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pacside
Nomad
Posts: 316
Registered: 1-16-2006
Location: N. Cal
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by pacside
| Quote: | Originally posted by Lee
| Quote: | Originally posted by pacside
Thanks again Shari for the referral. Nomads are AWESOME.
pacside |
Use Alonso, keep it simple, don't go expired, you're asking for unforeseen complications. (And DON't use a FMT if you have a FM3.)
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ZorroLee,
Plan to stay on it, use Alonso and will only use FM3 from now on. Sometimes just not worth the hassle to try to do everything yourself.
pacside |
Update: picked up my late renewed FM3 in La Paz with Alonso on my last trip down in December. Cost me 2000 peso's or about 150 usd in late fee
penalty's. This was the one that I originated in San Jose, CA but let expire in June 2008. From now on I will do all my renewals with Alonso in La
Paz.
Alonso was extremely easy to work with. I gave him all my info last August in person and he asked me for some photos and other stuff via email and on
my most recent trip in Dec I met him in La Paz to pick it up.
Thanks to everyone for your help. Oh an interesting tidbit...I arrived via airplane into SJD on an FMT and left on my FMT no questions asked. All
future trips I will use the FM3 correctly, i.e. get it stamped on entry and exit.
pacside
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Bajajorge
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2604
Registered: 10-13-2005
Location: Topaz Lake, NV/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
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I always use an FM3 service. Pay my $35 for me and $35 for my wife, pay the FM3 fees and wait several weeks. The renewed FM3 is returned to me, no
muss, no fuss.
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DanO
Super Nomad
Posts: 1923
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: Not far from the Pacific
Member Is Offline
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Hey Fishbuck, what's your status with Ms. Topete?
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
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Bajageorge, thanks for the info. oh, great...I have an FM3 that expires 1/11 every year. and every year until now I have gone in in December and
absolutely nothing has happened (Christmas, etc, you know) so this year I decided to wait til January. I've all my stuff together to take in on
Monday, Jan 5.
anyone know if the new standards have hit Loreto? I'm just wondering. am braced for the worst...a huge late fee...but crossing my fingers this has
not trickled down yet.
by the way, anyone know what the current regular fee is for FM3 renewal. I like to know ahead, have correct change. the amount requested varies
widely here.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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twogringos
Nomad
Posts: 184
Registered: 1-7-2007
Location: Bahia Asuncion/Color-Country
Member Is Offline
Mood: I feel more like I do now than I ever have before
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Regular fee: 1172 pesos
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Here is my FM3 story which took place this last summer. My FM 3 was issued in Loreto and for my 1st renewal I went to the immigration 45 days b-4 it
was due. Seeing as the 1st time I presented the person with a regalo of nice Tequila and he remebered that, he said to come back the next day to get
my renewal. I came back with the same regalo, put it under his desk and told me there was a problem when the big new boss came out and said it can
only be renewed within 30 days of expiration. I explained that I work in the Staes and cannot come back until after expiration and he said that was
not his problem. OK, I guess that is the rules and I have to live by them. Here is where it gets crazy. About 1 month later my passport and FM3 was
stolen or misplaced up in the States. I got a new USA passport. I drove my RV down to Loreto, with no FM3, stopped at the border and got an FMT and
continues to Loreto. I went to the immigration office and told them what had happend and they totally freaked out. The big boss immediately grabbed
the FMT out of my hands and told me I was in big trouble for having an FM3 (of which I did not have because it was missing) and an FMT at the same
time. "SENOR, IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO HAVE BOTH AND I AM IN BIG TROUBLE!". I apolgized and try to tell him than how was I supposed to enter Mexico
with no paperwork? He didn't care. I got all the new paperwork togehter, photos, utility bills, etc. and went back where he told me the new charge
with all the penalties was 13,000 pesos. Yes, I was late. Yes, I lost the FM3. and this was 100% all my fault but 13,000 pesos? I asked him if I paid
it could I get a receipt and he simply turned his back and went into his office! To make this long story short, I wound up paying about $400 in fines
and penalties plus the noraml fees and got my FM3 with 5 days. He tried to go for the $1,000 fine and I was happy to get out of there with only a
$400 penalty.
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Oh yeah, I had to go the the police department and make out a lost report.
