Forums > Areas > Southern Mexico

ksplitt

Aug 23, 2010, 6:50 AM

Post #1 of 11 (4556 views)

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LIVE IN OAXACA?

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i am a 64 year old retired single american male thinking about living in oaxaca. i lived in PV and Loreto from '99 to 2001. i have wandered the world, lived many places since i was a kid.

my criteria for living anywhere is usually based upon; inexpensive furnished apartment rentals, liberal tourist visa requirements, easy extension of visa/re-entry requirements.

the rules at the present time: a tourist visa is valid for up to 180 days. is that a TOTAL of 180 within a calendar year? OR...can i get chopped at an immigration office for an extension of another 180 days? OR...do i have to leave the country?

i receive $605/mo. SS and to supplement that, living in florida, i need to use my investments which i hate doing. i live here on $1,300/mo. and could accept doing $1,000/mo. elsewhere.

i don't see a 'retiree visa'/'tourist pensioner visa' as being much good for me. seems to be in mexico the same rules as in most of central america...right?

the furnished apartment situation seems VERY good in oaxaca, as i saw on Craigslist.

you may email me privately too at; ksplitt99@yahoo.com. your advise is appreciated, kurt

mcm

Aug 23, 2010, 10:32 AM

Post #2 of 11 (4523 views)

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Re: [ksplitt] LIVE IN OAXACA?

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1) If you are in Mexico on a tourist visa (FMM), you will have to leave the country when the visa expires (temporary extensions MAY be available in an emergency situation, but this is up to the local IMN office). If you plan to stay in Mexico for more than 180 days at a time, an FM-3 rentista visa is really your only option (or an FM-2, but the income requirements are somewhat higher).

2) I'm not sure what you mean by a pensioner visa not being any good for you, or by the rules being the same as other places in Central America.
There are income levels that must be meant to qualify for an FM-3 (non-inmigrado) rentista (income from outside the country) visa. While more than your $605 SS income (I think it is currently about USD$ 1400/month -- it is tied to the minimum daily wage in DF, and has been discussed extensively on this forum), you could probably qualify by showing statements from your investment account.
Keep in mind that traveling back and forth out of the country twice a year could end up costing you more than you can comfortably afford.

3) Here is a blog of an expat woman who currently lives, fairly frugally, in Oaxaca:
Woman Retired in Mexico

Good luck!

ksplitt

Aug 23, 2010, 11:13 AM

Post #3 of 11 (4517 views)

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Re: [mcm] LIVE IN OAXACA?

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reply to 1) so re-entry with an extension from say, guatemala on an FMM after initial 180 days is NOT a given? am under the impression from others that it is done all the time...incorrect?

2) 'tourist pensioner visa' in CR/panama requires (as i understand it), min. of $1,000/mo. 'fixed income'. supplemental income from non-fixed sources do NOT apply. they CAN however apply, IF rolled into an annuity with the 'aid' of lawyers...LMAO!

FM-3 '....you could probably qualify by showing statements from your investment account.' but this is not known for sure, is it? what criteria is used and where to go to research? thank you!

Casa

Aug 23, 2010, 12:37 PM

Post #4 of 11 (4501 views)

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Re: [ksplitt] LIVE IN OAXACA?

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www.inm.gob.mx is the Mexican immigration website.

Things in Mexico are not usually written in stone and you will need a certain amount of flexibility. Different immigration offices interpret laws a little bit differently within Mexico. Getting many different answers to the same question is not unusually here.

So the only “given” is that there is no given (helps keep things interesting)

mcm

Aug 23, 2010, 1:29 PM

Post #5 of 11 (4490 views)

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Re: [ksplitt] LIVE IN OAXACA?

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1) -- Yes, in the past people have used "tourist" visas to live in Mexico, with six-month trips across the border and back. However, INM now is computerized, and seem to be making an effort to more consistently enforce regulations, so I don't think one can assume that this would continue -- after all, it is circumventing the purpose of the regulation, so it makes sense that at some point there could be a "crackdown". It's probably fine for the short term, but as a long-term strategy for staying in Mexico, maybe not.

