Friday, March 27 was a red-letter day at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) where scores of local expats congregated for a special forum with officials from the Instituto Nacional de las Personas Adultas Mayores (INAPAM) and the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM).
During the event, 150 INAPAM credentials were issued to individuals who had previously filed applications through LCS to get in on the agency’s broad scale senior citizen discount program. More than 50 foreigners also attended to pick up newly issued INM permanent and temporary residency visas.
LCS President Ben White introduced guest of honor Alma Salas Montiel, head of INAPAM’s Jalisco office, along with INM officials Gustavo Gonzalez Matute and Patricia Garcia Quezada; Guillermina Cosio Gaona, head of the Instituto Jalisciense del Adulto Mayor; Consuelo Manzo Chavez, director of senior citizen programs at the state’s Ministry of Social Development; Peter Marigliano, chief of American Citizens Services at Guadalajara’s U.S. Consulate; and Yolanda Martinez Llamas, lakeside delegate for the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce.
Salas then opened the speaking program, offering a warm welcome to foreigners who have chosen to settle in Mexico, on behalf of President Enrique Peña Nieto and Jalisco Governor Aristotoles Sandoval Diaz.
“Mexico’s government is inclusive, making no distinction between people of different nationalities, ethnicities, ages and beliefs,” she declared. “From today forward we encourage you to fully integrate with Mexican society and take part in your community.”
White mentioned that LCS will continue facilitating INAPAM inscriptions, to be resumed following the June 7 elections. Interested parties may stop in at the LCS office to get all the details.
The second portion of the event was led by Gonzalez, who briefly outlined the INM temporary amnesty program available to many foreigners currently residing in the country with lapsed immigration papers or other status irregularities. Launched last January, the Programa de Regularizacion will remain in effect through December 18 of this year. It is open only to foreign nationals who can show proof of entering the country before November 9, 2012 and remaining inside the borders since then. It does not apply to individua
ls who are currently awaiting pending INM resolutions (including deportation procedures), nor those who provided false information or fraudulent documentation in filing visa applications.
Persons who do meet the litmus test will benefit by qualifying for temporary resident visas valid for four years, with rights for multiple exits and entries to the nation, preservation of family unity, and possibilities of eventually obtaining work permits and permanent residency status. While amnesty candidates are not subject to expulsion orders and fines, they will be obligated to cover pertinent INM processing fees.
For full information, consult staff at any INM office or the agency’s dedicated webpage www.inm.gob.mx/index.php/page/regularizacion_migratoria.