I moved here (from South Florida) expecting it to be hot and difficult I enjoy Medellin for having a pretty moderate climate in comparison so I couldnt have been more wrong. I have visited and lived in Mexico City, San Miguel del Allende and Merida. After getting a taste of the lifestyle in Mexico, many Expats apply for residency along with a retirement visa. In my time spent in living in various cities framed by the azure waters of the Mayan Rivera, as well as my travels all over the country, I encountered many things that stood out to me, for better or for worse, that I thought definitely gave me a great overall view of what life as an American expat is really like south of the border. For what it is worth, I also live in Richmond, Va. Been here about 7 years and I agree with the earlier comments about it being a pretty cool USA city. The fact you were mostly on the tourist trail really warped your impression I think. So many Expats even indulge in a more extravagant lifestyle by hiring house help, for example. Almost always sunny, never too hot, never too cold, almost no pollution. Yesterday I wrapped up a 5-week exploratory trip through Mexico. Moving to Mexico FAQ from Where Can I Live, Mexico is making the transition from Minimum Salary (MS) to Unit of Measurement and Updating (UMA), Long-term visas and permanent residence permits, Mexican Dual Citizenship and Passport by Naturalization guide. Then, many of these incidents are happening in the border towns of Tijuana and Juarez. If youve never been to the country and want to know if Mexico is right for you, a short visit may be best. I mostly drank Coronas, and strawberry daiquiris at the beach (dont judge). Im sure its fantastic. what can i say we love to dance and have a good time. [su_list icon="icon: square-o"] Underwear & socks x 5-10. Colombia is a big country. This Mexico visa is for anyone who wants to become a Mexican citizen eventually or intends to become a permanent resident in Mexico. admiration right there. I already know from friends that you can rent an apartment in Playa del Carmen for $300 a month, which is similar to what Im paying for just a room in Medellin. To apply to be a temporary resident, the length of your stay should be around six months. I desperately want to move, to either Colombia or Mexico (or 3rd place Italy). It was not until the 1970s when the presence of Colombians increased . This should go without saying, but Mexican food is truly the food of the gods, and despite how good those Mission style tacos from San Francisco might be, they got nothing on the taquerias here in the land of the luchadores. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Also, if you dont know Mexican nightlife, you dont know Mexico. Medelln is the city of eternal spring, a very hemosa city, and with musical performances of category such as the mariachis medellin mix show. Bring all your paperwork to the appointment, including proof of your address in Mexico. Reading this I feel like I have to step up and say something.. The CEPE (Curso de espaol y cultura mexicana para extranjeros) offered by the Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico (UNAM) has a great reputation. I love San Miguel de Allende and the state of Guanajuato.San Miguel does have considerable air pollution and crime by the way Mexico is so huge that all the states are like other countries. I even so a brush fire along a highway on the way to Guadalajara. From my experience, Colombia is quite a bit cheaper than Mexico, but I guess it depends on where you go. Requirements for persons moving to Belize include the filling out of application forms, providing documents such as police records, passport copies, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and proof of income. Because Mexico is so close to the U.S.A., many potential residents will . So without further ado, heres my main Pros and Cons list for you, to help you see what its really like moving to Mexico as an expat! The price of meat varies between $6.94 for beefsteak and $5.84 for minced meat to $3.10 for fresh fish. Here are 16 things that surprised me the most about living here. . Interesting post. Moving to Mexico from the USA. Yorman and his team getconsistent excellent reviews pluswe continuously assess their performance and value to our clients. N/A. It will help you with customs, legal paperwork, finding a job, and opening a bank account. I was eating at a lot of tourist-oriented restaurants, especially on the Yucatan. It also has a nice year-round climate. Before moving to Mexico, bear in mind that this is not a country where banking is easy. This visa is good for 3 years before it needs to be renewed. Asylum seekers walking together as a "caravan" are temporarily detained from entering a highway in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico by Mexican law enforcement officials. Long-term visas and permanent residence permits are considered immigrant visas. Colombia is an up and comer for Americans. There's still a slight stigma against unmarried and divorced men here. Colombia seems like a great place with a lot to see, but comparing it to Mexico would be like comparing the Ukraine with Russia. Have lived 2 consecutive years under a