PNR1

ACSMexicoCity@state.gov 9:46 AM (1 hour ago) to Location: Highway 85D between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey Event: In response to reports of increased criminal activity, Mexican authorities have increased police patrols along Highway 85D in Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon. As a result, travelers might encounter additional police checkpoints causing unexpected delays. Tamaulipas is rated Level 4 – Do Not Travel due to crime and kidnapping. Organized crime activity—including gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault—is common along the northern border of Tamaulipas and in Ciudad Victoria. Criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments. Actions to Take: Travel during daylight hours and avoid unnecessary stops. Keep your loved ones informed about your travel plans and progress as you travel. Travel with a charged and functional cell phone capable of making calls in Mexico. Use toll (“cuota”) roads rather than the less secure free (“libre”) roads whenever possible. Do not hitchhike or accept rides from or offer rides to strangers anywhere in Mexico. Travelers encountering police or security checkpoints should comply with instructions. See the U.S. Embassy's web page regarding COVID-19. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Assistance: For Emergency Assistance for U.S. citizens in Mexico, call (55) 8526 2561 from Mexico or 1-844-528-6611 from the United States. State Department – Consular Affairs: 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444 Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. Follow the U.S. Embassy in Mexico on Facebook and Twitter. Review the Crime and Safety Reports for Mexico. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

EXACT STEPS FOR SUBMITTING ADULT PASSPORTS FOR RENEWAL Drop off 2ND MONDAY at LCS 10:00 am-12:00 pm Use form DS-82 for renewal fee $110 USD · *See item 5 for paying with pesos When dropping off at Lake Chapala Society bring the following: 1. Completed form using black ink 2. Proper 2”X2” color passport photos (NO GLASSES) and do NOT staple to form. 3. Your current passport and a copy 4.A pre paid Fed Ex envelope purchased at IShop in San Antonio (short block East from Super Lake) Originating address: US Consulate calle Progreso 175, Col Americana, Americana, 44100 Guadalajara, Jal. 5.Payment in CASH ONLY either US dollars or Mexican pesos at the current monthly rate. EXACT CHANGE ONLY Current rate: RATE SUBJECT TO CHANGE For current monthly rate inquire at email address below The rate is set by the US Consulate NOT current bank rate Of special note question #8 is your US address or mail forwarding address and question #18 is your local Mexico address. Also please be sure the photo is as shown below with a smooth white background. Genesis Digital photography is located at Ocompo #34 in Ajijic. Here is what happens when you turn in completed items above: All your paperwork and a copy of receipt will be placed in an individual envelope with your name on it. You will receive a receipt for the paperwork and cash received Once a month the applications will be taken to the consulate and processed (approximately 4 weeks) then sent in your prepaid envelope to IShop who will notify you. Questions: pifernr@gmail.com

EXACT STEPS FOR SUBMITTING ADULT PASSPORTS FOR RENEWAL Drop off 2ND MONDAY at LCS 10:00 am-12:00 pm Use form DS-82 for renewal fee $110 USD · *See item 5 for paying with pesos When dropping off at Lake Chapala Society bring the following: 1. Completed form using black ink 2. Proper 2”X2” color passport photos (NO GLASSES) and do NOT staple to form. 3. Your current passport and a copy 4.A pre paid Fed Ex envelope purchased at IShop in San Antonio (short block East from Super Lake) Originating address: US Consulate calle Progreso 175, Col Americana, Americana, 44100 Guadalajara, Jal. 5.Payment in CASH ONLY either US dollars or Mexican pesos at the current monthly rate. EXACT CHANGE ONLY Current rate: RATE SUBJECT TO CHANGE For current monthly rate inquire at email address below The rate is set by the US Consulate NOT current bank rate Of special note question #8 is your US address or mail forwarding address and question #18 is your local Mexico address. Also please be sure the photo is as shown below with a smooth white background. Genesis Digital photography is located at Ocompo #34 in Ajijic. Here is what happens when you turn in completed items above: All your paperwork and a copy of receipt will be placed in an individual envelope with your name on it. You will receive a receipt for the paperwork and cash received Once a month the applications will be taken to the consulate and processed (approximately 4 weeks) then sent in your prepaid envelope to IShop who will notify you. Questions: pifernr@gmail.com

