Moving to Mexico: How-to and why not

I may as well address the look of supreme incredulity spreading across your face at the mere title of this article.

Moving to Mexico?

Now?

True, parts of Mexico are in the grips of a god-awful drug war, and many travelers are reluctant to even spend a long weekend there, let alone move down permanently. But while you certainly shouldn't ignore security concerns, you also shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Mexico is a huge country and there are myriad desirable destinations well-removed from the violence, with crime rates far lower than typical U.S. cities. For many, Mexico remains a terrific place to stretch a pension or modest income, with affordable housing, modern comforts, and easy access to the U.S. and Canada.

You might be surprised at the wide range of people who take the plunge. Retirees and snowbirds are still the largest contingent, but more and more young couples, some with school-age kids, have happily and successfully relocated. Many are contract programmers, graphic designers, freelance writers, or other professionals; if you're working remotely anyway, why not do it from Mexico? Others simply want a unique experience for themselves and their kids, and come up with plans to open a B&B; or other small business. That's a tough undertaking, no doubt, but the point is, you don't necessarily have to wait for retirement to move abroad.

Fortunately, there are a lot of resources for people considering a move to Mexico. One is the aptly named website MoveToMexico.com, with extensive online information, a 130-page downloadable e-book (US$15) and a variety of personalized for-pay consulting services. Founder David Simmonds (who has written for this column in the past) advises would-be transplants to explore several towns and areas, even if you're already head over heels for a particular location. There's simply no substitute for being in a place: strolling the main plaza, wandering the neighborhoods, braving the markets or striking up a conversation. And you may surprise yourself — people who are sure they want to be near the beach may well find they prefer inland colonial cities (I'm one of those). Or those who've dreamed of small-town life find themselves enthralled by Mexico City. At some point, a place will just "click," and you'll know you've found home.

Or you won't. Moving to Mexico isn't for everyone, after all. That's why Simmonds also recommends spending at least six months in a place before buying a house (or selling yours back home). The fact is, the place you fell in love with on a two week winter holiday may not be the same place in the summer. Simmonds says he's seen plenty of people move to, say, Puerto Vallarta after a lovely Christmas holiday or two, but "then the rainy, hot, humid, buggy season arrives, and they can't handle it." Six months will also give you ample exposure to the idiosyncrasies of your chosen location, and Mexico in general. Be open to the possibility that moving to Mexico isn't what you're actually looking for.

Nuts and bolts of moving to Mexico

No matter where you go, as a foreigner there are some practical issues to consider. For Mexico, some of these include:

Visas: Tourist visas (FM-T) are issued at the border or airport, and are good for up to 180 days. Technically you're not allowed to be in-country for more than six months of any 12-month stretch, but I know people who have spent years in Mexico on tourist visas, leaving and re-entering every six months in order to get a new stamp. A better option is to pursue an FM3 visa, which is good for a year and can be renewed without leaving for up to five years. The FM3 application requires proof of income (around US$1000 per month, or US$1500 for married couples) and a current address in Mexico, among other things, and is a popular and logical status for foreign émigrés. Other options are the FM2 visa and Inmigrado status, which offer greater freedoms but have stricter requirements.