Hi, G. Today was a product of a combination of luck, and of having spent a good many hours observing how the people there work. Mat has suggested it's "Zen." He may be onto something, but today I just thought they would feel a little bad about not having a turno to give me, and would take my papers without my having to wait and- so it was. Below, is something I wrote long ago in which I expressed an attitude that I think helps get things done, in these situations, for anyone who would like to read it. ___________________ The total volume of work, and individual pieces of paper processed through INM, Cancun is truly enormous. Keeping this flow going smoothly through the system so as to avoid a hugh "pile-up," and resulting backlog, is no easy task; yet, they seem to manage to do it. There being so many cases of a routine nature to process, and a number which are not so easy to evaluate and process, they cannot afford to do what is sometimes suggested, "to cause trouble," even if they are, individually, tempted to do so by a particularly annoying or demanding applicant for a visa. I've found, in most areas of life, it pays to try to understand things from the other person's point of view; and, when dealing with a big bureaucracy (anybody else have trouble spelling that word? I always have), to "have all my ducks in a row", making their job as easy as possible, and giving them the least reason to need to take time to deal with omissions or errors in what I've submitted. One other thing I've found useful through the years in dealing with any bureaucracy is think the best of other people: try to believe, and act on the belief, that they are well intentioned toward you and wish to do well by you, and others. Take INM, for example: it will not help you get through the process, personally, nor help speed your paperwork through the process, to imagine that they are, beneath a smiling exterior, evil/corrupt/dishonest/malevolent, or any number of other negative things you could think about them. Instead, try to imagine they are people like you- but with a more boring job- who get up in the morning wishing for nothing more than to get through their day with a minimum of hassles, and to get back home to their families. The last thing I'd like to say is that, when communicating with those who work in an office like this, should you hear something that sounds somewhat "negative" to you, don't assume you've understood, perfectly, what they've said, and it's implications for you. It's better to remain calm, take time to listen further, and ask a mild question or two, to clarify. You may find you've simply misunderstood them. And, if what you've heard is something like, "come back in a week," assume it is for good reason, known only to them, that they have said so- smile and accept it.
Finally got my bloody FM3. Happy? Meh, more like "about bloody time!!" This is the last renewal I do, and it feels good.
Surprised and delighted to report the FM3/Expediente Basico quest is going well. We submitted on the 14th and just over a week later we received our notice via the website to appear at immigration. We did that yesterday and were handed our Expediente Basico and given an appointment (Mar 08) to get fingerprinted and hand over our photos and proof of payment. The whole operation took less and 30 minutes...we waited longer in the #$%^# bank which only had two slow-moving tellers for a long line. I think we are only 1 or 2 visits from our card. So far so good! Rob
For the first time ever I've had the pleasure of seeing these words in the INM website, regarding my case. (I've always had to go and rattle the cage a little to make things move.) Too bad it was just for a change of address process....
I was reminded today of a seemingly counterintuitive rule (that often applies in bureaucratic processes here) when I went to INM at 9:10 AM today to pick up the approval form for my change of address. Because everybody appears early- to beat the rush- they create one, instead. When I saw it would probably be at least a half hour before I got out of there, I decided to return another day, at around 12:30 PM, when the desk where this process takes place will not be busy at all (because they will have already processed all of that day's "early birds")!
V- I almost always go around 12 - 12:30 (today was an exception... sadly) When I got there at 10 am it was packed, but by 12:30 or so it was much less crammed inside the office. I was also happy that now they have a waiting area outside. It was much nicer to sit outdoors for a few hours while people-watching as opposed to having my knees crushed inside the office From my seat outside, I had a clear view of the number-counter on the wall to know when my turn was coming up.
Nicer to sit outdoors (where they have a shady awning set up, and there was a lovely breeze) than to sit in a hot, stuffy, loud crowded office with no leg or shoulder room? Yes. They have a suprisingly comfortable set-up out there! I mean... I'd obviously rather not be at the INM office at all... but if I have to be there, it's nice to sit outdoors in the shade.
Agreed, G., it was thoughtful of them to provide this setup. It´s too bad that such a busy operation has to take place in such cramped offices, with the tiniest of lobbies, but until they get budget to build a larger facility the outdoor seating provides a relief valve for the overcrowding.