Message for U.S. Citizens: U.S. Embassy Mexico City (May 26, 2021) Location: Mexico Event: U.S. citizens may directly return to the United States with certain expired U.S. passports. If you are abroad and your passport expired on or after January 1, 2020, you may be able to use your expired passport to return directly to the United States until December 31, 2021. You qualify for this exception if all the following are true: You are a U.S. citizen. You are currently abroad seeking direct return to the United States. You are flying directly to the United States, a United States territory, or have only short-term transit (“connecting flights”) through a foreign country on your direct return to the United States or to a United States Territory. Your expired passport was originally valid for 10 years. Or, if you were 15 years of age or younger when the passport was issued, your expired passport was valid for 5 years. Your expired passport is undamaged. Your expired passport is unaltered. Your expired passport is in your possession. You do not qualify for this exception if: You wish to depart from the United States to an international destination. You are currently abroad seeking to travel to a foreign country for any length of stay longer than an airport connection en route to the United States or to a United States territory. Your expired passport was limited in validity. Your expired passport is a special issuance passport (such as a diplomatic, official, service, or no-fee regular passport). Your expired passport is damaged. Your expired passport is altered. Your expired passport is not in your possession. Please be advised that currently, routine passport processing in the United States can take 10-12 weeks. If you need a passport in less than 10-12 weeks due to international travel plans, you can pay an additional $60 fee to expedite your passport, which will shorten the processing time to 4-6 weeks. If your U.S. passport expired on or before December 31, 2019, please see our website for information on how to renew your passport before traveling: https://mx.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/making-an-appointment/

Message for U.S. Citizens: U.S. Embassy Mexico City (May 26, 2021) Location: Mexico Event: U.S. citizens may directly return to the United States with certain expired U.S. passports. If you are abroad and your passport expired on or after January 1, 2020, you may be able to use your expired passport to return directly to the United States until December 31, 2021. You qualify for this exception if all the following are true: You are a U.S. citizen. You are currently abroad seeking direct return to the United States. You are flying directly to the United States, a United States territory, or have only short-term transit (“connecting flights”) through a foreign country on your direct return to the United States or to a United States Territory. Your expired passport was originally valid for 10 years. Or, if you were 15 years of age or younger when the passport was issued, your expired passport was valid for 5 years. Your expired passport is undamaged. Your expired passport is unaltered. Your expired passport is in your possession. You do not qualify for this exception if: You wish to depart from the United States to an international destination. You are currently abroad seeking to travel to a foreign country for any length of stay longer than an airport connection en route to the United States or to a United States territory. Your expired passport was limited in validity. Your expired passport is a special issuance passport (such as a diplomatic, official, service, or no-fee regular passport). Your expired passport is damaged. Your expired passport is altered. Your expired passport is not in your possession. Please be advised that currently, routine passport processing in the United States can take 10-12 weeks. If you need a passport in less than 10-12 weeks due to international travel plans, you can pay an additional $60 fee to expedite your passport, which will shorten the processing time to 4-6 weeks. If your U.S. passport expired on or before December 31, 2019, please see our website for information on how to renew your passport before traveling: https://mx.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/making-an-appointment/

Message for U.S. Citizens: U.S. Embassy Mexico City (May 26, 2021) Location: Mexico Event: U.S. citizens may directly return to the United States with certain expired U.S. passports. If you are abroad and your passport expired on or after January 1, 2020, you may be able to use your expired passport to return directly to the United States until December 31, 2021. You qualify for this exception if all the following are true: You are a U.S. citizen. You are currently abroad seeking direct return to the United States. You are flying directly to the United States, a United States territory, or have only short-term transit (“connecting flights”) through a foreign country on your direct return to the United States or to a United States Territory. Your expired passport was originally valid for 10 years. Or, if you were 15 years of age or younger when the passport was issued, your expired passport was valid for 5 years. Your expired passport is undamaged. Your expired passport is unaltered. Your expired passport is in your possession. You do not qualify for this exception if: You wish to depart from the United States to an international destination. You are currently abroad seeking to travel to a foreign country for any length of stay longer than an airport connection en route to the United States or to a United States territory. Your expired passport was limited in validity. Your expired passport is a special issuance passport (such as a diplomatic, official, service, or no-fee regular passport). Your expired passport is damaged. Your expired passport is altered. Your expired passport is not in your possession. Please be advised that currently, routine passport processing in the United States can take 10-12 weeks. If you need a passport in less than 10-12 weeks due to international travel plans, you can pay an additional $60 fee to expedite your passport, which will shorten the processing time to 4-6 weeks. If your U.S. passport expired on or before December 31, 2019, please see our website for information on how to renew your passport before traveling: https://mx.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/making-an-appointment/

