BajaNomad - fastest way to get an FM3?

fastest way to get an FM3?

capt. mike - 5-7-2007 at 05:16 AM

how can i get one asap? what's involved?

new rules, some old, actually now to be inforced for private aircraft entries and exits force this action, the FMTs are now basically useless for frequent travelers by air.
what a crock. so, now i finally have to get an FM3......... :mad:

Bob and Susan - 5-7-2007 at 05:46 AM

here in Mulege it takes 1-2 weeks...

our accountant in town does it for a very reasomable fee...
http://www.despachocontable.com/

his email is...
orendainsalvador15@hotmail.com

i would email him before your trip this weekend...

you need a couple of small pictures (available in santa rosalia) and a trip to the IMN office in santa rosalia

They are only open till 2PM M-F

AccountantOffice.jpg - 15kB

Pescador - 5-7-2007 at 07:47 AM

Mike, I would go directly to the immigration office in Santa Rosalia. Javier and staff are very helpful and professional and things go pretty quickly. Make sure that you have the following:
1.Filled out application (which you get from them)
2. Valid Passport
3.Proof of your income, last 3 monthly bank statements
4.Letter of no criminal record from the police department where you live in US.
5. 4 front passport photos, and 2 right side photos, in color
6. Bring all original documents and one copy of each.
7. If your wife is applying, make sure to have marriage certificate.

DianaT - 5-7-2007 at 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador
Mike, I would go directly to the immigration office in Santa Rosalia. Javier and staff are very helpful and professional and things go pretty quickly. Make sure that you have the following:
1.Filled out application (which you get from them)
2. Valid Passport
3.Proof of your income, last 3 monthly bank statements
4.Letter of no criminal record from the police department where you live in US.
5. 4 front passport photos, and 2 right side photos, in color
6. Bring all original documents and one copy of each.
7. If your wife is applying, make sure to have marriage certificate.

Does the letter from the police department need to be in Spanish? For how long is the letter good?

We may use an agent, do we have to send him our Passport? Hate to part with it.

Thanks

Diane

roundtuit - 5-7-2007 at 08:37 AM

Mike, I did my own in Feb. 3 hrs in santa rosalia first time and two weeks later 1 hour. They were very helpful and curtious to me and my wife They have a form letter telling you what you need

1.Filled out four applications each (which you get from them)
2. Valid Passport and copies of every page(same for wife)
3.Proof of your income, last 3 monthly bank statements two copies(one for wife)
4.Letter of no criminal record from the police department where you live in US
5. 4 front passport photos, in blk and white (2 blocks up from bank digital cam)
this took about 5 min
Just glanced at marriage lic

Go there and get paper work (which you have to go to palpaeria and replace)
go for pics, replacment forms --#5, then to bank with paper work and $ 1618
pesos each then back to office. More paper work and signatures
If you hire some one you will still make 2 trips to Santa Rosalia
As I said they were very helpful as I speak very litte spanish

David K - 5-7-2007 at 08:46 AM

Mike... because you leave property behind in Mexico (the fifth wheel) you should have one, anyway. Let us know how it goes for you!

Someday I will get one because I want to work there, even voluntary work requires an FM-3. FM-Ts are only for people on vacation who don't work in Mexico or leave any property behind in Mexico at the end of their trip.

Loboron - 5-7-2007 at 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
here in Mulege it takes 1-2 weeks...

our accountant in town does it for a very reasomable fee...
http://www.despachocontable.com/

his email is...
orendainsalvador15@hotmail.com

i would email him before your trip this weekend...

you need a couple of small pictures (available in santa rosalia) and a trip to the IMN office in santa rosalia

They are only open till 2PM M-F

The quickest way to obtain an FM-3 (24 hours) is at the Mexican Consul on India street in Little Italy, San Diego.

You go there prior to 1 pm with simple paper work and return B/T 12 noon and 1 pm the next day and they hand you the FM-3.
When you cross the border go through the declaration line and stop in the first parking space. The office of Immigration is the first office. Present your Passport and new FM-3, he stamps it and your done.

Bob and Susan - 5-7-2007 at 09:48 AM

you're only done if you live in tijauna

you MUST have it stamped in the area you live

Loboron - 5-7-2007 at 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
you're only done if you live in tijauna

you MUST have it stamped in the area you live

Not true, the only thing you need to have done in the area in which you live is for office of immigration there to verify your local address, you take them your water and electric receipts and then they write in local address on the FM-3.

I've done this for the last 4 years.

