BajaNomad

FM3: Renewal Processing time Question

MitchMan - 4-7-2012 at 05:21 PM

Hey Nomads,
Need a little help. I have to renew my Mexican Visa in La Paz by September 30th this year. In the past, it has taken up to two business weeks to renew the FM3 which I have had for the last 5 years. I intend to get an FM2 this time. I am assuming it will take two weeks processing time to do this, but the question is, does the two week processing time have to conclude at no later than the expiration date of September 30th or do I just need to start the application anytime before the September 30th renewal deadline while the processing time runs into October?

I am running into some scheduling problems with a team teaching schedule and need some reliable info on this question. I am going to call the La Paz immigration office on Tuesday, but I fear that my poor Spanish speaking skills may not be up to the task.

Any light shed on this would be immensely appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
MitchMan

[Edited on 4-8-2012 by MitchMan]

DENNIS - 4-7-2012 at 05:27 PM

If I understand the question, the application has to be in well before the expiration date. At least, that's what I've experienced. Of course, nothing is written in stone when dealing with INM.
Maybe it's time to hire an agent?

Udo - 4-7-2012 at 05:50 PM

This is something I'll be looking at next year, also.

Your honest answers would be appreciated!
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
If I understand the question, the application has to be in well before the expiration date. At least, that's what I've experienced. Of course, nothing is written in stone when dealing with INM.
Maybe it's time to hire an agent?

SDRonni - 4-7-2012 at 06:09 PM

What is the real benefit of the FM-2 (Inmigrado) vs. the old FM-3 (non-inmigrado)??? Is it only of benefit if you intend to actually obtain Mexican citizenship?

Mula - 4-7-2012 at 06:20 PM

I too would start immediately Sept 1 to have the full month for what ever lays ahead. Maybe it will be done in a week or 2, but if not, better have the extra time.

rts551 - 4-7-2012 at 06:32 PM

The initial (first application) for FM-2 took longer... And be carefull with your limited spanish . FM-2 holders are supposed to be living in the country full time and not worried about how long it takes.

MitchMan - 4-7-2012 at 06:36 PM

Side note.

I want to eventually get Mexican citizenship so that I can take fee title to my house in La Paz and not have to pay the annual Bank Fideicomiso fee and I want to be able to take advantage of not having to pay capital gains taxes when I sell the house.

For the past 5 years, my FM3 renewal in La Paz has always been right around 2 business weeks. I can't really spend much more time than that in September as I teach part time at the local community college. Before last year, if you couldn't stay in town for the entire processing time, they used to give you a letter in lieu of your FM3 book so that you could exit the country and then come back to pick up your renewed FM3. I understand that they no longer give you that letter and that you MUST stay in town until you get your renewed FM3 in hand.

SteveD - 4-7-2012 at 08:07 PM

We are in the process of renewing, also going from an FM-3 to FM-2 "Inmigrante". We have been using the same secretarial office in Rosarito so they have all our info on file. The requirements are much less than in the past:

1. FM-3, original and copy of all the document OR FMM (Tourist Visa), if is 1st time, this Visa you may get at Immigration Offices located at the border crossing to Mexico, secondary inspection. Must present current passport. Cost : $ 237 Pesos
2. Current valid passport, original and copy
3. Pictures: 3 front, 2 side (right side uncovered ears) black and white, “Infantil size”. Mate paper
4. Trust of your property, original and copy OR the last three Bank Statements with the logo of the bank; bank statements downloaded by internet are not accepted. Minimum balance of:
$2,200.00 Dlls. for a single person
$4,400.00 Dlls. if married be sure both names are showing in the statement
5.-Electronic application.
6. Form requiring personal information of applicant.
7. Government fees:
$ 3,889.00 Pesos -only cash, please- per person.
8. Office fees:
$80.00 Dlls per person, plus the cost of the Translation of Bank Statement.


We e-mailed them as to when we were coming down and they had all the paperwork ready. It took less than 1 hour, including the time to walk down the street to the photo store to have our pictures taken.

You cannot apply until one month before the due date. However, you can start the process at a secretarial office before that. They will then submit the application at the right time. We were told that it could take up to 2 weeks for the application to be approved. We called at that time and were told that it was ready. Next week we go back to the secretarial office to pick up the pictures and other paperwork to take to the Imigration Office. There we will be fingerprinted, sign some paperwork, and get our FM-2 "Inmagrantes" issued.

One good change is that we can now use our US bank statements to show proof of income, as is (no notarization, etc.). No need for a Mexican bank account.


One question I have is after the paperwork has been submitted and approved, how long do you have to go in and have the FM-2 issued? We'll ask that next week and let you know.

RnR - 4-7-2012 at 08:13 PM

The following all applies to the La Paz office:

Two or three of the front counter agents speak english. Just ask them. As a matter of fact, one guy seems to prefer speaking in english. I'm fluent in spanish and he continued to talk to me in english while I answered in spanish.

Heed rts551's advice. With the FM2 you are supposed to be living in Mexico full time. I was queried twice by two different agents, "You live in Mexico, correct?". and the sneaker "Where is your permanent home?"

