| Pages:
1
2 |
conquestkm
Junior Nomad
Posts: 59
Registered: 9-8-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: "I could have been a Rhodes Scholar, except for my grades."
|
|
FM-3 Question
I need a quick lesson on FM-3's. Every year at this time these questions come up to me
1- Is there a discount for seniors?
2- How many years do you need to register ?
3- For as long as you live in Mexico?
4- What is the difference between FM-3 and FM-2 ?
Can you register to of Mexico and with the local Mexican consult in a US city? .
I was told by the San Francisco,Ca over the phone I could not go there renew , but must renew where your home in Mexico is only.
Conquestkm
|
|
|
bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
|
|
1- No discounts.
2 - As long as you come to Mexico. Every 5 years you get a new book.
3 - yes
4 - FM3 is tourist standing, FM2 is a Immigration document - leading to becoming a Mex. citizen or permanent resident. - Not a tourist.
The S.F CA. consul is correct.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
|
|
CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalou
1- No discounts.
2 - As long as you come to Mexico. Every 5 years you get a new book.
3 - yes
4 - FM3 is tourist standing, FM2 is a Immigration document - leading to becoming a Mex. citizen or permanent resident. - Not a tourist.
The S.F CA. consul is correct. |
FM3 can come in over a dozen forms .....
Rentista, Invester, Work etc.
The tourist visa is the FMT ......
And you are correct , the FM2 is generally the first step to citizenship.
CaboRon
|
|
|
bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
|
|
With all the endorsements of the FM3 - as you point out, you are still considered a tourist - a temporary resident - not a immigrant.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
|
|
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
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by conquestkm
I need a quick lesson on FM-3's. Every year at this time these questions come up to me
1- Is there a discount for seniors?
......No
2- How many years do you need to register ?
..........you need to register your FM-3 where you live. generally only need to register once, unless you move....you need to RENEW every year
3- For as long as you live in Mexico?
............as long as you are in Mexico, unless you go for an FM-2 (5 years), then citizenship.
4- What is the difference between FM-3 and FM-2 ?
..............depends on what you want to do......if you just want to hang out, get the FM-3; if you want to work toward citizenship, go for the FM-2.
Can you register to of Mexico and with the local Mexican consult in a US city? .
.................you cannot renew at the cosulate. You have to renew in the jurisdiction where you live
I was told by the San Francisco,Ca over the phone I could not go there renew , but must renew where your home in Mexico is only.
.............yup, they are correct
|
|
|
|
bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
|
|
With FM2, there are restrictions on the amount of time you can spend OUT of Mexico. You pretty much have to be a full timer in Mexico to qualify.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
|
|
DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
While the FM3s cannot be renewed at the US consulates, at the one in San Diego, we were told that some people get a new FM3 every year at the
consulate.
Why they would do that rather than renew, I do not know.
Also, for women---when we got our FM3s in San Diego, I was a little surprised to see that mine is written up as a dependant of John. We were not
asked anything about this. I have since found out that I could have obtained my FM3 as a separate person.
Diane
|
|
|
Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3597
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalou
With FM2, there are restrictions on the amount of time you can spend OUT of Mexico. You pretty much have to be a full timer in Mexico to qualify.
|
An ''address'' down here and a ''water bill'' would qualify for residence.
The La Paz office (at least one agent there) will tell you that applying for an FM2 means that you live in Baja FULL TIME. An FM2 stamped flying
in and out more than for short periods) would be scrutinized, in my opinion. Don't know that there's a specific number of days -- anything that
looks like you don't live down here is suspect.
Unless you planned to work down here, or become a National, FM3 probably works better.
|
|
|
bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
Also, for women---when we got our FM3s in San Diego, I was a little surprised to see that mine is written up as a dependant of John. We were not
asked anything about this. I have since found out that I could have obtained my FM3 as a separate person.
Diane |
You would probably have had higher income requirements - 2 single people rather than couple.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
|
|
LB
Junior Nomad
Posts: 74
Registered: 10-1-2008
Member Is Offline
|
|
All the above answers are correct. My only advise from experience this year;
a four time trip! There are many changes occurring with immigration. So
check before you go. Mine was involving renewal of my FM3 with a
volunteer stamp. New paper work done by the organization is needed
before they will release your FM3.
