Intercasa

https://www.chapalalaw.com/immigration-2/ ***2025 UPDATE: Many airports have automated immigration machines, temporary and permanent residents SHOULD NOT USE THESE MACHINES and instead see a live agent as if they use the machines they will be checked in as a tourist and they may lose their immigration status and be lowered to a tourist status. In July, 2025 in the D.O.F. there was a publication where the consulates will now use the UMA index, except they raised the income and asset requirements so the amounts will be the same but there will be not future hikes in qualification of 20% per year as we have seen in the past few years. VISA REQUIREMENTS AT MEXICAN CONSULATES OUTSIDE MEXICO: To qualify for the temporary visa they must show a monthly income of 680 times the UMA (for 2026 it is 117.31 pesos) or 79,771 pesos or $4,442 US dollars using an exchange rate of 17.96 to 1 (using January 08, 2026 exchange rate). This must be documented with 6 months bank statements. People who have liquid assets may qualify showing that they have maintained an average balance of 11,400 times the UMA (for 2026 it is 117.31 pesos) or 1,337,334 pesos or $74,461 US dollars using an exchange rate of 17.96 to 1 (using January 08, 2026 exchange rate). This must be documented with 12 months bank statements. ***2024 UPDATE: Due to fraud and how easy it can be to alter and forge bank statements, many consulates are requiring the statements to be certified by the financial institution or have a letter stating you are the owner of the account. Even if a consulate does not currently require it they may change so best practice is to preare and have your documents certified and check their current policies. *** TERRITORIAL UPDATE: Some consulates like San Diego and Oregon and in Washington only serve people in their geographical area so always check the consulate you apply with to make sure they have no restrictions. ****2022 UPDATES: Many consulates are denying younger people permanent visas, some want people to have a pension, others want a minimum age of 65 or more, younger people in their 50s are seeing resistance although we have seen people in their 40s getting them who are financially strong. Immigration is also cracking down on foreigners with expired visas and people reporting being detained for weeks in subhuman conditions and deported. This fact is exacerbated by the fact that many immigration officers are randomly giving people 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days stay in Mexico and not the 180 days which has been pretty much automatic the past 20 years. You may qualify for a temporary visa if you own real estate in Mexico. You need to own property that is worth 91,700 times the UMA (for 2026 it is 117.31 pesos) or $10,757,327 pesos or $598,960 US dollars using an exchange rate of 17.96 to 1 (using January 08, 2026 exchange rate). ***Property ownership can be problematic as it is hard to figure the value, some consulates like San Diego want the property to have been purchased within the past 6 months, others make take an appraisal, also if owned jointly then the amount is double as they will apportion 50% of the value to each owner. Property ownership is the most problematic way to qualify and right now the amounts are out of reach for most. To qualify for the permanent visa they must show a monthly income of 1,140 times the UMA (for 2026 it is 117.31 pesos) or $133,733 pesos or $7,446 US dollars using an exchange rate of 17.96 to 1 (using January 08, 2026 exchange rate). This must be documented with 6 months bank statements. People who have liquid assets may qualify showing that they have maintained an average balance of 45,800 times the UMA (for 2026 it is 117.31 pesos) or 5,372,798 pesos or $299,153 US dollars using an exchange rate of 17.96 to 1 (using January 08, 2026 exchange rate). This must be documented with 12 months bank statements. It has been reported to us that in the past there was no minimum age limit on people applying for permanent visas but now many have reported that consulates are asking to see pension or retirement income in order to apply