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gpkgto

Oct 14, 2009, 5:13 PM

Post #1 of 21 (8482 views)

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Expired FM3 experience

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Current info from someone at another site:

WARNING!! I just learned a valuable lesson the hard way.

I was in San Antonio on August 26th for an appointment at the VA Hospital and on the way back to the hotel we were hit by a young driver, causing no damage to us, but our car was badly damaged. The short version is that it took several weeks to get the car fixed and that we could not return to Mexico until earlier this week. During the time we were in the US, our FM3 visas expired.

BIG MISTAKE!!!

It cost us $1098 MN pesos each in fines to have our expired visas cancelled and we had to get FMTs to re-enter Mexico. Now we must re-apply for our FM3's and, I'm told, the past two years won't count toward the necessary five years to get our FM2s.

joaquinx

Oct 14, 2009, 5:54 PM

Post #2 of 21 (8459 views)

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Re: [gpkisner] Expired FM3 experience

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I'm told, the past two years won't count toward the necessary five years to get our FM2s.

This five year requirement is apparently a variable time frame. In Veracruz City, there is no five year requirement. Is this "five " year requirement consistent throughout Mexico or just at your location?

chinagringo

Oct 14, 2009, 5:57 PM

Post #3 of 21 (8452 views)

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Re: [gpkisner] Expired FM3 experience

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Back on 8/29, I posted on the "Traveling Mexico" section under the title of Expired FMT's. While I did not reveal it at the time, one of the extenuating circumstances was that one of us was in possession of an expired FM3 (3 to 4 years expired) and that was spotted during negotiations. Let's just say that the settlement compromise took a good deal more time and cost a great deal more! Once agreed upon, it was amazing how the stamps could be backdated and everything was OK.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

esperanza

Oct 14, 2009, 5:57 PM

Post #4 of 21 (8451 views)

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Re: [joaquinx] Expired FM3 experience

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Here in Morelia, Michoacán, the requirement is five years with an FM-3 and then five MORE years with an FM-2. So: ten years total before it's possible to apply for citizenship.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Hound Dog

Oct 15, 2009, 6:54 AM

Post #5 of 21 (8388 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Expired FM3 experience

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In Jalisco, we started with an FM-3 back in 20001 but understood at that time that we could have started with an FM-2 had we elected to do so. After four years we switched to an FM-2 and will achieve inmigrado status in 2010 and will then apply fpr citizenship. Had we started with FM-2 status we wouild have achieved inmigrado status in 2006. Perhaps things have changed sincce 2001 but it sounds as though each state makes its own rules. I don´t know about Chiapas where we also live but the people to whom one applies for citizenship in Tuxtla Gutierrez are friendly and very helpful. Maybe that is a good place to ´apply for citizenship with SRE when the time comes.

esperanza

Oct 15, 2009, 7:08 AM

Post #6 of 21 (8381 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] Expired FM3 experience

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The Dog is right. At one time, it was possible to choose either an FM-3 or and FM-2 as your initial visa. I believe that time is past, but there may be places where it's still possible. I'm thinking particularly that if you apply for your initial visa at a Mexican consulate, you might still be able to do it.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

gpkgto

Oct 15, 2009, 7:38 AM

Post #7 of 21 (8365 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Expired FM3 experience

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In 2000 the Mexican consulate in Philadelphia would only grant FM3s--and you had to be at least 50 years old.

The INM in Leon, Guanajuato has always required 5 years of FM3 before allowing an application for an FM2 (I asked every year!).

As of 3 years ago, SRE (at least in the state of Guanajuato--even though citizenship is a matter of federal law) allowed an FM2 holder to apply for citizenship immediately upon receipt of the FM2. Now they require the completion of 5 years on an FM2 before accepting a citizenship application. Also, there is now a more serious history/culture test than before--which has been discussed on these forums in the last year.

Also, the inmigrado status is not automatic after completion of 5 years of an FM2--you have to actually apply for inmigrado status at INM within 6 months of the completion of the fifth year on the FM2. I don't think anyone is ever denied inmigardo status, but it is still a requirement that you apply for it.

Carron

Oct 15, 2009, 7:57 AM

Post #8 of 21 (8359 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] Expired FM3 experience

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My experience in Chiapas was that friendly and helpful service at the office in Tuxtla only came at a price, i.e. mordida. The case worker who handled most of the foreign teachers always pulled open a desk drawer and offered us enhanced (lots of added ruffles and/or embroidery) dish towels and tea cloths. If we didn't buy, we could not reach the next level of whatever it was we were there for. We used to joke among ourselves that she must have a large group of captive Guatamalan ladies locked in her garage producing an infinite number of these cheesy little over-priced handicrafts round the clock. She also sold stuff from catalogs like Fuller Brush and Avon. If we didn't want to buy she indicated to us by hand signals that we could just slip her some cash into the booklet and return it to her across the desk.

When one of our daughters was engaged to marry a local college student, the permission process was nasty and protracted. After about 6 weeks of wrangling over paperwork and official documents (we even had a lawyer involved who was told she could not have any access to the paperwork we had already submitted nor would anyone in the office speak with her about our case), I finally gave the MIgracion woman 250 pesos (maybe $20 US) in one of her sales brochures. She motioned for us to wait at her desk and she went back to get the signature we needed. It took maybe 10 seconds. They were married two days later. She said she was going on vacation and needed the money.

Another case this same woman handled was for an American teacher who had lived in Chiapas for more than 5 years and was married to another professor who had been born in Chiapas. She would not authorize the upgrade from FM3 to FM2. Told them just living in Mexico for 5 years did not automatically mean the wife could receive the FM2.

