FM2 Application Documents

FM2 Application Documents

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Hello Mexconnect Community. Greetings from a newbie. I am in the planning stages of a move to Mexico sometime within the next 6-8 months. I noticed on the online INM form that information is requested on one's civil status. In my case, I am a divorced male that will seek a change of status to FM2 (retiree) upon arriving to Mexico with the FMM visa. Other than being 'Soltero/a', are apostilled documents required validating that one is married, divorced or widowed?

I have my married daughter on my US bank account as co-owner with right of survivorship so her name does appear under my name on my bank statements. Will that cause me any problems with the INM? Has anyone had any success presenting printed online statements or are the bank mailed originals the only accepted documents? I'll be going to the State of Guerrero, about 40 minutes from Cuernavaca, so I am guessing that the Cuernavaca INM office is where I would need to go to continue my FM2 process upon arrival.

Thank you in advance for your assitance.

Tom aka el profe

Nov 16, 2010, 10:06 AM

Post #2 of 32 (1709 views)

Re: [el profe] FM2 Application Documents

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Is it possible to get an FM2 before having an FM3?

Nov 16, 2010, 10:18 AM

Post #3 of 32 (1704 views)

Re: [el profe] FM2 Application Documents

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Other than being 'Soltero/a', are apostilled documents required validating that one is married, divorced or widowed?
In your case, no. There are times when a marriage certificated is required, but that would not be your case.

The join name on the bank account is not a problem. Mine is a joint account.
Some INM offices still want to see original bank statements; most will accept prints of online statements.
Some office require the statements to be translated into Spanish; some don't.
If a Spanish translation is required, the INM office will direct you to an official translator in the community.

You will find more useful information here.

Rolly Pirate

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

Nov 16, 2010, 10:21 AM

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Re: [La Isla] FM2 Application Documents

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Is it possible to get an FM2 before having an FM3?

Yes, it is now. It didn't used to be allowed.
Some INM office might still be following the old rules, so you won't know for sure until you ask.

Rolly Pirate

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

Nov 16, 2010, 10:33 AM

Post #5 of 32 (1694 views)

Re: [Rolly] FM2 Application Documents

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Is this only for those seeking rentista status, or can those who want to work here also apply directly for an FM2?

el profe

Nov 16, 2010, 10:51 AM

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Re: [Rolly] FM2 Application Documents

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Wow, that was quick!! Thank you Rolly for the reply and the link reference.

Nov 16, 2010, 12:48 PM

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Re: [La Isla] FM2 Application Documents

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La Isla, The answer to your question is yes, but as Rolly said, not all INM offices may be up-to-speed on this. The main reason is that now that FM3s, regardless of category, are not supposed to make you a resident of México (tax reasons), a FM2 visa of some category is needed to become a resident of México for tax purposes.

Nov 16, 2010, 12:59 PM

Post #8 of 32 (1667 views)

Re: [mazbook1] FM2 Application Documents

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Mazbook1, thanks for your response though I'm not sure I understand your reply. I have an FM3 and am a resident of Mexico (though without inmigrado status) and pay taxes every month on my free-lance teaching income. How would that change if I got an FM2? Maybe I should bring this up with my immigration lawyer when it's time to renew my FM3 next spring.

Nov 16, 2010, 1:14 PM

Post #9 of 32 (1661 views)

Re: [La Isla] FM2 Application Documents

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If you change is FM2 working, you would not be allowed to have a foreign-plated car, which you can have with an FM3 working.
With an FM3, you are not a resident in the legal sense of the word, taxes don't make you a resident.
FM3 is just a long-term visitor's visa.

Rolly Pirate

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

Nov 16, 2010, 1:23 PM

Post #10 of 32 (1656 views)

Re: [Rolly] FM2 Application Documents

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In Reply To

Well, since I haven´t had a car since 1969, that is not an issue for me.

If I become a resident by holding an FM2, will the amount of taxes I pay be different?

Are there two kinds of FM2 holders, inmigrante and inmigrado?

Nov 16, 2010, 1:42 PM

Post #11 of 32 (1649 views)

Re: [La Isla] FM2 Application Documents

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Question 1: "If I become a resident by holding an FM2, will the amount of taxes I pay be different?"

Assuming that you are a renter rather than a property owner, the answer is no. The BIG difference comes to play when owning property.

Question 2: "Are there two kinds of FM2 holders, inmigrante and inmigrado?"

Yes. You have to have an FM2 status inmigrante for five years before you qualify for inmigrado status. It is MY understanding that once you have the FM2 inmigrado status, it makes you a permanent foreign resident of México and does not have to be renewed annually.

(This post was edited by mazbook1 on Nov 16, 2010, 1:46 PM)

Nov 16, 2010, 1:53 PM

Post #12 of 32 (1641 views)

Re: [mazbook1] FM2 Application Documents

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Mazbook1, thanks for your clear and concise answers to my questions!

I am a renter with no acquisition of property in my future, so that's another issue that doesn't concern me.

I think it behooves me to have a chat one of these days with my lawyer to figure out a way to shorten the waiting time for me to become a permanent foreign resident of Mexico.