for the permanent visa or they are not giving them to people who are under 50 or 60 years old if at all. Shop around as consulates have different internal guidelines and if you are in this situation it pays to make some calls. ***While the above is per the law, many consulates set a general amount which can be a bit higher or lower so as to not have to recalculate the amounts needed daily / weekly / monthly. You can apply for visas for your spouse (same sex couples included) and children at the consulate at the same time or we can do it when you are here in Mexico once the primary applicant has their visa. Remember that in order to do this we will need birth / marriage certificates and apostilles. Starting January, 2024 Canada will be issuing apostilles and the Canadian Consulate in Guadalajara issues apostilles of documents but you must make an appointment and the appointments usually are 2-3 weeks out, cost is $50.00 Canadian Dollars. Some consulates will require the sponsoring spouse to show an extra 25% of income / assets for a family visa, this is not required inside Mexico (except for consulate family visas). Please be advised that the consulates might have their own special rules. Processing time varies from a few hours to a few days on average. We can consult with you prior to your trip to the consulate and then prepare you for finishing the process here in Mexico as well as advise you how to properly fill out the FMM form upon arrival so that there will be no processing delays. Many consulates require an appointment be made online prior to going and the online system is broken half the time, other consulates now are returning to an email system where you email them your documents for an appointment, check their web site for current information. We can help you make your appointment and go over documentation requirements so you do not have to make two trips. We can make your appointment for your visa at many consulates worldwide for a small fee VISA REQUIREMENTS AT THE NATIONAL IMMIGRATION INSTITUTE INSIDE MEXICO: To qualify for the temporary visa they must show a monthly income of 400 times UMA (for 2026 it is 117.31 pesos) or $46,924 pesos or $2,613 US dollars using an exchange rate of 17.96 to 1 (using January 08, 2026 exchange rate). This must be documented with 6 months bank statements. People who have liquid assets may qualify showing that they have maintained an average balance of 20,000 times the minimum wage / UMA (for 2026 it is 117.31 pesos) or 2,346,200 pesos or $130,634 US dollars using an exchange rate of 17.96 to 1 (using January 08, 2026 exchange rate). This must be documented with 12 months bank statements. This is most commonly applied to those who renew late and have to prove income again. ***This requalification only applies to those who let their visas expire and only then they have 60 days to do a regularization, family unity regularization has no financial requirements. For regularizations you will pay a fine of 20-80 days UMA or from $2,364 – $9,385 pesos, 2026 UMA rate. To qualify for the permanent visa they must show a monthly income of 500 times the UMA (for 2026 it is 117.31 pesos) or $58,655 pesos or $3,266 US dollars using an exchange rate of 17.96 to 1 (using January 08, 2026 exchange rate). This must be documented with 6 months bank statements. People who have liquid assets may qualify showing that they have maintained an average balance of 25,000 times the UMA (for 2026 it is 117.31 pesos) or $2,932,750 pesos or $163,293 US dollars using an exchange rate of 17.96 to 1 (using January 08, 2026 exchange rate). This must be documented with 12 months bank statements. Immigration has been applying a rule the past few years that in order to change from temporary to a permanent visa that you must show that you receive a pension or retirement income, even $1.00. This has effectively stopped many people from “jumping ahead” if they only have savings and do not receive any pension or retirement income, in these cases people must complete all 4 years as a temporary before going to permanent if for only financial reasons (not family related).

