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US Retirement Migration to Mexico: Understanding Issues of Adaptation, Networking, and Social Integration

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Abstract

This paper describes the cultural adaptation of American retirees living in two traditional retirement destinations in Mexico (Lake Chapala, state of Jalisco and San Miguel de Allende, state of Guanajuato). Based on 375 surveys and follow-up interviews, the authors discuss issues of adaptation, identity, and networking with the American and local community. Findings present a complex picture of adaptation and integration to the Mexican community as well as networking with other US residents. The comparative case study allows researcher to see the different social and economic dynamics taking place in the two destinations. This study contributes to understand a largely ignored migration flow that is directly related to the aging of the baby boomers generation.

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Notes

  1. Studies indicate that overall a large proportion of Americans are more worried about their retirement finances now than in the final months of the Great Recession in 2009 (Pew Research Center, October 22, 2012). Over one third of adults ages 60–64 are not confident that their income and assets will last through retirement while 86 % of workers in that age range predicted they will work past 65 years old (Pew Research Center, October 22, 2012). http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/10/22/more-americans-worry-about-financing-retirement/

  2. San Miguel de Allende, Guadalajara, Cuernavaca, Mexico City, Chiapas, and Oaxaca (El Paso Times).

  3. The USA and Mexico have strong economic ties through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which has been in effect since 1994. Mexico is the USA’s third largest trading partner, while the USA is, by far, Mexico’s largest trading partner (see El Paso Times).

  4. San Miguel de Allende is a colonial city in the state of Guanajuato which is home to 10,000–13,000 foreigners for a total population of about 130,000 inhabitants. The city is an important tourist destination and it has been declared UNESCO World Cultural Heritage City (Gárriz Fernández 2011, p. 6).

  5. Mexican Immigrants laws changed in November 2012 and the FM3 Visa is now part of a 4-year Temporary Resident Visa (MTRV) which can be obtained in Mexico. As the old FM3, the new MTRV requires retirees to prove they have enough funds to sustain themselves in Mexico. In November 2012, the amount of monthly income rose to $1,250 for a single person and $1,500 for a couple. Six months before the expiration, temporary residents need to decide to apply for a Permanent Resident Visa or leave the country (see http://jaltembajalapeno.com/foreign-residents/mexico-visas-temporary-resident-mtrv-fm3-permanent-resident-mprv-fm2-tourist-card-fmm/mexico-visa-temporary-resident-residente-temporal-mtrv-fm3/).

  6. FM2 (immigrante rentista) was a visa designed for people seeking permanent residency status in Mexico or those seeking Mexican citizenship. This visa is now called Mexico Permanent Resident Visa (MPRV) and can be obtained after 4 years of FM3 or FM2 status or a combination of four years of FM3, FM2 and Temporary Resident (MTRV) status.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Communication, The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, MB 2.248P, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA

    Viviana Rojas & H. Paul LeBlanc III

  2. Department of Sociology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, MB 2.248P, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA

    Thankam S. Sunil

Authors
  1. Viviana Rojas
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  2. H. Paul LeBlanc III
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  3. Thankam S. Sunil
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Correspondence to Viviana Rojas.

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Rojas, V., LeBlanc, H.P. & Sunil, T.S. US Retirement Migration to Mexico: Understanding Issues of Adaptation, Networking, and Social Integration. Int. Migration & Integration 15, 257–273 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-013-0278-4

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