Our Sept 5th departure date for our year long travels in Mexico (25% Baja Sur and 75% mainland) is rapidly approaching and we are not making progress
related to the appropriate Visa (FMT or FM3). We have spoke with 3 Mexican Consulate Offices, left numerous messages and visited one as recent as
this morning with ZERO benefit or clarity being provided.
Snapshot of our situation:
1. Our family of 4 (husband, wife and two teenage daughters) have leased a home in Puerto Vallarta to use as our base of travels throughout Mexico.
2. Will be driving down a paid for vehicle towing a paid for small boat. We are in the final decision process as to if we will travel down baja and
take the ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan or enter through Nogales and drive all of the way down.
3. We do not plan to return to the USA until 01 August 08 (11 months). We do plan to leave Mexico for trips to Peru and Gautemala.
The questions:
A. We have received conflicting information as to if an FMT can be made to work or if we need an FM3 for our situation. As recent as this morning
at the consulate office (in Las Vegas as we were taking care of other business items), we were told "it is impossible to get an FM3 unless you are 65
(we are in our mid 40s retired with appropriate proof to exceed inclome requirements) and retired......". Even with presenting what we believed were
contrary facts, this supervisor was positive of his position. True or False?
B. We have read points of view that believe you must have an FM3 to have a legally (in the eyes of the Mexican Legal System) home lease (or any
contract). True or False
C. We are totally unclear associated with the legal stay of the car and/or boat under and FMT. Neither will be leaving Mexico until 01 August 08.
Insights please?
D. We read where if you drive into Mexico when you next leave (not ultimately) you must drive out. We will drive in, but plan to leave (not to the
USA) at least twice by airplane.
True or False? Insights?
As we know in the next few years we will be making Mexico our primary home, ideally we would like to obtain an FM3 (all things equal)....but are
getting becoming nervous without the facts.
If there are those that know the answers and are willing to discuss voice to voice as well, please do u2 me with your contact information.
Thank you very much ...........Tim
Tim
bajaguy - 8-17-2007 at 11:03 AM
u2u sentRiom - 8-17-2007 at 05:34 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by tim40
we were told "it is impossible to get an FM3 unless you are 65 (we are in our mid 40s retired with appropriate proof to exceed inclome requirements)
and retired......". True or False?
False - in some places. I have an FM-3 (in second year now). I'm in 40's, not even retired yet (but working on it...) so don't have the retirement
income proof either. However my FM-3 is San Felipe - the rules seem to vary by town and especially for the external consulates, who don't really
understand why an FM-3 is needed.
And in your case it really is a gray area if you need it or not.
Assuming that car permits and other things work with it (I've no idea, as that's mainland stuff) perhaps you could enter on FMT's and try to get the
FM-3 locally to where you live in Mexico? If you get the FM-3 in the US you essentially have to reapply locally once you arrive anyway in many towns
(again, varies).
FM-3
bajaguy - 8-17-2007 at 10:27 PM
My suggestion is to apply and get the FM-3 at the Consulate in San Diego. If you get there at 8AM on a Thursday, you will have the FM-3 by Friday
morning. Get it stamped at Otay or TJ crossing, then register it in PV. We found that application at the Consulate was fast and easy. See my u2u.tim40 - 8-18-2007 at 07:01 AM
Thank you Bajaguy and Kate.
Terry, thank you for the cell #, I will call you later today.
