Immigration aims for faster processing

More agents are on the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico News Daily | Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Travelers arriving by air at various Mexican airports ought to see shorter waits in the immigration lineups now that additional agents have been trained to receive arrivals.

The National Immigration Institute (INM) has added more personnel at six international airports so as to reduce processing times.

At the Mexico City airport, where 240,000 foreigners arrive every month, the INM figures that three minutes are needed to process the documentation for each one. With 140 flights arriving daily, the 40 INM desks can handle up to 3,000 foreign visitors in the course of 25-30 minutes.

In Cancún the number of agents has been doubled to speed up the process.

Other airports affected are Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Monterrey and Los Cabos.

Frequent American travelers to Mexico also have the option of using the Viajero Confiable, or Trusted Traveler program, if they are enrolled in the United States’ Global Entry system. Visitors insert their passports in a scanner and input other information in the process, which is supposed to take no more than three minutes.

The service is available at the airports in Mexico City, Los Cabos and Cancún.

The processing times are only those for immigration. Customs is even faster but not when you press the button and lose the red light lottery, which gets you a bag inspection.

Source: Notimex (sp)

- See more at: http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/immigration-aims-faster-processing/#sthash.A0rjEEwc.dpuf

Canadians who spend substantial time in the US, be aware of how their stays are monitored

theyucatantimes.com

The days of carefree and careless commuting are over for Canadian snowbirds with second homes in the United States’ sunbelt, says lawyer and tax specialist Roy Berg.

The rules haven’t changed. They’re as bewildering, contradictory and potentially punitive as ever — on both sides of the border, says Berg, of Moodys Gartner in Calgary.

What has changed, however, is the ability of Canadian and U.S. customs agents to routinely swap computerized information obtained from bar codes on the passports of each other’s citizens, he explains.

“None of the rules or substantive tax or immigration regulations have changed,” he says. “What’s changed is that they can be enforced. Until this year, they (U.S. Customs) haven’t really known how long you’ve been there.”

In the past, it didn’t take a genius to figure out that, with each country tracking only those entering its jurisdiction, neither had a truly reliable count on the number of days foreigners were spending in country — or the number of days citizens were away. Accordingly, Berg says, Canadians have habitually taken a fairly relaxed attitude to accounting for their time in the U.S.

All that changes June 30, with the adoption of the Entry/Exit Initiative agreed between the two nations. After that date a continuous computerized information exchange will make day counts on each traveller automatic.

If you have any doubts about how real this is, you can apply to check your own day count with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html.

The automatic count means Canadians must be vigilant to avoid facing additional tax penalties or even arrests.

Berg says there are two U.S. day counts that matter — a three-year rolling total of 180 days and an annual 182-day count. The three-year rolling tally is called the “substantial presence test” and it flags anyone who stays in the U.S. for more than 120 days in any given year. Days in the current year are counted at full value. Days from the previous year are counted at one-third and days from two years ago are counted at one-sixth. So a tally for 2014 might look something like this:

Days in 2014 are 120 x 1 = 120;

Days in 2013 are 120/3 = 40;

Days in 2012 are 120/6 = 20;

so, Days for 2014 total 180.

For casual Canadian vacationers, the substantial presence test is unlikely to become an issue. But for Canadians with second homes in the sunbelt, it’s a different matter. Retirees hiding out from Canada’s brutal winter can regularly exceed the 120 days — meaning they will now be methodically flagged by the substantial presence test in a way they never were before. For them, there’s a form called the Closer Connection Exemption Statement for Aliens (form 8840). By filling out the form, you document that you have a closer connection to Canada and are not simply dodging U.S. taxes. Filling out this form every year enables you to stay in the U.S. a full 182 days without offending the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or Homeland Security.

The form isn’t new, but it has suddenly become very important to actually fill it out, Berg says. Canadians who haven’t bothered or haven’t known about 8840 until now will be well advised to fill it out every year. And it’s one filing per person, not one per household, he adds. (Forms can be obtained athttp://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8840.pdf)

There’s another wrinkle you should take into account, he adds. The IRS counts days within the calendar year, while Immigration/Homeland Security counts days in any 12-month period.

“You could be just fine for tax purposes but totally off-side for immigration purposes,” Berg observes. And immigration law makes reference to “substantial departure” from the U.S., meaning a quick flight home and back may not be counted as time out of the U.S.

Consequences of offending U.S. immigration laws “can be quite dire,” he adds.

“U.S. border guards have power to arrest,” so uninformed Canadians on their way to their second home in Arizona or Florida could suddenly find themselves turned back at the border or even arrested if the border inspection point is on U.S. soil.

