Giving Birth in Mexico
Posted by matt on 11.04.11For foreign couples residing in Mexico, the idea of having a child here may provoke a range of negative reactions. The safety and cleanliness of the hospitals, the competence and reliability of the doctors, and your ability to get to and from the hospital reliably are all valid concerns.
However, your initial instinct to rush back to the comfort of the so-called “first world” is probably motivated more by fear than careful consideration of the alternatives. After weighing the options with an open mind, many foreigners are discovering that the advantages of giving birth in Mexico are in fact greater than the disadvantages. This is especially true for Americans, for whom the costs of pregnancy, birth, and follow-up care have become not only outrageous, but totally unaffordable for uninsured Americans and unsustainable in the long run for everyone.
Tags: birth, doctors, health care, hospitals, pregnancyStreet vendors on the increase in Mexico
Posted by matt on 05.26.11Travelers visiting Mexico in recent years may have been surprised by both the sharp increase and sheer number of people selling things in the street. Besides the multitude of street stalls in urban areas, more and more Mexicans are choosing to make a living as ambulatory salesmen and women who walk around selling inexpensive items to the public at large. Why is this happening, and why is this trend so pronounced in Mexico?
Part of the reason is historical and geographical. The tradition of the traveling salesman in Mexico is thousands of years old and highly developed, rooted in the trade that flourished between numerous, culturally distinct tribes. The central location of Mexico City within the highly populated, fertile areas of southern Mexico has also provided nomadic entrepreneurs with a convenient trading hub since Aztec times. During colonial times Mexico City became an even more important trading center, both as a market for indigenous products and a place where high quality European goods could be purchased for resale at high margins in rural areas. And in these modern times, small-business resellers provide services of enormous importance to the economies of villages that are not well connected with urban centers. In these areas, nearly anyone living in a city with a car can make a steady income by buying products in bulk in urban centers, repackaging them in smaller quantities, and delivering them directly to customers who live far from big box stores and don’t have cars.
However, there have been two recent factors that have affected this tradition greatly. The first has to do with the influence of American factories and industries in Mexico since the passage of NAFTA during the Clinton administration. The second is the establishment of wholesale outlets, in Mexico but under Chinese control, for a plethora of cheap Chinese products.
Getting robbed in Mexico
Posted by matt on 09.27.10Sadly, thievery and fraud is much more common in Mexico than in other countries, and it is one of the things that is hard to learn to accept. It is tempting to simply excuse it away as a consequence of the country’s poverty, but unfortunately, it’s not so easy. There are many countries that are poorer than Mexico where theft is not as common, and theft in Mexico is hardly limited to its poorest people. Why are theft, fraud, and other behaviors that are not publicly tolerated elsewhere so widely accepted in Mexico, and so little done about it?
English, commonwealth, and North American traditions are based on a deep sense of personal (as opposed to family, or social) honor, of which honesty and respect for property are principal components. For most of us lying and stealing are simply wrong, and someone who steals or lies lacks honor and is not worthy of respect. It is often difficult for us to accept any other interpretation of events.
While honor for us is primarily defined by actions or behaviors that may be perceived as honorable or dishonorable, honor in Mexico is based on relationships and saving face. Honor is really about living up to the expectations that your peers and society in general have of you. As such, honor and moral decisions are more frequently associated with social roles and one’s willingness and ability to play along with established conventions in a way that is generally respected. This is as true for wealthy politicians as it is for people living on the street. In both cases what you do specifically is not as important as making sure you treat people in your peer group appropriately.
What to do if police pull you over in Mexico
Posted by matt on 08.18.10When driving in Mexico and specifically Oaxaca, one really should be aware of their basic legal rights and local laws, as interactions with law enforcement officials can sometimes eave one with a bad taste in the mouth that may take a long time to go away.
The coastal highway that passes through Puerto Escondido and Huatulco is a zona federal and is patrolled by federales, who operate with different rules than local police. Getting stopped by a federale is generally considered more of a problem than getting stopped by a local policeman, although this is not always true. Federales are mostly concerned with drugs, weapons, and lack of plates or current registration, all of which can carry heavy fines or penalties. They also stop and fine people carrying wood, palm, or other tropical materials for construction, which is illegal without a permit and can be a surprisingly serious offense.
