total cost if they were selected as my specialist.  

The names of the professionals I interviewed were: 
• Ms. Teresa Rubi Mendiola, Attorney at Law, and  
• Mr. Alejandro Mata Martinez, Immigration Specialist

I interviewed them both on the same day and asked the same questions: 

     a.  explain the process and how long it will take

     b.  what is the cost from start to finish

     c.  what are the benefits of applying for permanent residency

They are both exemplary, but once the interviews were complete, I selected Mr. Alejandro (Alex) Mata Martinez. 

Here are the reasons I selected him:  
1) He demonstrated exemplary customer services skills and professionalism

2) He was on time for my appointment
3) He is up to date with and feels comfortable using technology
4) He was extremely knowledgeable about the process
5) He only required a 50% deposit up front and the balance of 50% after I received my card

Please do not assume that the above reasons were the opposite for the other immigration specialist.  They are not.

Step Two:

After discussing the permanent resident process with me and explaining that the process would need to be initiated from the United States, Alex emailed me a list of all the documents he would need in order to move forward and prove my eligibility for permanent residency.  

Information Alex needed:
a. A completed permanent resident application form from the Washington, D.C. Consulate   (which Alex emailed to me)
b. 12 months of bank statements (saving and checking)
c. 12 months of retirement or pension statements

d. Deed proving purchase and ownership of my home in Puerto Aventuras

e. Copy of passport

f. Copy of marriage certificate

g. Passport photos (to be given to the consulate office during my appointment in the U.S.)

h. Several infantile photos (front and side view). Alex helped me get these when I submitted my application at the National Institute of Immigration/Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM) office in Playa del Carmen (PDC). There are two or three places in the building that provide this service for a small fee.  I kept my extra infantile photos because I needed them for my INAPAM card. 

i. $36.00 USD application fee (to be paid at consulate office during my appointment in the U.S.).  

Now, for those of you paying attention, you already know that from my previous attempt at obtaining my permanent residency card, the Mexican Consulate office in Washington, D.C. had already noted that I would not have to pay the application fee again.  But let me make this perfectly clear.  I did not want anything to hold up or slow down the process.  So I was happy to pay the $36.00 application fee again and chalked it up to a learning experience.  

SIDE NOTE: I would recommend using cash for this.  The credit card machine was broken at our consulate office.  Thank goodness, I had cash and didn’t have to leave my appointment in search of an ATM machine.

After reviewing his list, I quickly logged into my accounts and obtained PDF files of all the bank statements Alex needed.  I also made PDF files of my passport and marriage certificate. In addition, I completed the application that Alex had emailed me.  

After getting all the PDFs ready, I emailed Alex all my documentation so that he could check the information for accuracy and forward the information to the Washington, D.C. consulate to schedule my appointment.  I pulled all these documents while still living in PA.  What did we do before the Internet?

Step Three:

Once I received my email from Alex letting me know when my appointment with the consulate office in D.C. was going to be, it was time to print off the same information I sent to Alex via email and prepare for the face-to-face meeting at the consulate. 

Step Four:

My appointment at the consulate office was at 11:30 a.m.  I arrived early and was glad I did.  Apparently, the staff were in the process of moving to a new office building and still trying to help people at the same time.  The place was a zoo, but I survived the process.  I was there about 60 minutes as they completed the documentation and provided me with my 30 day sticker with the words “permanent residency” on it.  

This sticker was affixed in my passport and was to be presented at the airport in Mexico when going through immigration. I made sure the person helping me at the immigration booth marked my visa form for 30 days (not the customary 180 days).  In addition, I also made sure they checked the box that read “CANJE”.  The 30 day limit and checking the box "CANJE" was a critical piece to my application process.  If these two things were not on my form, it would have delayed  the entire process. You have 30 days to start your permanent residency proceedings while in Mexico.  If you don’t, you will have to start all over.  If you need to leave Mexico before you receive your permanent residency card, you will need to coordinate with your immigration specialist to receive a special “permission to leave” letter.  This letter is good for 60 days. Therefore, you must return to Mexico within 60 days to complete the process. 

Step Five:

I emailed a copy of the sticker to Alex for his records and made my follow up appointment with him for when I returned to Mexico.  

Step Six:

Upon arrival back in the Riviera Maya, I met with Alex within a couple of days to finish the application process.  Alex reminded me that since it was the Christmas holiday, the INM office would only be open for a couple more days.  Alex, armed with copies of all my documentation, submitted my application to the INM office in PDC and provided me with a document that had my application number on it.  I carried this document with me, along with my passport, everywhere I went, in the event I was ever questioned about my legal status in Mexico.  Now, it was time to relax and wait.  

SIDE NOTE:  This document does provide a website you can check to determine the status of your paperwork.  But honestly speaking, I was so relieved to have my application submitted, I did not have the need to keep checking the website for a status update. After all, that is why I hired an immigration specialist.

