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bryngerta

May 28, 2003, 4:19 PM

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Does Student VISA require a menaje de casa??????

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I am going to be a student living in Mexico starting this July and I am not sure that the Consulate here in Houston is giving me the best answer re: what type of VISA I need. I told the Consulate in Houston that I would be attending the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara for school and he told me that I would need the student VISA (free, by the way, he said) and NOT an FM3 VISA, which is what I was originally thinking I would be applying for... I am thoroughly confused today! Here is my situation: I am driving down with my household goods, albeit very few of them. Most items I will purchase when I move down there. However, no matter how you slice it, I am still going to be a tad bit conspicuous trying to cross the border looking like I am not there for a lengthy stay. I will be travelling with clothing and some very minor household goods, but it will include a small stereo and DVD player to be specific ( apparently electronics pose a problem sometimes) . So, my question is this: Can I get by the border without a menaje de casa if I have a student VISA since I have been instructed to get that one by the Consulate instead of the FM3, or do I still need to fill one of those forms out for the household goods, pay the $136 fee, fill out the inventory sheet of household goods in Spanish and slide right on through the border.... OR can I use the student VISA and explain at the border why I have so many things in my car without filling out the menaje de casa??????? I hope this is not an ignorant question (are any of them truly ignorant?) but I want to make this as smooth a transition as possible for me and my Great Dane to Guadalajara! Thank you

jennifer rose

May 28, 2003, 6:57 PM

Post #2 of 4 (741 views)

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Re: [bryngerta] Does Student VISA require a menaje de casa??????

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If you want that one-time opportunity to temporarily import, duty-free, your household goods and personal effects, you’ll need the FM-3 and the menaje de casa. You can still study under the FM-3. The FM-3 and the menaje de casa will cost you.

The officials working at the aduana will not be persuaded by “what the Consulate said.”

Review what items can be brought in duty-free by going to this link: http://www.mexconnected.com/mex_/whatstuff.html

Review also http://www.paisano.gob.mx/ for further descriptions of what is allowed duty-free and what’s not. You will be subject to payment of duty on the fair market value of those items which exceed your duty-free allowance. You may find that payment of duty could be less than the cost of an FM-3 and the menaje de casa.

Prepare a manifest, in Spanish, inventorying the contents of your car. This often can obviate the need to completely unpack everything at the aduana, although, of course, it’s no guarantee.

Now, there will be those who claim to have brought in the entire inventory of FAO Schwartz and a nuclear reactor without being assessed a centavo of duty. They’re the lucky ones, and you ought not count on their experience. If the chap at aduana tells you “I don’t want to know what you’ve got in your car, and have a nice day,” smile and drive on. But don’t lie to the customs folks, because they’ve heard every line in the book already.

julietl

Jun 2, 2003, 5:22 PM

Post #3 of 4 (701 views)

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Re: [bryngerta] Does Student VISA require a menaje de casa??????

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Bryngerta -

I completely sympathize with what you are going through!

I moved from Chicago to DF last month with a student visa. The MX consulate in Chicago kept telling me different things, so I just went ahead and did the menaje de casa. I am glad I did. Yes, the student visa is free and it is also an FM3 visa as well, so you will be set. Also, carry a letter with you (in spanish) addressed to the customs officials stating that you are not importing anything prohibited, that you will bring everything out once you are done studying, that everything is used (if it is) and the value of your menaje de casa.

Buena Suerte!
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bryngerta

Jun 3, 2003, 12:14 PM

Post #4 of 4 (677 views)

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Re: [julietm] Does Student VISA require a menaje de casa??????

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Very helpful information! Thank you everyone... I think that I have finally figured it out, more or less... The student VISA is all that I need to take some of my goods down there... since I am studying in Guadalajara. Then once I get there, apparently, I have to complete additional paperwork. The school has instructed me to get the student VISA and not to worry about the menaje de casa...who knows?