karenintx
Senior Nomad
Posts: 540
Registered: 3-16-2008
Location: CSL
Member Is Offline
Mood: Living The Dream
|
|
Answer to Hook's FM-2 Question
While picking up our FM-2s last week I was able to ask the INM agent a few questions. Here are the answers. This is from a CSL INM agent and as we
know things can be different in each city.
Q1. Does a person have to get a FM-2 or can they keep a FM-3 forever?
A1. They can keep a FM-3 forever.
Q2. How long before a person can go from a FM-3 to a FM-2?
A2. Five years.
Q3. Can a person drive a US plated car when they have a FM-2?
A3. As far as INM is concerned yes. The agent did say his understanding was a person is required to have a USA driver's license when driving a US
plated car but INM does not monitor traffic laws, the police do.
Q4. How long does a person have to hold a FM-2 before going to "Immigrato"?
A4. Five years, but you can only be out of the country one and half years (1 1/2) in a five year period. He made sure I understood the time is
accumulated over five years.
Q5. What happens if a person is out of the country for more the 1 1/2 years in the five year time period? Do they go back to an FM-3?
A5. Nothing happens. You would stay with a FM-2 however you can not go forward to Immigrato or citizenship until you have fulfilled the time in
county that is required.
On Q4...I had asked a different agent the same question when we dropped off our paperwork for renewal. He told me "you can only be out of the country
365 days in a five year period." So, in the same INM office two agents had two different answers.
What I forgot to ask the INM agent was "if a person has a Fideicomiso does that make it easier to get to Immigrate, Immigrato or citizenship faster?"
Since this is an election year I am sure there will be changes so...who knows what the real answers are! For us we will wait until next June for our
renewals then see what INM tells us. It could be something totally different...you think?
[Edited on 6-21-2012 by karenintx]
|
|
|
larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1499
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
Member Is Offline
|
|
Q2 is not what I experienced. I had an fm 3 for 1 year and with my Fideo I was able to get an fm2 the next year.
Larry
|
|
|
elizabeth
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 7-30-2004
Location: Loreto, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
Because I have permanently moved here...to Loreto...I changed my FM3 to FM2 without waiting 5 years or even waiting for the annual renewal date of my
FM3. And I did check about time out of the country, not only by asking, but by reading the regulation...it is 18 months.
Some, or maybe all of this may change when enabling legislation happens to conform to the new immigration regulations.
|
|
|
Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
|
|
Yeah, I know two people over here who got an FM-2 after only 1 year with an Fm-3. The law on this changed about 2 years ago, as I recall.
And, as I mentioned more recently, they are definitely counting the number of FM-3 renewals over here. No more than four or you are forced to go FM-2,
OR.........................you can do the Mexican "workaround".
You can let your FM-3 expire, leave the country and re-enter on an FMT. And then, while possessing an FMT, you can supposedly REAPPLY FOR AN FM-3 AND
GET THE FULL FIVE YEARS AGAIN!!! That would be your first year of FM-3 and four renewals.
You cant make this stuff up.
Of course a new set of INM rules are supposed to be released this year. Actually, they were supposed to be released by the end of last
year............so it's right on time. 
It's just crazy that a prominent federal agency like INM would educate their field offices so poorly that there are literally as many interpretations
as their are offices.
|
|
|
CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by elizabeth
Because I have permanently moved here...to Loreto...I changed my FM3 to FM2 without waiting 5 years or even waiting for the annual renewal date of my
FM3. And I did check about time out of the country, not only by asking, but by reading the regulation...it is 18 months.
Some, or maybe all of this may change when enabling legislation happens to conform to the new immigration regulations. |
legally it is 5 years, however, all things are possible in Mexico
|
|
|
marv sherrill
Nomad
Posts: 464
Registered: 11-18-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
How in the world would any one know if you were, or were not out of the country for over 365 days in 5 years, or 18 months , or what ever? I've got
my FM2 now and this is my last year - no one has asked about any term of residence ever. This is quite confusing.....
|
|
|
woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
|
|
like everything in Mexico Marv, it's up to the guy across the counter to decide....
[Edited on 6-22-2012 by woody with a view]
|
|
|
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 marv sherrill
How in the world would any one know if you were, or were not out of the country for over 365 days in 5 years, or 18 months , or what ever? I've got
my FM2 now and this is my last year - no one has asked about any term of residence ever. This is quite confusing..... |
A case of don't ask, don't tell...............
|
|
|
rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6700
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by marv sherrill
How in the world would any one know if you were, or were not out of the country for over 365 days in 5 years, or 18 months , or what ever? I've got
my FM2 now and this is my last year - no one has asked about any term of residence ever. This is quite confusing..... |
If you apply for permanent residency they check all your paperwork in Mexico city to see that you complied with the rules.
Your passport may indicate if you left the country or not if you had it stamped anywhere.
|
|
|
bajalinda
Senior Nomad
Posts: 552
Registered: 6-7-2008
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
I had a pleasant surprise today when I picked up my FM-2 at the INM office in La Paz. Along with the FM-2 card, I was also given a CURP. That saves
me a trip to another office to get the CURP.
|
|
|
oxxo
Banned
Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
Member Is Offline
Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalinda
I had a pleasant surprise today when I picked up my FM-2 at the INM office in La Paz. Along with the FM-2 card, I was also given a CURP. That saves
me a trip to another office to get the CURP. |
Yes, I got a CURP with my FM-2 also. But when is a CURP a CURP? When I applied for my Senior Card last March, I was told that the CURP designation
on my FM-2 was not sufficient. They wanted a "hard copy" of my CURP in order to process my Senior Card. So I got the hard copy of my CURP and my
Senior Card was processed. There is no cost for the hard copy, it just requires some running around. It ain't over till it's over!
