Howard
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Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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FM 3 card
It's been a few months since Mexico started issuing FM 3 cards and I hope someone has some first hand experience.
I have an FM3 card and I am driving down to Loreto through San Yisidro. I am flying home (with my dog) from Loreto.
Do I need to stop at immigration and get any type of stamped paperwork upon entering Baja as before or do I just cruise on through?
If I do cruise on through and not stop, will there be any hassle at the airport in Loreto upon departure?
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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maspacifico
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Did you fly out with the new card? If you did you should have a copy of what you gave to the airline and that should be fussed over by someone in San
Ysidro. If you drove out with the new card you don't have to do a thing. Until you fly back to the US, then you need to get the paperwork from
immigration at the airport.
Of course this is assuming it's a full moon on an alternate Wednesday and there are no sheep involved.
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oxxo
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Everything I say following is subject to what an immigratrion officer ate at lunch time.
I am getting my FM3 to be issued on this next Monday. I used an immigration service in Cabo San Lucas, run by an off duty immigration officer, who
speaks English (PM me if you want his name). His rate is US$99 to process the paperwork. I know, I could have done it myself, but I had some issues
that needed to be resolved, which he did.
I had this exact conversation with him 2 days ago with regards to checking in and out, since sometimes I drive in and out and sometimes I fly in and
out. He said that both FM3 and FM2 have residency requirements and you have to be careful about being out of Mexico for too long a period or too
frequently. He said that when I fly into Mexico, the airline ticket includes the price of an FMM. He said just present that FMM to the immigration
officer on check in. When flying out of Mexico just turn in that FMM. Don't say anything about your FM3 (wink, wink). If your FMM has expired (you
have been in Mexico more than 180 days) just present your FM3 (wink, wink) to the airline and let them tell you what to do. If driving in and out of
Mexico, don't say anything to immigration upon leaving or entering at the border. As long as you have a valid FM3/2 you are good to go (wink, wink).
He said at this time, immigration has no computerized cross check between FM3/2 and FMM (wink, wink).
By the way, he said he can process FM paperwork anywhere in Mexico via email. I love entrepreneurs in Mexico!
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maspacifico
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I have a neighbor with an FM3....they tried using an FMM to fly back in...the guy swiped her passport and she was in the computer. It took a long time
with many trips to immigration to get it straightened out.....and that was two years ago....pretty sure when that guy at the airport swipes your
passport/FM3/FM2 the results go somewhere....I wouldn't do it. Of course if you are driving it makes no difference! I love consistency.
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elizabeth
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Most of the above information is outdated. There are new rules in addition to the change to a card from a book with an FM2 or FM3. There are no
requirements limiting time spent out of the country with an FM3. There are with an FM2.
I have flown back and forth twice under the new FMM rules. Everybody...tourist, FM2 an FM3 holders gets the same FMM form now. This is what happens
when flying: you fill out the FMM form. It has a space for checking off FM3 or FM2 and a line for your number. When you arrive at immigration, you
give it to the officer who tears off the right hand piece and gives it back to you. When you leave, you simply give this section of the form to the
ticket agent who staples it to your boarding pass and it is collected when you board. No more hunting down the inm agent for signatures and stamps,
nothing to save and not lose while you're out of the country. The only exception to this is if you are leaving for the first time under the new
rule...then you need to fill out the whole form and take it to an inm agent who tears off the small part, just as if you were entering the country,
and you give it up when boarding.
Driving is not something I do, but it would seem logical that you would stop as usual, and get the new form.
And yes, the FMM cost is included in your ticket. If you have an FM3 or FM2, you are entitled to a refund. Ask the ticket agent. At least
Alaska/Horizon are very familiar with this.
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maspacifico
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I think it's important to know how Howard left Mexico with his new card. If he drove out, nobody knows he's gone, and he can do whatever he wants,
until he flies back out from Loreto. If he flew out of Mexico with his new card, he has the return portion of the FMM he filled out at the airport,
and they might be entering those things into a computer. If he doesn't turn that in in San Ysidro then he hasn't followed the rules and is in the
country illegally. (That is what the immigration people told my neighbor and they were very serious about it) I think I would stop at San Ysidro and
turn in the return portion and gets a new one so he doesn't have to deal with immigration at all at Loreto while he's worrying about his dog.
As far as driving in and out...logic has nothing to do with it!
