The Guadalajara Reporter

Consumer survey - Feb. 23, 2013

Immigration chief opens up on confusing new rules

As promised, Chapala’s National Immigration Institute (INM) office chief Juan Carlos Galvan sat down late last week for a Reporter interview to help clarify key points of confusion.

Season of abstinence begins on February 13

Lent is the season of penance and prayer for Christians before Easter.

Consumer survey - November 17, 2012

Love & friendship abounds on February 14

Few people in Mexico refer to Valentine’s Day as Dia de San Valentin; most prefer the commonly used Dia del Amor y la Amistad (Love and Friendship Day), which is popular throughout Latin America.

New immigration law prompts fear but ‘don’t panic,’ says INM chief

As Mexico’s new immigration law finally takes effect this month, confusion and consternation has spread like wildfire through expat enclaves across the nation.

Consumer survey - January 26, 2013

Day of the Dead: For 25 pesos or less

For decades, Guadalajara’s Feria de Carton (Day of the Dead market) in the Parque Morelos on the Calzada Independencia has been the place to go for economical holiday knick-knacks.

FIESTAS CALENDAR 2013

There’s a fiesta, fair or major happening going on somewhere in Mexico every day of the year. The Reporter has compiled a month-by-month run down of major dates to mark on the 2013 calendar.

Consumer survey - October 20, 2012

Consumer survey - December 22, 2012

US Consulate ready to help citizens exercise their right to vote

Thousands of U.S. citizens residing in or visiting Mexico will cast absentee ballots in November’s general election.

Holiday closings & other useful information

With Christmas Day falling on a Tuesday this year, routines will not be put out of kilter significantly over the holidays.  Apart from most supermarkets and convenience stores, shops will be closed on December 25, as will all banks, government offices, post offices and diplomatic missions (including the U.S. and Canadian consulates). Hospitals will maintain skeleton staffs and will only attend to emergencies.  Both Red Cross and fire services will be operational.

Consumer survey - September 22, 2012

Old scams never die

The popular Plaza Galerias area in the western fringes of Guadalajara, with its adjacent Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Costco and myriad stores and restaurants, continues to be a favored site for elaborately choreographed petty crimes. Despite reports in the Guadalajara Reporter and other media exposing them over the years, these rip-offs live on and claim new victims, some of them middle-aged and elderly foreigners.

Passport renewal simplified for Canadians

Good news for Canadian expats: a new simplified passport renewal system will become active as of September 17.

Have safer holidays at home, in your car

Grinches are always extra active during the this season, looking for unsecured houses and even cars, and aiming to make off with some loot. Mexico is surely safer than many U.S. cities, but wise and wary expats should be prepared to foil grinches with heightened awareness of their modus operandi.

Worsening bird flu sees egg prices skyrocket

Egg prices continue to rise with the avian flu outbreak in Jalisco having now claimed the lives of over 10 million livestock.

Deciphering INM rules: What immigration status suits your lifestyle?

Following up on the Reporter’s ongoing consultations with Chapala immigration office chief Juan Carlos Galvan, this week we delve into the different permit categories, referred to in the law as Condiciones de Estancia.

US Consulate updates visa procedures

New regulations at the U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara aimed at speeding up visa applications do away with interviews for visa renewals from applicants whose visa is less then four years out of date.