There are also military roadblocks in both federal zones (highway) and on rural roads. At roadblocks soldiers randomly search vehicles looking for drugs or weapons, but seem not to care about anything else. The searches rarely go beyond a cursory inspection of the car’s contents, and present little cause for alarm.
In Mexico one occasionally hears urban legends of drugs being planted in people’s vehicles. While probably this has happened at various times and places, the risks of this happening in Oaxaca are low. If it did happen, it would certainly be unlikely to happen at a military checkpoint where there is a constant flow of traffic and lots of young inexperienced soldiers wandering around for whom involvement in a conspiracy would probably exceed their capabilities. If this were to happen, this would be more likely to happen at the hands of a policeman who stopped you on the side of a deserted highway. When being searched in remote areas one should take care to watch the official searching the vehicle carefully and in a very obvious manner.
Getting Mexican Citizenship
Posted by matt on 05.28.10Mexico offers two paths for permanent residency: You can become a naturalized citizen (meaning Mexican, but not by birth), or you can be an Immigrant (meaning that you enjoy most of the privileges of being a Mexican citizen except the ability to vote, and you retain your previous citizenship). Whether you choose to become a citizen or immigrant depends primarily on what kind of relationship you wish to have with your native country. As an Immigrant you must still notify Immigration whenever there is a change in your status and there are restrictions on the amount of time you can spend outside the country.
Mexico allows dual citizenship, although you are supposed to hand over your foreign passport when you are given citizenship. If you become a Mexican citizen, you lose your right to appeal to your native country for aid under any circumstances while in Mexico. When outside Mexico, you are free to travel on whatever passport you choose, and in theory can appeal to the Mexican government for aid, although if you are not traveling under your Mexican passport it is not clear whether your request will be honored.
For Americans, note that the U.S. respects dual nationality in the case that a person has a non-American parent or marries a foreigner. However the U.S. does NOT allow dual nationality if a U.S. citizen voluntarily seeks citizenship in another country. U.S. citizens who apply for citizenship to another country can potentially risk losing their U.S. citizenship.
For both citizenship and immigrant status you must start by getting an FM2, which will put you on track to immigrate (either option). You can get an FM3 for as long as you want before getting an FM2, or request one immediately upon entry into the country. Make the decision to switch to an FM2 from an FM3 only if you are sure you wish to immigrate, as the terms are more restrictive. With an FM2 you cannot leave the country for more than 18 months (cumulative, total) during the 5 years from the day you are given your first FM2 until the day you are either granted citizenship or immigrant status. You must also register and pay taxes for any foreign vehicles. (More information about getting your FM3 is covered in the post Mexican residency: getting an FM3 or FM2.)
Tags: citizenship, FM2, FM3, immigration, MexicoEstablishing residency in Mexico
Posted by matt on 05.26.10For foreigners who wish to establish residency and live or work in Mexico, jumping through the bureaucratic hoops at the Office of Immigration is a frustrating experience for nearly everyone. This article will attempt to provide some general advice and information about getting residency and a work permit. However, it should be clearly pointed out at the outset that providing complete and accurate information here is simply not possible, because immigration officials themselves have been known to provide contradictory information with respect to how details are addressed. This is not their fault; it is not a question of their competence as much as it is a reflection of Mexico’s corporate and government work culture, which rewards strict obedience and discourages empowering local authorities. And of course, the procedures are always being changed.
There are several options for getting residency as a foreigner. If you have sufficient savings or income from investments, you can apply to be a rentista, which allows you to live in Mexico but not work. You can also get a residency as an “investor” by transferring a substantial sum of money into the country. Check the website for necessary amounts of money, as these numbers may change with the peso. You can also be invited by a Mexican organization or work for a Mexican company, and you can start your own Mexican company as well. There are additional options for journalists, athletes, refugees, and others, and of course the best long term option for many people is ultimately to marry a Mexican or have a Mexican child.
For those seeking residency, the process typically starts by getting a migratory document called an FM3, which allows people to work and live with a few constraints. FM3 holders can leave the country at will with very little restrictions, and can be renewed forever, so many people live with an FM3 indefinitely. The status of an FM3 holder is referred to as “No Inmigrante”, which means that as far as the government is concerned you are not on track to immigrate. The disadvantage of having an FM3 is that you must renew your status with immigration every year, as well as every time you move or change jobs. Renewing your FM3 costs about 2000 pesos.
