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conquestkm
Junior Nomad
Posts: 59
Registered: 9-8-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: "I could have been a Rhodes Scholar, except for my grades."
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FM-3 renewal
Gee I guess Government people are jerks no matter where you travel in this world .Because of renewing my wife's and mine FM-3 we were 2 days late .The
local gov guy will not let us compete our renewal until we both pay a 598 pass late charge for not getting it done on time . With altitudes like that
Mexico doesn't have to try a talk down narco problems bad press .Just let them deal with their gov employees and that willl keep them away much
faster. Good job Goverment guy .I can see why there is such dislike for Gov workers in Mexico
Conquestkm
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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Yeah...those altitudes can be a problem. 
Did you not know there would be penalties for late renewals?
Did you not know they might be serious about that?
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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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I cannot stand government BS as much as the next person. Don’t get me started!
With the above being said, I don’t know where you live but where I live if you are one day late on property taxes, vehicle registration, income tax,
etc., etc., we are fined.
Lets not pick on Mexico for things that are our responsibility to know such as FM3 renewal. Late is late and it is that way everywhere. You pay for
not following the rules. If one doesn’t like the rules, don’t play.
I’m not picking on you, It’s just that late is late.
Bet you won’t be late next year! 
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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SteveD
Nomad
Posts: 106
Registered: 11-29-2007
Member Is Offline
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We were hit with late fees, too. Our FM-3's expired on a Sunday and we renewed the following Monday. In the past we have renewed late with no
penalities.
As for your other questions: NO, we did not know there woud be penalities for renewing late (we did ask about it!) and NO, we did not know that they
would be serious about it. In many other things (property taxes, Bank Trust, etc.) there has never been a problem with being late. For those of us
who only get to Baja every month or two, this can be a serious problem.
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nbacc
Senior Nomad
Posts: 770
Registered: 12-27-2008
Location: Northern California
Member Is Offline
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It is a problem for us. We could'nt stay long enough to get our thumbprint on the document. We have now let it lapse (had to). We are trying to
make arrangements to stay long enough (10=14 working days...maybe). We are still working in the USA and cannot be gone for that long normally. It is
a problem.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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Wait...
| Quote: | Originally posted by nbacc
It is a problem for us. We could'nt stay long enough to get our thumbprint on the document. We have now let it lapse (had to). We are trying to
make arrangements to stay long enough (10=14 working days...maybe). We are still working in the USA and cannot be gone for that long normally. It is
a problem. |
You know that a facilitator can do all the work. You sign a power of attorney and your FM will be picked up and waiting for your return.
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slimshady
Nomad
Posts: 291
Registered: 9-3-2008
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The yearly renewal is really a racket. Why don't they just make it two years without going through all the hassles. It's ok for their folks to be
illegal in the U.S., but heaven forbid your late one day. That's another subject.
A two year FM3 FM2 renewal makes a lot more sense than the way it is now. If its money that they want just charge a little bit more to save us the
hassle.
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C-Urchin
Nomad
Posts: 234
Registered: 12-17-2008
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
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Familiar with US immigration fees???
Try to be late with ANY fee with the US authorities and see what happens...Deportation, prison, huge fines, confiscation of personal property, am I
missing anything? Honestly, one must follow the guidelines. Don't even think of using the wrong shade of black ink or step over the yellow line or
speak when not spoken to first!
*Reported by the Telegraph (UK) July 2010
"The changes, expected to be confirmed within the next few months, will see the cost of a US Green Card rise from $930 to $985.
Other proposed changes to the immigration system will see the cost of temporary residence applications increase by $420 to $1,030, and investors'
visas, previously free, subject to a new $6,230 fee.
About 90% of the budget of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services Department (USCIS) comes from fees paid by applicants and petitioners. It is
required to review its fee structure every two years to determine whether it is recovering its costs sufficiently.
Fee revenue for 2008 and 2009 was lower than expected and is expected to remain low in 2010 - explaining the rise in fees.
There will be however be no changes to the charges for US citizenship application, which costs $595."
*Be the man your dog thinks you are
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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C-Urchin is right...usa is much tougher
dave...morgaine7 is correct...things have changed
we use a facilitator here in mulege ( http://despachocontable.com/ )
but we need to travel to santa rosalia
one time to pick it up and get fingerprinted
sometimes you need "the buffer"
if you "make arrangements" you can pick it up late with letter and a ~$20usa fee
[Edited on 5-10-2011 by Bob and Susan]
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zoesterone
Nomad
Posts: 127
Registered: 5-8-2011
Location: Mazatlan, soon to be Baja
Member Is Offline
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There is that innate need to want to blame "the other guy" when WE screw up. ie Coffee too hot when it spills, sue McDonalds. It is about time we
started taking responsibility for our own actions. When my FM3 is due, I take care of it a MONTH before it expires. Easy peasy. Too many whiners.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
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Mexican immigration processes/personnel have improved tremendously in the past 10-15 years. I can speak personally to the effort that took in my
little city of Loreto.
we can't complain about requiring immigration to play by the rules when they are readily available (yes, in Spanish, duh) and uniformly enforced.
learn the requirements and follow them. or use a facilitator if that's too much effort.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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conquestkm
Junior Nomad
Posts: 59
Registered: 9-8-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: "I could have been a Rhodes Scholar, except for my grades."