Each time I went a new form was presented to me. Another trip. The
last was the "Expediente Basico" which consists of 10 papers needed
from the organization.
Never will do the renewal on my own again. Just trying to be a legal
volunteer has become very difficult.
Check for what is needed before you go....unless you do not mine doing a 3 hour drive four times! Or better yet, put out the money for a pro.
|
|
|
Marie-Rose
Senior Nomad
Posts: 894
Registered: 10-2-2003
Location: Victoria, B.C. and Todos Santos
Member Is Offline
Mood: Worried...
|
|
Just in case anyone is interested in length of time to process... we got ours on Friday(in LaPaz). Less than 2 weeks to process and no problems with
any of the forms.
Hubby dropped them off... picked them up and signed for me.
Thanks for the assistance on my previous post
[Edited on 2009-4-5 by Marie-Rose]
Remember, when in Mexico, yes may be no and no may be
maybe!
|
|
|
CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
|
|
My FM3 renewal last October took one week from drop off to pick-up ....
The La Paz office is courteous and professional.
CaboRon
|
|
|
The Gull
Super Nomad
Posts: 2223
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Rancho Descanso, BCN
Member Is Offline
Mood: High
|
|
Too bad you won't be needing it much longer.
�I won\'t insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.� William F. Buckley, Jr.
|
|
|
DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalou
| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
Also, for women---when we got our FM3s in San Diego, I was a little surprised to see that mine is written up as a dependant of John. We were not
asked anything about this. I have since found out that I could have obtained my FM3 as a separate person.
Diane |
You would probably have had higher income requirements - 2 single people rather than couple. |
From what I have learned, you are correct. We could have done that but were not given the option. I think assumptions are just made if one does not
ask.
Diane
|
|
|
conquestkm
Junior Nomad
Posts: 59
Registered: 9-8-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: "I could have been a Rhodes Scholar, except for my grades."
|
|
What is interesting is that some people were able to renew their FM-3 in San Diego . Again I was told you could only renew your FM-3 in the part of
Mexico where you may have had a home or live . requireling to show a electric bill or some other document to prove you live in that area .
A couple responds gave me the impression that the Gov of MX may be thinking about changing this law .Or was I just reading to much into it?
Conquestkm
|
|
|
DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by conquestkm
What is interesting is that some people were able to renew their FM-3 in San Diego . |
Are you sure it was a renewal or did they just get a new one. If they were given new booklets, it is not a renewal.
Some people chose to get new ones every year.
|
|
|
vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
Some people chose to get new ones every year. |
Pretty sure that's illegal.
Know of some folks here in Loreto who got called on that.
|
|
|
DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by vandenberg
| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
Some people chose to get new ones every year. |
Pretty sure that's illegal.
Know of some folks here in Loreto who got called on that. |
Interesting, I wonder. When we talked with the lady with the San Diego Consulate, she said there was not problem if that is what someone wanted to
do----think we will just keep renewing.
Of course the infomation about FM3s is consistent no matter which consulate or immigration office one contacts.
|
|
|
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
|
|
Invalid FM-3???
When you get an FM-3 issued at the Consulate, you have to get it stamped by Mexican Immigration at the border within a certain number of
days...........then you also have another time limit to get the FM-3 "registered" with Mexican Immigration in the area where you live.........so if
you either or both don't get it stamped at the border, or don't register it.........seems to me it would be invalid?????
[Edited on 4-6-2009 by bajaguy]
|
|
|
CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by conquestkm
What is interesting is that some people were able to renew their FM-3 in San Diego . Again I was told you could only renew your FM-3 in the part of
Mexico where you may have had a home or live . requireling to show a electric bill or some other document to prove you live in that area .
A couple responds gave me the impression that the Gov of MX may be thinking about changing this law .Or was I just reading to much into it?
|
You may renew at the consulate in San Diego how ever it will not apply toward citiaenship if that is your goal.
You have ninety days after picking up your FM3 in San Diego to register it at the border.
I simply parked at San Yesidro, walked across the border had it stamped and reintered the US and that's that.
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