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Howard
Super Nomad
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Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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The last time I departed Baja (Loreto) it was by plane. (Horizon) It was in July of this year and I do not believe they gave any paperwork.
I realize that any feedback is subject to the rules changing at any moment and your advice is good as long as it takes to write your response!
Now what do all of you have to say, stop or no stop at Immigration in TJ?
Oh Yeah, to further complicate things, I will be in a 30 foot RV which is a great pain the arse to park in the area they give you to go to the office.
The last time, secondary made me move it while I went to the office.
Now that I think about it, if I do not stop and get the magic form, when I fly out, they will ask for paperwork. What then? Damn, I think I just
answered my own question, to stop or not to stop. It looks like I have to stop.
Anyone, anyone? Still looking for feedback.
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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maspacifico
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Registered: 4-22-2008
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Not sure how you flew out without either telling the friendly Horizon agent you had a FM3, and they had you fill that form out for immigration......
or you turned in the $20 visa you shouldn't still have had if you have an fm3. Did that flight go to Tijuana or mainland Mexico? Maybe the other half
is in your passport still?
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Howard
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Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Ok, here it is.
The last time I flew was in July from LAX- LTO round trip. While in Loreto during that time I pick up my FM3 card and turned in my FM3 green
pamphlet.
So, when I flew into Loreto in July my round trip airline ticket took care of everything and I filled out the new combination form on the plane and
checked the appropriate boxes for an FM3 holder.
I have no paperwork left as everything got turned in to the airline/immigration.
As most of you, I want to do the right thing but who know what the right thing is? I am not sure they even know.
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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maspacifico
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Registered: 4-22-2008
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Jeez.....
You are OK. The airline had to get your exit thing from you when you left. I think you need to go to San Ysidro and fill out the entry form and you
will get an exit pass at the same time. Actually saves a step at the airport when you leave. I'm not sure if the fm3 card you have can be followed to
see where you've been. Next year when we get brand new cards, they get scanned in and out from what I hear. I'm sure that will go smoothly.
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Thanks Maspacifco and all
Yes quite a story. Unfortunately to save hassles later I think I will stop at immigration next to secondary. I am sure they will look at me like a
deer in the headlights and wave me through but don’t really want it weighing on my mind for 3 weeks before I try and fly. Oh, buy the way, also to
avoid further potential disaster, I will be flying home with my dog so just accentuates the point of wanting no hassles.
Next year, next year, next year, it seems to be the battle cry of Mexico. Can get upset or roll with the punches and I choose your name sake, Mas
Pacifco and let the chips fall where they fall.
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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GEMcC5150
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We just got our new FM3 card in Sta Rosalia and we drive most of the time. We were told to make sure we stoped in Ensenada on ouy way out and in so
that we are current on their computer system. 12,000 Mexican in US with no paper work. And here we all are trying to follow rules that even they
don't understand.
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bajamigo
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Only 12,000? So what's the big deal.
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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12,000 Mexicans in the US with no paperwork?
I have no statistics to back this up but I am sure that the California Penal System has a lot more than 12,000 locked up with no paperwork no less the
rest of the nation!
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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Loretana
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajamigo
Only 12,000? So what's the big deal. |
Excuse me......that number should read twelve million.....
And yeah, ni modo!!
"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration."
-Nikola Tesla
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GEMcC5150
Junior Nomad
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Location: San Ignacio BCS
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I'm Sorry you are right I missed a few 0's I understand it 12,000,000 Just in Mexicans
[Edited on 9-6-2010 by GEMcC5150]
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measomsan
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All the FMM stuff is very hard to understand. We have a house, paid for. Do we really need the FMM's ? what is the gain?
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oxxo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by measomsan
All the FMM stuff is very hard to understand. We have a house, paid for. Do we really need the FMM's ? what is the gain? |
The FMM replaced the FMT. That is a tourist visa. You get that when you enter Mexico.
This is the way it was explained to me by immigration. An FM2 is the path to become a Mexican citizen. An FM3 means that you are a sometimes
resident in Mexico and not just a tourist (this is an oversimplification). It is not mandatory to have and FM2 or 3 to own property in Mexico
(according to Cabo immigration). However, an FM2/3 gives you more legal rights if you do own property. At a cost of under US$100 per year for an FM3
it is probably worth the effort to get one if you own property.
Check your PM.
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