The United States president was quoted saying that Mexico has the strongest immigration laws in the world. This is after he also said that they started apprehending Central American migrants on the southern border of Mexico from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.
So let’s face the facts here. Does Mexico have the strongest immigration laws in the world? Experts tend to disagree totally with President Trump. It is true Mexico has penalties for violations relating to immigration but it repealed the crossing the border act in 2011. It is no longer a criminal offense. This is different in the United States where illegal entry is regarded as a misdemeanor if it is the first time and it will be a felony for offenders repeating it.
The Facts
Trump claimed that Mexico started detaining thousands of migrants from the southern border only recently. Well, this is false information as the Mexican authorities at the border had cases of immigration involving 886,640 people since 2011 to this year February.
Now the following are some of the laws on immigration in Mexico.
Short Stay Visas
These are visas for six months and below. This is a short period of time so probably a visitor permit kind of visa will be issued. There are two types of visitor permits in Mexico. If you are just on vacation then you will be issued a visitor permit but with no permission to engage in any activity that generates income.
In case you are on a business function or you are an online freelancer and you will work during your short stay then you will be issued a visitor permit with permission to engage in activities that bring you income. Both visas permit you to stay in Mexico for 180 days. If you are flying in then the fee for these visas will be included in the airline ticket.
Non-Immigrant Visas
In any case, you wish to stay more than 180 days in Mexico then you will have to apply for a Mexican temporary resident one. With this, you can stay in Mexico for up to one year. You can be able to renew this visa but only up to four times the maximum. You can also leave and come back to Mexico at any time without restrictions as long as the visa validity is still active.
Holders of this visa are permitted to engage in non-profit or profit-making activities in the country among other activities too. You must, however, be able to prove that you are able to sustain yourself while in Mexico. You could be having a loaded bank account or a stable contract that pays you some good money.
Immigrant Visas
If you want to be in Mexico for more than the renewable four years the non-immigrant visas issue, then you will have to apply for a Mexican permanent resident. This applies also if you want to become a Mexican by naturalization. If issued with this visa then you indefinitely remain in Mexico.
The holders of this type of visa are required to have registered with the foreigners National Register. In becoming a full Mexican citizen you have to go through naturalization and again you have to pass a certain examination.