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Well for one thing you can always negotiate with the US gov ,a example is on your past due taxes bills with the IRS you can offer and compromise
for any taxes and penalty a reduced amount.
Conquestkm
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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using a facilitator really helps avoid situations like this...FYI, you are supposed to begin your renewal process a month BEFORE it expires so check
your dates on your documents and get things figured out before it's too late.
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nbacc
Senior Nomad
Posts: 770
Registered: 12-27-2008
Location: Northern California
Member Is Offline
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Oh. we have a facilitator and just (our fault) did not realize that it was going to take that long . We were there in plenty of time to renew but the
timing was bad for us and the thumb print was needed at the end of the process. We have (HA) it down now and will send our paperwork ahead and be
there for the thumbprint. Not complaining........just learning. Nancy
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bajafam
Senior Nomad
Posts: 654
Registered: 9-6-2009
Location: Northeast AZ, Bahia Asuncion, BCS :)
Member Is Offline
Mood: DLTBGYD
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It seems that so many folks have become complacent when it comes to the laws ~ it was only two days late and the jerk charged us a late fee.
Hmmm....when you pay a credit card late, they bump your APR and charge a fee. When you pay any bill late, they charge a fee. When you lapse your
vehicle registration or insurance, they charge a fee and impose an SR-22. When you are late for work, they dock your pay. Not sure why following the
rules = jerk? Sorry, I have no sympathy for ya on this one.
In my personal experience, we didn't have the correct documents for the paperwork for my son's birth in Baja, and we had to return and file at a
certain time or fines would have been issued. Pain in the butt? Yes. Especially since doing that required a 8 days of travel to retrieve said
documents. Did we do it? Yes. Because that is what needed to be done. Would we make the same mistake twice? No. We learned our lesson the first time
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by conquestkm
Well for one thing you can always negotiate with the US gov ,a example is on your past due taxes bills with the IRS you can offer and compromise
for any taxes and penalty a reduced amount. |
I rather doubt the 'always' part of that. And it sure doesn't work with state bureaucracies...
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
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Mexico teaches patience
...to the Monks among you who already bring patience skills with you.
When it comes to Mexico it is difficult to get the straight story because, unlike the U.S, their government policies, and especially their
implementation, are inconsistent. Yes, it is easy to get frustrated, but when you are in Mexico this is one of the thing you have to accept.
Those of us who have traveled and/or lived in Mexico much of our lives know this.
You have to learn "la onda"...the way it is done. And I don't mean there is only one way. What I mean is, you have to learn how to wend and wiggle
your way through the maze. Knowing some Spanish and showing respect goes a long way.
Now, to specifically address the topic, if you cannot be there in time to renew, whatever the reason, you must use a facilitator.
By the way, if you have a friend who is going down you can give everything to that person and they can do everything except the fingerprint detail.
(That would have to be a very good friend, indeed). Then, when you can get there, it will be waiting for you.
Whomever you use as your facilitator, be it a friend or a facilitator for hire, they can help you avoid the late penalties.
The onus is on you to know everything that is needed. If you are the least bit insecure about researching that, it is best to use a professional
facilitator.
Opinions expressed on The BajaNomad, including mine, are only part of your research. Do not rely on our opinions as gospel. 
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bajaking76
Nomad
Posts: 143
Registered: 1-12-2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: If Baja calls, I am home.
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Try taking him/her some tamales next time....worked for my sister when she had to renew hers....
\"That\'s my thing, that\'s what I do\"
\"Gene Police: You!! Out Of The Pool!\"
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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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The latest I am hearing around San Felipe is that you really don't need an FM3 unless you stay in excess of 6 months. For those that stay November to
April a 6 months Tourist Visa is the best way to go, cheaper than an FM3 too. The only pain in the burro is checking in and out at the border.
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MitchMan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1856
Registered: 3-9-2009
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
When it comes to Mexico it is difficult to get the straight story because, unlike the U.S, their government policies, and especially their
implementation, are inconsistent... when you are in Mexico this is one of the thing you have to accept. ... You have to learn
"la onda"...the way it is done. ... you have to learn how to wend and wiggle your way through the maze. Knowing some Spanish and showing
respect goes a long way. |
toneart, you got it exactly right.
[Edited on 5-10-2011 by MitchMan]
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