BajaNomad

Flying with Permanent Resident card

Santiago - 8-2-2018 at 05:12 AM

Flying into Cabo last month we were handed the two forms, FMM and Customs like normal. I wondered if I was supposed to fill out the FMM as I have a Permanent Resident card. I did fill it out and when I walked up to customs and showed her my card, she said she would allow me to come thru her line but next time I was supposed to go thru the Mexican Citizen line and not the visitor lines. She did stamp and separate the FMM form, handing me back the bottom portion.
On the return flight, I could not locate my FMM. The ticketing agent at SWA looked at my passport and Resident card, checked my bags, printed my boarding passes. She then set them aside and said I had to go to Migracion and to return for my boarding passes. At Migracion, they had me fill out another FMM for no fee and I returned to get my passes.

What is the point of the FMM in this case? I never stop to get one at the boarder when driving, am I 'supposed' to? One of the points of getting the resident card was to avoid this. It seemed to me that showing the permanent resident card while flying added a small complication, I seemed to be checked out a little more.
When crossing south in my pickup, I am nearly always pulled over for inspection, regardless of the green light. I seem to get a quicker, easier inspection when I show my card to the inspector.

woody with a view - 8-2-2018 at 05:29 AM

Its your imagination on the closer inspections. Total flip of a coin with those inspections.

BigWooo - 8-2-2018 at 08:02 AM

If you have a permanent resident card, when you leave the country you are supposed to go to immigration. They fill out an FMM form and make a note on it that indicates you are "RP" residente permanente. They give you half of the form and immigration keeps the other half. When you return to the country you are required to check in at immigration where you will show your RP card and surrender the half of the form they gave you.

That said, no one checks when you drive through the border, but they do check when you fly. So....if you plan to drive out of the country, but fly back in, when you leave via car you need to stop at immigration and go through the process described above. If you plan to drive out then drive back in, no one checks.

I've read that if you have a permanent resident card, but enter the country as a tourist (which sounds like what you did), you risk loosing your permanent resident status. I don't know of anyone personally who has had their RP taken for that reason, but according to some bulletin boards it's happened.

Also, when returning to the country at "most" airports, you go to the nationals line with an RP.





[Edited on 8-2-2018 by BigWooo]

rts551 - 8-2-2018 at 08:13 AM

Its only to track RPs leaving and returning.

karenintx - 8-2-2018 at 08:25 AM

I second what BigWooo wrote. Here is an interested article that all R/P & R/T holders should read. I have caught an INM agent doing this.

http://www.banderasnews.com/1704/vl-expats-risk-losing-resid...

Santiago...in your airline ticket you paid for a FMM, you should be able to ask SWA for a refund (about $23-$25) once you fill out the required paperwork and provide a copy of your R/P. You were also charge a Mexican Airport Tax but everyone, including Mexican citizens have to pay this tax.

Good Luck with SWA.

Howard - 8-2-2018 at 09:19 AM

The refund is pretty easy on Alaska Airlines. AT LAX go to the customer service desk at the end of the gate terminals and hope there is a customer service rep there. Half the time they are like a deer in the headlights when you ask them for the form and then they take a little time to call someone who knows. Sometimes the procedure can take 15 minutes or sometimes it's immediate depending on the agent. However you paid for your ticket, that's how it will be refunded.

BigBearRider - 8-2-2018 at 03:33 PM

Does this apply equally to Temporary Residents?

BigBearRider - 8-3-2018 at 08:18 AM

Does this apply equally to Temporary Residents?

Howard - 8-3-2018 at 08:33 AM

I cant answer that, I do not know.

karenintx - 8-3-2018 at 08:40 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BigBearRider  
Does this apply equally to Temporary Residents?


Yes, you can get the same refund with a R/T. We have friends that are R/T and they get a refund each time they fly.



[Edited on 8-3-2018 by karenintx]

BigBearRider - 8-3-2018 at 08:42 AM

Thanks for the response, Karen!

karenintx - 8-3-2018 at 10:45 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BigBearRider  
Thanks for the response, Karen!


Glad I could help...spread the word!!!

monoloco - 8-19-2018 at 11:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BigWooo  
If you have a permanent resident card, when you leave the country you are supposed to go to immigration. They fill out an FMM form and make a note on it that indicates you are "RP" residente permanente. They give you half of the form and immigration keeps the other half. When you return to the country you are required to check in at immigration where you will show your RP card and surrender the half of the form they gave you.

That said, no one checks when you drive through the border, but they do check when you fly. So....if you plan to drive out of the country, but fly back in, when you leave via car you need to stop at immigration and go through the process described above. If you plan to drive out then drive back in, no one checks.

I've read that if you have a permanent resident card, but enter the country as a tourist (which sounds like what you did), you risk loosing your permanent resident status. I don't know of anyone personally who has had their RP taken for that reason, but according to some bulletin boards it's happened.

Also, when returning to the country at "most" airports, you go to the nationals line with an RP.





[Edited on 8-2-2018 by BigWooo]
A friend of mine had his permanent residency revoked because he made that mistake.

ChivatoLuna - 8-20-2018 at 07:32 AM

I have an older Inmigrato card with no chip and plan to fly from La Paz to Mexico City this fall. Should I update this card before the trip?

4x4abc - 8-20-2018 at 07:42 AM

no immigration on in country flights

ChivatoLuna - 8-20-2018 at 07:56 AM

I failed to add that from Mexico City I am going on to Peru, so leaving the country. I guess that's the leg that might be a problem.

charliemanson - 8-21-2018 at 08:58 AM

Just check out at immigration when leaving Mexico City. Super easy. Also be aware that if traveling to the jungle part of Peru you will need vaccinations at least 2 weeks before returning to Mexico. If not in jungle regions there is no need.

aguachico - 8-21-2018 at 04:20 PM

I was told by INM to never fill out an FMM with a Perm card.