It all depends upon whether you’re viewed as a resident under U.S. and/or Canadian law, Berg says.

People who violate the U.S. substantial presence test can be banned from entering the U.S. for three years on a first offence and for life on a second count, he says. The exception is if they file the 8840 form. And anyone unlawfully exceeding 365 days in the U.S. can be banned for 10 years on a first offence.

Those who stay more than 120 days in a calendar year and fail to file the Closer Connection form, or who exceed 182 days in a calendar year, risk becoming subject to U.S. tax on their worldwide income, though taxes paid in the U.S. are deductible from Canadian taxes owing.

If you inadvertently become a U.S. resident, you become taxable at death on your worldwide assets, meaning your heirs will be subject to U.S. estate tax.

If you exceed 182 days in a calendar year outside Canada, Canadian tax law says you are no longer a resident, you are deemed to have disposed of all your assets worldwide and become subject to capital gains tax on everything you own.

“Whether an individual is no longer a resident is a facts-and-circumstances test — but a big factor in that analysis is day count,” Berg says.

And, of course, losing your residency also means you lose eligibility for provincial health-care coverage.

Finally, Berg notes, not all U.S. states align their tax laws with the federal government, so staying square with Uncle Sam doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for state taxes.

Buying and licensing a car in Hawaii, for instance, may get you the residents’ rate for golf, but it could also very likely make you subject to Hawaiian state taxes. While Florida and Arizona use U.S. federal rules, California, Hawaii, Montana and North Dakota — all popular with Canadians — don’t follow the U.S. federal tax code.

Practical Tips on Visiting Mexico

1dad1kid.com
By Talon Windwalker

Mexico is an incredibly diverse country. Each region has its own cuisine specialties, some differences in culture, topography, and more. The people are as colorful as their textiles. This nation attracts tourists from all over the world, so it’s usually easy to find great flight deals. Here are some tips and ideas for visiting this wonderful country.

Do I need a visa for Mexico?

The country is a very welcoming host, and most visitors will receive an entry for up to an impressive 180 days. If you’re from the US, you do not need an advance visa. Just come on down!

Regions

Mexico is a big country! The frontera (border) and northern region is quite arid and can see some very high temperatures during the summer.

The Baja Cailfornia area is a popular place for tourists. While there are a lot of spots to enjoy the ocean, it’s still very much a desert area. In fact, there are four main desert areas on the peninsula.

My favorite regions are the Yucatan (which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea and has several Mayan ruins), Chiapas (home to the fascinating Palenque ruins), and Oaxaca (pronounced like oh-a-haw-ka).

If you’re a scuba diver, I definitely recommend you head to the island of Cozumel. It has some incredible, world-class diving.

Safety

The media is usually rife with horror stories about Mexico. Mexico is actually a very safe place to visit. If you sell drugs or work for the DEA, then I wouldn’t recommend the northern regions. Otherwise, you’re fine. Almost all violence is between drug cartels and law enforcement. Tourists are usually left alone.

Getting around Mexico

Unlike Europe, you won’t find a lot of truly low-budget flights, and there is no countrywide train system. So if you’re touring the country, plan on taking the bus unless your budget can accommodate some flights. There are some decent airfares if you’re traveling between the right regions.

ADO (site is in Spanish) is my favorite bus company for doing longer hauls. They are generally quite comfortable, inexpensive, and safe. They can be over air-conditioned, so you may want something to wrap around your shoulders or legs.

Volaris often has some good deals for flying.

Taxis within the country are generally not metered, so it can be helpful to ask your hotel what the appropriate rates should be. Occasionally you will be charged a bit extra for a radio-dispatched taxi, so it’s usually cheaper to flag a taxi in motion.

When moving within a city or between nearby cities, make sure to ask about colectivos. These are shuttles that are quite cheap and handy to use. It can get pretty crowded in them, but you’ll save a lot of money by using them. Plus you get to experience more of the local culture this way. Mexico City has a good metro and public bus system.

Money

Prices can be a bit disconcerting at first because they use the dollar symbol to indicate pesos. So when you see a beer is $25 don’t have a heart attack. That’s actually 25 MXN which is less than $2 USD. Tour packages are usually listed in USD, though.

While you can use US dollars in most areas, I don’t recommend it. The exchange rate a restaurant will give you is much less than what a bank will. It’s best to just use your ATM card to withdraw pesos. (Safety tip: Don’t use stand-alone kiosks on the street. It’s always better to use an ATM that is attached to a bank. They’re easy to find and are plentiful.)

Language

Obviously, Spanish is the main language. Some of the indigenous people speak it as a second language. The accent changes a bit depending on what region the person is from, but the only one I find occasionally challenging is from the border area (as in bordering the US). However, it’s usually very easy to find people who speak at least some English, especially if you’re in larger towns or places with lots of tourists.

