Hola! Buenas Noches!


I was doing research today about our drive down, where to stop, where to cross into Mexico, what paperwork is needed...my brain hurts! LOL

This is our tentative plan:

Steinbach, MB to Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City, OK to Laredo, TX
Laredo, TX to Zacatexas, Mex
Zacatecas, Mex to Puerto Vallarta, Mex

It's 4100km's and total driving time is approx 44 hours. We plan to make it in 3 nights/4 days. I priced out hotels today and they totalled about $200. We figure gas will total about $550 and meals should be about $250.


Here is the short version of how to drive to Mexico and what paperwork is needed:

1 - you need Mexican Insurance - Canadian & US Insurance is not valid in Mexico (can be purchased online)
2 - you need a vehicle permit (can be purchased online)
3 - You shouldn't drive in Mexico at night - not that it's unsafe because of robberies, etc but more so because of road conditions
4 - You need 2 copies of your vehicle registration, passport and drivers license
5 - you need to purchase a Tourist visa (can be purchased usually 20km's past the border crossing)
6 - you need to leave a deposit (Credit card is preferred - getting the actual cash back can be difficult) - this deposit is forfeited if you don't leave when you say you will

Here's the longer version:

Car Documents -- To drive your car into Mexico, you'll need a temporary car-importation permit which is granted after you provide a required list of documents . The permit can be obtained through Banco del Ejército (Banjercito) officials (https://www.banjercito.com.mx/iitv/sitio/indexi.html), who have a desk, booth, or office at the aduana (Mexican Customs) building after you cross the border into Mexico. They will email you a copy and mail you an Engish version as well as a Spanish version...this can be done 7-60 days before you want to cross.

You now have to pay a USD deposit from a Visa/MasterCard that will be refunded once you leave Mexico (once they remove the sticker) - amount varies on the year of your vehicle.

A valid driver's license issued outside of Mexico.

Current, original car registration and a copy of the original car title. If the registration or title is in more than one name and not all the named
people are traveling with you, a notarized letter from the absent person(s) authorizing use of the vehicle for the trip is required; have it ready.
The registration and your credit card must be in the same name.

A valid international major credit card. With a credit card, you are required to pay only a $23 car-importation fee. The credit card must be in the
same name as the car registration. If you do not have a major credit card (American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, or Visa), you must post a bond
or make a deposit equal to the value of the vehicle. Check cards are not accepted.

Original immigration documentation. This is either your tourist permit (FMT) or the original immigration booklet, FM2 or FM3 if you hold more
permanent status.

A signed declaration promising to return to your country of origin with the vehicle. Obtain this form (Carta Promesa de Retorno) Sanborn's or Lewis & Lewis before you go or from Banjercito officials at the border. There's no charge. The form does not stipulate that you must return by the same border entry through which you entered.

Temporary Importation Application. By signing this form, you state that you are only temporarily importing the car for your personal use and will
not be selling it. This is to help regulate the entry and restrict the resale of unauthorized cars and trucks. Make sure the permit is canceled when
you return to the U.S.

If you receive your documentation at the border, Mexican officials will make two copies of everything and charge you for the copies.

Important reminder: Someone else may drive, but the person (or relative of the person) whose name appears on the car-importation permit must always
be in the car. (If stopped by police, a non-registered family member driving without the registered driver must be prepared to prove familial
relationship to the registered driver -- no joke.) Violation of this rule subjects the car to impoundment and the driver to imprisonment, a fine or both. You can drive a car with foreign license plates only if you have a foreign (non-Mexican) driver's license.

Mexican Auto Insurance -- Liability auto insurance is legally required in Mexico. U.S. insurance is invalid; to be insured in Mexico, you must
purchase Mexican insurance. Any party involved in an accident who has no insurance may be sent to jail and have his or her car impounded until all
claims are settled. This is true even if you just drive across the border to spend the day. U.S. companies that broker Mexican insurance are
commonly found at the border crossing, and several quote daily rates. (use either www.mexicanautoinsurance.com or www.sanbornsonline.com)
Sanborn's Mexico Insurance has offices at all U.S. border crossings. Its policies cost the same as the competition's do but you get legal coverage (attorney and bail bonds if needed) and a detailed mile-by-mile guide for your proposed route. Most of the Sanborn's border offices are open Monday through Friday, and a few are staffed on Saturday and Sunday.

