BajaNomad

La Paz FM-3 Holders

UnoMas - 9-18-2011 at 06:43 PM

It is time to renew my FM-3 and looking for information specific to La Paz INM. I now have the new card that replaced the book, does anyone know what it is you need for renewal of the new FM-3. as it it dated do they put a sticker on it for another year or do you have to get new photos and card? I asked what the procedure would be when renewing the new card and was told they did not know as they were still in the beginning stages and things could change.

Jim/Liisa - 9-18-2011 at 06:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by UnoMas
It is time to renew my FM-3 and looking for information specific to La Paz INM. I now have the new card that replaced the book, does anyone know what it is you need for renewal of the new FM-3. as it it dated do they put a sticker on it for another year or do you have to get new photos and card? I asked what the procedure would be when renewing the new card and was told they did not know as they were still in the beginning stages and things could change.


Your renewal (EXPIRATION DAY/MONTH/YEAR date is on the back of the IDcard should be renewed at least 30 days before expiration date. You have to renew the visa every year, and receive a new IDcard. You will fill out the same form, bank statement, 6 months statemens and the like as you did before.

UnoMas - 9-18-2011 at 08:17 PM

I have renewed my FM-3 in the old form for ten years and know that there have been different requirements for different areas. In the past it was. (in La Paz)
Letter of intent
Application form
3 months bank statements
Utility bill
Copy of Fm-3 (all pages)
Copy of Passport
When I took all of this info in for the new card they removed some of the submitted doc's as they were no longer required.
I guess my question is has anyone recently renewed their FM-3 in La Paz and what doc's did they have to produce.
Since the new card is dated I am unsure how they do the renewal?
Do you have to get a new card (which would mean new photo's) or is there a way they update it.
I know that you can renew 30 days prior (but not a day late).

redmesa - 9-18-2011 at 08:46 PM

I wish it weren't so but you have to get a new card. You go through just what you did the last time you got a card. They only need proof an account, electric bill, photos, passport (originals), application form. I think I got it right. Someone will probably know more than I.

El Norte - 9-19-2011 at 07:14 AM

I have the same understanding as redmesa. The new system has made me consider going back to a 180 day FMT. The question is how does one do it. I have thought of getting the FMT at the border and then later turning in my FM3 at immigration in La Paz. The problem with that solution is that it is illegal to possess 2 different immigration documents at the same time. Several years ago. a friend tried to convert her FM3 into a FMT at immigration in La Paz and they fined her US$ 1000. and threatened to deport her. Only by hiring a lawyer did she avoid deportation but had to pay the fine and the lawyer. The new system for FM3s requires a new one every year. It's a pain! Any advice would be most welcome. Thanks in advance.

MitchMan - 9-19-2011 at 07:16 AM

I just renewed my FM3 for the fifth year in La Paz. Each and every year it has been a little different than the last year. It is in part dependent upon just exactly which agent you deal with, unfortunately. However, and fortunately, the office location in La Paz is new (just two blocks from my accountant) and while I have been told that the personnel are the same, I don't recognize anyone in the new office. The good news is that the new personnel seem to be a bit more helpful and upbeat positive. This renewal, for some unknown reason to me, asked for fewer copies of things and didn't ask for bank statements, nor a utility bill (but I had them ready anyway - I recommend that you take them just in case). There was also some other form that they gave me to sign in lieu of one of the letters that I usually provide them. And, the letter of intent that was acceptable last year had to be slightly edited for them this year. Several things are always different from year to year.

BTW, you need head shot portrait photos, front view (3 ea), side profile view, left side and right side (3 ea). The literature says 3 front views, and 3 side views of each side for a total of 9 photos, portrait aspect ratio, 2.5 cm wide, 3 cm tall. This year, as opposed to last year, they only took 3 front 2 left side only. Go figure. Not sure if it is supposed to be in color or B&W, but mine are "slightly" in color as I make my own photos.

I know this isn't much specific help to you, but you can take this away from what I am trying to say here: Take all the stuff you mentioned above to the office with you. Just be advised that it will be a little different each time you renew. At least, that has been my specific experience.

[Edited on 9-19-2011 by MitchMan]

RnR - 9-19-2011 at 07:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MitchMan
And, the letter of intent that was acceptable last year had to be slightly edited for them this year. Several things are always different from year to year.

[Edited on 9-19-2011 by MitchMan]


Could you post a generic sample of this year's "acceptable" letter of intent?

Last year, La Paz INM wasn't going to accept my letter of intent, (even though it was the same letter used for the last eight years), then two agents had a discussion, then they said 'You don't really need to submit a letter - just sign this form that they provided, then they accepted my package, and, the new card was ready in ONE day. ????

