IMPACT – High

What is the enforcement measure? The Mexican government’s immigration agency, the National Institute of Immigration, is contacting employers that have recently filed work authorization applications for foreign workers and is requesting verification of information contained in the applications.

  • Implementation timeframe: Ongoing.
  • Visas/permits affected: Work authorization; temporary resident visas requested for job offer.
  • Who is affected: Companies filing work authorization and visas for non-Mexican employees.
  • Impact on processing times: When the immigration agency cannot reach an employer or its legal representative, there will be delays in processing until a company representative can be reached.
  • Business impact: No impact.
  • Next steps: Employers should make sure that a legal representative of the company is available to respond to a call from government authorities.

Background: In the past few weeks, employers who have recently filed for work authorization and temporary resident visas for foreign workers have been receiving phone calls from Mexico’s immigration agency, the National Institute of Immigration (INM). The unannounced policy began in the INM offices in Mexico City and is expected to spread to the rest of the country.

Officials are asking employers for the following information:

  • The nationality of the foreign employee;
  • The position and title of the foreign worker;
  • The type of work the foreign employee will be engaged in; and
  • The duration of the foreign worker’s stay.

Because the government did not announce this change, the phone calls are seen as a temporary measure to address some problems that arose earlier in the year due to staffing changes and the removal of corrupt officials.

BAL analysis: To avoid delays, employers that have filed applications in the past few months should make sure a company representative is on hand and able to answer questions regarding foreign employees.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Mexico. For additional information, please contact GlobalVisaGroup@bal.com.

Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

In an effort to reduce backlogs resulting from the 2012 Migration Law, yesterday the National Immigration Institute (INM) introduced new printers, which are now installed in all Mexican INM offices. The printers are expected to speed the in-country registration process for residence cards by up to two weeks. Starting immediately, foreigners should be able to receive their residence cards within 48 hours of their biometric collection appointment at the INM office. Eventually, it should be possible to collect the card on the same day.

Before the printers were installed, biometric information was collected at INM offices and sent to the National Printing Office to be incorporated into the cards. This process took up to two weeks.

Also, last week the government provided special training to immigration officers who are in the process of transferring from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work in Mexican consulates. The training served to prepare consulate staff for the role of deciding visa applications. Over time, the training is expected to help make the process more efficient.

All changes apply to foreigners after they arrive in Mexico; outside of the country, consulate processes will remain the same.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Mexico. For additional information, please contact GlobalVisaGroup@bal.com.

Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.