I'll be applying for my first FM3 next month when I'm in the area. It's for part time property ownership, not for full time residence - yet.
Is it easiest to do this in Yuma (where I have a winter home) with some US bank statements, or in San Felipe? Would one be quicker than the other?
I'm assuming San Felipe would be better in the long run (for renewals), but I'd prefer not to open a Mexican bank account yet unless it is really
needed (I don't have any utilities, and the queues at that bank are really long).
Is there any difference in the money requirements between each place, what are the real current figures? I've read a wide variety of what's required:
is a balance in an account sufficient or must there be regular incoming amounts? (US$ is a secondary currency for me so I leave a good balance but
don't deposit money often).
Just in case in makes a difference, I'm British. I'm too far from the UK Mexican Embassy for that to be practical, and FM3's are a bit unusual for
them.
Many thanks if anybody has been there, done that recently and some up-to-date details of either option...
Yuma or San Felipe ?
MrBillM - 10-13-2005 at 05:28 PM
For an original FM3 application, it will PROBABLY be easier, or at least more convenient, to apply at the consulate in Yuma. Note that RENEWALS can
only be done in MEXICO, unless that's been changed again. While applications North of the border sometimes involve additional paperwork, it's still
smoother than the process South of the border.bajalou - 10-13-2005 at 07:18 PM
In San Felipe, money in the Mex bank is all that's required - no income proof. Other places are different.
Phil C - 10-13-2005 at 07:42 PM
Easy, Day one, show up at Mexican Council with copies of... six months bank statments, showing deposits, passport and copy, two passport pictures. Get
application. Fill it out, back page asks entry date and destination. Hand it in along with $138 US cash. Come back next day and pick it up. I did this
yesterday in San Diego. When you get to your destination go to Imigration and validate. Renew in one year. Anyone know the cost to renew?rts551 - 10-13-2005 at 07:59 PM
filing your application is not the hard part. either place. But if you apply at Yuma you still have to have your file set up where ever your
residence is. this sometimes takes longer than the original application. When I did it 5 years ago in Santa Rosalia - I found the local officials
were a little miffed that I did not start it with them from the beginning. Each year has gotten easier. Watch the rules where ever you do it since
you have a limited time to contact your local (Mexican)immigration office.comitan - 10-13-2005 at 08:23 PM
rts551
I had the same experience here in La Paz, they don't like it and you do have to go to them within 30days to get set up.Riom - 10-14-2005 at 01:26 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
In San Felipe, money in the Mex bank is all that's required - no income proof. Other places are different.
Thanks Bajalou, that sounds to me like the strongest reason to do it all in San Felipe, despite the queues at the bank. And if the paperwork has to
be transferred there anyway I might as well, saves upsetting them also.
I'm already making sure that I do this is at a time of year I'm normally in the area to make renewals easier.
Is there any special type of account I should be asking for at the bank? Is putting US$1500 or so in it good enough?
[Edited on 10-14-2005 by Riom]Bajajorge - 10-14-2005 at 11:20 AM
When I first tried to get an FM3 in the US it became a big hassle. The Mex consulate in Las Vegas advised me what paper work I needed. So, I got my
paperwork together and headed for the Sacramento Mex consulate as it was much closer to my home. Guess what, wrong paperwork. So, I waited and applied to Immigration in San Felipe. All it took was money in
Bancomer, a couple of passport photos and $30 grease under the table. In about
3 weeks I was legal. Fancy that!bajalou - 10-14-2005 at 11:45 AM
They will tell you at imigration how much you need - probably $1500 for a couple, it's $1000 for a single person. I have a dollar checking acct - no
interest but no loss when the peso is devalued after the next election either. I very occasionally write checks on the acct to places here in Mex.
You do not have to maintain that amount. After you get your letter from the bank stating how much you have, you can withdraw whatever you need. I
almost always did this to pay the imigration fees.
Riom - 10-14-2005 at 12:00 PM
I didn't realise the account could be (at Bancomer) in US$ - that's useful. I was thinking of rounding it up to $1500 (for one person) to allow for a
few years increases, currency fluctuations and bank charges -- so that I basically don't have to touch it, otherwise I'd forget to refill it...
Another vote (Bajajorge) for doing it all locally in Mexico, certainly seems the way to go for me, thanks everybody.
