Forums > General > Living, Working, Retiring

redoute38

Oct 12, 2003, 1:34 PM

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Naturalization

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Jennifer, I was looking at the gov naturalization link you gave us a while ago. I am entirely confused! It seems to say that after five years' residence in Mexico, a foreigner can apply for naturalization. Five years of FM3. then, with no requirement of FM2?
Thank you for your help.

Bobby

gpk

Oct 12, 2003, 4:50 PM

Post #2 of 15 (648 views)

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Re: [redoute38] Naturalization

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Just a sub-question. Has anyone on this forum ever actually become a Mexican citizen. There must be someone somewhere!

johanson

Oct 12, 2003, 5:03 PM

Post #3 of 15 (643 views)

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Re: [redoute38] Naturalization

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No, after 5 years with my FM 2, I can become an Imigrado (spelling?) and pay more taxes than I do now.

By going FM 2 rather than FM 3 I also pay a little more each year for my renewal and am restricted in the # days I can leave the country.

There are advantages too. But I shall let an expert like Jennifer explain the details.

jennifer rose

Oct 12, 2003, 5:56 PM

Post #4 of 15 (636 views)

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Re: [johanson] Naturalization

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Pete, I’m not sure what you mean by paying more taxes after becoming inmigrado.

Yes, there are forum members who are Mexican citizens, both by birth and by naturalization.

Under the FM-3:

1. The holder can keep a foreign-plated car so long as the FM-3 is valid.

2. There is no limitation as to time spent out of the country. The FM-3 is a no-inmigrante status.

3. The application process is easier. Application can be made stateside at the Mexican Consulate or within Mexico.

4. The minimum monthly income requirement is not less than 250 times the minimum wage in the Federal District.

5. The application and annual renewal fees for the FM-3 are less than for the FM-2.

The fees are:

Charge for application for immigration status change from Tourist to FM3 - $384
FM3 no inmigrante (retired) & renewal $1,104
FM3 no inmigrante (working) & renewal $1,647
(All fees are shown in Mexican pesos and are subject to change not more than once a year.)

6. After the fifth renewal, the holder must apply for a new FM-3. This process could be repeated for the rest of the holder's days in Mexico. The FM-3 is a one-year residency permit, renewable, and nothing more.

Under the FM-2:

1. The holder can keep a foreign-plated car for 5 years, and after the final inmigado status has been granted, the car must be removed from the country.

2. There are limitations as to the time which the holder may spend out of the country. The FM-2 holder’s time out of the country is limited to 18 months within the 5-year period. The FM-2 is an inmigrante status.

3. The application is a more detailed process, and greater scrutiny is paid to supporting documentation. The minimum monthly income requirement is not less than 400 times the minimum wage in the Federal District.

4. The charges are:

Inscription in the National Registry of Foreigners (FM2s only) $524
FM2 inmigrante (retired & working) $2,194
FM2 inmigrante (retired & working) renewal $2,195
Application for change of status from FM2 to inmigrado $699
Issuance of inmigrado status $2,676

5. The FM-2 is the immigration category which leads to the "E" ticket. After the completion of annual FM-2 renewals, the holder may apply to become inmigrado, which is a permanent immigration status granting all rights except the right to vote, run for political office, and some other rights which can be exercised only by Mexican citizens.

There are similar restrictions upon the length of time an individual who obtains Mexican citizenship by naturalization may be absent from the country without jeopardizing his or her status, but that provision speaks to consecutive years (not days or months) outside of the country within the first five years of naturalization (or something close to that).

johanson

Oct 12, 2003, 7:08 PM

Post #5 of 15 (623 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Naturalization

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When I wrote, "and pay more taxes than I do now". once I became an inmigrado, I should have been more accurate. I was talking about car taxes and annual fees.

Today I am able to drive my Texas plated 2001 Ford Explorer Sport in Mexico. The car cost 25% less in Texas than it would have new were I to have purchased it in Guadalajara. I presume much of that difference is taxes. The annual taxes or fees I pay in Texas are $73.50. The annual fees or taxes I would have paid here in Jalisco were I to have purchased and licensed my car here would be appreciably greater than $73.50 US

If I become an inmigrado I will have to remove this Texas plated car from Mexico and purchase a more expensive one here.

I hope someone can be a little more specific about actual automobile cost differences between the US or Canada and Mexico. Perhaps this same person could talk a little about the Nafta treaty and how it could soon make the auto purchase price differences between the US and Mexico less.

