sanfelipebob
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FM3 renewal question
A Cabo friend of mine just called and said he did his FM3 renewal at the consulate in San Diego with photos, a bank statement and $98.00. He will get
it tomorrow (next day) They told him he does not have to enter Mexico within the next 30 days to get it stamped ???? Is this so ? Also, has anyone
tried this at the Los Angeles consulate? Thanks. This will put Sergio and his $300.00 fee's out of business.
[Edited on 10-6-2009 by sanfelipebob]
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by sanfelipebob
A Cabo friend of mine just called and said he did his FM3 renewal at the consulate in San Diego with photos, a bank statement and $98.00. He will get
it tomorrow (next day) They told him he does not have to enter Mexico within the next 30 days to get it stamped ???? Is this so ? Also, has anyone
tried this at the Los Angeles consulate? Thanks. This will put Sergio and his $300.00 fee's out of business.
[Edited on 10-6-2009 by sanfelipebob] |
Would love to know for sure if this was a RENEWAL. When we got our FM3s in San Diego, we still had to register it locally in Baja.
Also, the consulate in San Diego told us we could get a new FM3 every year in San Diego if we so desired, but renewals could only be done in Mexico.
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sanfelipebob
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Renewal. They made copies of all stamped pages and he gave a bank statement and 1 photo. They are open 8am to 12pm
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oladulce
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I picked up my new FM3 from the San Diego consulate yesterday Oct 5. The lady at the visa counter flipped through my book to the pages where the
renewals are documented and pointed stating "this is where your renewals will go. We can do your renewals at this office now" (new as of July 1, 09).
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by oladulce
I picked up my new FM3 from the San Diego consulate yesterday Oct 5. The lady at the visa counter flipped through my book to the pages where the
renewals are documented and pointed stating "this is where your renewals will go. We can do your renewals at this office now" (new as of July 1, 09).
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Great news. However, our original FM3 still had to be registered locally which is where we ran into problems and is why we have used an agent to
renew ever sinnce.
Do you know if the renewal if done in San Diego has to be registered locally? If not, that would be GREAT
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DianaT
Do you know if the renewal if done in San Diego has to be registered locally? |
You know it does. Why ask?
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Loretana
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I have never renewed my Fm-3 stateside. Honorio at the Loreto office seems to be my "go to guy" for my renewals.
He even renewed my FM-3 last month 37 days before it was due to expire. He charged a few bucks, but it was cheaper than an airfare to return to Loreto
to get it done in Mexico.
I won't touch the Portland (home town) consulate with a ten foot pole. The Officer in charge is not very accomodating, and loves red tape!!
[Edited on 10-7-2009 by Loretana]
"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration."
-Nikola Tesla
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oladulce
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DianaT
Do you know if the renewal if done in San Diego has to be registered locally? If not, that would be GREAT |
I'm sorry I don't know.
I asked the lady at the consulate if we had a time limit to get the new doc stamped in Mexico and she said "yes, 30 days. And make sure they fill in
this page and write your address and then stamp it".
So we decided to keep going to Otay and walked across to immigration to get them stamped. I told the man at the border what the lady at the consulate
had said about the address page and looked puzzled and asked his supervisor. They said "no all of that is done when you check in at your local office
in BCS".
I knew we'd have to get stamped at the border and then check in at La Paz with new FM3s because of Nomad posts (thank goodness). But the lady in San
Diego failed to mention that there are 2 steps to the process.
Which makes me wonder if the consulate says "sure we'll stamp your renewal" and then La Paz will say "No, no.no..."
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LaTijereta
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Loretana
I have never renewed my Fm-3 stateside. Honorio at the Loreto office seems to be my "go to guy" for my renewals.
He even renewed my FM-3 last month 37 days before it was due to expire. He charged a few bucks, but it was cheaper than an airfare to return to Loreto
to get it done in Mexico.
I won't touch the Portland (home town) consulate with a ten foot pole. The Officer in charge is not very accomodating, and loves red tape!!
[Edited on 10-7-2009 by Loretana] |
I am sure Hornario will can it done, but there is a "surcharge" you will be paying at the office above the posted fee $ for FM3 renewal...
I believe that even if you got it renewed in SD, the Loreto IMS office would still find away to charge again for the final stamp/ OK once in
Loreto...
Democracy is like two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin (1759)
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BajaWarrior
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Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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When "registering" wasn't a requirement I would go each year to the San Diego Consulate and get a new FM-3. I always did this 30 days before the
expiration and it was no trouble at all.
Then, "registering" became required. And yes, the nice lady told me no problem just go to your local Immagration Office and they will register your
address. I think what she meant to say is everything you have done here, you will have to do over again...
The Immagration office in San Felipe where we have a vacation home did not recognize any of the documentation I had provided to get the FM-3 and so I
had to start all over again.
San Felipe Bob, use Lolita in town at the Glorietta next to the newest gas station. It is only $67 to initiate your paperwork, and it will be $50 each
year there after. I opened a Mexican bank account according to her instructions with the amount of $1100 U.S. minimum and it sure saves a lot of time
and trouble. They do the copies, photos, translation, everything. She does all the work from there on.
Lolita2sweet@yahoo.com
BW
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by DianaT
Do you know if the renewal if done in San Diego has to be registered locally? |
You know it does. Why ask? |
I would not ask if I knew the answer. Since this renewal thing in San Diego is new, I know nothing about the requirements for same.
If we have to have the renewal registered locally, then we might as well use our agent in La Paz for everything---would cost about the same. Do not
want to deal with Guerrero Negro again and it is either Guerrero Negro or La Paz. Santa Rosalia is not an option for our area.
[Edited on 10-7-2009 by DianaT]
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msteve1014
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| Quote: | Do not want to deal with Guerrero Negro again and it is either Guerrero Negro or La Paz. Santa Rosalia is not an option for our area.
