BajaNomad

fm3/fm2

toroteman - 2-18-2011 at 06:24 AM

Nomads,
It's been hard to get reliable information in a small town, so I come to you with questions.

Is it required that an fm3 be changed to an fm2 after 5 years?
I've heard that with an fm2 that there is a limited time that one can be out of Mx. True?
Any advice/ experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Russ - 2-18-2011 at 06:51 AM

"Is it required that an fm3 be changed to an fm2 after 5 years? "
Last report I had was that you can continue to renew the FM-3
I'm not sure what the difference is between the 2 & 3. I was never questioned about it.

[Edited on 2-18-2011 by Russ]

vandenberg - 2-18-2011 at 07:21 AM

I think you can keep renewing your FM3.
If you go to an FM2, you have to be in Mexico 80% of the time I believe.

grace59 - 2-18-2011 at 07:58 AM

As I understand it...with the newest changes in immigration (with the new FM2 and FM3 cards) you can renew the FM3 as long as you want...with the FM2 you can now be out of the country for a total of 2 years within a 5 year period. BUT who checks? With the new card instead of the booklet how to you even "stamp" in and out of the country. I don't know how that works????

ncampion - 2-18-2011 at 08:05 AM

With the new cards and some technology, they will be able to track your coming and going even better. No need to "stamp" the booklet, just swipe the bar code and create an electronic record of your entry / exit. I would not be surprised to see that in the future, by adding an RFID chip in the card they could just record you as you fly/drive past a border checkpoint.

There seems to be conflicting information on the amount of time you can be out of the country with an FM2. Anybody have the latest hard info??

oldlady - 2-18-2011 at 08:21 AM

I just renewed my FM2 amd was told it's 180 days over 5 years. Kate is a real good source for all the links to the actual laws. Year to Year, who knows what changes might be made.

DENNIS - 2-18-2011 at 08:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by vandenberg
I think you can keep renewing your FM3.
If you go to an FM2, you have to be in Mexico 80% of the time I believe.


It's a moot point. No one is counting.

Just to add....I don't believe they even want to know how much time you spend here and there. If running a tight ship meant anything to them, they would probably start with the thousands of expats living here with no papers at all.
It's kinda like the US....make a lot of noise and do nothing.


.

[Edited on 2-18-2011 by DENNIS]

DENNIS - 2-18-2011 at 08:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by toroteman
Is it required that an fm3 be changed to an fm2 after 5 years?


Not a requirment. The only practical reason to make the transition would be, it's just another step toward getting it all over with. The time passes anyway.....why not comply until it's completed?

vandenberg - 2-18-2011 at 08:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by toroteman
Is it required that an fm3 be changed to an fm2 after 5 years?


Not a requirment. The only practical reason to make the transition would be, it's just another step toward getting it all over with. The time passes anyway.....why not comply until it's completed?


Glad we're inmigrados and not having to do that required crap every year. Not to mention the cost.

grace59 - 2-18-2011 at 09:03 AM

Quote:
Glad we're inmigrados and not having to do that required crap every year. Not to mention the cost.


How do you become "inmigrado"?

gnukid - 2-18-2011 at 09:08 AM

At this point always go for the FM-2, it provides benefits such as lowers resale taxes, provides path to inmigrado after only two years, and the time limit is a recommendation for 'residency' its not a requirement for the visa. An FM-3 is quite different, it says non-immigrado, meaning you do not want to assimilate, you do not want the benefits and it can continue forever, it seems.

The primary difference up front is the fm-2 is about 10% more expensive, follow the advice and get an fm-2.

Remember that the INM only deal with visas, they do not deal with transitioning out of the office to the office of exterior affairs so there is no one in the INM who will able to advise you properly, they really do not know nor does it affect them, since they are Mexican and do not pay for visas, except that if they advised you properly they would be out of a job since presumably after about 3 years, 2 years as fm2 1 year application, you would be done and no long pay.

Do you want to pay 10% more for 3 years or 10% less for 20+ years?

You won't get a straight answer anywhere else, likely.

good luck



[Edited on 2-18-2011 by gnukid]

DENNIS - 2-18-2011 at 10:14 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by grace59
How do you become "inmigrado"?


It's the third and final step towards Immigration Independence. No more yearly nonsense or expense.
After the 5+5 years [or whatever this has morphed into] of FM3/FM2, the final payment goes toward Inmigrado status. It doesn't give you dual citizenship or anything like that. You can't buy land without going through the bank and you can't vote. not much changes except the yearly requirments are over.
That is reason enough for me to continue on with the process until it's over. One more year.

rhintransit - 2-18-2011 at 12:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid


The primary difference up front is the fm-2 is about 10% more expensive, follow the advice and get an fm-2.

[Edited on 2-18-2011 by gnukid]


FM3 is currently 1280, FM2 is well over 2000...mine was 2800 when I changed from FM3 to FM2 in January. plus a one time 699 'registration' fee for being placed on the 'rolls'

[Edited on 2-18-2011 by rhintransit]

gnukid - 2-18-2011 at 01:08 PM

Just spoke to INM, the FM-3 is not a path to inmigrado, nor to any other status, its more like limited hangout. One must have a FM-2 for 5 years to achieve inmigrado, according to the inm office.