2) As Casa indicated in the post above, regulations have been interpreted differently in different offices. In my case, in Merida Yucatan, I've been using statements from a Mexican investment company (Actinver/Lloyd -- formerly Lloyd) for many years -- the total investment is around what the yearly requirement is. I keep that money in that account as "emergency" funds, and also to satisfy INM, but actually use other funds to live on. Others in Yucatan have used statements from US investment accounts to meet the solvency requirement for the FM-3 rentista, but policies/practices change from year to year (as the heads of the INM office in each city change, for example), and may be different in different offices.

Sounds like your best bet is to come to Oaxaca for six months, on a tourist visa, and check things out. Talk to INM in Oaxaca, or to other expats in Oaxaca, or to a lawyer in Oaxaca who specializes in immigration services.

ksplitt

Aug 24, 2010, 4:32 AM

Post #6 of 11 (4449 views)

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Re: [mcm] LIVE IN OAXACA?

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thank you casa and mcm! i read all about FM-3 visas. yes...i also think the 6-month tourist visa is the right thing.

question....so i do that and when that expires, then what? CAN i go out of MX and get another 180 days on my FFM? OR...do i, within that first 6 month period, have to apply for the FM-3?

can i apply for the FM-3 during the time period allowed on the tourist extension?

also....is it a bus one takes to the guatemala border? is there a period of time you have to stay out or is it a chop (like thailand), and back on the bus?

i still have a Q about the money situation, will ask later. thanks

Rolly

Aug 24, 2010, 7:21 AM

Post #7 of 11 (4429 views)

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Re: [ksplitt] LIVE IN OAXACA?

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You can have back-to-back FMMs. You can only get an FMM at a land border crossing.
The amount of time before you can get a new FMM depends upon the local rules.
It varies from immediately to 72 hours.
There is a myth that one can have only one per year. That is just not true.

You can apply for an FM3 (now called No Inmigrante) at any time while you have an FMM.

I suggest you read here for more details.

Rolly Pirate

ksplitt

Aug 24, 2010, 1:09 PM

Post #8 of 11 (4398 views)

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Re: [Rolly] LIVE IN OAXACA?

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thanks rolly. bang-on, succinct info.! read your book, very complete info. down to the smallest details, very intuitive.

question: i know you don't live in oaxaca, but do you happen to know what the financial req. from the immigration office there might be; might it be less than the apx. $1,200/mo.? each office seems to interpret that amount from a local perspective.

Rolly

Aug 24, 2010, 1:28 PM

Post #9 of 11 (4395 views)

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Re: [ksplitt] LIVE IN OAXACA?

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"...might it be less than the apx. $1,200/mo.? each office seems to interpret that amount from a local perspective."

That used to be common among the consulates, but the local INM offices are more likely to stick to the official rules, especially now that the system has been overhauled. I wouldn't count on being able to get by on a smaller income.

In regard to my book: It came out before the new INM procedures went into effect. My website should be used as an update on the INM procedures.

Rolly Pirate

ksplitt

Aug 24, 2010, 1:46 PM

Post #10 of 11 (4388 views)

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Re: [Rolly] LIVE IN OAXACA?

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read it and thanks for your info.

Casa

Aug 24, 2010, 1:56 PM

Post #11 of 11 (4386 views)

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Re: [ksplitt] LIVE IN OAXACA?

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One thing you will learn about Mexico is that “Your only restriction is your creativity”.

They are lots of different mechanisms I have heard that people use to show that that they meet the income requirement.

I have heard that some people use investment statements or even 401K statements even though they do not or cannot use their 401K monies at this time.

I have heard that some people show income from their current job or get a job in Mexico that pays lower than the current income requirement. (call center rep, English teacher etc)

I have even heard of some people depositing and withdrawing the same $1200 USD every month to show the monthly income requirement.

Of course your mileage (and experience) may vary .......

(This post was edited by Casa on Aug 24, 2010, 1:58 PM)