BajaNomad

New rules for how many years can you have a FM-3 or FM-2

karenintx - 5-13-2010 at 04:00 PM

This past Monday we started renewing our FM-3 that expires June 3rd. While there I said to the agent "there are so many rumors about the new rules...what is the truth on how long a person can keep a FM-3 and a FM-2?"

Her reply was:
Before May 1st a person could have kept a FM-3 forever, getting a new book every five years. As of May 1, 2010 a person will have to go from a FM-3 to a FM-2 on the sixth year.

My reply was "but with the FM-2 a person can only be out of the county a limited amount of days each year." She said "as of May 1, 2010 the FM-2 will not have the time restrictions like it did with the old rules and a person can keep a FM-2 as long as they want...they will not have to go for Nationalization unless they choose. If they choose to become a Mexican Citizen, then the two years before they apply they can only be out of the country 30 days each year.

That is what INM is saying here in CSL...maybe different in your town.


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[Edited on 5-14-2010 by karenintx]

noproblemo2 - 5-13-2010 at 04:03 PM

Thanks for the info, keeps on changing all the time....

redmesa - 5-13-2010 at 04:14 PM

I kind of like the sound of that info.

k-rico - 5-13-2010 at 04:19 PM

I'll find out this year. I'm in the 5th year of my FM-3, it expires in December.

And I had just decided to get another FM-3 and not go to a FM-2. Guess that idea is out.

Bajahowodd - 5-13-2010 at 04:30 PM

Considering Mexican hubris, or not, I just fail to understand why they continue to make it difficult for people, who are bringing in dollars, or any other form or foreign currency many times, in large quantities. Maybe my perspective is wrong. But if just seems to me that Mexico would way better off financially, and strategically, if they had a simpler process for immigrants to own and hold land.

I must again, point to the hubris factor. The same game is being played out in the Gulf of Mexico, viz the oil reserves that require foreign involvement to make it happen.

k-rico - 5-13-2010 at 05:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Considering Mexican hubris, or not, I just fail to understand why they continue to make it difficult for people, who are bringing in dollars, or any other form or foreign currency many times, in large quantities. Maybe my perspective is wrong. But if just seems to me that Mexico would way better off financially, and strategically, if they had a simpler process for immigrants to own and hold land.

I must again, point to the hubris factor. The same game is being played out in the Gulf of Mexico, viz the oil reserves that require foreign involvement to make it happen.


I've found the process of getting an FM-3 and then renewing it every year real easy. It took 3 days to get the original and then the same process was used each year to get the renewals, never a problem.

They're modernizing the system, using the Internet for form completion, and replacing a paper book-like document with a wallet sized ID card. It all sounds good to me.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 5-14-2010 at 05:38 AM

Hola, i've had a working fm3 related to my inactive mexican corporation since 2006 and changed it to a regular fm3 last year and paid 100 pesos less.

will we still have to do an annual renewal with the fm2 changeover ? currently, i have to either return to mexico prior to march 22 when it's due for renewal or in the past, i have dhl'ed it to my accountant in los barriles and she dhl'ed it back for a cost of $ 50.00 each way.

also, i have heard the renewal requires me to appear at immigration in person ?

this year, i was one day late and received a fine of 800 pesos. one day late is the same as a month late !

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Bob and Susan - 5-14-2010 at 05:59 AM

salvador in mulege is assisting here
with fm2 or fm3 renewals and new ones

he can assist you in the mulege-santa rosalia area
for sure
orendainsalvador15@hotmail.com

you need 3 new pictures this year for renewals
one in color and 2 in black and white

all the forms are different

i don't know yet if you need to go to the IMN office for a renewal yet
for the first year

karenintx
do you have a written reference about this fm2 fm3 stuff?
or is this just the interpatation of that office?

karenintx - 5-14-2010 at 06:11 AM

Bob and Susan...

You hit the nail on the head...nothing in writing just the "interpatation of that office"! I am willing to bet a different agent in the same office would give a different answer...you think?

Bob and Susan - 5-14-2010 at 06:39 AM

we'll never know till later;)

Bajajorge - 5-14-2010 at 08:22 AM

Last year was my 5th year of FM3. When I renewed on March 1, 2010 the agent told me I could have either FM3 or FM2. At that time the only difference was the FM2 cost more than the FM3. Maybe they'll get it figured out after 5/1/10, or will it be like it used to be, each Immigration Office worked by their own set of rules.

toneart - 5-14-2010 at 09:16 AM

This was the first year that Mexican Consulates in the U.S. could renew FM3s. The Sacramento Consulate told me that a change in Mexican Law allowed this. I did not test it as I was able to get to Mulege on time for renewal this year in Santa Rosalia. I hope we can still have that option to renew at a Consulate though.

It was sometimes a problem returning to your Baja residence before its annual renewal date, and big trouble if you couldn't. There are all kinds of reasons why one may not be able to be there on time in a given year; medical, business, family emergencies, etc.