DavidE - 2-18-2011 at 01:19 PM

My last experience with my FM-3 had INM issuing my FM-3, for the next successive 4 years (4+1) prorrogas or extensions are added. On the start of year number six you have to start the process all over again, including getting an FM-3 or reverting back to an FMM for 180 days.

Leo - 2-18-2011 at 07:50 PM

DavidE, you are right, except with reverting back to an FMM you first get an exit permit only valid for 30 days. We didn't want to go in 30 days, so we're back on a new FM3, the endless Mexican milk-cow.

Howard - 2-18-2011 at 08:05 PM

OK, let me throw a monkey wrench into all of this. I was told that if you have a FM2 and are over 65 years of age, it takes only 2 years of FM2 until you can take the next step.

Anyone have 1st hand experience with this?

Leo - 2-18-2011 at 08:23 PM

Nope, never heard that one before.

gnukid - 2-18-2011 at 08:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Howard
OK, let me throw a monkey wrench into all of this. I was told that if you have a FM2 and are over 65 years of age, it takes only 2 years of FM2 until you can take the next step.

Anyone have 1st hand experience with this?


I have no personal experience but there is/was a provision for this. Though when I asked today the agent feigned ignorance, again, because inm agents do not approve of or are aware of transition out of visa to inmigrado status. I'll look it up but you can too if you are interested, actually anything is possible-really, if you just put all your capital up front toward citizenship it would be faster, cheaper and more efficient.

Look up forma dnn-3

Considering that these policies change as fast as they make tortillas I would forgo the INM as a source of info or BN and just fill out the form dnn-3 and go to the office of exterior relations and submit it, or have a specialist do it for you, they keep changing the laws every year and can not deny a form submitted correctly-or can they.

it's complicated you probably need to pay a taxi driver or something to deliver the form...

http://www.sre.gob.mx/tramites/legales/dnn3.doc

http://www.sre.gob.mx/index.php

[Edited on 2-19-2011 by gnukid]

bajalou - 2-18-2011 at 08:38 PM

Having Inmigrado status for the last 5 years has been very nice. No costs, no forms to fill out. Great!

Bob and Susan - 2-19-2011 at 07:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Howard
OK, let me throw a monkey wrench into all of this. I was told that if you have a FM2 and are over 65 years of age, it takes only 2 years of FM2 until you can take the next step.

Anyone have 1st hand experience with this?


sorry not true

you need t be married to a mexican or an important person with value to mexico

Pescador - 2-19-2011 at 07:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
Quote:
Originally posted by Howard
OK, let me throw a monkey wrench into all of this. I was told that if you have a FM2 and are over 65 years of age, it takes only 2 years of FM2 until you can take the next step.

Anyone have 1st hand experience with this?


sorry not true

you need t be married to a mexican or an important person with value to mexico


Or adopt a Mexican child. Some years ago it was true that you could apply for special exception to the 5 year rule and it could be granted, but according to Gilberto Pinero (the Mexico City guy who is the specialist in all of this) it now takes the full five years of FM2.

MitchMan - 2-20-2011 at 12:02 PM

bajalou, If you achieve 'inmigrado' status, are you then issued some kind of papers or ID card or something to signify such status? Seems like an ID card would be needed to exit/enter Baja, right? Once an Inmigrado, are there restrictions on amount of days out of Baja/yr?

DENNIS - 2-20-2011 at 12:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MitchMan
bajalou, If you achieve 'inmigrado' status, are you then issued some kind of papers or ID card or something to signify such status? Seems like an ID card would be needed to exit/enter Baja, right? Once an Inmigrado, are there restrictions on amount of days out of Baja/yr?


Here's where it gets real Mexican. I've seen the cards so I know they have them. Recently my neighbor got Inmigrado status but no card. He asked an independent agent here how he could get a card and was told it would cost 200 dlls. In lieu of the card, he has the full 8 1/2 by 11 receipt to show if required.

Now..I didn't have to ask, but I think this is total BS.

Jim/Liisa - 2-20-2011 at 12:18 PM

No wander they have Question marks before and after there question ?

bajalou - 2-20-2011 at 09:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MitchMan
bajalou, If you achieve 'inmigrado' status, are you then issued some kind of papers or ID card or something to signify such status? Seems like an ID card would be needed to exit/enter Baja, right? Once an Inmigrado, are there restrictions on amount of days out of Baja/yr?


Page 21 of the grey book is Declaratoria de Inmigrado. They fioll it out and stamp and sign etc. In addition to the 8 1/2 x 11 paper saying the same thing. When I check in each year they stamp page 15 with notes.

A friend just got Inmigrado status and he was issued a new laminated card. (This past week is when all of this was done.)

Dennis, didn't they fill out his book in addition to the letter?
I haven't dealt with agents for a long time, just with the Inmigration office.

[Edited on 2-21-2011 by bajalou]