So, yes, I think it is (or at least then it was) a case by case, state by state, decision to award the FM2.

bournemouth

Oct 15, 2009, 8:31 AM

Post #9 of 21 (8344 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Expired FM3 experience

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We were at our lawyer's office yesterday for visa renewal and the person in front of us was being told that they could switch from an FM3 to an FM2 at any point - so obviously Guadalajara is a little more liberal in their interpretation of things.

esperanza

Oct 15, 2009, 9:11 AM

Post #10 of 21 (8326 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] Expired FM3 experience

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At least your lawyer is interpreting things in a little more liberal way. That doesn't mean that he/she could actually get it done when face-to-face with INM in Guadalajara. I'd be very interested to know whether it's really possible in Guadalajara. It used to be possible, but a lot has changed both at INM and SRE since 2007.

When I was first living in Ajijic, more than 10 years ago, the INM representative who came to Lakeside to attend to the needs of the foreign community also expected money under the table to accomplish any change or update to one's immigration status. Without that little mordida, those changes were impossible. Later, when Fox took office as president, INM put up posters and stickers advising NO A LA MORDIDA...and we got a new INM representative. Since then, I've heard nothing about bribes or payoffs at Lake Chapala.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

skier14

Mar 10, 2010, 6:20 PM

Post #11 of 21 (7536 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] Expired FM3 experience

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I wish that someone would explain in ENGLISH (Inmigrado) I am applying now for an FM 3 and if I live long enough I would like to be finished with the yearly trips to INM, but I have concerns about Mexican citizenship due to Social Security benifits comming from Uncle Sam.

Rolly

Mar 10, 2010, 6:39 PM

Post #12 of 21 (7527 views)

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Re: [skier14] Expired FM3 experience

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Becoming a nationalized Mexican citizen will have no affect on your standing with the US government including SS or the IRS.

Inmigrado is not citizenship. It is just permanent residency.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Ric Hoffman

May 4, 2010, 6:22 AM

Post #13 of 21 (6907 views)

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Re: [gpkgto] Expired FM3 experience

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"actually apply for inmigrado status at INM within 6 months of the completion of the fifth year on the FM2."

This statement is incorrect. You should start your application for "Inmigrado" at the sixth month after your fourth "refrendo".
You can apply for a change of status (to FM2) anytime with a written request through your local INM office. I received mine after my second "Prorroga" of my FM3.

(This post was edited by Ric Hoffman on May 4, 2010, 6:27 AM)

esperanza

May 4, 2010, 8:28 AM

Post #14 of 21 (6862 views)

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Re: [Ric Hoffman] Expired FM3 experience

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Ric, your experience of applying for an FM-2 varies from others' experiences. Permission to apply prior to holding an FM-3 for the full five years depends on the INM office where you reside. In Morelia, INM will not allow application for an FM-2 until the full five-year period of the FM-3 is finished.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

gpkgto

May 4, 2010, 10:35 AM

Post #15 of 21 (6829 views)

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Re: [Ric Hoffman] Expired FM3 experience

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I think I meant "inmigrante". not inmigrado. What I meant is the status of permanent residnecy that comes AFTER completion of the FM2 process (i.e. here in Guanajuato, 5 years of holding an FM2).

Ric Hoffman

May 4, 2010, 11:38 AM

Post #16 of 21 (6811 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Expired FM3 experience

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Morelia INM is the office I applied for and was issued my FM2 in 2008 after my second renewal of my first FM3.

Ric Hoffman

May 4, 2010, 11:50 AM

Post #17 of 21 (6806 views)

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Re: [gpkgto] Expired FM3 experience

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In Reply To

"I think I meant "inmigrante". not inmigrado. What I meant is the status of permanent residnecy that comes AFTER completion of the FM2 process (i.e. here in Guanajuato, 5 years of holding an FM2)."

When you apply for a FM2 you are an "inmigrante" instead of a "non-inmigrante" under the FM3. A permanent resident is still a FM2 holder but the status changes to "Inmigrado". This change should be requested at the sixth month point of your fourth "refrendo". The six month window is a processing time for consideration of your application.

Marlene

May 4, 2010, 12:01 PM

Post #18 of 21 (6798 views)

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Re: [Ric Hoffman] Expired FM3 experience

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This demonstrates how the policy not only varies from office to office, but also within the same immigration office. The same thing has happened here in Mazatlan. Some have been able to hold an FM2 without waiting 5 years holding an FM3, yet others have been told flatly, that no, they must wait the full 5 years before applying for an FM2. One of the little mysteries we sometimes encounter here.

(This post was edited by Marlene on May 4, 2010, 12:02 PM)

esperanza

May 4, 2010, 1:20 PM

Post #19 of 21 (6779 views)

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Re: [Ric Hoffman] Expired FM3 experience

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Morelia INM is the office I applied for and was issued my FM2 in 2008 after my second renewal of my first FM3.

I suspected that you had applied in Morelia, but I can't imagine why they did yours and not Judy's. They have told her a flat 'no' every year for the last three years. This year, all other things being equal, they will take her application.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

gpkgto

May 4, 2010, 1:49 PM

Post #20 of 21 (6759 views)

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Re: [Ric Hoffman] Expired FM3 experience

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This is not true in leon; Gto. You may apply for inmigrado (I guess I had it right the first time) one month before the expiration of your fourth FM2 renewal and uUP TO months after the expiration. This is directly from the INM agent in Leon, as of about 2-3 months ago.

Ric Hoffman

May 4, 2010, 4:40 PM

Post #21 of 21 (6725 views)

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Re: [gpkgto] Expired FM3 experience

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Well, like Marlene wrote, Viva Mexico!