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Gabrielle

Nov 4, 2011, 11:59 PM

Post #1 of 7 (1408 views)

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Help. Moving to Mexico for a year.

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Greetings everyone!

My name is Gabrielle, I'm from Mexico and I came across this forum while looking for information on the requirements for US citizens to live in Mexico for more than 6 months (one year, to be more specific). My situation is as follows:

My fiance wants to come to Mexico to live with me for a year, before going to college (in the US), but we're not sure what type of Visa he would need to/if he can do so. His plan is to save up enough money to pay for his expenses during his stay here, so working in Mexico is not in the plan. We've read about the FMM Visa, which allows him to stay for 180 days and that it is renewable, and we think that's the one he would need, but we're not quite sure about this. All the information provided by both Mexico's and the US' embassy is either confusing (they keep referring us to each other's sites), too complicated or plain useless.

We were also wondering if applying for a Student Visa would be a better option, but we can't find any information on what kind of school/institution he would have to enroll in to be a candidate for this kind of Visa. Maybe he can apply for the Visa on the grounds that he's coming to study Spanish?

We have many doubts and questions so, if any of you could give us some insight, opinions or refer us to a site with the kind of information we need, we would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you and have a nice day!

RickS

Nov 5, 2011, 6:56 AM

Post #2 of 7 (1392 views)

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Re: [Gabrielle] Help. Moving to Mexico for a year.

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Gabrielle,

The tourist visa used to be called FMT but is now FMM. You are correct that it is for 180 days but it is NOT renewable. In order for you friend to stay pass the 180 days, he would have to exit the country, turning in his FMM, and then reenter for another FMM and 180 days.

I am not knowledgeable about any possible student visa that may be an alternative for him.

You may want to look at informative website for further clarification: http://rollybrook.com/Page%20Directory.htm#Useful
Look down the right hand side for mucho info about moving/living in Mexico.

YucaLandia

Nov 5, 2011, 7:04 AM

Post #3 of 7 (1389 views)

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Re: [Gabrielle] Help. Moving to Mexico for a year.

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The rules on Student Visas might be a bit up in the air right now, since we have a new INM law in place since May, 2011, but the gobierno has not begun enforcing the requirements of the new law yet.

Some regional INM offices are reporting that the new INM law's regulations will be published this month and that they will take effect Jan. 1, 2012. Other INM offiices are reporting that the new law's requirements will not take effect until as late at 2013 (difficult for me to believe).

Since you are Mexican, I would read the Visitante y Estudiante sections of the new INM law to determine for yourself what basic requirements currently exist; then read the new upcoming Regulations when they are issued for the specifics of how the new law should be applied; and then contact your local INM office to find out the specific details & policies of how they will apply the new law.

You can find a description of the major characteristics of the new INM law and links to the text of the law at:
http://yucalandia.wordpress.com/...-mexico-the-article/
steve
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Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

joaquinx

Nov 5, 2011, 7:14 AM

Post #4 of 7 (1381 views)

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Re: [Gabrielle] Help. Moving to Mexico for a year.

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Quote

We were also wondering if applying for a Student Visa would be a better option, but we can't find any information on what kind of school/institution he would have to enroll in to be a candidate for this kind of Visa. Maybe he can apply for the Visa on the grounds that he's coming to study Spanish?

Many state universities offer Spanish courses for foreigners. The Student Visa is processed after your friend enrolls in a course where a final grade is given. The university has offices that aid the student in obtaining a Student Visa.
_______
My desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane.

Gabrielle

Nov 5, 2011, 2:47 PM

Post #5 of 7 (1304 views)

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Re: [RickS] Help. Moving to Mexico for a year.

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Thank you all for your replies, they have all been very helpful.

@RickS: I looked around the website you linked me to, and eventually I came across this page: http://rollybrook.com/...o_move_to_mexico.htm
From what I can tell, it states that my fiance does not actually have to leave the country after turning in his FMM, but can turn it in at the border and pay the fee to get a new one there. My question is: Can this be done at any immigration office in Mexico, or does it have to be at the border (since I live in the Federal District and I don’t want my fiance to have to travel all the way to the border, if possible, because it’s so dangerous), and what is the process for turning in and obtaining a FMM visa?

@YucaLandia: Thank you for the link to new INM law, it has been really useful.

(This post was edited by Gabrielle on Nov 5, 2011, 3:21 PM)

RickS

Nov 5, 2011, 4:08 PM

Post #6 of 7 (1280 views)

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Re: [Gabrielle] Help. Moving to Mexico for a year.

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No, sorry, but the holder of an FMM 180-day tourist permit (it is not really a visa) must return to the border and turn in the expiring FMM. This can be any Mexican border so one could go to the border of Belize or Guatemala but that may not be feasible or desirable for you.

As far as the process, it is pretty simple. At any border crossing, go to the Aduana office where one got/gets an FMM and surrender the original paperwork. (This is important even if the holder has no plans to 're-enter'.) And you are right, this does not mean one actually has to physically leave Mexico and enter the US since these offices are within Mexico. Then go through the process for another FMM, at that same place, just like one did for the original FMM. There has 'always' been a rumor that one can only have 1 FMM per year but has been rebuked more than once. However, since not all officials know their own rules, one might want to wait for a 'shift change' at the Aduana before applying for the second FMM. This is not necessarily a requirement but maybe just a wise thing to do in a land where many rules seem to be applied differently, and often erroneously, at different offices.

(This post was edited by RickS on Nov 5, 2011, 4:11 PM)

Gabrielle

Nov 8, 2011, 5:23 PM

Post #7 of 7 (1143 views)

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Re: [RickS] Help. Moving to Mexico for a year.

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Thank you again for the info! It has been very helpful to both of us, and I think that's all that we need to know.