Immigration Lawyer for Visa Renewal

GregoryARobinson wrote:

"Even with the lawyer it was a bit of a pain - I think it required 3 or 4 trips to INM (sign forms, then fingerprints, then something else, then pick up the visa?) and 1 trip to customs (get some forms stamped to make sure my USA-plated truck was totally legal).

"In theory the renewal process should be easier."

No offence intended, but I had to smile when I read the above.

I have some sense of how difficult and expensive it is for a Mexican to try to obtain a visa to become a visitor or temporary resident of the US or Canada.

Through a Canadian relative who has become a temporary resident of the US, I have some sense of how difficult and costly that was. I don't know any American who has recently become or renewed temporary resident status in Canada, but I suspect it is complicated. I know my next door neighbour in Canada who still has US citizenship talks about the difficulties he has interacting with governments.

In comparison, we gringos get on an airplane having pre-paid an amount so small that we didn't even notice it on our plane ticket, then sign some minor form on the plane, and we can be good-to-go for 180 days upon arrival.

I did FM3s for probably 15 years before obtaining my permanent resident status. The demands have reduced over time. In contrast, I suspect that demands on Mexicans in a reverse scenario have increased over time.

I consider being a guest in another country to be a privilege, whether it is me in Mexico, or my American neighbour who became a Canadian, or my Canadian relative in the US. Any inconveniences in becoming a welcome guest are no more than inconveniences.