Living & Lifestyle
September 28, 2022

Mexico Newsletter —
October 2022

This month: The transition to fall; Overwintering in Mexico; Clock changes; Lifestyle planning choices; Internet access options including satellite, and more...

by Matthew Harrup
Mexico Letter Box

Your monthly Mexico newsletter is filled with inspiration, meaningful knowledge, helpful connections, and tips for better living, lifestyle, and leisure in Mexico.

Autumn takes hold, seasonal events

The transition from summer to autumn starts to be seen and felt in earnest across the Mexican landscape during October, as temperatures cool noticeably along the coasts and lowlands, and early mornings and evenings begin to feel crisp or sharp at higher elevations.

The rainy season typically ends by the close of October or early November, giving way to the start of the dry season, although plenty of moisture remains in the ground for a few months, keeping the foliage green and the dust settled.

As we often remark on these pages, Mexico offers you the enjoyment of long daylight hours year-round; the light here is also extraordinary—and a key attraction of spending fall and winter in these lands.

The clocks will ‘fall back’ one hour on Sunday October 30th (November 6th in some regions) and quite possibly for the last time as Mexico looks set to abolish clock-changes across the country—except in certain places along the US border, where it’s prudent for trade and lifestyle reasons to align Mexican border-city clocks with their counterparts in the US.

Preparations are being made for Day of the Dead festivities, which culminate on November 1st and 2nd; and the Monarch Butterflies will be arriving to overwinter in Mexico from early November.

The fall season also brings a surge in road traffic crossing the border from the US into Mexico as part-time foreign residents arrive in Mexico to overwinter, and fall-holiday dates attract short-term vacationers.  Whether you come for a few days or few months, be sure to drive properly insured when you’re on Mexico’s roads.

Practical tips for overwintering in Mexico

A significant number of foreign residents in Mexico live here on a part-time basis. Many are ‘snowbirds’—people who arrive during the fall season, spend winters and early spring here, and return to their home country to spend late spring and summers with family and friends who live there.  Here are some insights and practical tips for those who overwinter in Mexico, or intend to as part of their lifestyle planning.

Lake Chapala discovery program in November

If you’ve been considering a move to the Lake Chapala region in Mexico, the Focus on Mexico team have announced additional dates for the 6-day “life at Lakeside” program that enables you to discover local lifestyle opportunities there and determine if the Lake Chapala area is right for your lifestyle intentions.  The programs are running in November 2022, and February of 2023.

Protection and insurance cover for your home

The earthquake that was felt strongly across parts of west Mexico in September of 2022 as well as seasonal hurricanes and the wind storms that are especially prevalent this time of year offer reminders that our home structures are susceptible to the forces of nature. Find extensive information here on Mexperience about how to protect your home this season, including:

Plan your autumn and winter leisure tours

Whether you’re visiting Mexico for a short vacation or living here and seeking to discover more of the the country you’ve adopted as your home, a custom tour enables you to make the most of your leisure time and absorb the experience of the activity instead of grappling with the details and logistics.

Immigration and residency updates

Here are some updates and notes about immigration and residency matters in Mexico:

Consulate appointments: A reminder that some Mexican consulates abroad are experiencing a very high demand for residency application appointments presently so we recommend you plan in advance, or be prepared to exercise patience while waiting for your interview appointment. Our associate can assist you with appointment scheduling in accordance with the policy and process in place at the consulate you apply at.

Immigration offices in Mexico: The electronic booking system for appointments at immigration offices in Mexico is currently offline and applicants need to attend the office in person to ask for an appointment date, or a service token.

Procedural improvements: Mexico’s immigration offices continue to make improvements to their procedures, including electronic photographs and fingerprints, and some offices now take payment of fees by bank card, dispensing with the need to visit the bank separately.

Key links to residency articles and guides

Here are some reminders of key matters in relation to visas and residency:

Immigration Assistance

When you need assistance with your residency permit application or renewals, regularization procedures, expired permits, or troubleshooting, consider using our Mexico Immigration Assistance Service.  If you already have your visa and need help exchanging that for a card in Mexico, we offer a visa-to-card exchange assistance option in partnership with our associates.

Covering medical expenses in Mexico

US residents often ask if Medicare is available in Mexico (it isn’t); but there are alternative healthcare plans available that include private insurance, Mexico’s IMSS insurance, and medical evacuation.

