BajaNomad

Citizenship facilitator recommendation?

Marla Daily - 11-1-2013 at 07:50 AM

Has anyone gotten Mexican citizenship lately? Can anyone recommend a facilitator? I've given up on Gilberto Pineda in Mexico City. He has copies of all my papers, but has stopped answering my emails, so it looks like I will need to start over with someone else.

Mula - 11-1-2013 at 08:32 AM

I would recommend the gals at The Paper Chase in LaPaz.

http://www.thepaperchase.com.mx/

bajacalifornian - 11-1-2013 at 09:04 AM

God as my witness, if Mula recommends 'em . . .I'd use 'em.

[Edited on 11-1-2013 by bajacalifornian]

monoloco - 11-1-2013 at 09:17 AM

I'll vouch for the Paper Chase, no drama, no games, they are a joy to deal with, if nothing else you will get an honest assessment of what it will take to get your citizenship.

BajaBlanca - 11-1-2013 at 10:44 AM

How bizarre, it takes a couple days as he is very busy but he always answers my emails!

I will write and recommend he get a secretary to be faster!

DavidE - 11-1-2013 at 10:57 AM

Find out who is your areas link to the Secretaria de Relaciones Exterior. Some excellent books for the test are ordinary Primera and secondaria school books dealing with history, and gobernacion.

shari - 11-1-2013 at 11:02 AM

His daughter was his secretary and very very efficient but I imagine she has graduated and has a real job now...darn...he's the best.

rts551 - 11-1-2013 at 12:20 PM

The best? not if you have to go elsewhere after giving up!

Marla - how much money did he get from you up front?


I know someone else who is having problems with him (although to be fair - both parties fault).

[Edited on 11-1-2013 by rts551]

Marla Daily - 11-1-2013 at 01:06 PM

Gilberto Pineda received copies of my birth certificate, passport, FM3 and FM2 history, and Residente Permanente card. He was responsive
earlier in the year. His last email response of August 7 said:

HOLA MARLA, ESTOY ASIENDO UNA REVICION Y QUE ME AUTORICEN LA RECEPCION POR LOS CAMBIOS QUE A ABIDO LE CONTESTO CON CALMA MAS TARDE POR FAVOR.

Translation is awkward, even for a Spanish speaking native. However I have had no response to multiple emails since Aug. 7. This is where it was left. He requested no upfront funds.

I have emailed the suggested La Paz business and am awaiting a response. Also, it is my understanding those over 60 have no history test requirement.

[Edited on 11-1-2013 by Marla Daily]

DavidE - 11-1-2013 at 01:35 PM

Interesting, the SRE gave me a test in 2010. Also tested gobernacion the supreme court, and the ^&^%$%! names of los niños heroes de castillo chapultepec.

rts551 - 11-1-2013 at 01:39 PM

As I understand it (and confirmed a year ago with Mr Pineda) , (currently) no test required for those over 60.

dtbushpilot - 11-1-2013 at 03:52 PM

Is it 60 and over or 61and over?

rts551 - 11-1-2013 at 04:19 PM

hmmm good question. I tought it was 60. In my case it does not matter:yes:

dtbushpilot - 11-1-2013 at 04:29 PM

It matters to me this year, next year not so much....

bajalinda - 11-1-2013 at 04:30 PM

Marla - I've had the same experience with Gilberto Pineda and have pretty much given up too.

bajajudy - 11-1-2013 at 05:10 PM

He never answered even one of the multiple emails I sent. Granted I do not speak Spanish like a native, but he could have at least told me that he could not help me.
Paper Chase, eh?

rts551 - 11-1-2013 at 05:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajudy
He never answered even one of the multiple emails I sent. Granted I do not speak Spanish like a native, but he could have at least told me that he could not help me.
Paper Chase, eh?


He insisted on talking to me in Spanish. (by the way, I understand he speaks English).

rts551 - 11-1-2013 at 05:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
It matters to me this year, next year not so much....


Was wondering...If the laws change on property ownership, are you still going to pursue citizenship?

dtbushpilot - 11-1-2013 at 09:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
It matters to me this year, next year not so much....


Was wondering...If the laws change on property ownership, are you still going to pursue citizenship?



Probably not.

EnsenadaDr - 11-2-2013 at 01:45 AM

It means he is making some changes and that he is waiting for them to authorize the changes he has made and will answer you later and to be patient. I would go right to Immigration. You need to go and ask if he did anything at all if not demand your money back.
Quote:
Originally posted by Marla Daily
Gilberto Pineda received copies of my birth certificate, passport, FM3 and FM2 history, and Residente Permanente card. He was responsive
earlier in the year. His last email response of August 7 said:

HOLA MARLA, ESTOY ASIENDO UNA REVICION Y QUE ME AUTORICEN LA RECEPCION POR LOS CAMBIOS QUE A ABIDO LE CONTESTO CON CALMA MAS TARDE POR FAVOR.

