Further Processing Delays Ahead From National Immigration Institute Staffing Changes
July 1, 2019

At a Glance
- Upcoming staffing changes at the National Immigration Institute will result in adjudication delays that could extend for several months.
- The previously-reported delays due to government restructures, closure of express processing window, corporate registrations, among other changes, have not subsided.
The situation
The National Immigration Institute is expected to carry out personnel cuts in the next few weeks in response to the Federal Austerity Law approved in April 2019, which sets forth budget cuts including reductions in salaries throughout all governmental institutions.
Background
The measure will be another in a series of significant changes within the National Immigration Institute resulting in longer processing times for many immigration applications. The previously-reported delays due to government restructures, closure of express processing window, corporate registrations, among other changes, have not subsided.
Impact
Foreign nationals and their employers should expect further approval delays for all immigration applications beyond their current processing times, which could extend for several months while the workload is reorganized.
Looking Ahead
Employers and foreign nationals should account for processing delays when planning their trips to Mexico and should continue working with their immigration professional to develop strategies for mitigating delays.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
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