[Edited on 6-23-2012 by oxxo]
|
|
|
bajasuzie
Junior Nomad
Posts: 47
Registered: 8-19-2007
Location: San Jose del cabo
Member Is Offline
Mood: 
|
|
Karenintx..
Would you recommend obtaining a FM2 or renewing one at the immigration office in csl? Was it an easy process? Everyone I talk to hires someone else to
do to. Why?
|
|
|
oxxo
Banned
Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
Member Is Offline
Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajasuzie
Karenintx..
Would you recommend obtaining a FM2 or renewing one at the immigration office in csl? Was it an easy process? Everyone I talk to hires someone else to
do to. Why? |
I used an "expediter" to process my FM-2 in CSL. He is a manager at the IMN office in CSL. He charged me US$150 for processing which I think was
well worth it. It is nice to have an advocate in high places. He made the whole process very easy and relatively quick. If you want more
information, send me a U2U.
|
|
|
Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1663
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
Member Is Offline
|
|
Edilia in Loreto charges 800 pesos per person for the service for FM3 or FM2's.
|
|
|
bajalinda
Senior Nomad
Posts: 552
Registered: 6-7-2008
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks for the heads-up Oxxo. But I think I did get a hard copy of the CURP. Along with the CURP number on the FM-2, I also received a separate hard
copy card that can be laminated. I guess I'll find out if it's official enough when I go to get my senior card.
Bajasuzie - as far as using an agent is concerned, I used one in La Paz for the first couple of years that I was here and that was helpful in getting
to know how the system works. If you live far away from an INM office, using an agent saves you a lot of time and hassle going back and forth to the
INM office. An agent will also know the special vocab you need to use - whether you need a refrendo, a prorroga, or whatever.
For me, I decided to just do it on my own because I got tired of requesting photocopies and never getting them from the agent , waiting (I thought)
too long from the time I turned in all my paperwork to her til I heard back on what was happening. Maybe I didn't have the greatest agent, but I
found that it was easier for me to do it myself.
The hardest part is the formal request letter and once you have a sample copy of that, you fill in your personal info, save a copy, and all you have
to do is change the date on it for the next year and print it out. It takes only a couple of minutes.
If you're worried and unsure, then hire an agent at least for the first time. I imagine people where you are can recommend a good agent.
|
|
|
bacquito
Super Nomad
Posts: 1615
Registered: 3-6-2007
Member Is Offline
Mood: jubilado
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by oxxo
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalinda
I had a pleasant surprise today when I picked up my FM-2 at the INM office in La Paz. Along with the FM-2 card, I was also given a CURP. That saves
me a trip to another office to get the CURP. |
Yes, I got a CURP with my FM-2 also. But when is a CURP a CURP? When I applied for my Senior Card last March, I was told that the CURP designation
on my FM-2 was not sufficient. They wanted a "hard copy" of my CURP in order to process my Senior Card. So I got the hard copy of my CURP and my
Senior Card was processed. There is no cost for the hard copy, it just requires some running around. It ain't over till it's ove:
How did you get a "hard copy"?
Thanks for any help
[Edited on 6-23-2012 by oxxo] |
[Edited on 6-23-2012 by bacquito]
bacquito
|
|
|
karenintx
Senior Nomad
Posts: 540
Registered: 3-16-2008
Location: CSL
Member Is Offline
Mood: Living The Dream
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajasuzie
Karenintx..
Would you recommend obtaining a FM2 or renewing one at the immigration office in csl? Was it an easy process? Everyone I talk to hires someone else to
do to. Why? |
The only time we hired an agent to process a FM was our first one...everybody told us we had to have an agent. Yes, we were rookies and believed
people. We quickly learned that is not true so one year later we did the renewal ourselves and have done it that way since.
I speak from our experience only. We have never ran into any problems with any of the CSL INM agents. They all have been helpful and willing to
explain what we need to do.
This year we upgraded to a FM-2 so we stopped by the INM office one day just to ask questions. The agent spoke very good English. He gave us a piece
of paper (a checklist) that he then check the boxes of what we needed to bring back to the INM office. The usual things...copy of USA passport &
FM-3, last three months of bank statement, etc. He also gave us the letter written in Spanish that all we had to do was sign. Then he gave us the
paper to take to the bank to make our payment. We asked him "Does this payment have to be on the same day we bring back our paperwork or can we do it
any day?" His answer was "Any day, just do it before coming back."
A few days later we had all of our things together and made our trip to INM to turn in our paperwork. We were told it would take 14 days to process
but do our schedule we didn't go pick up our FM-2s for three weeks.
I have helped "rookies" do their FM-3s and they have had no problems. When I say I have helped that means I give them a list of what they need to
have and talk them through the process...I do not go to INM with them, I do not do it for them and I DO NOT CHARGE THEM. So far no one has had a
problem. One friend saved $300 USD by doing hers and her husbands FM-3...she was very thankful for my help.
We have learned the best time to go to CSL INM office is around 11:30 am. Everybody, including the coyote agents people hire, all show up at 9:00 am.
Guarantee you will have to sit and wait. Usually by 11:30 most people are starting to cleared out.
If you have the time and want to save money then go for it...do it yourself. We figure we live here and we want to be self sufficient...but that's
just us.
Question to you. Are you using a different INM office now? If so I was under the impression you had to stay with the INM office you started with,
not go to any INM office for renewals. But I am not an expert on that, maybe some else would know.
Hope you find this helpful.
Edit to add - Total time spent preparing our paperwork and trips to INM...maybe 3 hours. That is $100 USD per hour...not bad wages if your are the
person collecting the $$$.
[Edited on 6-23-2012 by karenintx]
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