Step Seven:

I received an email from Alex indicating that it was time for me to meet him at the INM office in PDC to have my fingerprints taken. Just an FYI…this is not digital fingerprints.  This is the old fashion pad and ink fingerprinting, luckily I had Kleenex and lotion with me.  

They fingerprint all fingers and thumb on both hands and had me place each finger directly down on the paper.  No rolling of the fingers we see on CSI (smile).  If I remember correctly, they also had me sign a document while I was there being fingerprinted.  My fingerprints and paperwork were then sent to Mexico City.  In about 7 to 10 days I was able to pick up my card. Alex reminded me that the INM office has a window of time (certain day and certain time frame) that you are allowed to pick up your card.  So I kept my schedule flexible and open.

Step Eight:

I got an email from Alex indicating that my card was ready for pick-up.  I met Alex at the INM office, picked up my card, paid him his final payment and that was it.  I only had to meet with him to pick up my CURP card (which is something like a social security card in the United States) and determine the best time to apply for and receive my INAPAM card.  

Step Nine:

I met with Alex the following week to pick up my CURP card and went straight to a copy store to have it laminated.  There is a copy store near the corner of 10th Avenue and Benito Juarez (right across from Melody, a women’s clothing store).  This shop makes copies and laminates documents, sells gifts bags, tissue paper, bows, ribbons, art and school supplies, etc.

Step Ten:

I met with Alex one final time and he drove me to the senior center to apply for and get my INAPAM card. There is a form they asked me to fill out, which they then reviewed with me for accuracy. Alex had already emailed me the form and had me complete it and return it to him.  He then printed the form and took it to our appointment at the senior center. The questions they asked and reviewed with me were basic questions about overall health, if I am on any medications or have any health issues.   Things I needed to bring to this appointment were:  passport, CURP card, permanent residency card and a utility bill showing my full address (CFE, Telmex, Cablemas, etc).  

Oh, I also needed to bring those really tiny (infantile) photos.   I think it took about 30 minutes, and I had my senior card when I left.  The man completing my application provided me with a verbal overview of my INAPAM benefits as a senior and told me I could look up other information on their website. Alex charges an additional $300 pesos for this service.  Trust me, if you don’t speak Spanish, it’s well worth it.  Alex was kind enough to drop me off at the copy center where I got my senior card laminated at the same copy store I mentioned above.

I must admit that the entire process (from start to finish) was rather anti-climactic. There was no Mexican Mariachi band playing, no red, white and green balloons, no one saying “welcome to your new country”.  All I know is that I no longer need to worry about leaving Mexico every 180 days.  And that is enough for me!

Here is a timetable and associated cost on my process.

DATE	DURATION	PROCESS
November 10, 2014	30 minutes each	Meet with Teresa Mendiola: tere_rubi_5 (@) hotmail (dot) (com) and Alex Martinez: citizenandimmigrationmexico (@) gmail (dot) (com) to conduct permanent residency interviews.  Neither have a website, but I think they both have Facebook pages. COST: Paid $50.00 USD (around $745 pesos) each for consultation.
November 10, 2014	45 minutes	Selected Alex Martinez as my immigration specialist. Paid an additional $1930 pesos to start the process. Emailed supporting documentation to him to prove income eligibility for permanent residency.  Made sure I checked what the income eligibility is for my situation.  Since I own a home in Mexico, the amount needed to qualify is less than if I did not own a home. COST: $2675 pesos minus the $745 pesos consultation fee.
December 8, 2014	60 minutes	Met with official at Washington, D.C. consulate office to start permanent residency application.  Took all supporting documents and copies.  Received sticker affixed to passport to be shown at airport, to Alex and the INM office in PDC as part of the application process. COST: $36.00 USD application fee.
December 18, 2014	15 minutes	Back in Puerto Aventuras to meet with Alex and provide documentation from Washington, D.C. consulate office and any other supporting documentation. Alex submits information to INM in PDC.  INM office closed as of December 19, 2014 for two weeks during the holidays.  Will reopen on January 5, 2015.
February  3, 2015	10 minutes	Met with Alex at INM office in PDC to complete fingerprinting process.  The Kleenex and lotion I had made for easy cleanup.
February  9, 2015	15 minutes	Met with Alex at INM office in PDC to pick up my permanent residency card. Paid balance of $2675 pesos.  Went to copy center and got card laminated.  Its official…I’m a permanent resident! COST: $2675 pesos
February 17, 2015	2 minutes	Met with Alex at INM office in PDC to pick up my CURP card. Went to copy center and got card laminated.
March 3, 2015	30 minutes	Met with Alex and went to senior center to apply for and receive my INAPAM card. Went to copy center and got card laminated. COST: $300 pesos
March 14, 2015	30 minutes	Sent follow up email to Alex thanking him for his exemplary service.

DISCLAIMER: 

This was my experience.  Always check with your immigration specialist for requirements and pricing. 

Alex's office is upstairs

Alex's Business Card