Translation is awkward, even for a Spanish speaking native. However I have had no response to multiple emails since Aug. 7. This is where it was left. He requested no upfront funds.

I have emailed the suggested La Paz business and am awaiting a response. Also, it is my understanding those over 60 have no history test requirement.

[Edited on 11-1-2013 by Marla Daily]


[Edited on 11-2-2013 by EnsenadaDr]

monoloco - 11-2-2013 at 06:39 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
It means he is making some changes and that he is waiting for them to authorize the changes he has made and will answer you later and to be patient. I would go right to Immigration. You need to go and ask if he did anything at all if not demand your money back.
Why would she go to immigration? They have nothing to do with the citizenship process.

Marla Daily - 11-2-2013 at 06:58 AM

As I mentioned, he did not require any payment in advance. Anything
he has done thus far is without compensation. I am happy to pay for his services.

oladulce - 11-2-2013 at 10:22 AM

Not that anyone needs another hurdle but has this issue come up for any women applying for citizenship in the past month or so? This Mexico connect forum thread from a few weeks ago (recent info) from women denied citizenship applications because of legal and birth name documents don't match exactly. They report that SRE in Mexico City are not accepting the aclaración de nombre document (which clarifies your birth certificate name vs married name on passports, Fm2/3 etc).

Not only would you have to change the name on your passport to match your birth certificate, but one person reported you have to reapply and get an entire new Res Permanente/Fm2 in your birth name. (Then more documents to prove all your past years of Fm2s in your married name and the new one in your birth name were all yours?) It will be interesting to see what happens with this.

Mex connect forum

Here's an exerpt:

"SRE has dug in its heels re a woman's citizenship application. They have said that all supporting documents must be in a woman's maiden name."

"My wife has done everything--every jot and tittle--required by law in applying for Mexican citizenship. Her application has been denied--i.e., NOT ACCEPTED--and no letter has been offered as to why. A good friend of ours, who is a highly-placed lawyer WITHIN the SRE, tells us that the rules have been changed and her application WILL NOT be accepted unless she legally changes her name on her birth certificate to the legal name that she has used since 1968. He mentioned that she could apply under the name on her birth certificate--but of course she has none of the other required supporting documents under that name.

... this is a new and different situation for women who are legally known by their husband's (or ex-husband's) last names. SRE and our lawyer friend have told us that this is a recent change."

BajaBlanca - 11-6-2013 at 03:46 PM

oh my gosh .... what a nightmare. This has to be the only country in the world that deals with women's names this way ????

I wrote to gilberto yesterday and he answered today, I needed a document from him which he will send. He did tell me that his SON is now learning the ropes.

I mentioned that many were very unhappy with his lack of response to emails and that he needs a secretary right away. I won't recommend him any more til you all have better things to sat about response time.

I will ask about the age requirement -

NB although you don't take the written history and cultural test, remember that they are going to ask you questions in conversation: what places have you visited? and the answer can be a simple ME GUSTA LA BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR. why do you want to become a citizen? ME ENCANTA MEXICO Y LOS MEXICANOS. what holidays have you participated in or know about? DIA DE LOS MUERTOS. DIA DE LA BANDERA. DIA DEL GRITO.

There are more if anyone is interested.

Marla Daily - 11-6-2013 at 07:49 PM

WOW! I actually got an email from Gilberto today!
He confirmed I do not have to take the test. He also said I need to wait until January [?] to have 5 years on my FM2 [?] although I
am already a residente permanente. I need to straighten this out. I the meantime my passport exipired and I need to get him a copy of my new one now that he has answered. Thank you Baja Blanca for lighting the fire under him!

Mulegena - 11-6-2013 at 08:22 PM

Quote:
originally posted by Mulegena
Ive seen the Secretaria de Relationes Exterior officina in La Paz but have yet to contact them. They are located on 5 de Febrero just past Fojadores. This would be the office we residents of Baja Sur would deal with I think.


Questions of anyone having recently obtained citizenship:
Must we hire a facilitator? I know it's not required by law to have a representative, so in other words, is the process truly so daunting that an individual could not manage this themself?
Will we be required to travel to Mexico City or can this be processed at a satellite office?
Can you give us a breakdown of approximate costs?

bajalinda - 11-7-2013 at 11:09 AM

I don't think you absolutely have to hire a facilitator, but the La Paz office has a terrible reputation for being very very slow. One of our neighbors who started out there on her own got so tired of waiting, that she went to Gilberto in DF and had him finish the process for her.