seaweedsl
Mar 1, 2011, 1:38 PM
Post #4 of 4
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Re: [Camille] Car permit expired in Mexico
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What kind of immigration document does your friend have?
This is important. It seems that with a tourist (FMT/FMM) visa one's import permission expires as it does, UNLESS one gets an FM3 before expiration.
If one can keep their immigration status current, that is, never expired, then the car is still legal. That much is clear. If you had an FM3 when you left and it did not expire while gone, then the car is legal as long as the FM3 or any upgrade to it is.
A gray zone would be my case. I was out of the country when my FM3 expired, though it's 60 day (or is it longer?) grace period had not expired. I didn't know that, so I came in on an FMT. Upon arrival, I took out an FM3 again. My car has been here the whole time. I suppose that when and if I ever return my car to the border, then I could have trouble if checked against my immigration records.
Reality is that they don't seem to care in practice. Return the car and you're good. Driving it around, whether you are perfectly legal or not, the transitos can have their way with you when they want, using expired dates on the sticker/papers as an excuse, even though one's FM3 (for example) is current. The chances of running into somebody who is actually authorized to enforce the laws of the aduana are slim, but then the law is a very thin construct in Mexico and most people get away with murder (literally), while others get nailed doing it all right.
So, two easy paths
Get the suggested return permit and drive it back
Get an FM3 again and continue to drive it around. It may be different where you are, but in Oaxaca, it's all the same, legal or not, after the expiration of the initial 6 months shown on the papers.
there are other options, but those are the easiest.
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