Leo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 518
Registered: 9-23-2004
Location: Todos Santos
Member Is Offline
Mood: could be better
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Is letting a FM3 expire a good or bad idea?
Our Fm3 is due next month. Paid 5 years for renuwals for no good reason we found out lately. We never stay longer then 180 days in Baja.
What is the consequence of letting it expire and next time simply get a tourist card for about 25 bucks.
[Edited on 1-26-2011 by Leo]
[Edited on 1-26-2011 by Leo]
[Edited on 1-26-2011 by Leo]
The grass is always greener....
and so, there is always a better spot in Baja
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bajacalifornian
Super Nomad
Posts: 1117
Registered: 9-4-2010
Location: Loreto/Lopez Mateos/Rosarito
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'pends whether you wanna pay a fine or not. Live here, stay current. No, be a tourist. Still need to let them know what you're going to do.
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
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Which is it? You said FM2 in your header, but FM3 in the body of the text. It's BAD to let either an FM3 or FM2 expire. If you do,
you'll be liable for fines! If you go into INM & tell them you want to cancel it, they'll do that for you on the spot & they won't be any
monetary penalty or negative legal ramifications. But think it through before you do, because if at any time in the future you want another, you'll
be starting from square one time-wise. You'll lose however many years you've invested in it.
Also if you have a vehicle that you want to leave here, you'd technically be violating the law leaving it if you enter the country on an FMM. Go talk
with the folks at INM for the pros & cons.
Edit: typo
[Edited on 1-27-2011 by longlegsinlapaz]
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
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Do you own property? If so, you need FM3 or FM2 for legal protection. Otherwise you have no legal stand in court.
If you don't own property, why do you have an FM3?
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Leo
What is the consequence of letting it expire and next time simply get a tourist card for about 25 bucks.
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Turn that question around. If you were a Mexican or Canadian citizen holding a US tourist, education or temporary work visa and you let it expire,
what would happen? Deportation and refusal to issue new visa. Be glad you are talking about Mexico and stay legal.
Bob Durrell
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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I don't think there is a single correct answer. Partly because Mexico has been so lax with its immigration enforcement. It is abundantly true that
having the FM-3 will provide one with more protections and rights. But, Leo never mentioned or responded to the question about ownership. That said, I
have a feeling that since he lists Todos Santos as his hood, he probably does own. My own personal rule of thumb is that the farther you venture down
from the border, the less likely the FMM is gonna be your friend. I'm not speaking of tourists. Por ejemplo, renting in Ensenada. Easy shot to the
border. Not so in Todos.
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Leo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 518
Registered: 9-23-2004
Location: Todos Santos
Member Is Offline
Mood: could be better
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OK, general consensus is; BAD idea.
But I still don't get it,why. We are here neber longer then 5 to 6 months.
This lawyer in La Paz told me there is no need for it. Not even for opening a bank account, Feedecommiso for property or staying up to 180 days.
So why bother the paperwork, going to LAP twice and pay the high fees every year?
We have property, bank acc. a car etc. Have paid for FM3 for 5 years and are at the cross-roads now sionce we can not renew the excisting FM3.
The grass is always greener....
and so, there is always a better spot in Baja
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fishabductor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 800
Registered: 5-29-2010
Member Is Offline
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from my personal experience it is a bad idea. I had to pay a $9000 peso fine for letting it expire and then trying to get another reissued. if you
aren't going to need it, don't own property..etc. Just make sure they cancel your fm2/3.
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Leo
OK, general consensus is; BAD idea.
But I still don't get it,why. We are here neber longer then 5 to 6 months.
This lawyer in La Paz told me there is no need for it. Not even for opening a bank account, Feedecommiso for property or staying up to 180 days.
So why bother the paperwork, going to LAP twice and pay the high fees every year?
We have property, bank acc. a car etc. Have paid for FM3 for 5 years and are at the cross-roads now sionce we can not renew the excisting FM3.
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You might be misunderstanding the responses:
1) If you do not want the visa cancel it prior to expiration. You will be given 30 days to leave the country whereupon you can get a tourist visa.
2) If you fail to cancel it and it expires and then you get a tourist visa it may be a problem for you if the computers link it up, since, somehow
that is considered fraud.
3) If it is expired and you are not in Mexico it may be possible to visit a Mexican Embassy and turn it in for cancelation prior to your return under
a tourist visa.
4) If you cancel and return with a tourist visa, you may once again apply for a fm3 or fm2 whenever you want.
Hope that makes it clearer.
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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If it's any consolation I was fined a couple of years ago for not cancelling out an FM-3 before getting an FMT. A thousand pesos.
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Leo
.... at the cross-roads now since we CAN NOT renew the excisting FM3. |
Of course you CAN. even though you have held the FM3 for 5 years you CAN continue to renew it OR you can go to the FM2 (more $).
Bob Durrell
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Senior Nomad
Posts: 980
Registered: 11-5-2009
Location: BAJA SUR
Member Is Offline
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Hola,
last year, i had my accountant renew my fm3 and i was one day late. i received a fine of a dollar ( pesos ? ) a day with a minimum of $ 30.00.
renewing my inactive corporation late, l didn't receive a fine ?
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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