Bob and Susan - 5-7-2007 at 10:02 AM

"you take them your water and electric receipts" :lol:

i wish i had receipts for those items :lol:

The Gull - 5-7-2007 at 11:19 AM

Mike,

Bring Water and electric bills and the list provided earlier in Rosarito Beach and it is three weeks. You do not have to bring the letter from the US cops in Rosarito Beach.

DENNIS - 5-7-2007 at 11:39 AM

Here we go again, looking for absolutes, order and consistancy in Mexico. The quest continues. We never learn.

flyfishinPam - 5-7-2007 at 11:41 AM

My best advice is to retire and go fishing :lol:

Loboron - 5-7-2007 at 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Here we go again, looking for absolutes, order and consistancy in Mexico. The quest continues. We never
learn.

This is some what true. The regulations are pretty much consistent through out Mexico. How the rules are governed depend on the jurisdiction you're in.

For the most part it's about money. When you go to the Mexican consul for the FM3 it will cost you only $134.00. When you go to the various jurisdictions the costs vary, but are usually higher.

The Mexican consul issues all the FM3's. When you apply in your area the appication is sent to the nearest Consul for approval and issuance. That's why it takes 2-3- weeks to get it back and it generally costs more. Going to the Consul in San Diego eliminates the middle man. Thus only 24 hours and you have the FM3.

You then have 90 days to have the FM3 activated. This can be done at ANY office of immigration. The San Diego / Mexican border is a quick in and out for this. The ONLY other requirement you have is to go to the office of immigration in your jurisdiction. On page 6 of your FM3 is the page where the local immigration offical will fill out the information on you and for your address in that jurisdiction, once you have given them a copy of your Water & Electric bills to show that it's you who is being billed for that location. If you are renting, you will need a letter from your landlord.

Those are the facts.

tripledigitken - 5-7-2007 at 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Loboron

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Here we go again, looking for absolutes, order and consistancy in Mexico. The quest continues. We never
learn.

How about this variation?

We only have a lot no improvements, yet for many reasons we want to get the FM3. How do we get around not having electrical/water bills. Can a property tax receipt do or a copy of the bank trust? Thanks in advance for the response/s.

Ken

[Edited on 5-7-2007 by tripledigitken]

Don Alley - 5-7-2007 at 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Loboron
The Mexican consul issues all the FM3's. When you apply in your area the appication is sent to the nearest Consul for approval and issuance....

...Those are the facts.

A consul is a government representative in another nation. The nearest Mexican consul to Loreto is in San Diego. But Loreto sends them to Los Cabos now. No wonder we've been waiting 2 months to get our renewels back.

:biggrin:

bajalou - 5-7-2007 at 02:32 PM

Where does the consul come in? My FM2 is issued by the "Secretaria de Gobernacion Instituto National de Migracion, Mexicali, B.C" and whild I no longer have a copy of the FM3, am reasonably sure it was issued at the same place.

LOu, We got ours in one day at the

beercan - 5-7-2007 at 02:58 PM

Mexican consulate right here in Yuma.

We have them renewed in Algodones and that usually takes about a week.

Minnow - 5-7-2007 at 03:04 PM

Mike, seems you would be best off by doing it in Rosarito. No police report required. :bounce:

Just kidding. For some, that might be very useful information though.

The locals have a saying in the area I live. "there are only two kinds of gringos who live full time here, the wanted, and the unwanted". :biggrin:

DENNIS - 5-7-2007 at 03:10 PM

OUCH....

bajalou - 5-7-2007 at 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by beercan
Mexican consulate right here in Yuma.

We have them renewed in Algodones and that usually takes about a week.

I know you can get initial ones at the consulates, then do the renewals where you live. My point was to disagree with Laboron that they are ALL issued at consulates.

:biggrin:

capt. mike - 5-7-2007 at 04:14 PM

wow, thx all.

me?? leave a trailer in baja.............never happen.
its a lease back.... :biggrin:

Minnow - 5-7-2007 at 04:17 PM

:lol:

That is right. that is Don's property. Well, just you don' pay your bill for a couple of months and it will be. :lol:

Loboron - 5-7-2007 at 04:45 PM

Quote:

"I know you can get initial ones at the consulates, then do the renewals where you live. My point was to disagree with Laboron that they are ALL issued at consulates."

I was just quoting the Consul in San Diego. I asked her why it took only 24 hours here (the Consul) and she said, "All the applications come here." There are two regional offices of National Immigration, (according to the S.D. Consul) now, one in Cabo and the other in T.J.

I wasn't looking for an argument, I was merely addressing the original question, "What is the fastest way to get an FM3?" I gave the answer.

I also renew my FM 3 at the consul yearly as well. The office of immigration here in Ensenada isn't that friendly and they have a reputation of taking 3-4 weeks. They also require here locally that You have a local Bank account, with a few thousand dollars in it and a letter from them stating your a "Regular" customer in good standing. None of this is required when you go to the Consul. Like I said earlier, each jurisdiction is different.