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roamingthroughbaja
Nomad
Posts: 143
Registered: 11-16-2007
Location: La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
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Did you pay directly at the Immigration office? Here in La Paz they have a sign that says it is not legal to pay at the office, you have to have a
form and pay at the bank. Did you get your receipt?
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Scorpimon
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 6-6-2008
Location: Nopoló
Member Is Offline
Mood: Irie
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We had a similar experience at the Loreto office last month. Our FM3's were expired by about 10 months and after consulting the Mexican Consulate
here in Denver, we entered Baja on FMT's, with the intent of cancelling the FM3's in Loreto due to the hassle of renewing on time, plus we will go
directly to FM2's when we actually make it to Baja.
After being directed to talk to "El Jefe" in the back after the guy up front found out we had two immigration documents, we were also given the "this
is illegal" speach. After finally conveying our intent to cancel the FM3's, it was only a matter of deciding what fines we had to pay. There is a
chart showing fines for each length of time the FM3 is expired, 30 days, 6 months, 1 year, etc. and I tried to look at it closer but he pulled it back
from my view.
Bottom line is we also paid over $400 in fines. Yes we paid it at the Loreto Immigration office and we each received a letter confirming the
cancellation and the receipt of the fine paid.
I should also point out that this was not as bad of an experience as I was expecting. Previous trips to this office were met with the usual
frustration and the "now you need this", "now you also need that", or "not today, come back tomorrow". The attitude was friendly, courtious and
professional. Also the work load must be way down these days because we were the only ones in the office, which was unlike in the past where the
office was always full.
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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In Loreto you pay directly at the immigration office. In my jubilation to get out of that office and they handed over my new FM3 I do not remember if
I got a receipt. They are so slow and just sit around doing nothing but their game is that "they are very busy" and it takes a week if we are lucky.
It is my understanding that it no longer needs to go to La Paz and all they need to do is around 20 minutes of typing and it could be done. But that
is the Mexico waiting game. It is truly an art to watch them use all of their rubber stamps with such speed and accuracy! One good thing is that my
time clock for eventually moving on to a FM2 and then citizenship is that it did not start over, it remained from the initial FM3 date. Long live the
rubber stamp that Mexico so dearly loves to use.
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Scorpomom, how long did it take for you to get your new FM3 from the time you went into the office in Loreto to having it in your hand?
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Scorpimon
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 6-6-2008
Location: Nopoló
Member Is Offline
Mood: Irie
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Howard, we did not get new FM3's, we cancelled ours, which took about 25 minutes from when we entered the office until we left.
One of the big mistakes we made was taking the advice of the Mexican Consulate and getting FM3's when we did. Since we have still not made a move to
Baja it was a waste to time and money getting it renewed annually. Definately better IMO to just get the FMT when we make trips down for now.
Also, I did confirm with the guy in charge that we could start with the FM2 when we move down and with the goal of eventually applying for immigrant
status, without going thru the FM3 phase. Of course this is subject to change depending upon when, where, who, etc.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
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renewed FM3 rentista in hand, from Loreto, will add current update.
as to the new regulation/info 'late' if filed within a week of expiration date post/info earlier in this thread, it wasn't mentioned. I applied Jan 5
for Jan 11 expiration. of course I didn't ask about it!
paid 1904 pesos, as did two friends who applied same day. another applied the following week, 2304 pesos. fees are quite variable here, not posted,
and are paid directly at office, though I think you can ask to pay at bank...not sure what would happen then and I never want to risk the displeasure
of the migracion guys.
ready in one week. or it was for friends, same day. I just got around to picking mine up.
I've never used a service, maybe the cost to migracion would be less, but I figure I'd make it up in fees.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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New fees in Ensenada this year are 1294 pesos
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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At the Last Moment
Renewing in San Felipe, I Had "Thought" we would probably be a day or two late due to the new requirements so I inquired regarding the late fee. I
was quoted $106 each.
My renewal date was Monday, 12 Jan and, as it turned out thanks to my agent's prompt attention, we were able to carry the docs over to Immigration on
Friday, 09 Jan where they were accepted and stamped without penalty.
Apparently, that section about not accepting renewals within one week of the expiration date is flexible.
Or, it could simply be that we're such great people that everyone wants to help us out.
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