BajaBlanca
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Location: La Bocana, BCS
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NATURALIZATION TRIP REPORT & Spanish/Citizenship classes
Naturalization Process Trip report – August 2011
August 16, 2011, I flew out to Mexico City where attorney Gilberto Pineda picked me up and dropped me off at my hotel. I stayed at the Hotel San
Diego, at 400 pesos a night it is a great option. Close to the historical center, so it is quite convenient … It also has its own restaurant - nothing
remarkable but decent prices for decent food. After a nice dinner and good night’s sleep, next morning we started our trek to get my Mexican
citizenship papers.
HERE IS A PICTURE OF GILBERTO - HE PICKS YOU UP AT THE AIRPORT AND TAKES YOU TO YOUR HOTEL:
First stop is at the naturalization office and after a lot of signing of forms and fingerprinting and more signing and more fingerprinting, I got my
final papers … yahooooooo !!!
It was a 4 month process, almost to the day … and the secret for females is: you must have your American or whatever nationality passport in your
maiden name. Once you get your Mexican passport, you can certainly change it back. This is a new law. Not open for negotiation according to
Gilberto. Remember, the way this works is that you are Mexican when in Mexico. Your other identities remain in place – you become a dual national.
With naturalization papers in hand, one pays a fee of currently 1780 pesos at a window close to the same office for the passport. Gilberto highly
recommends getting one there and then since the main passport office in Mexico City does not require you to leave your newly acquired naturalization
form with them, they simply copy it. He drove me to take photos since I forgot to bring my extras, then we went to another office to get the
passport itself. The process takes about an hour, they ask you to write your name on different forms over and over and then they take your
fingerprints over and over. The passport will be delivered the next day – make sure to plan your flight accordingly – give yourself an extra day to
go sightseeing and leave 2 days after applying for the passport. If you can get mail in La Paz or any other bigger city, this can also be arranged.
But if possible, Gilberto prefers you walking out passport in hand ! when dealing with him, he wants everyone to speak Spanish. He got in trouble
with immigration when he used to help folks out by speaking English. If you want to become Mexican, the Mexico city immigration agents want to know
that you can understand the basics: sit down, write your name here, sign there etc. IN ESPANOL.
I will be offering 5 day courses in Mexican Citizenship (basic Spanish language and test preparation) classes this September. Please write
toBajaBlancaLes@gmail.com for more details. I anticipate that it will be a package deal, Mon – Friday with room, board, Spanish classes and
citizenship test classes for abut $700 dollars. I am trying to guage interest and would appreciate input. Thanks.
[Edited on 8-24-2011 by BajaBlanca]
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BajaBlanca
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hi Jakecard - thanks for inputting !!!! yes, I can now work here legally and I am thrilled if I can offer any services to anyone:
to start with... I studied so hard for the test since I had NO Mexican history background. Not having traveled around the country, I had no clue what
half the questions were referring to ... I have been teaching ESL for 30 years and I LOVE MY PROFESSION. so I thought I wd help others with the
process .... of course, anyone can get the questions with the answers - in spanish - FREE from the gvt site and free from me as well !! no
problem...many have asked and received them from me already.
mostly, I want to make the whole spanish speaking/studying easier. Well, my goal is to make it a breeze for anyone who desires to become a citizen.
I see no drawbacks at all to being a dual national - no more immigration office visits is the biggest plus in my book since we are so remote it take a
full day of driving to and fro. since we live here, i can't wait to vote for a candidate I believe in. we own property and I want it in my name.
yadda yadda yadda.
I taught citizenship in the States to mostly Mexicans but also other legal aliens, via community college, and boy, I made a ton more money than $700
doing that !!!!! they also can get the questions and the answers fromt he US gvt but they were in my classes ....
Please give all the input you want folks, that what the forum is about.
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oladulce
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I've got a long way to go before I'm eligible Blanca but your idea of classes seems worth it to me to get the test right the first time.
The US passport in your maiden name seems kinda tricky. So you have to change your name back to one that really isn't your name anymore and for 4
months or so your US passport doesn't match your current Mexican Immigrado or visa papers, your driver's license, your bank account, etc? Did you
having any problems with that ?
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dtbushpilot
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Blanca, I think your idea is a great one. I've been asking around about a citizenship test prep course for the MX citizenship test and have drawn a
blank. 5 days room and board and study time for $700? where do I sign up? That's a great deal.....dt
BTW: don't feed the trolls ....
