EXPERT GROUP MEETING ON MEASURING INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION: CONCEPTS AND METHODS Measuring of international migration flows through administrative registers: the Mexican experience INEGI Francisco J. Gutiérrez New York, 4-7 December, 2006

Administrative registers Among the different types of administrative records that are regularly used to generate statistics on international migratory flows, Mexico processes those related with issuance of residence or exit permit, and those which are taken at ports of entry and departure from the country.

Legal framework According to the General Population Law, the National Institute of Migration (INM 1 ) is in charge of: A.- Authorizing the foreigners’ entrance to the country and to define their migratory condition or its change; B.- Being aware and record the entry and exit movements both for nationals and foreigners; C.- Generating statistics about this issue. 1 INAMI= Acronym in Spanish. Stands for Instituto Nacional de Migración.

A.- Authorizing the foreigners’ entrance to the country and to define their migratory condition or its change ;

Migratory’ conditions Mexican Law establishes that foreigners entering the country must be classified under one of the three following conditions : –Non-immigrant –Immigrant –Immigrated

Most foreigners enter the country as Non-immigrants (Tourists and Visitors) Non-immigrants Immigrants Immigrated Temporary stay Final residence in the country Final stay intention In the opposite case, they could remain as Non-immigrants For acquiring the final residence rights the status of Immigrated must be obtained It is possible to obtain authorization to enter the country for family formation or reunification Those who have intentions to settle in the country apply for a change in their migratory status to Immigrants In order to obtain the status of Immigrated it is necessary the specific declaration from the Ministry of the Interior Migratory Conditions Cycle

I. Non-immigrant population This condition is for foreigners wishing to enter temporary into the country under the permission of INM. It includes: –Tourists –Persons in transit (transmigrants) –Visitors –Ministers of cult or religious associated –Political asylum-seekers or refugees –Students –Distinguished visitors –Local visitors –Provisional visitors –Correspondents

At the same time Visitors must be classified as: Business and Investors Technicians and scientists Resident pensioners Professionals Trustworthy persons Human Rights Observers Electoral processes Observers Counselors Artists or Sportsman/woman Other visitors

Non-immigrants with and agreement to enter the country: Requirements

Non-immigrants without an agreement to enter the country: Requirements

II. Immigrant population This is a transit situation comprising all foreigners wishing to enter legally into the country for the first time with the intention to reside in it, or those who have entered the country as Non-immigrants and presently want a change in their status: –Resident pensioners –Investors –Professionals –Trustworthy persons –Scientists –Technicians –Family members –Artist and sports professionals

Non-immigrants Tourists Persons in transit Visitors Ministers of cult Political asylum seekers Refugees Students Distinguished visitors Local visitors Provisional visitors Correspondents Immigrants Resident pensioners Investors Professionals Trustworthy persons Scientists Technicians Family members Artist and sports professionals Public policies’ intention: a selective migration National Interest

III. Immigrated population Foreigners who have been living in the country for more than 5 years as immigrants, and now they want to have Mexico as their permanent residence, and count for it with the INAMI authorization.

Categories related with international migration recommendations There are not international migrants It depends on the duration of the stay There are international migrants

B.- To be aware and record the entry and exit movements both for nationals and foreigners (registration forms)

Issuance of internment or residence permit: persons

This form is filled together with FME form by foreigners when they arrive to the country by air or through a maritime port. (Movements registration of tourist, transmigrant, business visitor or councilor visitor)

Another non-immigrants (visitors, ministers of cult, political asylum seekers, refugees, students and correspondents) have a document to register their arrivals to or departures from the country.

To collect information about movements Duplicate form. Foreigners hand in one copy to the authorities upon arrival and return the duplicate at the time of departure. Duplicate form for nationals. It allows to know the length of the stay or absence.

The FMVA card is an issuance of a work farm border permit. The FMVL card is used for Guatemalan temporary visitors (excursionists) to the Chiapas state.

Other movements registered –Issuance of work permits (to Guatemalans). –Official clearance of departing migrant farm workers (to go to Canada). –Apprehensions and deportations of foreigners and nationals. –National Foreigners Register.

C.- To generate statistics about migrants and movements.

About migrant flows Mexico’s administrative records do not permit to know the stock of foreigners or immigrants. Statistics about immigrant and immigrated people (inflows) are obtained from the internment and residence permits. Statistics about emigrants are not reliable enough, because some of the exits are not declared.

About inflow and outflow movements Statistics about movements are collected by the forms FMTTV and FME. They include migrants and non- migrants. They are gathered at the time of arrival or departure of foreigners and nationals. They lack information to consider them as a short or long term immigrants.

Some results: Immigrated flows

Some results: Movements