Adios!

Not sure what to post today

4 posts in and I'm stuck on what to write about. So I thought I'd share some links that I've found useful.

These are forums I visit pretty much daily (all Puerto Vallarta related):

http://www.vallartascene.com/

http://www.puertovallarta.net/forum/index.php

http://todopuertovallarta.yuku.com/directory

http://ourvallarta.com/board/

These are english newspapers in the Puerto Vallarta area:

http://www.pvmirror.com/

http://banderasnews.com/index.htm

Here are some 'Moving to Mexico' websites:

http://www.memorandal.com/2007/11/5000-km-mexico-trip-report.html

http://www.rollybrook.com/living_in_mexico.htm#Money

http://www.movingtomexico.ca/index.html


This is probably the best one I've found so far:

http://www.mexperience.com/


I've decided that we'll use Magic Jack for our phone service down there - it works well and then we don't have to get a land line (saving of $30 a month) and it's $40 for the USB plug in and includes a year of service. I ordered one last night so we'll see what it's like when it gets here...maybe we can cancel our home phone here and save $45 a month :-)

http://www.themagicjack.ca/howitworks.php

Take care and we'll see you soon. :-)

Basic Spanish

Hola!

Como estas?

Muy bueno, Gracias!

Anyone have a clue what that means? Without using a translator? :-)

Hola = Hello or Hi. In Mexico. In Spanish, the 'H' is almost always silent so you're really saying 'Ola'

Como estas? = How are you?

Muy bien Gracias! = Very good, thanks!

Some more basic spanish:

Numbers
Cero (se-roh) = Zero
Uno (oo-noh) = One
Dos (dohs) = Two
Tres (trehs)  = Three
Quatro (kooah-troh)= Four
Cinco (seen-koh)= Five
Seis (sehees)= Six
Siete (see-eh-teh)= Seven
Ocho (oh-choh)= Eight
Nueve (noo-eh-veh)= Nine
Diez (dee-ehs)= Ten

Most used words (I think anyway)
Yes = Si
No = No
Please = Por favor
Gracias = Thank you or Thanks
De nada = You're welcome
Donde esta? = Where is
Welcome = Bienvenidos
Good morning - Buenos dias
Good evening = Buenas tardes
Good night = Buenos noches
Good - Bien
So-so = Mas o menos
See you later = Hasta luego
See you soon = Hasta pronto
See you tomorrow = Hasta manana
Hello/Hi = Hola
Goodbye = Adios
I'm sorry = Lo siento
How's it going = Que tal?
Nice to meet you = Mucho gusto
I don't understand = No entiendo
Sure = Claro
It's OK = Esta bien
Good luck = Buena suerte
Shut up = Callate

I've started reading the book 'Spanish for Dummies' - it's really helpful so far because they write a sentence, write how to pronounce it and then they tell you what it means in English. I'm going to see if I can buy a cheap copy with the CD on Amazon. The copy I have is from the library and doesn't have the CD. I also have 2 other 'Learning Spanish' programs but I just can't make myself sit there and listen to them (it doesn't help that I have 4 people that sit and laugh at my pronounciation) lol

I signed my husband and I up for Spanish lessons at the local Arts Council - it was $97 for the class each and we bought a textbook to share for $25. It's a 10 week class and we'll probably miss the last class but hopefully she'll forgive us...afterall, we will be in Mexico using what she taught us. :-)

Well I think that's it for today...I'm not sure what the next post will be about...I'll have to think about it.

Adios!

Cost of Living in Mexico

Hola! (not the same as "holla"...the 'H' is silent so you're basically saying 'Ola')

This info is only for the Puerto Vallarta area - I don't know if they would change much elsewhere in Mexico.