Nov 16, 2010, 2:05 PM

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Re: [La Isla] FM2 Application Documents

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There are only two reasons for wanting an FM2 (Inmigrante):
1) It's the path to citizenship
2) It's the path to permanent residency status (inmigrado).
Either of the two may be pursued after five years with an FM2.
An FM2 cannot be renewed after the fourth renewal runs out.
At that time you must apply for inmigrado or citizenship or revert back to an FM3..

Rolly Pirate

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

Nov 16, 2010, 2:09 PM

Post #14 of 32 (1633 views)

Re: [La Isla] FM2 Application Documents

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La Isla, there may be a way to shortcut the 5 years of inmigrante status for applying for citizenship, but I haven't heard of any way to shortcut the 5 years before applying for inmigrado status. The reason being that inmigrado status won't be granted if you aren't actually IN México a certain amount of time during the 5 years that you are inmigrante status. IF for this reason you don't qualify for inmigrado status (or simply don't want inmigrado status, as Rolly posted), my understanding is that you can drop back to an FM3 without penalty.

(This post was edited by mazbook1 on Nov 16, 2010, 2:12 PM)

Nov 16, 2010, 2:25 PM

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Re: [mazbook1] FM2 Application Documents

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The only way to shorten the 5-year requirement for citizenship to marry a Mexican.
Then you can apply after two years of continuous living in country.

Rolly Pirate

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

Nov 16, 2010, 3:01 PM

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Re: [Rolly] FM2 Application Documents

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Unless there's a Mexican príncipe azul in my very near future who's dying to sweep me off my feet and marry me, the marriage option is out. I don't necessarily want to become a Mexican citizen, but having inmigrado status does seem like a good option for me. Just imagine, no more annual trips to INM to renew my FM3 or 2, no more fees to pay! Thanks to both Rolly and mazbook1 for their advice.

Maesonna

Nov 16, 2010, 4:23 PM

Post #17 of 32 (1593 views)

Re: [mazbook1] FM2 Application Documents

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In Reply To

It is MY understanding that once you have the FM2 inmigrado status, it makes you a permanent foreign resident of México and does not have to be renewed annually.

Yes, this is consistent with my experience. I have not had to do anything at Migración—no annual vists, no annual fees—since I completed my 5 years as an inmigrante and received inmigrado status.

Casa

Nov 16, 2010, 4:54 PM

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Re: [Rolly] FM2 Application Documents

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In Reply To

The only way to shorten the 5-year requirement for citizenship to marry a Mexican.
Then you can apply after two years of continuous living in country.

Or have a Mexican Child(ren) (wether married to a Mexican or not) or be from a Latin American country or Iberian peninsula or to be of Mexican descent, ..... These will also get you citizenship in 2 years with a FM2

Casa

Nov 16, 2010, 4:58 PM

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Re: [Rolly] FM2 Application Documents

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In Reply To

An FM2 cannot be renewed after the fourth renewal runs out.
At that time you must apply for inmigrado or citizenship or revert back to an FM3..

The FM2 cannot be renewed after the 4th renewal expires but I you are allow to start over again with a new FM2, and are not forced to go to a FM3 if you meet all of the requirements for an FM2.

eyePad

Nov 16, 2010, 6:01 PM

Post #20 of 32 (1558 views)

Re: [Rolly] FM2 Application Documents

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I can go the two year route to citizenship and I don't see any impediment (Spanish and knowledge of Mexico are excellent). Do you know how much I can be out of country during the two years?

Casa

Nov 16, 2010, 6:30 PM

Post #21 of 32 (1551 views)

Re: [eyePad] FM2 Application Documents

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In Reply To

Do you know how much I can be out of country during the two years?

no longer than 6 months

Nov 16, 2010, 6:49 PM

Post #22 of 32 (1542 views)

Re: [Casa] FM2 Application Documents

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And that 6 months is total of all trips out of the country, not just one 6 month stretch. They are pretty strict about this.

gpkgto

Nov 17, 2010, 7:35 AM

Post #23 of 32 (1494 views)

Re: [Rolly] FM2 Application Documents

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The third reason is that inmigrado status (after the FM2) ends the PITA/expense of going to INM every year for the rest of your life (assuming you stay in Mexico).

The fourth reason is that with inmigrado status a person can work without needing official permission--the only requirement is to inform INM of your work.

(This post was edited by gpkgto on Nov 17, 2010, 7:37 AM)

Maesonna

Nov 17, 2010, 6:04 PM

Post #24 of 32 (1451 views)

Re: [mazbook1] FM2 Application Documents

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Do you have a source for the 6 months figure? According to the Diario Oficial (Official Gazette) dated January 2010, it is 2 years. (See page 11, 6. 6.1.4) But I checked another government web page just a few weeks ago, which I can’t find just now, and there it said 18 months.

Edited to add:

OK, I found it here, in Article 47.
If an inmigrante (i.e. a person in their first 5 years of FM2) stays outside Mexico more than 18 months either continuously or cumulatively, they have to go back and start counting their 5 years of FM2 over again from zero. If they stay outside Mexico more than 2 years, they lose their immigration status. Presumably that normally would they have to start over again from FM3, if they still wanted to live in Mexico.

(This post was edited by Maesonna on Nov 17, 2010, 6:13 PM)

Maesonna

Nov 17, 2010, 6:21 PM

Post #25 of 32 (1448 views)