Residency vs Citizenship

We have been asked many times by family and friends what our status is.  So I think this blog is one of the best places to clarify what our status is and what my intentions are as a traveler in this big, beautiful world!

When I arrived in Uruguay from the United States I immediately did all the paperwork to become a legal permanent resident with hopes to gain citizenship one day.  But we didn't do that.  We changed our minds for various reasons.

Instead we moved to Mexico.  We are technically tourists by definition.  When you come to Mexico you can enter the country and stay for 180 days.  This is referred to as a tourist visa and there is no application process for US Citizens or Uruguayan residents (which we were). 

We are just now completing 180 days, so we are going to leave Mexico and stay out of the country for a couple of days and return for another 180 days for me, and hopefully, my partner will get her temporary resident visa good for a year and renewable. Later on, for reasons I'm not going to go into right now, I will apply for my temporary resident visa.  We plan to live here as long as possible.  I do not plan to become a Mexican citizen at this time.

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However, both the United States and Mexico allow a person to have dual citizenship.  I have no plans to renounce my American citizenship.  Renunciation is an entirely other subject.  It is very serious and irreversible.  I, personally, and like so many others here in Mexico and in the United States, am not happy with my home country right now.  But I do not have any plans to renounce my citizenship.

There is no perfect place on the face of the earth.  There is no 100% safe place on the face of the earth.  So you have to pick carefully where you think it is most appropriate for you to live for all the reasons that mean something to you.  We are here in Mexico not running from anywhere or anyone, but because the cost of living, the climate, the people, and the closeness to the United States were all contributing factors for us.  You have to make the decision based on your own set of "factors".

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That is exactly what we've done!  At this time we are very happy with that decision and hope we can enjoy this beautiful country with it's wonderful people and awesome culture, it's fabulous weather and terrific food, for a long time to come.

There! That about does it!  If you have any further questions about stuff like this, please feel free to post it here and I will do my best to answer it.
Cheers
Linda