IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Mexican government officials have announced that Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) offices will be closed for the holidays from Dec. 20 to Jan. 2.

What does the change mean? Visa and work permit applications that are pending during the closure may be delayed. Employers and foreign nationals should submit applications as soon as possible and account for potential delays in processing.

  • Implementation time frame: Immigration offices will be closed from Dec. 20 to Jan. 2.
  • Visas/permits affected: All visas and permits.
  • Who is affected: Employers and foreign nationals.
  • Impact on processing times: Processing times will be longer during the holiday period, and a backlog of cases may develop immediately following Jan. 2, when offices reopen after the New Year’s closure.
  • Business impact: Businesses may need to adjust timelines and start dates because of the expected delays in visa and work permit processing.

Background: Immigration offices will close for two weeks for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Processing will come to a halt during this time. Applications that are filed now may not be processed and returned before Dec. 20, and it is important that employers and foreign nationals consider any necessary additional steps.

Analysis & Comments: Applicants should plan to file any time-sensitive applications as early as possible before Dec. 20 to mitigate holiday-related delays. Foreign nationals planning travel to Mexico should take note of the travel restrictions and plan their schedules accordingly. Processing delays should be expected in the days after offices reopen.

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