Still not sure what actually transpired last year but if you could provide an "acceptable letter" that worked this year, then MUCHAS GRACIAS.

Pescador - 9-19-2011 at 08:05 AM

Check out this site, which is updated on May of 2011. I print out everything, go in to the office and things go very smoothly.

http://www.rollybrook.com/inm-forms.htm

oladulce - 9-19-2011 at 08:27 AM

Directions to the new La Paz office: On Forjadores coming from the direction of Soriana plaza, turn Right on 5th of Febrero (the McDonalds street) and it's a white bldg on the Right about 1/2 block up.

This site is Yucatan based and some info is specific to that INM office procedures but it has excellent info and includes all the links to the INM gov applications for renewals and instructions for completing them in spanish and sample letters which are easy to modify to fit your needs.
http://yucalandia.wordpress.com/living-in-yucatan-mexico/moving-to-mexico-fmm-fm2-or-fm3/

My experience in La Paz, Baja Sur office of INM on Sept 8,11 for FM2 renewal (FM3 redo should only need slight modifications) :

What we DID need-
- The Formato Basico (obtained from the link on Rolly's site).
- The Formato Migratorio para trámites de estancia (from the INM website)
- A letter to the delegado of INM stating our desire to continue to reside in Mexico and our request to "refrendo our Inmigrante" status (* FM3 wording will be different*) and confirming/promising that we are living off of financial resources obtained from abroad and all other conditions remain the same as when we applied for our original FM2 Inmigrante.

- One copy of the photo and vital statistics pages of our passport
- Our photos (3front & 2 Right side- color with white background)
- The expiring FM2 cards
- Our US passports.

We did Not need:
- The letter confirming our domicile. If we had utility bills, we would not have needed them.
- We did not need the copies of our bank statements to prove income.
- We did not need the copies of every single page of our passports.
- They did not need a copy of our FM2 cards because the took the actual cards.

We left the INM office with a huge pile of papers because they returned most of the copies of everything I'd made!

To summarize: write a polite, business like letter to the Delegado that states your intentions and confirms and that you hereby swear etc, that your status is unchanged from your original application. According to the La Paz office, they consider the letter all encompassing and they do not require all the other proof every year for renewals if your conditions are unchanged. Don't forget to include the phrase "Bajo protesta de decir verdad" or something similar.

Do not wear earrings when you have your picture taken, no matter how small. They let me slide this time because I forgot to remove them, but there was some discussion in the office and I almost had to re-do the pictures.

Don't forget your brown file folder for your each of applications.

From now on I'll still continue to bring in bank statements and all the other copies just in case, but at least we're spared doing all the passport pages.


[Edited on 9-21-2011 by oladulce]

BFS - 9-19-2011 at 08:28 AM

I just renewed in La Paz. Same process as usual with much longer delays this year in getting it back. That Rollybrook site has the requirements in perfect detail. The new office is 1 block away from Mcdonalds/Autozone with excellent parking. Try and get Reynaldo if you can, he knows what is needed exactly and will not give you the run around, lose his patience, or make errors. he has been there a few years now.
Suerte!

oladulce - 9-19-2011 at 08:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RnR

Could you post a generic sample of this year's "acceptable" letter of intent?

Last year, La Paz INM wasn't going to accept my letter of intent, (even though it was the same letter used for the last eight years), then two agents had a discussion, then they said 'You don't really need to submit a letter - just sign this form that they provided, then they accepted my package, and, the new card was ready in ONE day. ????

Still not sure what actually transpired last year but if you could provide an "acceptable letter" that worked this year, then MUCHAS GRACIAS.


I used the same letter as last year and updated it slightly. This time the agent scrutinized it for a while and I thought "uh oh???". Eventually he said, "i guess this is ok". Unfortunately I don't know what made him hesitate about it. I'd post a copy but I don't know if it's the best example.

In the past we needed 2 letters- the 2nd one was verifying our domicile/residence. I don't know if everyone needed this or if it's because we don't have utility bills to prove we live here. Didn't need the domicile letter this time.

We definitely needed the 1st letter which summarizes who we are, and what we are requesting to do .

We had a 1 day turnaround for our renewals last year also, but were told 2 wks this time.

UnoMas - 9-20-2011 at 07:13 PM

Thanks to all for the info. Guess I will go to INM with all my usual stuff and let them sort it out, most likely a couple extra trips but will get it done. I have also thought about dumping the FM-3 and going back to the FMM, much less painful IMO.
The web site that they gave to me for the initial card was www.inm.gob.com Where they have renewal info also, just didn't know if I had to start from the beginning or not.