Exercise: 30 pushups, 50 leglifts and 200 crunches. I'm hoping to get this at least doubled by next week.
So I guess a lot of people are upset over the immigration debate because they think there's a double standard when it comes to Mexico's laws as opposed to the US laws. They think that Mexico makes it terribly difficult to immigrate there yet the US just opens its arms so to speak. If these people who are so upset over this so called double standard actually took the time to read up on immigration laws rather than listening to extremists who only represent one side and make things look like such an atrocity, they might find out that the differences between the US and Mexico aren't as great as the "shockers" are making it out to be. When it comes right down to it, it would probably be easier to get into Mexico legally than it would be to get into the US.
Like with the US and the UK, the more well known ways to "get your foot in the door" in Mexico are:
- Marry a citizen.
- Find a company who will sponsor you and can prove that you possess a skill that can't be provided by anyone else in the country.
- Be independently wealthy.
Now the one thing that Mexico seems to do that I don't believe the US or the UK does is a permit for retirees. This is for people 50 and older who aren't looking to work or make money but can prove they have a means to support themselves. The income requirement - 400 times the daily minimum wage per month and an additional 200 times daily minimum wage per month for each dependent. Might sound like a lot right? Here's the shocker - it comes up to just over $1600/month for the retiree alone. Pretty darn cheap if you ask me since that wouldn't even cover our house payment, dues, and one car for Chi and me.
It seems like one of the biggest fits is being thrown over the idea of going there as an investor because it is said that the minimum amount of money allowed is 40,000 time the daily minimum wage. Guess what? This amount that everyone thinks sounds so horrendous comes out just under $165,000 - barely a drop in the bucket for a serious investor. Here's the real kicker though. If you wish to come to the US as an investor, you have to have $500,000 to $1,000,000. In the UK, you are required to have the equivalent of about $400,000. Gee now that 40,000 times daily minimum wage isn't sounding so bad.
Like the US, you can be a foreign national and be a full resident. Doing this will entitle you to all the rights and benefits of a Mexican National (living, working, claiming state benefits, and paying taxes) but you can't vote. This is the same for a resident alien in the States. The one difference has to do with a possibility of prohibiting work in specific industries. It's usually limited and relate to bar and waiter/waitress work which is understandable. The UK does this sort of thing too mainly because jobs aren't as plentiful as the jobs in the US and they have to protect the interest of the citizens.
Let's talk property. Foreign nationals can own property (along the coast and borders) just not through direct diminion. Land which is outside this point can be acquired through direct diminion, however, the foreign national can't enlist the country of their citizenship's help to defend the property. Well DUH! I don't know any country that would allow that.
Oh, anyone born to Mexican parents in foreign territory is still a Mexican Nationalist. Just like a US citizen born in a foreign country. This child actually has dual citizenship.
There is nothing saying you are required to learn the language. As far as I know, none of the countries I've taken time to look at have a such a requirement. It will, however, make things easier for the people involved though.
Here are a couple other interesting facts...
For those coming into Mexico and the US, bank accounts can be set up fairly easily and as far as I know, you aren't required to register with the police. For someone going to the UK, it's a bit different. Even though I was legally able to live and work there, I was not allowed to have a bank account. I believe the stipulation was that you had to be there for a minimum of one year before that was allowed. I also was required to register with the police.
The list goes on but I'm going to stop here as there is just too much to cover. One thing I will say is if you want to see some STRICT ass laws, look at the ones for Denmark. They even have a thing about bi-racial couples and the age you have to be when it comes to getting in by marriage. I think the most interesting thing is people are pitching this double standard fit about Mexico which really isn't much of a double standard yet you never hear them crying about it when a country like Britain has harsher rules. Go figure.
For those of you who choose to learn more and see that the laws really don't differ as much as SOME people want to make you think, I suggest the following links:
http://uscis.gov/graphics/
http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=93
http://www.mexperience.com/liveandwork/immigration.htm
Based on a lot of the discussions I've seen and heard, I think one of the biggest problems is the clarification between foreign national and citizen. According to the information I've been able to find, the "rules" everyone is having a cow over apply to a foreign national, not a naturalized citizen. The are two DIFFERENT things. Both legal but one carries more "privileges" than the other.
And now for something completely different....
Dubya was in Iowa today raising money for gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle. What do you know...a crook supporting a crook. I hope to hell this guy doesn't win. He's nothing but bad news.
I think there was something else I was going to post here but I'll be damned if I remember what it was so I guess I will just leave it here.
Til next time....
