Mexicans seeking to live in the U.S.–either legally or illegally–has been a big news story for some time now. But what about U.S. citizens who want to immigrate to Mexico?
About 1,200 native-born Americans have become citizens of Mexico since 2000, the Arizona Republic reported in 2006.
Some of the benefits of gaining Mexican citizenship, the Arizona Republic reported, include the ability to:
- directly own oceanfront property without setting up a complicated legal trust;
- obtaining Mexican bank loans to finance a home more easily;
- work in Mexico without a visa;
- not have to worry about making the annual trip to the local immigration office to renew your FM-3.
Because the U.S. recognizes dual citizenship, you would still retain your status as an American citizen unless you renounced it.
But the U.S. State Department notes that some disadvantages of dual citizenship include:
- dual-nationality status could hamper U.S. Government efforts to provide consular protection, and
- dual nationals are subject to compulsory military service in Mexico and the U.S.
Besides completing the necessary paperwork and living in the country for five years, you must pass a short written test about the country’s government, culture and history.
While gaining dual citizenship with Mexico is probably an unlikely endeavor for most in the U.S., it’s important to Mexican-Americans who want to preserve ties to Mexico.
The CancunCanuck blog gives a nice overview of the Mexican citizenship quiz here and here.
Photo by alex-s (Via Creative Commons)
on Aug 12th, 2009 at 6:56 am
The law has changed considerably since that 2006 piece in the Arizona Republic. Only FM-2 years are counted toward residency, because the FM-3 is a no-inmigrante status.
Voting rights, the IFE card, and a release from Art. 33 of the Mexican Constitution add to the benefits of naturalization.
Some proficiency in the Spanish language is required under the law, as well as familiarity with Mexican history and culture. The test, which changes every 6 months, can be found at http://staringatstrangers.typepad.com/staring_at_strangers/2009/07/who-wants-to-be-a-mexican.html
on Aug 12th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
@Jennifer, thanks for the update on Mexican law and the link to the most current version of the test.
on Aug 23rd, 2009 at 8:36 pm
[...] The Mixed Blessings of Mexican Dual Citizenship : Double military obligations anyone? [...]