I guess if you're a "Newbie" you don't have much credibility.

:biggrin:

[Edited on 5-7-2007 by Loboron]

[Edited on 5-7-2007 by Loboron]

ensenada

sylens - 5-7-2007 at 04:51 PM

immigration office does not require local account. but it is easier if you have one, because then you do not need a letter from a bank officer (where you bank in the states) notarized and then notary validated by county recorder and then county recorder's authenticity verified by the secretary of state with an apostille. :mad:

that is a pain :fire:

bajalou - 5-7-2007 at 05:12 PM

Are you getting the FM3 stamped as a renewal at the consulate, or getting a new one issued each year?

Loboron - 5-7-2007 at 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajalou
Are you getting the FM3 stamped as a renewal at the consulate, or getting a new one issued each year?

It's a renewal.

bajalou - 5-7-2007 at 06:48 PM

That's great if they do it. The immigration people here all tell me has to be renewed at immigration office for the area you live. This is a major change. Thanks for the info.

capt. mike - 5-8-2007 at 07:20 AM

well, between all this and the excellent input over at the BBP board, the consensus is to get it at then phx consulate and then take it to Sta. Rosalia for validation and payment of bribes.....er, i mean fees. :lol:

capt. mike - 5-9-2007 at 06:47 AM

went to the phx consulate yesterday. very nice people.
asked the guy, who spoke perfect english if i could practice a spanish lesson while we discussed the process.........the man has a great deal of patience

anyway, he was very clear in that there is no FMT that allows multiple entry by aircraft, comm'l or private - no way around it. Only by auto can you get a multiple cross for 6 months.

so i got all the app forms and only have to bring back an dhe'll issue it, then i go to Sta. Rosalia and get it activated.
the biggest thing i have to buffaloe around on is they want you to show $1500 a month income for you and wife and it cannot be tied to working, i.e. - has to show you have that income from sources independent of a job - rental income, investments, annuity, pension - whatever.

DianaT - 5-9-2007 at 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by capt. mike
went to the phx consulate yesterday. very nice people.
asked the guy, who spoke perfect english if i could practice a spanish lesson while we discussed the process.........the man has a great deal of patience

anyway, he was very clear in that there is no FMT that allows multiple entry by aircraft, comm'l or private - no way around it. Only by auto can you get a multiple cross for 6 months.

so i got all the app forms and only have to bring back an dhe'll issue it, then i go to Sta. Rosalia and get it activated.

Do they require an address in Mexico for the FM3---we would like to get ours, but our place does not have an official address yet.

Diane

[Edited on 5-9-2007 by jdtrotter]

capt. mike - 5-9-2007 at 06:57 AM

ah ha!!
bingo..........

Don Alley - 5-9-2007 at 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by capt. mike
the biggest thing i have to buffaloe around on is they want you to show $1500 a month income for you and wife and it cannot be tied to working, i.e. - has to show you have that income from sources independent of a job - rental income, investments, annuity, pension - whatever.

Interesting. Our applications (original and renewal) have only required bank statements showing deposits. No questions asked about the source of the funds. No notarization to indicate the authenticity of the statements, either.

Minnow - 5-9-2007 at 07:16 AM

Mike, I can send you one of our lease agreements for the house you own here. It brings in 1,500 per month no problem. :yes:

vandenberg - 5-9-2007 at 07:29 AM

Isn't this fluent english speaking immigration guy in St Rosalia on this board also, like many Mexican people :?:

He'll be delighted with this information :lol:

pargo - 5-9-2007 at 12:41 PM

Ok, i'm not exactly familiar with all things Baja as most Nomads and i've lurked around the FM3 threads many times. My question: what the heck is an FM3...does it go fast? Is it for inshore or offshore fishing? is it legal to carry it concealed? :?:

Bob and Susan - 5-9-2007 at 01:07 PM

fm3 is a visa so you can live in mexico

there are different attachments to them
some allow you to work
some just live

it allows you to leave the country and
leave stuff behind in mexico without "abandoning" it...

it good for one year at a time
after 5 years of renewals you can reapply again

Cypress - 5-9-2007 at 01:22 PM

Bob and Susan, Ya'll give the best advice on this site, no BS, just fact. :spingrin:

When ya'll speak, I listen. :yes:

FM-3....Again

bajaguy - 5-9-2007 at 03:30 PM

Got our FM-3's at the Consulate in San Diego, took 20 minutes, extremely easy.....got them stamped in Otay....another 20 minutes. Using an Agent to register in Ensenada.