سمنا
GRS 304
UNCLASSIFIED
FM MEXICO CITY 15213OZ JULY 1995
TO IMMEDIATE HAMILTON
TEL NO 7 OF 15 JULY
INFO FCO
HWB 348
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
16 JUL 1908
SPICER
PA
edd 23/5
I PEETH
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TOP COPY
YOUR TEL NO MISC 35 AND HERDURAN,S LETTER OF 3 JULY: VISAS FOR
BERMUDEANS TRAVELLING TO MEXICO
1. CONSUL CALLED TODAY 15 JULY ON RAMON XILOTL, SUBDIRECTOR OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS AT SECRETARIAT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS (SRE) AND EXPRESSED BERMUDA GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN AT THE IMPOSITON OF
VISA REQUIREMENT FOR BERMUDEANS VISITING MEXICO,
2.
XILOTL EXPLAINED THAT MEXICAN ENTRY CLEARANCES FOR VISA
NATIONALS (INCLUDING BERMUDEANS) CONSISTS OF TWO ELEMENTS -A} A VISA ISSUED BY A MEXICAN CONSULATE, AND
-B) AN IMMIGRATION PERMIT(TOURIST, BUSINESS, STUDENT ETC CARD)
ISSUED ON THE AUTHORITY OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARMENT OF THE SECRETARIAS DE GOBERNACION. ONE COULD NOT BE ISSUED WIHOUT THE OTHER, UNLESS THERE WAS A VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT.
3.
FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BNA 1981, SRE HAD CONFIRMED
TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT THAT BDTC'S WERE NOT COVERED BY THE
UK/MEXICO VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT AND SHOULD THEREFORE BE
CONSIDERED AS VISA NATIONALS. IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HAD CONSEQUENTL
Y
ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS THAT ALL APPLICATIONS FOR ENTRY CLEARANCES
FROM BDTC'S SHOULD IN FUTURE BE REFERRED TO MEXICO CITY. THAT
THIS REQUIREMENT HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN ENFORECED WAS AN
ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT.
4. SRE ARE CONCERENED AT THE DIFFICULTIES THAT THIS REQUIREMENT
HAS CAUSED BERMUDA AND AS A PRO TERM SOLUTION ARE TRYING TO COME
TO AN ARRANGEMENT WITH IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WHICH WOULD ALLOW
MEXICAN CONSULATES THROUGHOUT THE USA TO ISSUE VISAS AND 30 DAY TOURIST CARDS WITHOUT PRIOR REFERENCE. IN THE MEANTIME THEY
RECOMMEND THAT BERMUDEANS WISHING TO TRAVEL TO MEXICO SHOUD APPLY
FOR ENTRY CLEARANCE AT MEXICAN CONSULATES AT LEAST 2-3 WEEKS
IN ADVANCE OF TRAVEL DATES. ANY URGENT CASES SHOULD BE REFERRED TO US FOR ONWARD TRANSMISSION TO SRE WHO WILL DO THEIR BEST TO EXPEDITE. IN SUCH INSTANCES WE WILL REQUIRE FULL NAME, PASSPORT DETAILS, PROPOSED DATE OF TRAVEL AND POINT OF ENTRY.
5. XILOTL WENT ON TO SAY THAT AS A LONG TERM SOLUTION, SRE
WOULD ON PROPOSAL BE PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE A VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT
SETWEEN MEXICO AND BERMUDA ALONG THE LINES OF THE UK/MEXICO
AGREEMENT.
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