Food:

Most people say your grocery bill is 1/2 what it would be NOTB (North of the Border). Plus you can get fresh fruit & vegetables from local markets for a fraction of what we pay up here. I've heard of $1 for 30 limes, $2 for a huge watermelon, etc. It's been a couple years since we had to buy food down there, but I don't think anything was expensive. If you want 'Imported' food, that will cost you a bit though.

Utilities:

They say it's expensive for Hydro there but I've been told it can run anywhere from 25-50 a month if you don't have air conditioning. Once the A/C is on, then your rate goes up. Hydro is billed every 2 months. Phone & Internet are about the same as Canada - $60 a month. Water is usually included but is very reasonable and it's also billed every two months.

Transportation:

In Puerto Vallarta you have many options for transportation. You can bring your own vehicle down with you (this is what I'll be doing). Then there is taxi's - but they can get expensive if you use them daily. There is also buses that run ALL the time...they cost anywhere from 50 cents to $2 depending on where you're going. You can get a 90 minute bus ride for $2. There are also dirt bikes, quads, dune buggies and let's not forget donkeys and horses.

Entertainment:

I don't have much to offer in this subject - we've mainly done All-Inclusives where the Entertainment is Free. We have gone to a couple bars, etc and you can find cheap restaurants/bars or you can find expensive ones. You can also head down to the Malecon on Sundays and there is plenty of entertainment there (and cheap food).

Schools:

This is not so much fun. This will be by far our biggest monthly expense. They do have Public schools in PV, but I've heard the education is terrible. Most only go to Grade 9 and they're taught in 100% Spanish. Not so good if you have two kids that don't speak Spanish and a parent that knows the basics only. :-) I've found a couple of private schools there - they range anywhere from $20,000 a year for both kids to $7,500 a year... this is the one I think we'll be choosing. It's a LOT more than we would ever pay back home, but we think the experience is well worth it. They get their normal subjects (Biology, English, Geography, etc) and get the experience of learning a whole new language and living in a new Country.

Car Info:

We will need to get Mexican Insurance for my car - this is bought online and printed off. My Canadian License plate and Driver's is still good there...as in I can keep my license plate on...my Canadian insurance would be cancelled as it's not good there anyway. The insurance covers the following:

Current Coverage

• $300,000 LIABILITY Bodily Injury and Property Damage combination
• $100,000 Legal Service
• $5,000 per Person, $25,000 per Accident Medical Payments
• $500 Fixed Deductible Collision and Natural Disasters
• $1,000 Fixed Deductible Total Theft.
• Air Ambulance within Mexico and if needed.
• Qualitas One Call Claim Dispatch 24/7
• USA Labor Rates pays USA, Canadian, or Mexican. Your choice!
• Illness or Accident or Breakdown coverage covers:
  International Air Ambulance, Trip Continuation, Plane Tickets Home, Towing, Gas, Jumpstart, Flat Tire, Locksmith.
• AUSA One Call Travel Assistance Dispatch 24/7

All for the low price of $366USD a year...I currently pay $111 a month back home! Speaking of License plates, I order a personalized one last week...it's going to say 'MEXICDN' :-) I can't wait til they get here!

Our rough budget per month is $2100 CDN and if we didn't have to pay for school, it would be about $1500 a month.

Next time I'll cover the basics of Spanish.

Adios!

Where to start...

Well first you need to decide that yes you want to move...once you've decided that, start doing research into where you want to live, what you want in a house, etc.

Most people rent for the first 6 months to see if they will actually like living there before they buy. This is what we plan to do as well. There are lots of rentals there - most Real Estate companies have a list of rentals. I found a site that has quite a few in our price range. The site is http://www.panchosvillas.com/ and we're going to try to look at some of their rentals in December when we're there. I've also got some friends keeping their ears open for us.

There are all sorts of things to keep in mind if you want to move there.

