Officially Mexicans! (Citizens & Resident)

After years of paperwork, patience, and more consulate trips than I can count, our family is officially official for Mexico!

It all started nearly three years ago, when Fernando began the long process of applying for Mexican citizenship. What we didn’t realize then was that before he could apply, his dad would first need to reclaim his own Mexican citizenship. Back when my father-in-law became a U.S. citizen, Mexico didn’t yet recognize dual citizenship, so he had to denounce his Mexican one — a rule that changed only two years after. Once he fixed his paperwork, Fernando could finally move forward, and on April 30, he became a dual citizen of Mexico and the U.S.

After that, things moved quickly. On May 7, Luca and Livi received their dual citizenship under their dad, making them officially Mexican, too. Watching them get fingerprinted felt surreal.

Today, it was my turn! I was approved for my permanent residency visa under family unity — a process that allows spouses and immediate family members of Mexican citizens to obtain legal residency through their family connection.

In the span of just one month, after years of waiting on paperwork and timing, everything finally clicked into place! We’d been aiming to move to Mexico by July 2024, and by pure luck (and maybe a little cosmic timing), we made our deadline just barely.

It feels incredible to finally have the legal puzzle pieces in place. And yes, we celebrated the best way we know how — with tacos and margaritas!