BajaNomad

Late for FM3 renewal

toneart - 12-8-2011 at 12:44 PM

My FM3,(or whatever they are calling it now) is due for renewal in February. Due to the need to be in the U.S. for medical treatment during that time, I cannot be there.

I would prefer your answers to be based on personal experience rather than opinion.

Questions: Should I try to line up an agent to process it for me pending my arrival at a later date for photos and fingerprints, thereby avoiding the late fine? Unless I find someone going down to Mulege, I would need to send documents and correspondence by mail, which is risky. Fedex is better but that involves it being transferred to a bus in La Paz, and someone in Mulege meeting the bus to pick it up. This could also involve more than one shipment back and forth...also risky.

Or, should I just turn it in for cancellation and reenter on an FMM, and get a new FM3 upon my arrival later in the year?

I have legitimate documentation of the medical necessity which renders me unable to travel by the February due date.

Does anyone know if my current FM3 can be turned in, before it's expiration date, to a Mexican Consulate here in the U.S. and obtaining a receipt to show the Immigration office in Santa Rosalia later? I will go to the Sacramento Mexican Consulate and ask, but thought I would throw this out here on The Bajanomad for your experiences, if any.

BajaBlanca - 12-8-2011 at 01:02 PM

jeez toners, I can call Enrique in Santa Rosalia and ask hinm BUT, before I do that, why don't you consider flying down and handling this - then you can fly back knowing that you have complied with the law ?????

You can renew up to 30 days prior to the expiration.

Here is the immigration office phone number in santa rosalia

011 52 615 152-0313

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 12-8-2011 at 01:16 PM

hola toneart,

sorry to hear about your health situation and your predicament.

last year, i had a friend take my fm3 to my accountant in los barriles and for a fee of about $ 150.00, i had her cancel it entirely as i will be spending less than 180 days in mexico.

the year before, i received a fine as i renewed the fm3 with her one day late and she said the fine for one day late is the same as a month late ( 30 days ). i forget what the fine was, sorry.

i hope this helps.

get well soon,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

toneart - 12-8-2011 at 01:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
jeez toners, I can call Enrique in Santa Rosalia and ask hinm BUT, before I do that, why don't you consider flying down and handling this - then you can fly back knowing that you have complied with the law ?????

You can renew up to 30 days prior to the expiration.

Here is the immigration office phone number in santa rosalia

011 52 615 152-0313


Blanca-
Thank you for your suggestion. But, I would need to board my dog for the time I would be gone. In addition to the expense of the air fare, plus bus or car rental, my house is not set up for occupancy. All appliances inside and outside of the house are disconnected, and hauled upstairs along with all furniture and personal effects. (...the best flood insurance. It works! We have been spared now for two consecutive years). Too much work, trouble and expense to set it up just for a short visit. I would think the fine for being late would be less than all of those expenses.

I know Enrique. My Spanish is good enough to talk to him in detail about this. Thank you for your offer to speak to him, and for providing the phone number. Please do not talk to him at this time.

I'm sure it can be done through Enrique. It is the logistics and the risk of getting everything to him including the money, that makes it problematical. And then there is "dear"Enrique. There is nothing that is impossible with him if extra grease accompanies the request (if ya know what I mean)...Past experience has taught me la onda. :rolleyes:

toneart - 12-8-2011 at 01:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
hola toneart,

sorry to hear about your health situation and your predicament.

last year, i had a friend take my fm3 to my accountant in los barriles and for a fee of about $ 150.00, i had her cancel it entirely as i will be spending less than 180 days in mexico.

the year before, i received a fine as i renewed the fm3 with her one day late and she said the fine for one day late is the same as a month late ( 30 days ). i forget what the fine was, sorry.

i hope this helps.

get well soon,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT


Gracias, B.D.R.!

The whole FM3 is and has always been a big hassle. They make it so difficult. I would just as soon give it up. The only reason we homeowners need it is, in the event of any legal problems, you allegedly have the same rights as a Mexican National. (Notice I use the word "allegedly"). :rolleyes:

redmesa - 12-8-2011 at 02:08 PM

We are having this exact same issue. Ours is up in February and we also have a medical problem keeping us from renewing on time. We live in Canada so it would be impossible for us to fly down just for a renewal.
Do we need to send our FM3s down for cancellation? I did not know this. I thought we would enter on an FMM and get new FM3s if necessary for our ownership.
Thank you for bring this up.

Pescador - 12-8-2011 at 04:01 PM

The other option would be to let Julieta do your renewal when it is due and provide her with everything you need. You can e-mail her with the stuff, she can print it out and take your FM3 in for renewal. the only fly in that ointment is leaving the FM3 with her when you leave or having someone bring it down for you.

My experience...

djh - 12-8-2011 at 05:05 PM

Sorry your medical needs and FM3 needs are at opposites....

Last year, I intentionally renewed late.... (I had to be away, and I also wanted to change my annual renewal date to allow me to use my spring break week in following years.)

I emailed the Loreto INM office and informed them about my need to renew late. I also called the INM office and talked with a friend who works there and reminded them I was renewing late . . . (and I told them I knew there would be a late charge which I was prepared to pay).

When I DID go in for my renewal in March, they knew I was renewing late, and both appreciated the early heads up, and were very accommodating in helping me get my (late) renewal processed within my 9 day visit. I believe that my late renewal fee was about $100 US equivilent....

IF you can use Julieta in Sta. Rosalia, I would suggest that would be excellent. She is a wonderful person and friend, and I trust her integrity and her ability to get whatEVER job she accepts completed efficiently and professionally and for a fair reimbursement. She worked wonders for me during my incorporation process and my purchase agreement & property title processes...!

julietabaja@hotmail.com

BTW, as mentioned by Pescador, Julieta did a great job with email attachments of scanned documents in facilitating my needs.... It should be possible for you to arrange with a fellow Nomad to take your paperwork directly to her in Sta. Rosalia, however I'm not sure how you would do the "pick up and sign in person" part of the new process....

Now that I've offerred a little advice, I'll be in the situation of finding someone to assist with my FM3 renewal again this March, since I will be doing yet another performance tour in S. Korea....

Any fellow Loretano ex-pats have a recommendation ? I emailed Tere Muro, but that was over a month ago, and I have not heard back . . . Nice folks, but I'm wonmdering if perhaps she and Enrique & daughter are starting a different enterprise....?

Good luck with your health needs, amigo.

djh

toneart - 12-8-2011 at 05:51 PM

Pescador and djh-

I think we are on the same wavelength. I know Julieta and she would be the best agent to facilitate this. That is probably the way I will do it. I will call her or email when I am sure of my medical plans. If they can be delayed, I may go down and make it on time. I have to get new blood tests and possibly a CT scan in January or I would be there now.

The weather is just getting good in March. It would be hard to turn right around and leave. I will have to talk to the fish and ask them to wait for my return.

Thank you for your suggestions and your thoughts.:yes:

Redmesa-

I am not saying that it would be manditory to send in and cancel your FM3. Please do your own research on this. I was just thinking out loud that that may be a solution for me. One thing I do know is that it is illegal to possess an FM3 and an FMM at the same time. Big trouble if caught.

BajaWarrior - 12-8-2011 at 06:03 PM

I usually renew in late August but was contacted by my Agent in San Felipe that I could re-apply as early as late June. I renewed at around July 4th and my card was ready in late September if getting it early helps you...