Forums > General > Living, Working, Retiring

expatsinmexico

Jul 25, 2011, 11:01 AM

Post #1 of 23 (5273 views)

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NEW FM3 Rules

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We were told in Ajijic in January that it is a waste of time and money to apply for your FM3 stateside because once you get to the Guadalajara office they will start you all over again. So we were set to apply after arriving on a tourist visa. Now, I have seen a couple of comments that allude to the fact that with the new immigration law you can only apply outside the country. Can someone clear this up for us. We have just sold our house and are planning on heading down March 28th from Washington State.

(This post was edited by bound4ajijic on Jul 25, 2011, 11:02 AM)

Rolly

Jul 25, 2011, 11:48 AM

Post #2 of 23 (5257 views)

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Re: [bound4ajijic] NEW FM3 Rules

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If you are coming next March, you will be under the new rules which will require you to get your visas at the Mexican Consulate in Seattle. If you come before the new rules go into effect, you can get the visa in México. The exact date for the change of rules has not been announced, but it will be before the end of this year.

Rolly Pirate

expatsinmexico

Jul 25, 2011, 1:32 PM

Post #3 of 23 (5231 views)

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Re: [Rolly] NEW FM3 Rules

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So if we enter Mexico next year on a tourist visa we will be required to return to Seattle for a month or so to get a new (whatever replaces FM3) visa?

(This post was edited by bound4ajijic on Jul 25, 2011, 1:33 PM)

Rolly

Jul 25, 2011, 1:58 PM

Post #4 of 23 (5220 views)

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Re: [bound4ajijic] NEW FM3 Rules

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Yes, I don't know where you got the month part, but you cannot get the new visa in México.
Why not get it befoe you come down?

Rolly Pirate

expatsinmexico

Jul 25, 2011, 2:40 PM

Post #5 of 23 (5208 views)

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Re: [Rolly] NEW FM3 Rules

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Have been told it is more costly, police checks & medical papers required. One month is time to get VISA.

tashby

Jul 25, 2011, 3:29 PM

Post #6 of 23 (5194 views)

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Re: [bound4ajijic] NEW FM3 Rules

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You have time to wait and see what's up when the new rules get implemented. (For some reason I have November in my head?) Then you'll know how to proceed.

When I got my (then) FM3 at the Seattle Consulate almost four years ago, it was easy and not expensive, as far as I recall. The police check thing is also easy....you go to the Washington State website and run your own check under your name. A small fee is all that you pay by credit card. You run your own computerized check, print it out, then you fax it to their office and they send out a letter to you on their stationary. No big deal.

No idea what you mean my the medical stuff.

Rolly

Jul 25, 2011, 4:20 PM

Post #7 of 23 (5175 views)

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Re: [bound4ajijic] NEW FM3 Rules

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I am beginning to think you have been given some bad advice by someone who doesn't know the facts.
You may find it helpful to read here.

Rolly Pirate

expatsinmexico

Jul 25, 2011, 4:54 PM

Post #8 of 23 (5160 views)

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Re: [tashby] NEW FM3 Rules

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What can the police record say to be rejected. I have a mior assault (Bar Fight) arrest in 1993...Will that keep me from getting a visa in the states? No felonies, no Gross Misdemeaners, no misdemeanors just the one unclassified charge. Any one know.

La Isla

Jul 25, 2011, 6:48 PM

Post #9 of 23 (5136 views)

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Re: [bound4ajijic] NEW FM3 Rules

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I'm confused about the need to get a police check When I applied for my FM3 in Mexico City in 2007, there was no need to get this kind of clearance. Is it something required only when you apply for a visa back in your home country?

Rolly

Jul 25, 2011, 8:06 PM

Post #10 of 23 (5117 views)

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Re: [La Isla] NEW FM3 Rules

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Police checks are required if you apply in your home country; they are not required in México.
These checks are for major felony things, not bar room fights or other minor things.

Rolly Pirate

La Isla

Jul 25, 2011, 8:26 PM

Post #11 of 23 (5109 views)

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Re: [Rolly] NEW FM3 Rules

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Thanks for the clarification, Rolly.

expatsinmexico

Jul 26, 2011, 10:59 AM

Post #12 of 23 (5043 views)

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Re: [Rolly] NEW FM3 Rules

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Thanks for the info. I tried to navigate the website at the Seattle Consulate and didn't make much headway. Applying in Mexico seemed so much easier since we could just hire someone to facilitate the process for a fairly reasonable cost. But, for an application in the States the help I find online keeps pointing you to immigration attorneys. And I'd rather take a beatin than work with a U.S. attorney LOL. Is there a site that simply explains the process of applying in the states with the new rules? I was trying to find the rule requiring us to apply in the states next year but, with my minimal spanish I have not been able to find it. Do you have a link to it so that I could pass the information on to our advisors in Ajijic. Our advisors in Ajijic are still telling us not to apply in the states even next year.

(This post was edited by bound4ajijic on Jul 26, 2011, 11:01 AM)

CanuckBob

Jul 26, 2011, 11:43 AM

Post #13 of 23 (5022 views)

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Re: [bound4ajijic] NEW FM3 Rules

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We are also moving down to the Lake from Vancouver, BC at the end of Mar. 2012. With the new rules we plan on applying for our FM3's at the consulate in Vancouver prior to departure. Here is what the consulate website says the requirements are:

RETIREMENT IN MEXICO
(NON IMMIGRANT “VISITANTE-RENTISTA” VISA)
Foreigners wishing to retire in Mexico, or live on funds brought from abroad, must apply for a special visa called “No inmigrante Visitante-Rentista”.
Current Mexican Immigration Law states that this is applicable for those foreigners who wish to reside temporarily or permanently in Mexico as pensioners and live on funds or pensions brought from abroad. Such persons are not permitted to engage in any remunerative activity in Mexico. A foreigner meeting the requirements listed below may acquire retiree status for a year and must be renewed on a yearly basis in Mexico. After five years, the individual may apply for permanent resident status as an immigrant.
Canadian applicants are required to submit the following:
- Completed application form
- Valid passport (for at least one year).
- One recent front-view passport size photo (3.5 X 4.5 cm. no eye glasses, color, white background).
- Proof of financial resources. Income must be equivalent to US$1,000.00 per month, per applicant, plus US$500.00 per dependent, (letter from bank or financial advisor stating the monthly income or pension plan).
- Consular fee at the time of application.