They still issue the "permission to leave" letter. The desk agent offered the letter when my wife's FM2 application was running late and she had to leave for 8 days. However, they also wanted to see her roundtrip airline reservation showing a prompt return date. Remember, you live in Mexico and visit the US.

Her FM2 application took four weeks, mine took 4 business days. (Turned it in on a Friday, the on-line status check on Wed said "come to the office". Was out of there in 20 minutes the next morning).

The FM2 is your new immigration document with no connection to your existing FM3. You do not have to wait for your FM3 to come up for renewal. You can apply for the FM2 at any time. You don't even need to have an FM3 first, you can go straight from an FMM.

Your expiration/renewal date will change to the issue date of the new FM2. My wife's issue/renewal date was three weeks later than the date on her FM3 due to the long processing time. My issue/renewal date is two weeks before the expiration date on my FM3 due to the short processing time.

This is from an agent/friend that we know personally. (Even though we do our own paperwork):

You can apply for Inmigrado status immediately after the fourth renewal. That means you really only have to wait four years and one day after the issue date of the FM2. You MUST apply during the first six months following the fourth renewal. Do not wait for the last thirty days before the expiration. Do not let the FM2 go past a renewal date and expire - If you do, you do not pay a fine and get it renewed, you start over.

And, the absolute only truth when dealing with Immigration. Everybody seems to have a different experience, the policies vary by office, the hassle varies with the desk agent, and there is no place that you can actually read the rules.

Good Luck. Hope this helps.

[Edited on 4-8-2012 by RnR]

rts551 - 4-7-2012 at 08:44 PM

Have you had any exit/entrance stamps since holding your FM2? They must match and not exceed the allowable amount. I know of one person whose paperwork was sent back denied because of this problem

DENNIS - 4-7-2012 at 08:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SDRonni
What is the real benefit of the FM-2 (Inmigrado) vs. the old FM-3 (non-inmigrado)???


It, for me, is just another step to get it all over with.

RnR - 4-7-2012 at 09:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
Have you had any exit/entrance stamps since holding your FM2? They must match and not exceed the allowable amount. I know of one person whose paperwork was sent back denied because of this problem


No stamps, haven't left the country.

My FM2 is a laminated card. How do they stamp it?

SteveD - 4-7-2012 at 09:32 PM

I asked about the "residency" requirements for an FM-2 and was told that they never had them. Go Figure.

Different offices seem to have different requirements. Years ago I checked withe the Mexican Consolate offices in LA and San Diego and got different stories. In Rosarito the requirements were less of a hassle and they were easy to work with.

On another note, when our first FM-3 expired after 5 years, we just got another one. No Porblem!

rts551 - 4-8-2012 at 06:55 AM

I don't think they they have a way, yet, with the new card of tracking your coming and goings. But when applying for Immigrado status they package up everything (your old book, passport etc) to be sent to Mexico City. They checked all the past paperwork for accuracy. At least that is what they did for me and others out of Santa Rosalia.

oladulce - 4-8-2012 at 08:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RnR
The following all applies to the La Paz office:

Your expiration/renewal date will change to the issue date of the new FM2. My wife's issue/renewal date was three weeks later than the date on her FM3 due to the long processing time. My issue/renewal date is two weeks before the expiration date on my FM3 due to the short processing time.



Ah, mystery solved! That's why our expiration moved up one month, it must have been when we switched from FM3 to FM2. Thanks for clearing that up.

rts551 - 4-8-2012 at 08:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by morgaine7
Weird, they didn't change my date. I edited the "date stays the same" part out of my earlier post so as not to confuse anyone.

I'm inclined to think they can track exits and entries with the FMM forms. The airport INM agents seem to find me in the computer somehow when I return. Last time the guy said, "Remember me? I checked you out." I guess he could have recognized me by sight, but I'd left two weeks earlier, and he must have dealt with thousands of people coming and going through Los Cabos airport in the meantime.


Could be True. when my son turns in his FMM (he does) on expiration, the agent at the border looks him up in the computer

gnukid - 4-8-2012 at 08:43 AM

If I understand the question right, as long as YOU complete All the required steps prior to the expiration date your are on time, even if the document takes two more weeks to process by IMN.

If you submit the forms and everything even one day before the expiration or on the expiration and it is complete, you are on time, if you were late there could be a fine or the case where the past is now gone and you must begin again.

An FM-2 Rentista is not a complicated visa and therefore only requires basic stuff like photos, proof of id, address, proof if income, etc... and the IMn will review these and they are signed once a week, usually on a wednesday. If everything is done on Monday then it could be signed on Wednesday. If you submitted an incomplete application which was subsequently reviewed and the missing items noted, then you would be informed, complete the items and they could be reviewed the following week. Incomplete applications cause dealys, thoug the missing items are not always found on submission, they are often caught by a reviewer or by the delgado.

