Yesterday we made our second trip to the Guatemalan migracion office in the long process to fix our entrance/exit official records. After another full day in the office our full set of paperwork is now submitted and we are in waiting mode. Here's what happened for others' future reference (part of this assumes you've already read this thread).
We arrived at the office at 8am sharp when they opened since we knew it would be a crazy day after two days of being closed for a national holiday. We brought in all of our notarized paperwork (and cheery attitudes despite being up since 3am). We also brought some receipts from Mexico and our receipt from Altiplano from our voyage to/fom Mexico (luckily we took a shuttle for that particular Mexico trip). This was to prove that we had been in Mexico and when (remember, we couldn't get stamped out or in to Guatemala at the border due to the previously mentioned problems).
Upon arrival, I was given a set of paperwork that they had prepared including the latest official version of my Guatemala migration records. I had to review everything and make sure it was accurate. Recommendation: Do this for every letter and number on the records since while most of it was correct (except for the known missing entrances/exits), my passport number and one other item was incorrect on one line item. You need to note any corrections. If the corrections are significant (hopefully you already know what most of them are since the official printout should be fairly similar to what you saw the first visit), you will have to recreate the self-authored letter describing what changes you want made to your records. Luckily we did not have to recreate this letter since we already knew about all of the major (in/out) changes needed and noted the smaller ones (like the incorrect passport number - off by one number).
My case was simple (only four additions/changes needed). Unfortunately, they had not even completed my friend's paperwork. This was frustrating because their normal process is to complete it by 2pm the next day. We had submitted it last week Thursday. So we had to wait while they completed her paperwork (1.5 hrs?).
After they completed her paperwork, we reviewed everything between ourselves and with the lady who we were essentially assigned to for the day (which is much better than working with 5 different people like what happened last time). We were ready to submit the full set of paperwork now. She took us to another office - literally someone's office (a pretty nice triangular shaped one with lots of windows I might add). We sat down at a conference table with the guy to review our paperwork. He did mine first - a few questions, but no problems. He stamped it, signed it, punch-holed it, and clamped it into a large manilla folder. He gave me a photocopy of the main form (showing all the proposed changes, etc) that was stamped and made official. This document is essential if you want to leave the country during the 30 day adjustment window. You must show it to prove that your records are under evaluation/adjustment.
Here's where it gets interesting. The process to fix the records takes up to 30 days. In my case, that's a few days more than my current 90 day visa. So we asked a couple questions about this - including "will the mexico trip a few weeks ago count as a renewal/new 90 day tourist visa?" The answer we got floored us. Not because it was an answer we necessarily wanted to hear, but because it was coming from a Guatemalan - a Guatemalan government official at that. He said with a smile "You know, those are really good questions. I do not know the answers to those and I don't know if we can give you a definite answer." He didn't make something up (I realize they are normally just trying to be helpful, but...), he didn't defer, etc. It was good to get a friendly straight-forward answer with a smile and a chuckle (we all chuckled actually).
After consultation, they decided that the best thing to do was check back with them after the records have been fixed to determine a possible better answer at that time (regarding whether the Mexico trip will count). This of course will only work if they get the fix done before my current visa expires. He told we can call in 15 days, that is the minimum duration for the fixes to occur. We have a special number and extension to call to check on status. The issue about the Mexico trip is that while it will start to appear in our official records, we still don't have passport exit/entry stamps for Guatemala from that trip (by land). Even though we do have Mexico entry/exit stamps. This could cause problems at some borders. I will probably wind up having to do another Mexico run just to be safe, not get fined, etc. But I'll decide in a few weeks.
By the way, we overheard them telling people that they recommend people leave the country (Mexico) vs doing the other process of renewing a tourist visa, etc. Perhaps in part because it's less work for them, but it's also less paperwork/effort/etc for visitors (especially if you're not close to the capital).
Now back to the process to fix records and my friend's situation which was more complicated. I guess the short version is that since the Mexico trip isn't going to be in the system as a Guate departure before the time that she is going to leave the country next (mid-July), she was required to pay a fine all the way up to when she's leaving in July (not just to when we went to Mexico). Well actually she had a choice. She could either do that or change her flights to a later date - after the records are fixed and the Mexico trip was in the system. If she would have changed flights, she would only have to pay the fine for her overstay until the Mexico trip. But flight changes/etc would cost more than the fine to July, so she paid that fine. And it's done. Background refresher: She had already been 2 months overdue when we left Guatemala for Mexico in June (though the border officials thought she had overstayed by a year since the records were incorrect, etc.).
Paying my friend's fine: So after much discussion (at least an hour), they decided to let her pay the fine for 3 months of overstay through to the July date when she is leaving. This appears to be highly unusual since they normally only let you pay the fine right around when you leave (they had originally told her she had to come back a few days before leaving). (Side note: we were told you need to pay the fine at Migracion. So don't plan to fly out and pay the fine at the airport - you'll be faced with changing your flight and a trip to the migracion office. Perhaps it's only when the fine is over a certain amount, I'm not sure.) In order to pay the fine, she had to show proof of flight, etc. So we had to go to the Internet cafe to print that out (in Plaza Zona 4, 3 blocks away). It was another hour for them to determine how to pre-pay the fine, have her pay it downstairs at the bank, bring back up the receipt, etc. She now has a document indicating that the fine is paid. So that, along with that other document stating that her records are being updated, she should be able to leave the country and come back without problems. Luckily she is flying.
So now we wait for 15-30 days for them to process the changes and fix our official migracion records.