temporary residence permit while married to a citizen. Sorry Jake, but I have bad news for you. Medelln is a city with a more neutral and stable climate with temperatures ranging between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You have to wrap up life in your home country while ensuring everything is in place in your new home. In the evening the temperature can drop to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10C). Mexico has both public and private healthcare systems. What was your experience as an expat there? Besides Bogot and Medelln, tap water in Colombia should not be drank, especially if you're only visiting for a short stay. Those are my main peeves. Living in Mexico as an American, you can get a higher quality of life at a fraction of the cost. The Mexico Immigration Office no longer allows tourists to visit Mexico for up to 180-days automatically. I cant say about the weather because Colombia has very diferent weather depending on where you go. When you are moving to Colombia, if you are planing to live in a small apartment and carrying just certain items, you will be needing a 20ft container. Also, I can guarantee Mexico is a lot more expensive than Colombia. This Mexico visa is a one-year residence card that you can renew for up to four years. And, doing a language course or exchange is common once you arrive in Mexico. what an absolutely unfair and obtuse statement to make. However, we still advise using a quality Mexican Immigration lawyer to ensure you choose the correct residency option and successfully apply. In 2013, Mexico was visited by ~24 million tourists. The weather in Mexico City is glorious. I think the people who believe Colombia is more expensive have only been to the North Caribbean coast (i.e., Cartagena, Santa Marta), which is quite expensive. You then have 30 days from when you arrive in Mexico to register with the local immigration office and obtain your physical residence card. Mexico is more safe and organized 2 Summary of the things to know before moving to Mexico. To be fair, the rainy season is about to begin, and I know it can get quite wet on the Yucatan once the tropical rains start pushing through, but outside of the jungle in Palenque, the scenery didnt do much for me. But, again, Mexico is huge and very diverse, so generalizations are deceptive.. $0.67/one-way ticket. Based on that, CRA will decide on what type of resident can you be identified as. Book a consultation with them here. Past all those fundamentally obvious points, even in the most dangerous places in Mexico, what are youre actual chances of being a victim. I also prefer Latin music and dancing compared to what you get in the US (even though there are some excellent places to dance around DC, NYC, Miami, Vegas, and LA. Moving to Mexico from the United States is significantly easier than moving further abroad. 9. Note that if you import more than 3 pets, you will need to pay additional fees. Its really sad whats happening there, for the Mexicans as well as the foreigners. Be aware: most banking is still done in person in Mexico. Continue Reading More answers below 2. Baja is completely different than Veracruz or San Cristobal ChiapasColombia looks beautiful. The Mayan Riviera is hugely popular, and I was mostly interested in Playa del Carmen as a potential base. Try to book a reputable moving company at least two months before moving to Mexico to ensure all your stuff gets there in time. Also similar to Peru, Mexico has had a wide range of ancient civilizations set up shop throughout its history. If you do not have this, youll have to pay to store your goods until it is procured. The warmth and closeness of the people translates towards a very laid-back, welcoming vibe that Mexicans have in absolute strides. When you move to Mexico, we always suggest renting a property before you choose a place to live. Please keep Medellin Living going. Once they complete their application, you can then apply for a work visa. As you are doing in Richmond. For U.S. citizens living abroad, referred to as expatriates or expats, maintaining checking and other bank accounts in the United States provides several advantages. Youll also need to provide a detailed inventory list in Spanish. Dinner Meal (Eating out locally) $3-5. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Nice to hear Oaxaca has a good climate. A lot of luxuries like eating out and hiring house help are available at a fraction of the cost. 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, Making the switch is easy. Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon, Portugal | Photo by Stephen Knowles Photography Due to the difference between US dollars and Mexican pesos, you can stretch your income a lot more. Colombians are Friendly and Welcoming. We did the research and assessment to choose them, and we dont get paid for the recommendation. It is nos even possible to compare Mexico culture with the Colombian. And weve also got a complete guide to Retiring in Mexico for those lucky enough to have the opportunity. It is what you need to enter Mexico legally. And they target your specific level, so you get the most out of the class. 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