Hi Liza,

You have to apply separately unless you and your boyfriend are married or common-law partners. Having your boyfriend’s name on your bank account will not qualify as family unit.

When you have a residency card you can live anywhere in Mexico, regardless of where the card was originally issued. You must advise the INM of your address change when you move to your new address, that’s all.

If you need assistance with your application, our associates can provide advice and support:
https://www.mexperience.com/get-assistance-with-your-mexico-residency-application/

Hello Carol,
You have 180 days from the date the visa is issued to arrive in Mexico and exchange that visa for a residency card. If you miss this 180 day limit the visa becomes void.

You can find details about the exchange process here:
https://www.mexperience.com/mexico-resident-visa-sticker-exchange-for-card/

If you need assistance with the application and procedures our associate will be pleased to assist; you can find details of the service here:
https://www.mexperience.com/get-assistance-with-your-mexico-residency-application/

Hi Ellen,
If you’re seeking self-employment permissions with your residency permit, we suggest you take counsel about this before applying. Our associates can provide guidance and assistance, if you would like help; you can find details of their service here:
https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/living-in-mexico/relocation-consulting-request/

Hi Kimball,

You need to start the renewal process within the 30-day window before the card’s expiry date; you cannot begin sooner than this.

Once you begin the process, your residency status remains ‘regular’ even if the process takes you past the card’s expiry date; there’s no problem.

Note, however, that you cannot leave the country *while the renewal process is in train*; except in an emergency you can apply for an exit and re-entry permit.

As you will be back in Mexico before the expiry date, this won’t be an issue for you; but we recommend that you don’t leave filing the renewal to the last minute.

You can find details on this article:
https://www.mexperience.com/about-renewing-your-mexico-resident-permit/

Wow! Thanks for your quick response. I had 2 follow up questions if you have time: We have to start the renewal process within the last 30 days of our current visa or we can start the process sooner? Once we officially start the renewal process, are we good, even if our current visa expires before the new one is complete? Specifically, ours expires March 13 and we have a tripped purchased that we will be out of country February 11- 25th. Thank you again for your time.

Hi Kimball,

In the 30-day window leading up to the card’s expiry date you can apply to renew your residency card; you can renew for up to 3 more years, for a total of 4 years maximum.

You cannot leave the country while the renewal procedure is in train, although processing times have been reduced significantly of late and it ought not to take more than 2-3 weeks to complete, and might be sooner, depenidng on how busy your local INM office is.

We cross checked with the INM and your son can renew his residency card in Mexico, even though he has turned 18.

If you need help with the renewals, our associate will be pleased to assist; you can find details of the service here:
https://www.mexperience.com/get-assistance-with-your-mexico-residency-application/

Hi Ronald,
The cash savings can be based in any country; and you can use investments like 401k to qualify; however, if your accounts and investments are based in the US, and you are applying from a country outside of the US, you will need to get your account statements notarized and apostilled in the US and couriered to you.

You can learn more about the different types of income/savings that qualify here:
https://www.mexperience.com/faqs-obtaining-residency-in-mexico-via-economic-solvency/

And you can learn about getting documents apostilled here:
https://www.mexperience.com/getting-your-documents-apostilled-for-mexico/