Phone/Data/WiFi

Telcel is the most popular provider for cellular service in Mexico, but there are definitely others. In my experience, getting phone service through Movistar is less of a hassle as a foreigner, but that may depend on the region you’re in.

In bigger towns, you’ll find plenty of places offering free WiFi. Most of those locales are usually also air conditioned which make them wonderful places to hang around for a bit. Infinitum is a popular internet provider, so you will find many companies using them. This is good because if you pick up a password at a place like Starbucks, that same password will often work all over the region for a few months.

Some popular cities also provide free WiFi in their public parks which makes this a great option if you’re out and about. Data for your phone or tablet is pretty reasonable, though. With Movistar I have unlimited email, Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp plus 250 MB of data for around $15 USD/month (which also includes minutes and SMS messages).

Food

Mexican food in Mexico is often quite different from what you eat in the States or almost any Mexican food place in the world. If you order a taco, don’t expect it to come in a hard shell. Nachos and burritos aren’t actually Mexican, so if you do find them they may be a bit different than what you’re used to. A quesadilla is much different than the ones in the US. But they’re all still yummy!

Vegetarians will have a bit more of a challenge finding a variety of foods, especially when it comes to street food. While it is becoming more common, many Mexicans may interpret “I’m vegetarian” to mean you don’t eat beef or pork, so chicken and fish are totally acceptable, right? You may have to try a few times to get them to understand.

Aguas frescas are absolutely divine drinks. They are basically fresh fruit blended with water (almost everyone will automatically use purified water) and some sugar. My favorites are agua de sandia (watermelon), de melón (cantaloupe), and piña (pineapple). A combination of watermelon and pineapple is also quite good. If you’re wanting something like lemonade ask for agua de limón natural.

Licuados are like aguas frescas except that they use milk instead of water.

Food can be quite regional. For example, in the Yucatan you’ll find my favorite Mexican breakfast food, chilaquiles; however, they aren’t common in other areas. The wonderful mole (a sauce that contains chocolate among many other things) is prepared differently in almost every region.

Visitors tend to be overly cautious about the food in Mexico. You might be surprised to find out how much of your produce in the US comes from here, so don’t freak out about eating it. Most places have decent food hygiene. We’ve spent a lot of time in Mexico and have never been sick.

Most restaurants will automatically assume you don’t want food too spicy, so if that’s true in your case you’ll have it made. Often you’ll find a few bowls of different salsas on your table. Just point to the bowls and ask “No pica?” (no pee-kah), and they’ll show you the salsa that is the least spicy.

The water in most of Mexico is potable, but in some cities it is treated quite heavily with chemicals, and in other areas it’s packed with minerals which can be tough on your stomach. I avoid tap water in the Yucatan because it is very hard, and this region has the highest number of kidney stone incidents in all of Mexico. Most locals drink purified water as well, so it’s really easy to find and relatively inexpensive.

If you’ll be in an area for a while, you can get a garrafón (20 L bottle) for 10 MXN (about 77 cents US). These can be refilled/recycled for new ones. It’s cheaper and better for the environment than constantly buying plastic bottles. You’ll often find people riding bicycle carts down the street selling filled ones, or there are refill centers which are usually easy to find.

- See more at: http://1dad1kid.com/practical-tips-on-visiting-mexico/#sthash.lRl1Davz.dpuf

AAA AZ sees increase in travel to Mexico, offers travel tips

tusconnewsnow.com                                                                    Mar 25, 2014 7:41 AM

By Kevin Adger

                                                                                                                                                                   TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -

Mexico may be making a comeback as the place to go for vacations, despite some recent troubles for the region, according to AAA Arizona. 

AAA Arizona has said it has seen an increase in travelers in the state planning trips south of the border.  AAA officials say after being plagued by cartel violence and a struggling economy - Mexico as a vacation destination is making a comeback.

Cruise traffic is especially high this time of year, said AAA Arizona, due to the country's proximity, flexibility and affordability for that form of travel.

AAA is offering a few tips for travelers to remember when they are making plans to vacation south of the border -

Use recommended crossings - U.S. citizens visiting Puerto Penasco should use the Lukeville, AZ/Sonoyta, Sonora border crossing and travel only during daylight hours.

Carry a passport - citizens are required to have a passport to gain re-entry into the U.S.

Travel smart - Stay with your traveling party at all times, do not share your itinerary and do no travel with valuables and expensive jewelry. 

Be insured - U.S. auto insurance is not valid in Mexico; insurance can be purchased at AZ.AAA.com/insurance/mexico.