Questions I have for YOU
1. What do you use to communicate to the U.S.? Skype? Email? Phone? Magic Jack? Any tips on getting internet in Mexico?
2. What to bring? Ship or only what can fit in luggage? What do you wish you had brought?
3. Anything immigration, getting kids dual citizenship etc.?
4. Do you still pay on school loans or other bills from the U.S.? Keep a bank account here or how?
5. Anything at all that you wish you had known before.
6. Anything on the medical process.
There is so much involved in moving to Mexico. I will be doing so in 2013. As far as your questions, there are groups on Facebook where you can find answers. We have discussed many of those things. Immigrate2us.net is another good resource.
ReplyDeleteThe Real Housewife of Ciudad Juarez, From One Country To Another, Motherhood in Mexico, In Veracruz, and This Is Life are blogs of American women who have moved to Mexico. I have found the answers to a lot of my questions there.
I wish you the best of luck with your move and your preparations. Your house looks like it is coming along nicely.
Crystal...welcome to Blogland! And good for you and your family that you'll be moving to Mexico.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to answer your questions based on my experience.
1. Internet is pretty much available throughout Mexico. I'm not familiar with your husband's town, but when I finish this comment, I'm going to Google it. Most people get their Internet service through TELMEX or a cable company. My sister has a Magic Jack, but I basically email, and use our landline to keep in touch.
2. If it's in your budget, definetly ship as much as you can because you'll soon find out that appliances and furniture are expensive in Mexico. Mexico is not cheap. Anything that is imported from the States is a FORTUNE!!!
3. As far as immigration, you will need papers and you can apply for Mexican citzenship for your children. Definetly have an "apostille" on all of your birth certificates. I don't know where the closest immigration office will be for you. But your tourist visas are good for 6 months...before they expire you should start your paper work process.
4. If you have credit cards, student loans, car payments, etc. to pay, definetly keep your U.S. bank account and that way you wire money back to your U.S. account each month and pay everything online. The dollar right now is at 14, which is really high.
5. I've been here for almost 20 years and when I moved here I was young and without any responsibilities.
6. The medical system here is VERY different. My oldest daughter has a learning disorder and suffers from anxiety. She'll be 10 in May. I'm familiar with Autistic children because Isabella has several Autistic symptoms and she received treatment at an Autism clinic in Puerto Vallarta. We moved to Guadalajara looking for better treatment for her.
Just as a side note...if you can learn a bit of Spanish before your move, it will really help you.
Here's my email address because I would love to stay in touch with you.
jackie_tranguch@hotmail.com