Do businesses force you to give them a “Constancia de Situacion Fiscal” in order to give you a factura? Recent changes in the Federal Tax Code* impose penalties on those who condition the giving of a factura on receiving a Constancia de Situacion Fiscal. Many people are not able to make an appointment, do not have a password or do not have a current Constancia. Both consumers and business owners need to be aware of these recent changes. Fines range from $21,420 pesos to $122,440 pesos and for repeat offenders the closing of the business for 3-15 days. In order to give a factura they only need: • Name or business name • RFC number • Zip code • Tax status (Regimen fiscal) • CFDI use type *Article 83 of the Federal Tax Code, Section IX.

The Definitive Guide on Notarizing Documents in Mexico I have been dealing with notarizing documents for clients and helping them the past 15 years here in Mexico. There is a lot of information out there but it can be confusing as every person’s situation is different. Notarization is often required to sell a property, request a birth / marriage / death certificate, get a loan or make changes on bank accounts, among other things. While in your home country it is really a simple process, you go to a notary and they check your identification and then stamp the document and you sign their journal and pay a fee of up to $30.00 dollars. No hassles nor apostilles required. In Mexico it is different, people and offices requesting your signature be notarized have different policies and not all notaries are equal. Here is a list as well as the pros and cons of each type of notarization so you can plan accordingly and not waste time and money only to get your document rejected. 1. U.S. Consulate Notary Services (or your home country consulate). Pros: Widely accepted by everyone, no apostille needed, no translations needed. Cons: Wait times for appointments can be weeks away. Consulate may be far away. Cost: $50.00 US dollars or around $1,000 pesos. Canadian consulate charges $50.00CAD per signature which must be paid by credit card so do not bring cash and bring your credit card. Timing: Currently US Consulate notary appointments are available within 1-2 weeks. Once at the Consulate you probably will be in and out in an hour. Pro tip: Under 22 CFR § 22.1 45 (a) and (b) there are certain documents that are free of charge to notarize, such as parental consent for US passport (DS-3053), documents for people claiming federal, state or municipal benefits, such as military benefits for veterans and their spouses and family (DFAS). 2. Mexican Notaries Pros: Usually close by and available same day or next day. Cons: Non-English-speaking notary may make you translate documents, apostille and translation of completed document may be required, adding extra time and cost. Certification office policies change and at time they may want the original document converted into a dual column dual language document which may not be accepted by the person or office requesting the notarization. Some states you may have to argue with to accept a Mexican notary and apostille by referring them to their own civil code which mentions that it is acceptable if it complies with the Hague Convention. Cost: $1,500.00 - $3,000 Mexican pesos + apostille cost Timing: Notaries available within 1-2 days. Apostilles take 2-5 business days. Translations may take 1-3 days. Pro tip: To avoid translation issues or costs use an English-speaking notary from the start. 3. United States State Notaries Pros: May be close by, no apostille needed, no translations needed. Cons: May not be any in your area. May not be accepted as outside their jurisdiction. Documents may be rejected after sending them internationally making you start over. Mexicans may not have sufficient identification. Cost: $10-$50 dollars. Timing: Notaries available within 1-2 days. 4. United States Civil Notaries Pros: May be close by, no apostille needed, no translations needed. One does come to LCS in Ajijic periodically. Cons: May not be any in your area. Cost: $10-$50 dollars. Timing: Notaries available within 1-2 days. 5. United States Online Notaries Pros: Easy to access online, low cost, no apostille needed, no translations needed. Cons: Not accepted by all states or offices. No wet signature originals (there are remote wet signature options developing. Certain valid identification documents required. Need a fast computer with web cam and stable internet connection and scanner to scan documents to upload. Cost: $30.00 US dollars and up, per signature which must be paid by credit card. Timing: Availability within 1-2 days, sometimes same day. Pro tip: If trying to use for real estate documents check with BOTH the county recorder’s office and the title company for their blessing. 6. Medallion Signature Guarantee Pros: No apostille needed, no translations needed. ONLY acceptable method to transfer stocks or securities. Cons: No face-to-face providers in Mexico. A few online services or you need to go to a bank in the US. You will need to provide certified copies or originals of court and financial documents to prove your right to receive securities or stocks through transfer or inheritance. Cost: $150.00-$250.00 US dollars which must be paid by credit card. Timing: Availability within 1-2 days, sometimes same day. Pro tip: Check locations and providers here: http://www.msglookup.com/search.html As you see there are many options and each have their pros and cons. We are happy to help you navigate through the options and help you whether it is making an appointment at a Consulate or using our computers for the online notarization or getting an apostille and doing the translations. Spencer Richard Mc Mullen is a litigating Mexican attorney and official state and federal court translator with offices in Chapala and Guadalajara. 376-765-7553 / USA 805-683-4848 Chapala, 33-1592-3801 / USA 805-563-3300 Guadalajara. www.chapalalaw.com

Well if you have a cardiac emergency and go to a good hospital and get 3 stents and are there about 5 days which is a quick recovery the bill usually runs $1,000,000 pesos, if you need cardiac ablation and are there 2 days the bill runs $2,000,000 pesos.

