Jalisco immigration chief Ricardo Vera Lira this week named a new head officer for Chapala INM services in the first major staff shake-up since the permanent lakeside branch office opened its doors in April 2011.
Gustavo Gonzalez Matute took charge of the Chapala delegation effective as of Wednesday, September 11. He replaces Juan Carlos Galvan Esparza, who has been promoted to the top INM post at Guadalajara’s Miguel Hidalgo International Airport.
The new office chief is an experienced INM official who was brought in from the agency’s legal department at Guadalajara headquarters. He was introduced to a select group of community leaders on Tuesday afternoon by Jalisco INM sub-delegate Carlos Ortega Torres, who also announced the assignment of additional personnel to boost efficiency in managing the Chapala office’s heavy work load.
Torres indicated that customer service will be immediately enhanced with three front office desk positions now filled for regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well extra staff coming aboard to handle paperwork in the inner offices.
It should be noted that opening time sometimes falls behind schedule due to highway traffic conditions that may delay the arrival of staff traveling in from the Guadalajara metro area.
Lake Chapala president Howard Feldstein asked the officials to address the possibility of relaxing some of the more vexing angles of the new Immigration law and regulations that took effect last November. Particular points of concern include the significant increase in the amount of income or investments required to qualify for residency permits and, in certain cases, the necessity of leaving the country to apply for a new status.
Torres explained that INM is currently obligated to adhere to the Ley Migratoria as written, but that some reforms will likely be forthcoming. He suggested federal legislators probably lacked a clear understanding of the financial realities and living circumstances of many retirees counted among the country’s foreign population. However, INM Comissioner Ardelio Vargas Fosado is now aware of the problems that have emerged over the past year and those factors will be considered in eventually developing modifications to the law, its complementary regulations and internal INM policies.
The official noted that in general INM procedures have been simplified and streamlined under the new law, making it easier for foreigners to deal with paperwork on their own, without hired help from intermediaries. Nonetheless, he stressed that the Guadalajara office is committed to facilitating matters for lakeside expats, not only by increasing personnel at the local office, but also taking the initiative to program open tutorial sessions that will help clarify immigration rules and red tape processes.
Expat stats
Questioned on official statistics about the number of foreigners visiting and living at lakeside, Galvan revealed that local records show approximately 7,500 foreign nationals registered as regular residents with permanent or temporary status. While it is more difficult to pinpoint the destination of persons who come into the country on tourist visitor permits, he estimates that the area’s total foreign populace probably runs closer to 10,000, taking into account part-time seasonal residents.