BajaNomad

FM3/2 redux

Bob and jane - 5-25-2010 at 07:15 PM

This subject has been covered a number of times recently but now that I've been through the new process I want to give a report and thank all those that helped me ahead of time.
My experience here in Loreto was very similar to that reported by La Tijereta. The new guy (didn't get his name) at Migracion in Loreto is very professional and businesslike. He couldn't use the "numero de pieza" that I had saved when I wasn't able to print my online "formato migratorio" but set up his computer and let me reenter all the info. After I hit "guardar" and then "si" to say the info was correct, the pdf appeared in the upper left hand corner. I hit print and voila, I was in business. Then I repeated for my husband, who is typing challenged. Now that we had those papers, we only needed the form from the bank saying we'd paid the fee ($2801 for an FM2), a copy of the first page of our passports, our photos, a letter stating what we wanted, and a "formato basico" with our name, nationality, physical characteristics, level of Spanish, etc. When I questioned him about what I needed in the letter, he printed out a sample copy. By the time we paid the bank and filled in all the paperwork, it was too late for Monday so we returned today. I had a single word wrong on my letter and had to zip home (fortunately only a short distance) to change the letter for both of us and return. The sample had requested "la prorroga" of an FM3. I was told that for an FM2 I do not want "la prorroga" but instead "el refrendo". The former being an extension and the latter an endorsement. In the letter just state what you are renewing/replacing/endorsing including the number and expiration date, whether your document is "migratorio como no inmigrante rentista" (FM3) or "migratorio como inmigrante rentista (FM2). Your address, the date, etc.
I can see that if you are driving some distance it would be nice to have all these ducks in a row. We spent an hour a day, two consecutive days and now have all the paperwork turned in. We are to wait 14 days and return to see where we are in the process. Start early, be patient, no big deal.
Good luck everyone. And thanks for all the heads up, the stories, and the details I got before I started.

BajaBlanca - 5-25-2010 at 07:21 PM

in santa rosalia, the immmigration guy named Enrique, will do all the letter writing and copying for a nominal fee. after jumping through loops too many times (and altho we live in baja, it is a 2.5 hour drive to get to santa rosalia for us and we are NOT inclined to do it 2 days in a row !!), I asked enrique if we could pay him to do everything. he smiled. said yes. and for years now - we go in in the morning. take photos if he says we need them, pay at the bank. and when we return with bank receipt and photos, it is about a 30 min wait. papers are in hand. end of story for another year :)))

nice. easy. so much more fun than before !!!

DianaT - 5-25-2010 at 07:24 PM

Is there any chance you can share the letter---for both the FM2 and FM3? We have a letter we used before for the FM3 but we don't think it would be correct---does not sound a thing like what you describe.

Finally got the forms to print from the internet, we know the photos etc we need, we even picked up the form for the bank when we drove through, But we don't think we have the proper letter. We are among the ones who need to drive over 100 miles to the immigration office, so as you say, we would like to have all our ducks in order first.

Thanks
Diana

Bob and jane - 5-25-2010 at 08:04 PM

For you Diana, to try and eliminate the need for driving all those miles, is a reasonable facsimile of the letter we used:

Letterhead with location and date
ours had a name from the local office (don't think it is necessary)

Por medio de la presente le solicito a usted de las manera mas atenta, la prorroga (or el refrendo for an FM2) de mi documento migratorio FM3 (or FM2) No.__________, que vence el dia ________________(expiration date), para continuar viviendo en Mexico de mis recursos economicos traidos del extranjero y depositados en el banco, declaro bajo protesta de decir verdad que me encuentro bajo las mismas condiciones en que se me fue adquirido mi documento migratorio como no (or leave out the "no" for an FM2) inmigrante rentista. Mi direccion es ____________________.
Sin mas por el momento me despido esperando una respuesta favorable a mi peticion.

Atentamente

(Your Name)
Nacionalidad: estadounidense (or canadiadense (sp?))

Hope this helps. Buene suerte.

DianaT - 5-25-2010 at 08:11 PM

MUCHAS GRACIAS

We really appreciate it!

Diana

Bob and Susan - 5-26-2010 at 06:42 AM

bajablanca...since may 1st things have changed

you need new pictures

its 2 trips to santa rosalia unless you use a "helper" and
then it's one trip

it'll probably get easier later
but for now its slow

oladulce - 5-26-2010 at 10:56 AM

Thank you for the letter example Bob & Jane. Very helpful.

We're only on our first year of FM3's but are going to (try) switching to FM2's at renewal time in the fall. Don't know if we'll need this letter but it's good to know what they're looking for.

bajalinda - 5-26-2010 at 08:47 PM

Bob and Jane, thanks so much for the sample letter - it's great!

Bob and jane - 5-27-2010 at 06:27 AM

Hope it works for all of you. It was kind of a stumper figuring out just what they wanted in the letter. The fellow at migracion in Loreto printed this sample from his computer. Don't know where the original came from, but I assume we won't be knicked for plagiarizing:-)

classicbajabronco - 5-30-2010 at 02:18 PM

I always pay others to deal with the immigration BS. I go in, they take photos, I sign a couple forms...then in a week or so I get a email i come in and get my visa...done deal...really worthe the extra $$ when you live a couple hours from immigration...My time is more valuable to me, and my patience is short