New Jalisco 2023 Law Regulating Real Estate Professionals Up until now there has been no government regulation of real estate professionals in Jalisco. It was simply a matter of printing a business card, hanging out a shingle and bam! you are in business. No licensing, no regulation and little to no recourse against bad agents and companies except time consuming and expensive criminal or civil legal actions. Today, on August 5, 2023 the State of Jalisco published a law to establish the State Registry of Providers of Real Estate Services (Registro Estatal de Prestadores de Servicios Inmobiliarios). The law will take effect in 200 days and the Regulations for said law must be issued within 180 days. Real estate professionals and agencies will have one year from now to start all applications and procedures necessary to be registered, with penalties and fees to be collected starting next year. Accredited Real Estate Agencies will have the following obligations: 1) To comply with and make their agents that are part of their company comply with the requirements and obligations established by the Law; 2) Inform the Secretary of all changes or modifications to the information contained in their accreditation, as well as and changes of agent employment. 3) To have in a visible place their proof of accreditation as well as those of their agents that work there. 4) To only use contracts of adhesion approved by PROFECO (the vast majority of the real estate companies and agents have been using illegal contracts for years that favor them and not the consumer). In order for real estate professionals to be accredited, they will need the following (abbreviated list here): 1) Proof of real estate classes authorized by the commission (foreigners better start brushing up on your Spanish!) 2) Prove that the contracts they use are legal and approved by PROFECO. 3) Agree to comply with the continuing educational requirements which are mandatory for renewal of their accreditation. 4) Pass a criminal record background check. 5) For foreigners be legally in the country with work permission authorized by Immigration. Accreditations will be valid for 3 years from the date of issuance. Price to be determined. A database will be created to check status and to see if there has been any disciplinary action taken. People falsely saying they are accredited are subject to fines of 50 to 150 UMAs and those who are working without the accreditation may be subject to criminal charges. Those working with an expired one, fail to post visibly their accreditation and registration or advertise in violation of the rules are subject to punishment. This is a good start but there are still things that need to be addressed such as ethic, ethics violations, agency and dual agency, and its disclosure and the existence of any fiduciary duty, if any, as well as any disclosures of conflicts of interest as well as teaching agents how to determine these circumstances and duties. Full original government publication of the law in Spanish here: https://apiperiodico.jalisco.gob.mx/api/newspaper/getAsset?q=newspaper/21021/newspaper230804092205.pdf By Lic. Spencer Richard Mc Mullen, litigating attorney and official state and federal court translator, who has postgraduate degrees in Contract Law, Condominium Law and Notarial law, among others and who has prepared, reviewed and translated hundreds of property deeds. Office Chapala 376-765-7553 / 376-765-6900 / US 805-683-4848 – Guadalajara 33-1592-3801 / 33-1592-3792 / USD 805-563-3300

You usually need a password, many are selling fake constancias so use a QR code reader to see if your is real, its usually not instant to get it.

We can help you with RFC and SAT stuff, been doing it for years.

Its worth getting the RFC and digital signature, more stuff is going online and if you are able and healthy today you may not be in a year or two when you really need it. We are helping everybody get it done, have it down to a science, even bought signing tablets so for the password we can get it done in Chapala and your signature will match your ID.

Yes it can be done, we need to get permission from the Mexican FDA and have that permission copy included in shipment and original handy for when it arrives, best to send by a courier service that sends to Guadalajara directly and not Mexico City that way we can help.

Younger can work but there are rules

Solar is getting cheap and 6 580w panels can run most homes and you have a break even point after 3-5 years for most people and also the benefit of no brown outs and being able to generously use the heat and A/C those very cold and hot days

We can help make appointment and review documents, renewals 300 pesos not too much

Supposed to be 9am but with COVID 10, call them as they will know more than someone here

Ive used https://www.worldnomads.com/

I break more people out of hospitals than jail. Hospitals cannot hold people hostage and it is a game we need to play to get people out but some abuse foreigners and others have been stiffed by foreigners. An easy way to avoid hassles is to get international travel health insurance. I buy it for the US if I go for a week, it is cheap like $40US and avoids problems.