Home internet access options

Mexico offers a range of access options to keep you connected to the internet when you’re at home here.  The most reliable and least expensive option is a landline internet connection, from Telmex or one of the cable companies. If that isn’t available where your home is situated, consider wireless home internet access provided by cellphone companies.  Alternatively, you can consider using satellite internet services: these are the most expensive and their performance varies depending on weather conditions; however, they provide access where no other access method is available or practical.

Preparing for your Mexico road trips this fall

The fall season is accompanied by a significant increase in vehicles crossing the border from the US into Mexico, as travelers take leisure journeys to escape the cooling temperatures in the north, and part-time residents return to Mexico to overwinter here.

Mexperience offers updates and links to resources that will help you to plan and enjoy your road trips across Mexico.  We recommend you get your Mexico auto insurance online before you travel using our partners, MexPro.

Get the insurance coverage you need to drive with peace of mind in Mexico

Your US or Canadian auto insurance policy will not cover you for third party liability when you’re driving in Mexico.  Mexperience is pleased to refer our readers to MexPro auto insurance, which offers comprehensive coverages valid in Mexico using English-language policies backed by a fully-licensed US insurance broker.  Get a quote online.

Property and real estate in Mexico

Mexperience offers detailed articles, free eBooks to download, and connections to help you buy, sell, rent and take care of your property in Mexico:

Comprehensive knowledge for Mexico lifestyles

Whether you’re considering a move to Mexico, in the throes of moving here, and even if you’re already here and considering ways to reformulate your current situations, our Mexico lifestyle planning articles and eBooks provide invaluable help and local knowledge:

Matthew Harrup is founder and editor of Mexperience.

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Discovering more of Mexico

Mexperience offers extensive resources to help you discover, plan and realize your lifestyle and leisure experiences in Mexico.

Immigration and residency

Our extensive collection of articles and our free eBook, updated annually, help you to learn about what you need to acquire and maintain your legal residency in Mexico.

Immigration Assistance

When you need assistance with your residency permit application or renewals, regularization procedures, expired permits, or troubleshooting, consider using our Mexico Immigration Assistance Service.

Lifestyle planning

Our Mexico Lifestyle Planning section offers local knowledge, insights, inspiration, and ideas to help you consider choices and make your Mexico lifestyle plans.

Mexico home life

When you’ve made the move to Mexico, our Mexico Home Life section shares local knowledge, ideas, and inspiration to help you discover opportunities and settle-in well to your home and living spaces in Mexico.

Driving and road trips

Driving your own vehicle across Mexico’s extensive and well-developed road network provides an ideal way for you to explore these diverse lands and become acquainted with the local topography, the regions, the culture, and the local people in ways that no other means of transport can match.

Insurance coverages

A range of Mexico-related insurance services exist that can mitigate the effect and expense of unforeseen events and mishaps when you’re here.

Property and dwelling spaces

Our extensive articles and free eBooks share local insights and advice to help you find, settle-in and manage your home and dwelling spaces in Mexico.

Your leisure time

Whether you’re visiting Mexico or living here, there’s an abundance of travel and leisure options for you to explore and experience.

Mexico-US land border

Entering Mexico: Mexico does not require visitors to show proof of vaccination to enter the country.  Tourist permits (FMMs) and temporary import permits for vehicles (TIPs) are being issued as normal.

Entering the US from Mexico: The land border restrictions imposed by the US on visitors by land from Mexico, introduced in March 2020 due to Covid-19 have been lifted, but only for visitors who can show an approved vaccination certificate. US Citizens and US legal residents do not need to show this certificate. This article describes the reopening of the Mexico-US land border.

Spanish language study

Learning or improving your Spanish will enhance your experiences in Mexico, if you’re visiting, and especially if you’re living here.

Mexico Assistance Services

Connect to helpful Mexico Assistance Services that enable you to realize your Mexico plans.

IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE

  • When you need help applying for residency, or help renewing your existing residency permit (or working through a ‘regularization’ procedure after a mishap), consider using our Mexico Immigration Assistance Service, that offers detailed consultancy, personalized advice, and practical help through the process.

INSURANCE COVERAGES

REAL ESTATE ASSISTANCE

LANGUAGE STUDY

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

LIFESTYLE ASSISTANCE

LEISURE ASSISTANCE

MEXICO EBOOKS LIBRARY

  • Our Mexico eBooks Library offers you a collection of carefully composed eBooks with helpful insights and local knowledge about Mexico—all titles are offered as free downloads.