One final question though - applying in San Felipe, how long should I expect to wait after applying? A month or so?bajalou - 10-14-2005 at 12:27 PM
The US dollar acct is at Bancomer in San Felipe - not US.
First time might take a month - but probably less. Generally don't have to show it to anyone so the time doesn't matter. You can get a paper from
then that you have applied if you need proof before it's returned.
Riom - 10-14-2005 at 01:44 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
The US dollar acct is at Bancomer in San Felipe - not US.
Sorry, that what I meant - I tend to put US to identify the $ because it's just one of many currencies that use that symbol (including Pesos of
course). Didn't mean US (the country).
Thanks again for all the info.meme - 10-14-2005 at 02:32 PM
Immigration here in San Felipe seems to be getting them done much faster than they used to. I think my last one only took about 3 weeks .wornout - 10-14-2005 at 03:00 PM
Remember these are renewed annually, and the renewal process must be started 20-30 days before expiration, so immigration can check them and mail them
off to renewal heaven BEFORE the expiration date. So, start the month AFTER you will be here each year to renew. Wow, does that sound confusing!
What I am saying is if you will be in San Felipe in February of each year, start the first one in mid-March, then the following Feburary you can start
it.
Doing it in September means you have to be in San Felipe every August to start the renewal process. Same holds true for the Christmas holiday, if
you do the first one in January, you will have to start the reneway in December because they want it in 20-30 days before. I did my FM2 (first one,
not one of the renewals) in April. In June we were leaving for the old country for a summer trip. I didn't get it until October when I returned to
Baja.
There are such things as extensions, such as if you are going to be out of Mexico, but this gets more scrutiny in the FM2 arena as the requirements
for being in Mexico change.Riom - 10-16-2005 at 03:26 AM
Quote:
So, start the month AFTER you will be here each year to renew.
That's a useful tip. It should be about right then, as I'm normally back in North America around late Oct or early Nov each year, but running late
this year so won't be in Mexico to apply until the end of November.
Did I read right somewhere that if I think I'm not going to back in time to renew I should get an exit stamp and then I have another 30 days after it
expires to get back?meme - 10-16-2005 at 09:32 AM
There are lots of conflictng reports on that 30 day thing! I was told at Immigration here in San Felipe it is not so.Oso - 10-16-2005 at 09:37 AM
I think you have already reached conclusions, so I will just add a couple anecdotes about the Consulate in Yuma. I know the Consul, Hugo Renee Oliva,
personally and he is a great guy. But, some of his staff...
Aside from the Consulate on 16th St. in Yuma, they also maintain a small, one person office in the community building in San Luis, AZ., where I live.
A couple years ago, I dropped in, thinking that might be a convenient place to get a tourist visa. A well-dressed young man behind a desk assured me
that I could not do that there. What about the Consulate in Yuma? No, not there either. Ah well, I guess I'll have to go to the garita here at the
border. No, the young man assured me very sincerely, the only way for me to obtain a tourist visa was to go to Mexicali. I thanked the idiot for his
time and went 3 blocks to the border and took care of it in about 20 minutes, including the walk to the bank, upstairs in an office building half a
block away.
Last year, I wanted to talk to Don Renee about the fact that the County (via the Humane Society) will not accept Rabies vaccination certificates from
Mexican Vets. While I was there, I decided to save some time and pick up a tourist visa. I was directed to another bureaucrat and sure enough, they
do have that service there... But, there was a slight problem. The forms were in the bottom left drawer of his desk. It was locked. He'd lost the
key. He was friendly enough and seemed a bit embarrassed (maybe, or maybe just annoyed) as he asked if it was possible if I might take my bothersome
gringo burro to SLRC, where he was certain they had the forms. So, back to the garita...
bajalou - 10-16-2005 at 10:15 AM
As long as you apply for renewal at least 1 day before it expires, no penalties. They take the renewal applications a maximum of 30 days before
expiration date. If you do it early in the 30 day window, you'll probably have it back before the expireation date. If needed, they will give you a
letter confirming it is in the process of renewal if you ask for one.
So, I waited and applied to Immigration in San Felipe. All it took was money in
Bancomer, a couple of passport photos and $30 grease under the table.
In about
3 weeks I was legal. Fancy that!