ACSMexicoCity@state.gov Tue, Apr 27, 11:23 AM (2 days ago) Event: Four Year Work Permits Now Available for U.S. Citizens in Mexico (April 27, 2021) The governments of Mexico and the United States continue to work together to facilitate regular, safe, and productive travel that strengthens ties between our countries. U.S. citizens are now eligible to obtain Mexican work permits valid for up to four years, eliminating the need to renew work permits annually. The process of obtaining a Mexican work permit normally begins with applying for a work visa. Prospective employers in Mexico submit an application for a temporary residency visa with permission to work to the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM). Once INM approves the application, U.S. citizens must request a consular interview at the Mexican Embassy or the nearest Mexican Consulate in the United States. If the interview is favorable, the visa will be issued. Within 30 days of arrival in Mexico, the U.S. citizen should exchange the work visa for a work permit.  The duration of the work permit will be based on the employer’s request and the length of the employee’s contract. More information on obtaining work permits and work visas in Mexico is available here in English only. U.S. citizens currently residing in Mexico whose work contracts are extended by their employers can renew their temporary residence card in Mexico. However, it must be done within 30 days prior to the expiration of your temporary residence card and you will need to present proof of employment continuity. Please check the INM website for additional information. For additional FAQs, please go here. Assistance: For Emergency Assistance for U.S. citizens in Mexico, call (55) 8526 2561 from Mexico or 1-844-528-6611 from the United States. State Department – Consular Affairs: 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444 Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. Follow the U.S. Embassy in Mexico on Facebook and Twitter. Review the Crime and Safety Reports for Mexico. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

In addition to accepting renewals at Lake Chapala Society, there is a new adult passport renewal program incorporating unscheduled walk-ins for DS-82s at the consulate in Guadalajara. There is information on our website https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/guadalajara/american-services/ in case anyone has anything urgent, they can start coming by on any Tuesday or Wednesday morning from 11:30-12:30 starting on April 13 if they follow all the instructions on the website. There may be some long lines for a while during that hour and some may be turned away. Please refer to the website if you have quick need to do a DS-82 or DS-5504. We are requiring people using that walk-in program to use the electronic form filler at https://pptform.state.gov/?Submit2=Complete+Online+%26+Print Please start using as the electroinc form as it's a cleaner, online-filled version that you can then print and sign. Makes things a bit easier, quicker and more accurate (no issues with bad handwriting, etc.)

The brother of the person organizing the traffic lights at the WalMart intersection is the one who organized the Covid inoculations on the malecon. 😄

Chapala towards the lake behind the large tire store near Soriana. Sorry don't know name but 1/2 block approximately toward lake.

Expired up to 10 years can be renewed with regular method at LCS with no penalty.

I doubt it

Ajijic bound posted wrong info. Following is accurate. ONLY adult renewals EXACT STEPS FOR SUBMITTING ADULT PASSPORTS FOR RENEWAL as of MARCH 1, 2021 Drop off Saturdays at LCS 10:30 am-12:30 pm Use form DS-82 for renewal fee $110 USD · *See item 5 for paying with pesos When dropping off at Lake Chapala Society bring the following: 1. Completed form using black ink 2. Proper 2”X2” color passport photo (NO GLASSES) 3. Your current passport and a copy 4.A pre paid Fed Ex envelope purchased at IShop in San Antonio (short block East from Super Lake) Originating address: US Consulate calle Progreso 175, Col Americana, Americana, 44100 Guadalajara, Jal. 5.Payment in CASH ONLY either US dollars or Mexican pesos at the current monthly rate. EXACT CHANGE ONLY Current rate: RATE SUBJECT TO CHANGE If you are paying with pesos, the adult renewal amount is 2255 pesos. (20.5) Of special note question #8 is your US address or mail forwarding address and question #18 is your local Mexico address. Also please be sure the photo is as shown below with a smooth white background. Genesis Digital photography is located at Ocompo #34 in Ajijic. Here is what happens when you turn in completed items above: All your paperwork and a copy of receipt will be placed in an individual envelope with your name on it. You will receive a receipt for the paperwork and cash received Twice a month the applications will be taken to the consulate and processed (approximately 4 weeks) then sent in your prepaid envelope to IShop who will notify you. Questions: pifernr@gmail.com

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