From what I understand, it's actually easier, and faster, to get an FM3 in the United States at the Mexican Consulate here than to get one in your
town in Mexico. We need to get ours, (if we get it in Mexico) in Rosarito--but I hear that it takes about a month to do it there, because it has to go
from Rosarito back to Tijuana. I have been told that it's really much more efficient to do it in the USA, and then have it validated at the the
border, or in Rosarito. Unfortunately, because I'm very busy right now, I thought all I would have to do to get the information on what I needed,
would be to call the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles! Wrong! I cannot get any human on the phone, and all the messages are in
Spanish! I can understand, some, but not all of what they are saying, so I need help with this!
Is there anyone on this board who has gotten their FM3 in Los Angeles, and can you tell me exactly what
documentation I will need? It will be for my husband and myself. We have just opened a joint checking account. How many months of statements will we
need, and is it better to have a joint FM3, or should we each get our own FM3? How long does it take to do this in Los Angeles? I have already had our
Marriage license Apostilled. I don't want to wait too long, since of course I have to do our Menaje de Casa, and we are moving before the end of June.
[Edited on 5-9-2006 by cathart]cathart - 5-9-2006 at 01:25 PM
Somebody did tell me that you could get either a joint FM3 or individual ones. I think the advantage to individual ones is that when you come through
the border, you can bring in up to $300 on each FM3. I do know that you can get them either here or in Rosarito, though, and they should be valid no
matter where you have initiated them, as long as you have them stamped in Rosarito.Bob and Susan - 5-9-2006 at 01:51 PM
"they should be valid no matter where you have initiated them"
ha ha ha....
the rule is....the local office makes the rules. Welcome to Mexico
it's ALWAYS better to initate the FM3 in the city that you will be living.
I've never heard of a joint fm3 either....but you do need a copy of your marriage license for your own fm3.
You ALWAYS have to renew in the city that you live and you must renew in the same month that you get the first one in.Don Alley - 5-9-2006 at 03:34 PM
Do it in Mexico.
What do you need? Sorry, it varies from office to office. And it can change.
Loreto does not require a marriage license. They used to require a local bank account statement, but no longer do. Three months US bank statements
showing deposits as evidence of income. Evidence of residence: fido or electric bill. A copy of every page of your passport. Photos. Manila folders.
Forms that they supply in the office. And of course, money. The Loreto office gave us a checklist with all the requirements.
Also, the Tourist Card (copies?) you use to be legal in Mexico pending the FM3. In Loreto, the date on the tourist card, not the date I applied for
the FM3, became the official FM3 date and the permanent renewel date. Keep that in mind because you'll want a renewal date when you're likely to be in
Mexico for the week it takes to renew (during which time they have your FM3).
I bet most places they are private services that can do all this for you, if you really don't want to do it yourself.Marie-Rose - 5-9-2006 at 03:52 PM
I agree with "get it in Mexico... city where you will be living" We have acquaintances that got theirs at the consulat in Vancouver and basically
had to redo the whole thing when they arrived in Todos (LaPaz). They felt the whole process was easier in LaPaz than the hoops they had to jump at
the Mexican Consulat.bajaguy - 5-9-2006 at 04:19 PM
I know there are services in both Rosarito and Ensenada that will do the FM-3....about $140-$160 each for initial applicationbancoduo - 5-9-2006 at 04:58 PM
Can't you get a 6mo. visa and go back to the US and renew it every 6mo. Has something changed?Diver - 5-9-2006 at 05:22 PM
Legally, you cannot spend more than 6 mos per year in Mexico with and FMT. You need the FM3 to be legal for over 6 mos per year.
Bunco,
Please try a second 6 mos FMT in one year then let us know how they treat you when you get in that traffic accident and they investigate....please.bancoduo - 5-9-2006 at 05:27 PM
Can't you get a 6mo. visa to travel in mexico or is it now called a fm3?Diver - 5-9-2006 at 05:31 PM
maximum 6 mos tourist visa is called FMTbancoduo - 5-9-2006 at 05:40 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Diver
maximum 6 mos tourist visa is called FMT
Is that the same as a tourist permit? cathart - 5-9-2006 at 06:04 PM
The reason I asked about getting the FM3 in Los Angeles was because of the article I read this month in the Gringo Gazette North on Page 11. It talks
about being able to get the FM3 in San Diego in 24 hours instead of a month in Rosarito! see this link: http://www.gringogazettenorth.com/11.htmbajalou - 5-9-2006 at 06:30 PM
Do NOT bet the farm on info from that Gringo Gazette
San Diego FM3s
MrBillM - 5-9-2006 at 06:45 PM
A neighbor of mine in Baja just got his and his wife's FM3s in San Diego. Turned in the paperwork one day and picked up the FM3s the next.villadelfin - 5-9-2006 at 06:50 PM
Above is a link to the mexican immigration office main page, in english that will give you FAQ. When we began to investigate, we went to the
Sacramento office and they gave us a list that included needing a statement from the police department that we were of good character. In La Paz, it
took roughly one week. The hardest part was filling out the questionaire which was in spanish and wanted to know the shape of my face and eyebrows
(cejas) and how big was my forehead...3 months bank statements, proof of residence such as electric bill or water bill. Here's a funny thing. The bill
doesn't need to be in your name. What is important is the address needs to match the address you claim to be yours and it must be recent. We were
never asked for marriage licence, just passport and a copy plus FMT and a copy.
I agree completely with Don Alley.
If time becomes an issue, your mover should be able to store your stuff for you for a month at no charge. Good Luck.
One final. You gotta learn not to be in a hurry. Hurry is not a concept in
Bajabajabound2005 - 5-9-2006 at 07:20 PM