First off: You need a certain Visa to stay longer than 180 days. Here is a brief explanation of what they are:

This is the one we normally get - the airlines give you the form on the plane.

FMM - The Short-Term Non-Immigrant Visa

Short term visas are intended for visitors (usually tourists) to Mexico on short term (six months or less) visits. For trips of longer than six months, a non-immigrant or immigrant visa should be considered—see the sections below for details. The FMM has a 'Business Visitor' section, specifically for persons who come to Mexico for short business visits not exceeding 180 days. FMM visas are issued by airlines and are also available at ports of entry*

This is what we'll probably get for the year we're there:

FM3 - The Long-Term Non-Immigrant Visa

Mexico operates what is known as a FM3 visa. The FM3 visa is a renewable long term (more than six months) permit which gives non-immigrant temporary residency status to the holder. This means that it gives a person the right to live in Mexico (under terms as set out in the visa) but it does not lead to, and cannot be converted to, a visa leading to permanent residency or Mexican Citizenship.
There are various categories under which FM3 visas are granted, and these relate to the activities you intend to undertake while in Mexico. Under the terms of the FM3, you are authorized to only undertake certain, specific activities which may be lucrative or non-lucrative, depending on the visa's classification.

This is what we'll probably apply for once we make the move for good...we'll see what the rules are in 5 years or so although they just revamped the Immigration Act so maybe it will stay the same...who knows.

FM2 - The Immigrant Visa

FM2 visas are intended for people seeking permanent residency status in Mexico or those who may seek eventual Mexican Citizenship.
There are various categories under which FM2 visas are granted, and these relate to the activities you intend to undertake while in Mexico. Under the terms of the FM2, you are authorized to only undertake certain, specific activities which may be lucrative or non-lucrative.
You must hold a FM2 for a qualifying period* before you may apply for "immigrant" status or Mexican Citizenship.
You do not need to have held a FM3 visa before applying for a FM2, and any years you may have accrued while living in Mexico under the auspice of a FM3 do not count towards your FM2 qualification period.
If your goal is to seek long-term residency in Mexico, or to become a Mexican Citizen, you should apply for FM2 status (or request a change of status from FM3 to FM2) so that your time starts counting towards the qualification period as soon as possible.
Once you are in possession of a FM2, following the qualification period, you may apply for full residency status in Mexico
When your full residency status has been accepted, you may also begin your application for Mexican Citizenship, although this is optional; you can remain a 'resident alien' on a FM2 visa indefinitely.

 I find this funny, although maybe to get Canadian citizenship it may also be a multiple choice test. I don't know. :-)

To get Mexican Citizenship you will be asked to undertake an exam, which you must pass, in order to acquire naturalization/citizenship. The examination is of a "multiple choice" type, comprises of some fifteen questions, and is not hard—although you will need a basic grasp of the Spanish language to pass it.

This is a really good website for the rules and regulations: http://www.mexperience.com/ and all sorts of 'How to" Guides.

Next up: The cost of living in Mexico

Welcome!

The purpose of this blog is to follow my journey of moving to Mexico. But first, some history...

We first went to Mexico in 2006. It was my husband's Christmas gift to me...he now says 'If I had known what I was getting myself into, I would never have bought that first trip!' LOL Now here we are in 2011 and we're looking at booking our 8th trip. Yikes! We've mostly done 7 day vacations at All-Inclusives but once we rented a Condo for 10 days...that was fun and we met some amazing people we're proud to call friends. One day I'll post some pictures from over the years. :-)

Now onto the purpose of this Blog. I have said for many years that one day we'll move to the Puerto Vallarta area. My husband and I were talking one day a couple weeks ago and said there'd be no better time to take our daughters to Mexico for a year. My oldest daughter is going into Grade 10 this September and my youngest daughter is going into Grade 8. So we thought we'd go for the 2012-13 school year.

I think that's enough for tonight...thanks for coming along on my journey. I hope you enjoy it. I'll leave you with a view I watch for many hours a day...

Puerto Vallarta webcam

Adiós a mis amigos.