Living & Lifestyle
October 28, 2022

Mexico Newsletter —
November 2022

Day of the Dead; The end of clock changes in Mexico; New design for residency cards; Long-weekend holidays; Making preparations for the dry season, 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.

November’s festivities and seasonal changes

Now that Senators have approved the change in a law that abandons Mexico’s annual clock-time changes, Mexico will change its clocks for good on the ‘fall back’ date of October 30th, 2022 and bring a 26-year long experiment to an end. ‘Daylight savings time,’ that was introduced in 1996, was never that popular in Mexico—a country that offers extraordinary year-round daylight.

November is host to two important seasonal festivities and holidays in Mexico, beginning with Day of Dead, and later in November, Mexico’s Día de la Revolución—that is commemorated with a long-weekend holiday.  This month’s newsletter includes articles which help you to discover Day of the Dead traditions and the November weekend holiday that is also part of “El Buen Fin,” the equivalent of the ‘black Friday’ shopping event in the US. Wednesday November 2nd and Monday November 21st are Public Holidays.

Most of the ‘snowbirds’ —foreign residents who overwinter in Mexico— are arriving this month to start their fall and winter stays. Most snowbirds stay until the early spring—when they return to their home country to spend the other half of the year there.  This month’s newsletter features a series of articles about living in Mexico part-time.

Mexico’s green and white residency cards are being updated with beige and burgundy color cards that include printed codes to make them easier for scanning—perhaps in preparation to streamline the process for entering and exiting Mexico when you’re legally resident here.

The fall season takes hold across Mexico during November—one of the best months of the year to experience the country’s beautiful natural landscapes.  As the rains peter out and yield to the beginning of the dry season, there’s still plenty of moisture near the ground’s surface this time of year to keep the flora bright and fragrant, while the skies are often clear and crisp, and the light is especially magnificent, particularly during the early mornings, and in the evenings.

If you’ve not yet witnessed the phenomenal Monarch Butterflies that overwinter in the Oyamel-forests west of Mexico City, now is a good moment to make plans.  The butterflies begin to arrive in November, and peak viewing season runs from mid-January to late February. Our articles and connections can help you to learn more and book a custom tour.

Day of the Dead traditions in Mexico

Day of the Dead —that is a celebration of the continuity of life— is one of Mexico’s most important religious holidays, celebrated in November each year; November 2nd is a public holiday.

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.

The revolution and long holiday weekends

Mexico’s three long-weekend holidays —introduced over a decade ago— are well-received and the one that falls in November also forms part of “El Buen Fin,” Mexico’s equivalent of the ‘Black Friday’ shopping event in the US.

Immigration and residency updates

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

New design for residency cards: In the summer of 2022, immigration offices across Mexico began to issue the new-look residency cards: presented in beige and white with burgundy lettering, the new cards also include some special printed codes on the back of the card which make them easier to scan.

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.

Fixed-fee packages for immigration assistance: Our associate has introduced fixed-fee service packages to support common procedures.  You can learn more about these on the immigration assistance page.

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 residency card in Mexico, our associate offers a visa-to-card exchange assistance assistance package.

Finding your home in Mexico

When you’re looking for a place to buy or rent in Mexico, Mexperience offers a wide array of information resources and connections.

Living part-time in Mexico

There has always been a contingent of foreign residents who live in Mexico part-time, usually between late fall and early spring of the following year—although some part-timers choose other times of the year to enjoy Mexico.  Here are some articles with insights into part-time living here.

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.

Learning Spanish this fall and winter

As summer yields to fall, it’s good time to consider learning or improving your Spanish language skills.  If you’re arriving in Mexico to overwinter here, consider taking an online course in your spare time, or attending classes…

Preparing for road trips in Mexico 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.

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.

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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.

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