tjBill
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Registered: 10-6-2007
Location: Tijuana
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Expired FM3
I have an expired FM3 visa. I didn't think it much of it since most US renters in Tijuana don't have one.
The problem is I am planning on visiting Mexico City with my parents. Somewhere on this forum someone mentioned that immigration officials at the
Mexico City airport may not grant me a FMT if I have an expired FM3.
Does anyone have info on this subject?
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tehag
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FM3
Let my FM3 lapse once and got a regular visa. Went to immigration to renew the late FM3, and when they discovered that I had 2 forms of immigration
document in possession they made expensive threats; even had me read the penalty in their book: $5,000 US, and-or 6 months jail. I won't carry 2
again.
Certainty is the child of ignorance, knowledge is the mother of doubt. Question everything!
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meme
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They would not even give me the FMT when my FM-3 had expired! Said "No" since you have had the FM-3 you no longer can get an FMT. But same happened to
a friend & she just applied for FMT at a different office that did not recognize her. She got the FMT but did not carry the expired FM-3.
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vandenberg
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May have worked that time, but even Mexico has entered the computer age and, if detected, may become a costly issue.
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gnukid
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vandenberg
May have worked that time, but even Mexico has entered the computer age and, if detected, may become a costly issue. |
The question comes to mind, how does one end the obligations of an FM2 or FM3 visa? It is quite reasonable that one might want to end the Visa at
anytime one decides not to return to Mexico or even to end and begin a life as a tourist. Apparently this would require that you do so while also
leaving the country. So one would presumably have to be out of the country at the time you end the visa since one couldn't be in the country and do
it? Odd that it is so difficult and confusing.
This should be quite simple however the INM doesn't make it very easy.
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longlegsinlapaz
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Gnu, when my mother opted to go back to the states, she had to surrender her FM3 to Immigration a few days before her final exit & they gave her
a letter that was only good for a limited amount of time (3-5 days?). When she cleared Customs/Immigration her final trip out of the country, they
kept the letter like they do FMT's. She made one more flight down a few years later & entered on an FMT.
tjBill, there is a fine for late renewal of an FM3, and I believe it's progressive depending on how far beyond the renewal date you actually are.
Either way, you're not in the country legally at the moment. What others renters in T are doing isn't important....the law is! "But nobody else that
rents in TJ bothers to keep their FM3 current!" won't fly with Immigration if they decide to throw the book at you. I'd go talk with Immigration
before even thinking about trying to fly to Mexico City. Since you are in the country now, they're going to want proof you're here legally.
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toneart
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Remember that each immigration office in Mexico and each Mexican consulate office in the U.S. do not operate under the same standard when issuing your
first FM3. Renewals can only be accomplished inside Mexico. Know what is required before you go.
Don't even bother with getting an FM3 at a Mexican Consulate in the U.S. As reported here many times, you must go in and report your local address
within 10 days of arrival. There they most often tear them up and they make you apply all over again...and pay all over again. They want to initiate
the process and maintain total control over your residence status.
They all feign disgust if you let the FM3 expire. You will get a lecture and be fined. tjBill, you are already working under a handicap here.
It can be remedied by surrendering the expired FM3, paying a fine and then having them issue an FMT. Turn it in if you leave the country. Get another
FMT when you reenter. (If living in TJ, you may not have to bother with that step.) Then go to your local immigration office and apply for a brand new
FM3. Do this at a time of the year when you know you will always be there.
I know for a fact this can be done, but they had to suggest it. I struck the right balance of having a good excuse, calm conversation, showing respect
and conceding that I will have to pay a fine. How much fine is up to the individual officer. Do not even think of showing impatience, anger or
resentment! It would surely work against you.
Under no circumstances carry both an FMT and a FM3! Stay above board with immigration.
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Howard
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TJ Bill
I speak from 1st hand experience. Under no circumstances have both an FM3 and and FMT! I lost my FM 3 in the States and then drove to Loreto. I
thought I did the right thing by stopping at the immigration office just inside the border at TJ. I thought that I needed the FMT to drive down Baja
as if I was questioned along the way, I would have nothing, no FM3 or FMT and I thought that this could cause trouble.
When I got to the Immigration office in Loreto and told them what I had done, you would of thought that I tried to burn down the Mission along with
every Saint inside! His verbal lashing along with his facial expressions were priceless. Anyway, I was fined for having both a FMT and having (even
though it was lost), an expired FM3. Then he wanted a 3 weeks to get my FM3 and wanted an additional $20 or $25 for some kind of funky letter to get
me out of the country as I could not wait 3 weeks. I think the total fines were around $300 or $400.
Anyway, the moral of this message, do not ever have both, an FMT and an FM3 at the same time. (Or at least don’t tell him you have both)
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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bajabound2005
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you think Loreto was bad.....try Ensenada! Maybe BigMike will weigh in because they just went through it! I think that basically the fine is
equivalent to what you would have paid in fees for immigration...and then, of course, for someone to handle it for you. Then the $$ starts adding up!
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabound2005
Maybe BigMike will weigh in
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 ...uh..........OK. I wont say anything.
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bigmike
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Ignoring Dennis!!
We just had our penalty cut to 1644 pesos each, Originally we were told penalty could be $233 dollars each, our FM3 was expired a little over 6
months, if your over 6 months it gets more expensive.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bigmike
Ignoring Dennis!!
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bajabound2005
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabound2005
Maybe BigMike will weigh in
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...uh..........OK. I wont say anything. |
Fat chance of that.
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabound2005
Fat chance of that. |
It just keeps gettin' better.
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bajajudy
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I have never been asked for my visa when flying within Mexico. Has something changed. Maybe Tijuana is different.
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tjBill
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 10-6-2007
Location: Tijuana
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Thanks everyone for their input.
I went to the immigration office this morning. The official said if I 'used' to live in Mexico and my FM3 is expired then getting a FMT is no
problem.
Hopefully the immigration official at the Mexico City airport will hold the same view.
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Bajahowodd
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Judy, you have a point. But I don't believe that tjBill ever mentioned his point of origin for his flight to Mexico City. If he's flying from a US
airport, the airline will hand out the forms in flight and he'll be entering immigration at Mexico City. As was pointed out earlier, it wasn't long
ago that immigration at the airports merely looked at your form and stamped it. They are checking data bases now.
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