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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BajaBlanca
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thanks dt and yeah ... but I get drawn in ...real wimp ! the test was HARD for me, and understanding what they were saying to me was HARD for me. the
conversation isn't your typical "Hola, como estas ?" It was serious, no eye contact...really hard and intimidating. And with Portuguese as my first
language, heck, it should have been a piece of cake, add nervousness. add language barrier. no cake - just plain old HARD.
now, ola - he made me change the name on my FM and made me use a passport with my maiden name. he said it will take YEARS if you don't do it. and if
I understood him right - that is the new law. because mexican women always carry one name mo matter how many time they marry.....HOWEVER, pls discuss
this with him:
gpcpineda@hotmail.com
cell: 04455 5419-6812
I just got a mexican driver's license and had them put it in my maiden name ..weird weird but all my mexican paperwork will now have my maiden name.
[Edited on 8-21-2011 by BajaBlanca]
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DianaT
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With your background and experience, I think your classes should be excellent. And at $140.00 a day including room and board sounds fair. If I was
close to working on citizenship, I would be there.
Only problem I see for you is that if the fish are biting, you might have to lock doors to keep some of the students from sneaking out. :-) :-)
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BajaBlanca
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hahaha good one diana and do you know, that actually crossed my mind too!
I do love teaching - I was born to teach. If anyone needs a teaching reference, write to toneart - he and I taught together in san diego eons before
I met Les and moved down here .... eons before Tony ever thought about buying in Mulege ...
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
hahaha good one diana and do you know, that actually crossed my mind too!
I do love teaching - I was born to teach. If anyone needs a teaching reference, write to toneart - he and I taught together in san diego eons before
I met Les and moved down here .... eons before Tony ever thought about buying in Mulege ... |
When we met him, he spoke highly of you both as a person and as a teacher.
GOOD LUCK
[Edited on 8-21-2011 by DianaT]
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Roberto
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Sorry for being a party pooper - but isn't this an ad for services? Does it belong in the classified section? I mean, it isn't really a trip report,
is it?
I'm also wondering about the extent of your fluency in Spanish? Or is this a course intended only to understand the basic questions to pass the
citizenship test?
[Edited on 8-21-2011 by Roberto]
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Russ
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1st - Congrats !
I've been inmigrado for a few years now and have thought many times about applying for citizenship. For me without a significant other I would have to
change my fideocamisos to a title, expensive, Mexican drivers license, cheap and easy, Mexican auto & homeowners insurance, more expensive and
less coverage. I don't have any intention to work, vote or other entitlements you'd get being a citizen. So in my case I'm happy with inmigrado
status. For married folks I think one should go for it.
What a great environment to learn Spanish and some history even if you're not ready for citizenship yet. Blanca, I think you've got a wonderful idea
hope it works out.
[Edited on 8-21-2011 by Russ]
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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Lee
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2nd Russ's comments. Thank you for offering your time and experiences helping Nomads. Teachers never really retire -- they just keep on
helping others. Salute!
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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BajaBlanca
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hmmm
roberto, it started out as a trip report (below are some pics).
for the record: I am fluent in Spanish. Portuguese. English (duh). French. Passable Polish. Passable Russian. Basic Italian. Even studied Urdu but
don't remember anything except Asalamaleikum ? Maleikumasalam. no clue how to spell that but that is what it sounded like. Also studied Norwegian
and loved this language but don't really remember it now. Picking up languages is a natural gift for me. My mom is the same. My grandpa was the same.
now for the photos:
THERE WAS A SALE ON HANDICRAFT FROM GUERRERO AT THE AIRPORT and some of it is now in our ivingroom.
WHILE I WAS THERE, THE MEXICAN SOCCER TEAM PLAYED BRAZIL. I WAS ROOTING FOR BOTH TEAMS and since I received my naturalization papers that very day, I
could NOT lose ...... both teams got my porras !!!! Notice, I did watch in great style !! Also note that I arrived at the hotel restaurant 30 min
before the game to guarantee my perfect spot ! In the end, the restaurant was packed.
and in the end, Gilberto drove me to the airport. great flight via volaris. arrived to sweltering heat in la paz !!
[Edited on 8-24-2011 by BajaBlanca]
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toneart
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Blanca,
Great trip report and photos. Please disregard the miscreant who came on all grumpified. It is only because you mentioned my name. It would be
inappropriate for me to elaborate on this, your wonderful TRIP REPORT!
I entered an endorsement in your other string regarding your offer. That was, of course, appropriately entered in the Classified section. But
you are intelligent. You know what goes where and which end is up. 
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