Approval

I been approved for another trip around the sun down Mexico way. I had my appointment this morning at IMN. Yesterday I'd been told this was a mere formality and I should be prepared to pony up the grand. Everything here is done in cash so I hit two ATM's this morning using two separate accounts on my way to the appointment. I'd decided late last night given the circumstances I was pretty much in a corner with no good options. The least adverse option was to simply pay the fine, breath in, breath out and move on. But I figured I'd jump through the hoop, however pointless several sources told me it would be. Anyway I went and stated my case to the supervisor this morning. I started by telling him it was completely my fault for not understanding Spanish well enough to know what the document said. That I should have known the Visa was not stamped in the correct place. He asked me several questions, mainly if I liked it here and if I plan on staying, if so how long, whether or not I have any local Mexican friends etc.... I answered all questions in what best could be described as "Spanglish." In English he said "I see. So you problem is then man at the boarder crossing stamped the fifth page instead page three, correct?" "Yes, I should I have known this was wrong. I've since read the visa and clearly says in Spanish the initial stamp needs to be on page three." He said "And you didn't read through this at the time because you don't read Spanish then, right." "Yes, I still don't read Spanish well but I'm working on it." He stated "Yes, but the officer at the border should be trained to know which page is correct, it would be good if you engage in our culture and learn our language. But you are not required to do these things. You are require, by law, to have the Visa in the correct order. I can not, even though I believe this was not your fault, reduce the fine to zero. I can see what I can do." He then picked up the phone and began talking. I caught most of it. Basically he said this is clearly not his fault, I need to know what the minimum fine is and how to enter it in the system so he is charged that amount instead of the maximum which he is now being charged. He talked to the person on the other end of the phone briefly and then began typing into the computer at his desk. In the matter of two or three minute he told me "I'm not allowed to completely remove the fine, all I can do is reduce it. In this case the minimum fine is $253." I was thinking well that sure beats a grand. I thanked him. He told me my new paperwork would be waiting for me at the down stairs office and I left. When I got down stairs they explained I needed to take the paper work to a local bank and pay for both the visa renewal and the fine, then return with the receipt and pick up my new visa. I took the paperwork and left for the bank. While walking to the bank I notice the visa renewal- 1172 pesos and the fine 253 peso. Holy crap! My fines been reduced from $1000 US dollars to 253 pesos, or about $25 bucks. So much for all those "sources" who told me I was wasting my time.

So I'm cleared to spend another trip around the sun down here in the sun.

I'm hoping this is the beginning of a new pattern, one where it's more paradise and less shit.