Starting Application Process for Temp. Residency

My wife and l were awarded temporary and permanent residencies in the spring. We went to the Mexican consulate in Houston, Texas with all our apostilled documents.

We had to make several trips, but we were always treated graciously and in the end we were successful. No one said anything to us about FBI files.

I wish you all the luck.

@ChineduOpara

My husband and I just received our residency cards in September. He is temporary, so we can bring a car and I am permanent. The process was very easy.

We made appointments at the local consulate and were approved for our VISAs. You then have 6 months to go to Mexico and exchange that for your residency card. We used a facilitator in Mexico to prepare all the paperwork. They made the appointment at Immigration, met us with the paperwork and we received our cards the same day. I am not aware of any FBI report, unless the facilitator took care of that and we didn't know.

@ChineduOpara
[...]I am not aware of any FBI report, unless the facilitator took care of that and we didn't know. - @olsoncheryl

If you needed an FBI report, you would have known because you'd have to get fingerprinted 😊

OK thanks for the information... I hope to hear from more people, but so far I am optimistic.

Ive been working on mine in Houston and needed to go back for one and could not get an appoint for the second half of November and all of December. Still haven't been successful at another appointment. I was told that new laws release in January and with the state of things right now, I'm curious as to how they might have changed.......

It's not a hard process, but things seem stalled.

The news for 2026 is the exponential increase in income requirements. It's much more now than

It was last year. Maybe this won't affect you if you're already in the system, but you need to find out.

Hello @ChineduOpara

How are you going with your application process? I am a temporary resident and live in Guadalajara with my partner. Do you have any questions? Or do you have it all sorted now?

Cheers Mark

Best of luck......@TheGingerLeigh

It's a convoluted process for sure, I'm from Australia and finally got my temp visa a couple of months ago.

I hope all goes well with your application!

Cheers Mark

Yes......@jazzpaz

I dealt with the Mexican Consulate in Canberra, Australia and then the Government Department Offices here in Guadalajara and found the staff in both offices very friendly and helpful. Pretty much like all of the Mexican locals I've met since being here for the last 3 months.

Cheers Mark

I visited the office in 2024 for a two year temporary residency card, it took 4 visits and half the price it is now, which I will have to pay at the end of this year to continue our status. My income is the same as it was a year and a half ago, I hope nothing has changed in that regard. In fact at the time we had printed out all of our bank statements and they did not even look at them. If anyone knows about this, once you're in the system. if the requirements have changed, please post. Thanks.

Hello @ChineduOpara
How are you going with your application process? I am a temporary resident and live in Guadalajara with my partner. Do you have any questions? Or do you have it all sorted now?

Cheers Mark - @marcuss63

Hi! Since I have a lot going on as I wind down to exit Colombia - launch my website, have a medical procedure and recover, sell my stuff - I decided to hold off on actually starting the MX Visa application process until just before I leave Colombia in June... I'll go to the USA for a couple of weeks to go to a MX Consulate, see my daughter, etc.

The visa prices and requirements have already spiked anyway, so waiting 5 more months won't make a difference in my case - I'll have to pay the higher application fees, but fortunately I still qualify for the visa based on savings and investments.

I hope there are no more changes between now and then. I especially hope that Trump & Co. don't do more crazy shenanigans that might destabilize things in Mexico and force Migration Mexico to stop processing visas from US citizens.

Anyway... thanks for checking in!

@ChineduOpara

Subject: CRITICAL 2026 UPDATES: FBI Checks & New Residency Rules

Hi Chinedu! I’m Marsha. I’ve been on the ground here in Playa for 9+ years. I noticed your post from October—if you haven't finalized your move yet, stop and read this first. The 'ground rules' in Mexico changed significantly on January 1, 2026.

Navigating this from Colombia adds a layer of complexity, but here is the Clarity you need to avoid falling through the cracks:

1. The 2026 FBI & Apostille Reality

•    The Report: Do NOT go direct to the FBI. Use an FBI-Approved Channeler. You’ll get results in minutes.

•    The Federal Apostille (The Real Bottleneck): This MUST be done by the U.S. Dept of State in D.C., not a local Secretary of State. As of January 2026, mail-in times are hovering at 6–8 weeks. If your October report is getting close to 6 months old, it may be rejected by the time you get to your appointment.

•    Expediters: I highly recommend using a DC-based courier service; it’s the only way to guarantee a timeline right now.

2. The 2026 "Price of Entry" (Financials) Be aware that residency solvency requirements jumped this month. For Temporary Residency, most consulates are now looking for:

•    Monthly Income: ~$4,400 USD

•    Savings/Investments: ~$74,000 USD (Note: These figures vary slightly by consulate, so check Bogota's specific 2026 PDF.)

3. Why the Bogota Consulate is Tricky Consulates in South America often have different 'local' rules for US citizens. Some require the background check for all residency types, while others only for Permanent status.

***

@ChineduOpara
Subject: CRITICAL 2026 UPDATES: FBI Checks & New Residency Rules

Hi Chinedu! I’m Marsha. I’ve been on the ground here in Playa for 9+ years. I noticed your post from October—if you haven't finalized your move yet, stop and read this first. The 'ground rules' in Mexico changed significantly on January 1, 2026.
Navigating this from Colombia adds a layer of complexity, but here is the Clarity you need to avoid falling through the cracks:

1. The 2026 FBI & Apostille Reality
•  The Report: Do NOT go direct to the FBI. Use an FBI-Approved Channeler. You’ll get results in minutes.
•  The Federal Apostille (The Real Bottleneck): This MUST be done by the U.S. Dept of State in D.C., not a local Secretary of State. As of January 2026, mail-in times are hovering at 6–8 weeks. If your October report is getting close to 6 months old, it may be rejected by the time you get to your appointment.
•  Expediters: I highly recommend using a DC-based courier service; it’s the only way to guarantee a timeline right now.
[...]

Thanks for the update. I plan to apply from a consulate in the USA, not in Colombia. In November and December I verbally spoke with 3 lawyers in Mexico and the USA..., and I interviewed at least 6 people who recently got their temporary residency visas (found them on social media and exchanged PMs with them).

As far as I found out, Mexico's consulates in the USA do NOT need an FBI background check.

Was I misinformed? What's the correct story?

As stated before, my temporary residency card is supposed to be extended in September of 2026, now I see I do not meet the income requirements! And I don't meet any of the other criteria for residency status. It looks like I may have to leave the country. The income level of someone on social security/disability in the USA is around $800-$1800 per month, which is ideal for living cheaply in Mexico. In the USA, this income does not last the entire month! Does anyone have advice or should I just give up the process? Thanks!

As stated before, my temporary residency card is supposed to be extended in September of 2026, now I see I do not meet the income requirements! And I don't meet any of the other criteria for residency status. It looks like I may have to leave the country. The income level of someone on social security/disability in the USA is around $800-$1800 per month, which is ideal for living cheaply in Mexico. In the USA, this income does not last the entire month! Does anyone have advice or should I just give up the process? Thanks! - @Tumbleweed Jake

Would you consider living in Colombia instead?

Actually, I have! I have a dear friend near there, in Ecuador. I'd love to explore the option. Any information is welcome. Thanks!