The date in general is not ever changed unless, as noted you change status, then it can be changed since the old cycle ends i.e. FM-3, and the new cycle begins FM-2.

oxxo - 4-8-2012 at 08:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by gnukidAn FM-2 Rentista is not a complicated visa


My understanding is that the FM2 Rentista has been eliminated. The "new" FM2 is "inmigrante". However, it says on my FM2 Inmigante visa in VERY small letters in the lower right corner, "caracterista: rentista". The inmigrante status means that you are on the path to "inmigrado" status (and Mexican citizenship) after 5 years and there are limitations on the number of days you can be out of Mexico or else you lose your inmigrante status (and FM2). The "new" FM3 is "no inmigrante." There are no limitations on the number of days out of country. You need to have an FM2 to get the "Seniors Card" now. No can do with FM3 anymore. Things have changed!

[Edited on 4-8-2012 by oxxo]

gnukid - 4-8-2012 at 10:20 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by oxxo
Quote:
Originally posted by gnukidAn FM-2 Rentista is not a complicated visa


My understanding is that the FM2 Rentista has been eliminated. The "new" FM2 is "inmigrante". However, it says on my FM2 Inmigante visa in VERY small letters in the lower right corner, "caracterista: rentista". The inmigrante status means that you are on the path to "inmigrado" status (and Mexican citizenship) after 5 years and there are limitations on the number of days you can be out of Mexico or else you lose your inmigrante status (and FM2). The "new" FM3 is "no inmigrante." There are no limitations on the number of days out of country. You need to have an FM2 to get the "Seniors Card" now. No can do with FM3 anymore. Things have changed!

[Edited on 4-8-2012 by oxxo]


Of course, since the laws have changed and are not enacted, there are many inconsistent things, and more to come.

Two basic categories, Non-Inmigrante or Inmigrante.

There are many types of visas within each category, more than we can discuss here. The FM-2 of course provides for rentista (non-working) or other status (accionista, inversionista, confienza).

If you work, then you would require all the docs associated with the company and you, proof of active status as a personna moral, taxes last paid, it's complicated and unpleasant. A Rentista has few requirements cause they don't work just spend their savings. Keep in mind, this is all defined and yet vaguely applied, expect it to change in order to streamline the integration of the North American Union or Security Prosperity Pact for cross-border military, policing and integration (now occurring), and allow more Americans to work in Mexico and vice versa in a common Union controlled by the Emperor. Then watch it fall apart. You are seeing exceptions allowed on both sides of the border for many reasons, honorary visas, one in particular, scientific workers are fast-tracked.

The timing requirements for FM-2 are for qualifying your status to apply for nationalization, not for the FM-2 itself, so in effect the requirement is just a recommendation to pass toward citizenship, e.g. you must live in the country you wish to apply for citizenship. In fact, if you do get citizenship and then leave the country you can lose your citizenship after 5 years, perhaps, depending on the whim of the government.

[Edited on 4-8-2012 by gnukid]

MitchMan - 4-8-2012 at 12:31 PM

If I choose to simply renew my FM3 for this coming 6th year, can I apply for the FM2 next year?

Also, anybody know how to change an FM3 renewal month to an earlier month. For example, my FM3 is due for renewal by September 30, 2012. Can I go to the immigration office in early June 2012 and ask to renew the FM3 early in that month of June 2012 and submit all the paper work and pay all the usual annual FM3 fees and thereby have the FM3 annual renewal month become June going forward?

[Edited on 4-8-2012 by MitchMan]

latina - 4-8-2012 at 01:02 PM

I know the answer to that one because I did it last week...You cannot change your renewal date. If the date you have doesn't work for you, you have to go to the office in person with a letter requesting the cancellation of your fm3 and stating why. They take your card and give you the paper fmm so that you can leave the country. Then about 2 weeks before a date that is suitable to you, you go through the process of applying for an fm3 for the first time, providing the proof of foreign income/means of support and the whole shebang. So, if you are logging years on your fm3 in order to get the fm2, you better stick with the date you have...

DENNIS - 4-8-2012 at 01:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by latina
I know the answer to that one because I did it last week...You cannot change your renewal date.


Wish I could give a reference to this, but....well, just recently, someone here said they did it. Changed the date.
Again....it's office to office with a bunch of people you don't dare argue with.

Maybe someone will recall more of what I remember.

latina - 4-8-2012 at 01:10 PM

In La Paz you can't change the date...no ands, ifs or buts....

DENNIS - 4-8-2012 at 02:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by latina
In La Paz you can't change the date...no ands, ifs or buts....


Really?? Everything has a price. :cool:

Ensenada

bajaguy - 4-8-2012 at 03:08 PM

Changed the renewal date on my FM-2 with no problem......moved the renewal from end of April to End of March

rts551 - 4-8-2012 at 03:20 PM

As has been said time and again. It depends on the office.

latina - 4-8-2012 at 05:10 PM

In La Paz, they told me it had to do with the new cards...that they used to change the dates when they used the books, but don't now...:?::?:

RnR - 4-8-2012 at 08:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by latina
So, if you are logging years on your fm3 in order to get the fm2, you better stick with the date you have...


Not true anymore. This is an excerpt from a post near the beginning of this thread:

The FM2 is your new immigration document with no connection to your existing FM3. You do not have to wait for your FM3 to come up for renewal. You can apply for the FM2 at any time. You don't even need to have an FM3 first, you can go straight from an FMM.