The non-immigrant visa Visitante-Rentista permits the following:
· Multiple entries for duration of the visa.
· A renewal is granted by the Ministry of the Interior (Secretaría de Gobernación) and must be applied at any immigration office while in Mexico. The Visitante-Rentista visa must expire before a renewal is requested.
· Household goods may be imported temporarily into Mexico duty free after obtaining a permit at the Consulate. (Please refer to the instructions on “Household effects certificate for foreigners”).
· The Consular fee in Canadian funds can be paid in cash, company’s cheque or money order payable to the Consulate General of Mexico, no debit or credit card available.
It is emphasized that this visa does not allow employment or any lucrative activities in Mexico.

Under the recently reforms to the process, this Consulate will be issuing a consular visa, good for one entry and an official receipt of the payment, the applicant will have to refer to the Immigration Office in Mexico (Instituto Nacional de Migración) within 30 days of the entry into Mexico to get the No Inmigrante Visitante Rentista Card.

Bob
Inside Lakeside
http://www.insidelakeside.com

Rolly

Jul 26, 2011, 12:02 PM

Post #14 of 23 (5016 views)

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Re: [CanuckBob] NEW FM3 Rules

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That quote from the Canadian consulate refers to the rules in effect now. (and it slightly screws them up.)
It does not reflect the rules yet to come under the new law.
There is an excellent explanation of the new law here.

Rolly Pirate

CanuckBob

Jul 26, 2011, 12:37 PM

Post #15 of 23 (5007 views)

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Re: [Rolly] NEW FM3 Rules

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Thanks Rolly. Hopefully they have them right when we apply in January.

Bob
Inside Lakeside
http://www.insidelakeside.com

tashby

Jul 26, 2011, 3:06 PM

Post #16 of 23 (4979 views)

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Re: [bound4ajijic] NEW FM3 Rules

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You're wasting your time trying to figure out a process that is currently in the process of changing. You have time to let things shake out.....so let them shake out.

And as far as how the system works at the Consulate in Seattle, unless things have changed dramatically since I got my FM-3 there almost 3 1/2 years ago, you can forget about getting information from their website, or for that matter, over the phone.

Back then, you needed to go to their office to get the application, along with a list of the other documents you needed to bring back with you to submit with your application. Once I submitted my paperwork, my visa was ready in just a couple of days.

It was easy. A good early lesson for living in Mexico: Don't make things more difficult than they need to be.

(This post was edited by tashby on Jul 26, 2011, 3:10 PM)

expatsinmexico

Jul 26, 2011, 4:36 PM

Post #17 of 23 (4955 views)

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Re: [tashby] NEW FM3 Rules

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Thanks for the info. I think if we have all they require in Mexico now plus more, we stand a better chance of getting it done with one trip since we are about an hour and a half away from the consulate. But we don't really care if we have to return. Sounds like things may or may not shake out by the end of march. Just would like to make our flight reservations etc. before the last minute. We have done all of our apostiles and hope that will suffice since it took us almosta month to put those together.

(This post was edited by bound4ajijic on Jul 26, 2011, 4:39 PM)

expatsinmexico

Jul 26, 2011, 4:45 PM

Post #18 of 23 (4949 views)

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Re: [Rolly] NEW FM3 Rules

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I have one more question regarding immigration. What I am reading about the new law seems to say that if you wanted to start a business in mexico later you would have to return to a stateside consulate and apply. Do you have any information on that. We are thinking of starting a real estate photography and home staging business in the Chapala area.

Rolly

Jul 26, 2011, 7:22 PM

Post #19 of 23 (4918 views)

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Re: [bound4ajijic] NEW FM3 Rules

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No one knows the details because the final rules are still being written.

Rolly Pirate

expatsinmexico

Jul 28, 2011, 8:12 AM

Post #20 of 23 (4809 views)

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Re: [Rolly] NEW FM3 Rules

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Thanks for the info.....I guess the message is that it is all still vague and that no one really knows exactly what we are going to be faced with.

Is there anyone on this forum that has applied in Seattle recently that can give me some details as to what they were required to provide, when is a good time to go, were there communications problems, did some documents have to be translated before going etc?

(This post was edited by bound4ajijic on Jul 28, 2011, 8:14 AM)

mazbook1

Jul 28, 2011, 5:22 PM

Post #21 of 23 (4723 views)

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Re: [bound4ajijic] NEW FM3 Rules

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No one can give you any CORRECT advice, since ALL the rules will (or are likely to) change before you go to the Seattle consulate to apply for your visa. The new law is completely different from the current law. We'll only know once the rules are written and promulgated sometime this fall or winter.

chinagringo

Jul 28, 2011, 6:12 PM

Post #22 of 23 (4713 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] NEW FM3 Rules

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And then if they are applied equally or consistently at all INM offices or Mexican Consulates, it will be an absolute first!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

mazbook1

Jul 28, 2011, 6:51 PM

Post #23 of 23 (4702 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] NEW FM3 Rules

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You got that right, chinagringo!