[Edited on 10-7-2009 by DianaT] |
Why is Santa Rosalia not on option? I would have thought that it would be the first choice in our area.
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grace59
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Registered: 9-14-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
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| Quote: |
San Felipe Bob, use Lolita in town at the Glorietta next to the newest gas station. It is only $67 to initiate your paperwork, and it will be $50 each
year there after. I opened a Mexican bank account according to her instructions with the amount of $1100 U.S. minimum and it sure saves a lot of time
and trouble. They do the copies, photos, translation, everything. She does all the work from there on.
Lolita2sweet@yahoo.com
BW |
I agree with Baja Warrior, we used Lolita in San Felipe to apply for our FM3s and it was both quick (well the paperwork was quick, actually getting
the FM3 in hand took forever)...and painless. Everyone in her office is great and the charge for her help was very reasonable. I will use her again
for my renewal.
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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DianaT
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| Quote: | | Quote: | Originally posted by msteve1014
Do not want to deal with Guerrero Negro again and it is either Guerrero Negro or La Paz. Santa Rosalia is not an option for our area.
[Edited on 10-7-2009 by DianaT] |
Why is Santa Rosalia not on option? I would have thought that it would be the first choice in our area. |
We had hoped we could do it at Santa Rosalia and tried. Unfortunately their jurisdiction stops at either Abreojos or La Bocana---I do not remember
which one for sure, but we are covered by Guerrero Negro.
We went to the office in Santa Rosalia several months before our last one expired. One agent said, yes, they could do it. But when it came down to
it, no they could not.
So we renew through La Paz which is where the local offices have to send the documents to anyway.
[Edited on 10-7-2009 by DianaT]
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Bajajorge
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Getting an FM3 is a unique experience. I found the easiest way is to do it in San Felipe, or whatever place you're going to. When I first got mine, I
checked with consulates in Las Vegas and Sacramento. Guess what, both had different requirements. Finally, just waited until I got to SF and used a
service, much easier, with less aggrivation.
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gnukid
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajajorge
Getting an FM3 is a unique experience. I found the easiest way is to do it in San Felipe, or whatever place you're going to. When I first got mine, I
checked with consulates in Las Vegas and Sacramento. Guess what, both had different requirements. Finally, just waited until I got to SF and used a
service, much easier, with less aggrivation. |
I would concur that the process is not consistent which makes advice not that helpful. I would also reaffirm the report from the poster who mentioned
his wife's approach, which was, if the agent tells you to come back, do not leave, simply be polite and persist, if they tell you need a letter you do
not have, say please provide an example format, which generally compels the agent to type it for you.
If the agent says something crazy or absurd, do not react, smile and persist, they often are looking for a reaction and push your buttons.
For couples, I would suggest that only one partner should apply if you stay less than 6 months at a time, there is no reason to add the hassle and
costs if it's not needed.
The other thing is if they act super crazy, just ignore it, it's part of the act, no one can reasonably denied a visa who completes the steps and if
takes forever who cares.
Good luck and remember if it sounds crazy it is.
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oladulce
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Posts: 1625
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Location: bcs
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| Quote: | Originally posted by gnukid
If the agent says something crazy or absurd, do not react, smile and persist, they often are looking for a reaction and push your buttons.
The other thing is if they act super crazy, just ignore it, it's part of the act, no one can reasonably denied a visa who completes the steps and if
takes forever who cares.
Good luck and remember if it sounds crazy it is.
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I don't think I've ever witnessed this "super crazy act" at a Mexican govt office - can you give an example or elaborate?
99% of the time I'm lacking the assertive gene and my esposo isn't much better so I enjoy watching people like bajaeng's wife in action. When I
presented our bank statements to the consulate I thought I had been so persuasive and had been successful at proving I had a separate source of income
to support an independent FM3.
The lady nodded and said ok, but obviously didn't pass it along to whomever makes the decisions above her because they did what they wanted. Not that
big of a deal this time, but next time it could be something that is very costly or a pain in the butt to get changed.
Getting Mexican govt officials and employees to do what you want on the first attempt would be a valuable artform to learn.
I'd pay good money to attend that class.
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Mexicorn
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Make sure you get something with an official looking stamp on it every one down here loves official looking stamps>
Something with that purple ink on it. LOL I'm just kidding guys...
It's news to me that you can renew in the US. I've always paid through the nose to have mine renewed in mexico. Last year I paid $200.00 plus.
Once I used that broad in the Gringo Gazette she raped me to the tune of $275.00 plus per FM-3. I wont make that mistake again.
Did you know that if your living in Mexico and dont have the FM-3 they can give you the boot. I've seen them actually arrest a deadbeat in Renes bar
one time a few years back it was funnier than shi% to see them arrest that dirtbag. Word had it he'd peeed off a guy in a powerful place, some guy who
rents condo's for $19.95 in Rosarito.
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BajaWarrior
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Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mexicorn
Make sure you get something with an official looking stamp on it every one down here loves official looking stamps>
Something with that purple ink on it. LOL I'm just kidding guys...
It's news to me that you can renew in the US. I've always paid through the nose to have mine renewed in mexico. Last year I paid $200.00 plus.
Once I used that broad in the Gringo Gazette she raped me to the tune of $275.00 plus per FM-3. I wont make that mistake again.
Did you know that if your living in Mexico and dont have the FM-3 they can give you the boot. I've seen them actually arrest a deadbeat in Renes bar
one time a few years back it was funnier than shi% to see them arrest that dirtbag. Word had it he'd peeed off a guy in a powerful place, some guy who
rents condo's for $19.95 in Rosarito. |
So which Gringo Gazzette would that be? Because there is one in San Felipe as well...
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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