Tags: citizenship, FM2, FM3, immigration, Mexico, residencyGood Oaxaca websites
Posted by matt on 05.18.10In addition to the number of websites offering tourist information about Oaxaca and “portal” sites attempting mostly to direct traffic at sponsors, there are a number of excellent sites with information useful for foreign residents. Most of the tourist resources are not included here. Many of the links below have physical offices as well that may be worth visiting.
Also see the section on Newspapers and publications, many of which have online presences.
English:
Oaxaca Calendar is a calendar of events for Oaxaca City and the surroundings published for the English speaking community in Oaxaca. Maintained by local resident Margaret Barclay, the site is well designed, frequently updated, and is the best place to go for information about things going on.
The English Lending Library is a friendly organization with free information about Oaxaca. Stop in in person when in Oaxaca City, or check out their newsletter. Besides a directory of services, local events, and other information available on their website, they offer an emergency contact service for foreigners abroad; you can fill out the form and in case of emergency they will contact relatives for you. If you are looking for personal help with questions about Oaxaca, this is a great place to go.
Tags: information, websitesOaxaca newspapers and magazines
Posted by matt on 05.18.10Oaxaca has a large number of newspapers relative to its size, including several daily papers featuring mostly regional and local news with smaller sections on sports, style, and often a “seguridad” section on crime and justice issues. In addition there are a host of smaller political papers catering to various political and social tendencies, as well as several magazines. The following is a short list of Oaxacan publications.
The only local English language paper is the Oaxaca Times, although the national English daily The News is available at most news stands.
Oaxaca Times
Small, bi-monthly English language newspaper about Oaxaca City. Contains special feature and/or cultural articles, restaurant reviews, travel articles featuring regional attractions, some current events (although not reliably current or comprehensive), as well as a map of Oaxaca center and small but potentially useful classified ad section for housing, medical, and other options.
Noticias
One of the two main daily newspapers (along with the Imparcial), generally considered the more liberal and independent of the two. Noticias was temporarily closed down during the teachers strike in 2006 for criticizing the local government, but reopened shortly afterward. Substantial coverage of regional and some national news, with a few smaller sections on sports, style, etc. and classified ads. Little or no international news.
What to do if your rights have been violated in Mexico
Posted by matt on 05.12.10If you find yourself in a situation in which you feel your human rights have been violated by a federal or state authority such as the police or by another public servant, you can contact Derechos Humanos, a organization dedicated to protecting your rights. If you choose to live in Oaxaca or spend significant amount of time here, and are not allied with an employer, university, or other organization that could help you with problems you encounter here, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself a bit with the organization and the services they offer.
There is a national commission called the Comision Nacional de Derechos Humanos, and also regional bodies called Comisiones Estatales de Derechos Humanos. In Oaxaca the state commission is the Comision para la defensa de Derechos Humanos del estado de Oaxaca. Whether you contact the federal or state organization will depend on whether you are accusing a federal authority or state authority of a violation. Both websites listed here are helpful and offer contact information. A link to the page with Oaxaca contact info and national contact info is provided at the end of this post.
Tags: derechos humanos, Human rights, MexicoThe drug war in Oaxaca
Posted by matt on 05.11.10The drug war in Mexico is still on the increase, with an incredible 22,000 deaths in the last 3 years alone. Some parts of the country, such as Sinaloa, Michoacan, and the border areas near Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez are particularly bad, with gang-related street violence an everyday occurrence. Fortunately for us, Oaxaca is one of the regions where gang-related violence is less common, and there is currently little reason for concern.
Oaxaca is on the trafficking route north from Colombia and is a producer of marijuana, but currently there is little conflict between cartels here. In Oaxaca City there are occasional incidents (as there are everywhere in Mexico), and also there is some activity in rural areas where there may be plantations. There has also been increased activity in the ocean between Oaxaca and Colombia, where U.S. and Mexican navies have picked up submarines and speedboats. Occasionally there are accidents where drugs wash up on shore, and when this has happened the cartels usually arrive promptly to claim the merchandise, which they are very successful at persuading the locals to part with without resorting to violence. In general, while there is certainly drug trafficking going on, one sees surprisingly little evidence of it, or of any danger.
Tags: drug war, Mexico, violence