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Semantics - getting your INE card is registering to vote.

Harry, one doesn't 'register to vote'. Once a person has Mexican citizenship, the person needs to go to the nearest INE office (there's one in Jocotepec) to apply for a credencial--a national photo identification card that is the ID needed in order to vote and to identify oneself as a Mexican citizen. Mexican citizens are asked to show that ID many more times than one might think and it's important to carry it with us at all times. Usually one goes to the INE to apply for it and then returns approximately 2 weeks later to pick it up. In order to apply, one needs to take the Acta de Naturalización and a comprobante de domicilio to the INE. There's no charge for the credencial, and no party affiliation is involved.

I am so happy to read of those who have persevered and got their citizenship. I believe that they do try to make you jump through as many hoops as possible. But, in the end they look kindly on those who show their love of mexico. Please get registered to vote!!!! They respect those who vote.

The LEFT turn to Roca Azul not the right turn.

THis young guy if it is the same( I think he name is Gerardo , bit I am not 100%sure) has a chip on his shoulder and is very annoyed foreigners get the citizenship too easily in his opinion.. His attitude has not changed. The other people are very nice.

Yes, I took the Spanish test for Citizenship last month in Guadalajara. The young man that reviewed my paperwork and checked that I had everything in order gave me the test. When we went into the room for the test his whole attitude changed. There were two parts to the test. First was reading and comprehension And the second was Look at a picture and write five sentences about the picture. I was given a piece of paper with a two paragraph story on it {Probably 500 words} and was told I had 5 minutes to read it and answer 5 questions and the time starts now. So I began reading it, about a minute in he says No, read it aloud to me. So I start reading it to him. the story is about a magical kingdom of Mayans and everyone's name were like K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat. He would stop me and say you pronounced that wrong read it again. He did that over and over so by the time I finished it I had 45 seconds left to answer the five questions. Each answer was long and had 4 options to choose from I managed to get three out of 5 right so we moved to the other test. I was handed a picture with a man and woman in a lab looking in Microscopes and told to write 5 sentences about the things I noticed and that I had 3 minutes. I wrote the 5 things and when he started he grading it he said: First is wrong you didn't put a period at the end of your answer. Two and three are wrong because you misspelled a word in each and 4 also you didn't capitalize so you have failed this test He then gave me a big FU smile and left the room. When I went back outside he said to feel free to come back to take the test again if I so choose.

I was told by the atty that the test portion (over 60) is to read a couple of paragraphs in a magazine article, something like the Mexico Desconocido magazine. Then you go into a second room and answer 5 or 10 (?) multiple choice questions related to the magazine article. The mistake some applicants make is that when they take you to room two for the multiple choice test, the applicant leaves the magazine article behind in room one. You may take the magazine with you so that you can refer back to the article. I recently obtained hearing aids and I feel that the aids have helped a lot with my comprehension of Spanish. I feel much more confident in conversation. Now that I can hear my own voice I speak at a normal volume level. In my opinion that is important because those who speak loudly in this culture tend to be viewed as aggressive or impolite. Better to blend in, than to stand out in my opinion. If I flunk the first time, I will call my uncle El Mencho to go with me on the second try.