By government visitor visa we mean the FMM migration form, which you receive upon entry to Mexico. It indicates the number of days you are allowed to stay in the country. Is it now possible to extend a tourist visa by increasing this number of days?
Spoiler (looking ahead): no, you can’t; for citizens of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, in most cases this is not necessary now.
If you are a citizen of one of these three countries (and below we will only talk about them), you shouldn't extend your travel visa, no matter how many days it says. The Mexico Migration Service understands the problems that have arisen in connection with the war in Ukraine, does not detain or deport those whose visas have expired, and considers them to be in the country legally. It is not known how long the migration service’s loyalty to those whose travel visas have expired will last. But the situation has not been formally resolved, since such tourists do not have a valid migration document in their hands. This means that we should wait for some additional decisions from the migration service.
The absence of a valid migration document in most cases does not create any problems for staying in Mexico. Always carry your original passport with you in order to confirm your identity and citizenship subject to immigration verification. Not a copy in the phone, but the original. Your citizenship is now — your only defense. If you should carry out the procedure at the migration service office, when applying for an expired travel visa, you will be asked to pay a fine, that’s all.
If you still decide to contact the migration service to get a valid migration document, you will be disappointed. For example, you may need such a document when applying for a visa to the consular office of a third power in Mexico.
Migration service offices at airports currently do not extend guest visas, even up to 180 days. However, upon arrival, the majority of Ukrainians and Russians were again allowed to stay in Mexico for a full period of 180 days.
Migration service offices also refuse to issue an extension, citing the fact that it should not be extended. But they are able to agree to put a mark from their hand on the extension to 180 days. This from-mark will be very useful in a number of specific cases related to further legalization in Mexico.
The program for a paid extension of the migration form for the next 180 days for those who also had 180 days on their expired form has been completed. It was valid only during the coronavirus epidemic.
The loyal attitude of the migration service towards those whose guest state visa has expired evokes a feeling of reassurance. It seems that you can stay in Mexico as long as you like. But this is a wrong impression. Sooner or later the scam will end. We don’t know when this will happen and what option the migration service will offer: get a new visa for money or leave the country. Mexico is definitely not going to give a residence in connection with the war in Ukraine.
If you plan to just «sit out» in Mexico, sit while you have the option. But if you are thinking of becoming a resident, do not be reassured by the fact that for now there is an opportunity to live anyway. Decide for yourself whether you want to return to your homeland.
We have written about visarans more than once: leaving and entering the country has become dangerous. Now the number of Russians traveling to Mexico has become significantly smaller, since there are no direct flights. Significantly — this is many times greater. It is believed that entry is not denied now («due to the war in Ukraine»). This is wrong. It’s just that there are significantly fewer messages on social media about such incidents. But we continue to receive letters from those who were told to. And this is by no means Uzbeks and Tajiks. They also refuse to board flights to Mexico: not only Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa, but also Air France / KLM, Iberia and even Tui. Therefore, do not consider the visaran option as a way to extend your stay in Mexico.
The requirements for obtaining a residence permit in Mexico are becoming stricter every year. The requirements for economic viability and the cost of housing are increasing. Previously, it was possible to get a work visa by coming to the consulate with an interpreter, now you must have knowledge of Spanish or English. When the migration service stops being loyal to those whose travel visas have expired, the number of requests for work visas will increase significantly. The so-called May relocation of business from Russia to Mexico has not yet become widespread, but this is only a matter of time. We have no doubt that with the increase in demand for work visas, consulates will also increase the requirements for applicants.
The migration program introduced some relaxations in the Residence registration standards, according to which those who have previously been to Mexico are able to obtain a residence permit. If you have already visited the country in 2020 or earlier, it is strange if you have not yet taken advantage of this program. The program is temporary and can be stopped at any time.
To sum it up. If you plan to stay in Mexico as a tourist, don't go anywhere. There is currently no need to extend your tourist visa. If you are planning to purchase a residence, don't leave this question to the end, when getting a residence has the potential to become more expensive and complicated.