BajaNomad

FM3 Update!

cathart - 5-17-2006 at 12:03 PM

Just thought this information might be useful to some others: Since we had to get our FM3 rather quickly, and couldn't take the chance that it could take a month, which I heard it could take in Rosarito, we decided to go ahead and get it in Los Angeles. Of course, I never could get anybody on the phone at the Mexican Consulate to verify exactly what we needed! So we went there yesterday with what we thought we needed, which of course was not everything. We were missing just one thing, a letter, stating why we wanted the FM3. BTW, nothing needed to be notarized! We did need the clearance letter from the police department. So we had to go home, write the letter, and come back this morning. We arrived there at 8:30 am, and by 11:00 am, were out the door with FM3 in hand! Of course, we now have to take our FM3's to Ensenada to have them verified, but all in all, it wasn't difficult, and it didn't take long.

i am impressed

sylens - 5-17-2006 at 03:18 PM

and unbelievably envious. it took us five years to get fm3 for my husband here in ensenada. that's misleading because we began in 2000 and then gave up because of hassles trying to get letter from bank. started again in 2005 and finally got it after 5 or 6 trips to immigration, each time certain we had everything we needed, only to be advised we needed one more document or one more copy of something. anyhow. renewed first time last month and it was a breeze. now that we have a local bank account.

congratulations to you. enjoy your success:tumble:

bajajudy - 5-17-2006 at 03:22 PM

Michael Mercer said it best.....
How many copies and papers do you need for your FM3.....
one more than you have!

Still waiting for my renewal:no:

comitan - 5-17-2006 at 03:46 PM

I'll be waiting for the fat lady to sing.

Dave - 5-17-2006 at 05:00 PM

I haven't seen the inside of the migra office in over four years. I have a preparer that does everything. I give him my passport, FM2, receipt showing all my corporate taxes are current and a copy of my electric bill. He prepares the forms, brings them to me to sign and then files everything with migra. A couple of weeks later he brings me my FM2...Done!

Bruce R Leech - 5-17-2006 at 06:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
I haven't seen the inside of the migra office in over four years. I have a preparer that does everything. I give him my passport, FM2, receipt showing all my corporate taxes are current and a copy of my electric bill. He prepares the forms, brings them to me to sign and then files everything with migra. A couple of weeks later he brings me my FM2...Done!


hay Dave there was a guy selling copies of your passport here in Mulege last week.:lol:

Speaking of passports

Dave - 5-17-2006 at 06:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
hay Dave there was a guy selling copies of your passport here in Mulege last week.:lol:


Today, gave my passport to the border guard and instead of looking at it and handing it back he first slid it through a scanner.

I asked him, "What does that tell you?"

He said, "What we need to know."

Big Brother is watching. :biggrin:

bajalou - 5-17-2006 at 06:29 PM

That's why I won't show my passport until it's the only thing accepted.

Geronimo - 5-17-2006 at 10:24 PM

Coming home after the Code 500, I was asked for my passport or Drivers licence, I had both, showed my licence. That was the first time ever....

Bajame - 5-17-2006 at 10:57 PM

I plan to make a move to Baja at the end of summer. is it possible to rent a place and then renew my Visa every 6 months instead of getting a FM3?

cathart - 5-17-2006 at 11:29 PM

Sylens, since we need to have our FM3's verified in Ensenada, can you give me the address of where we need to go to do that, and do we need an appointment, or can we just walk in?

bajajudy - 5-18-2006 at 06:21 AM

Bajame.
You can only legally be in Mexico 180 days a year on a tourist visa. Probably if you come and go a lot no one would ever notice but that is the rule. You cannot renew a 180 day visa.

Dave
I have a preparer too, he has no idea what happened to my FM3 but is headed down to San Lucas today to check again.

Marinero - 5-18-2006 at 08:34 AM

I got my FM3 through the La Paz office a couple of months ago. I hired a local agent in Los Barriles and paid her about $100 US for her services. No letter from the police, three months worth of bank statement, a copy of my bank trust and water bills and only a copy of my passport and the pictures were all I gave her. It was ready in 10 days. I had to go to La Paz to be fingerprinted and sign the book. I went without an appointment and was in and out in about a half hour.

Someone who went the next day had similar luck, except the fellow who had to sign the FM3 was not there. He did all that was required and left. His agent was able to pick up the FM-3 at a later date and hold it for him. They gave him some document to replace the tourist card, which they retained.

My suggestion is to hire a helper.

Bill

villadelfin - 5-18-2006 at 09:01 AM

Quote:
My suggestion is to hire a helper

did you have to sign a power of attorney for your agent to help you?

Marinero - 5-18-2006 at 09:18 AM

I signed all the application forms in her office. One of them was sort of a power of attorney, limited to her submission of the documents.
Bill

bajajudy - 5-18-2006 at 09:59 AM

I agree. Get someone to help you, especially the first time.

Ensenada migracion

DanO - 5-18-2006 at 10:41 AM

The office is on what used to be the main road into town by the shipyard, before they built the new road up the hill. When you get to the first light coming into town (i.e., across from the fish market), make a right. The office is a few dozen yards down, on the right, in the building after the office of the capitano del puerto.