(This post was edited by johanson on Oct 12, 2003, 7:29 PM)

gpk

Oct 13, 2003, 10:35 AM

Post #6 of 15 (574 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Naturalization

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If a naturalized Mexican citizen reads this, could you please tell us about the ACTUAL process (not just what the laws and regulations say)?

mrchuck

Oct 13, 2003, 3:49 PM

Post #7 of 15 (542 views)

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Import your car, ie, get Mex plates

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In actuality, I got my car which had CA plates on it, imported into Mexico, BCS plates when I became an inmigrado.

The reason is, as an inmigrado, you can't have a car licensed in CA, USA. It must be imported.

Saludos, mc

johanson

Oct 13, 2003, 4:03 PM

Post #8 of 15 (538 views)

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Re: [mrchuck] Import your car, ie, get Mex plates

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But to import a car into Mexico, does it not have to be at least ten years old?

mrchuck

Oct 13, 2003, 4:42 PM

Post #9 of 15 (530 views)

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Re: [johanson] Import your car, ie, get Mex plates

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Absolutely Not! 100% A-OK for a newer car, or a new car with USA plates. But the import tax is what I watched. A new, current model car costs 10% of the price they have for that car, and slides down 1% each year older, till it is 10 years old from the current year model avail. Then, no extra tax added for it's newer condition.

More expensive cars cost more also. And, they have a list of cars and trucks you cannot import into MX.

An example: you cannot import in a diesel pick-up, like the Ford 250 diesel, which is so popular down here in Los Barriles with the American and Canadian tourists. This just "floors" the owners when they find this out. It is illegal for a Mexican to own a diesel p/u, or even any diesel car like an old VW diesel Rabbit.

But a commercial flatbed diesel, for a commercial business, is ok.

Interesting.

I'm sure there are a lot more rules and regs on the cars, But I just haven't had the experience, or know where to go read up on it. I actually "rely" on Jennifer Rose's posts to keep me apprised of the regs most of the time.

And, she knows this.

This is one of the reasons that I tell people over here in Baja about this website, and how valuable it can be.

Saludos, mc

mcrown

Oct 13, 2003, 4:55 PM

Post #10 of 15 (526 views)

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Re: [mrchuck] Import your car, ie, get Mex plates

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Quote

It is illegal for a Mexican to own a diesel p/u, or even any diesel car like an old VW diesel Rabbit.

I'm sorry to disagree but this is false. My niece, a Mexican citizen, owns a VW Jetta diesel, which she bought at a VW dealership in Mexico.

Moisheh

Oct 13, 2003, 5:56 PM

Post #11 of 15 (514 views)

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Re: [johanson] Naturalization

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Johansenn: I cannot give you the exact price difference between USA and Mexican cars, but it is at least 25%, plus the extra taxes. As for NAFTA: The Mexican auto dealers are doing everything in their power to keep new imported cars out of the country. They have even resorted to saying that the imported cars do not meet mexican standards (safety?polution?metric?). I also doubt that any USA warranties would be honored in Mexico. As usual the greedy Mexican business people will keep prices artificially high. As for diesel pickups (as mentioned in another post): there are lots of them in Sonora with Mexican plates.

jomary3

Oct 21, 2003, 7:31 PM

Post #12 of 15 (422 views)

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Re: [mrchuck] Import your car, ie, get Mex plates

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Thank You! This is the first time on-line with the Forum. My husband and I are driving our 1990 Chev Blazer to the Manzanillo area. We have current FM3's. We are wondering if we can sell the car in Mexico? And, what do we have to do, to sign up for that at the border? What is the CURRENT rule on this? I'll wait for reply.

tonyburton / Moderator

Oct 21, 2003, 7:45 PM

Post #13 of 15 (412 views)

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Re: [jomary3] Import your car, ie, get Mex plates

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The simple answer is "No"!

This topic has been discussed elsewhere on the forums fairly recently - Use "Search Posts" and enter "Car selling" - the third post down is http://www.mexconnected.com/...car%20selling;#28237 for more details.

El Gringo Nuevo

Oct 21, 2003, 11:29 PM

Post #14 of 15 (396 views)

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Re: [jomary3] Import your car, ie, get Mex plates

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http://rollybrook.com/...o_move_to_mexico.htm

alex .

Oct 22, 2003, 8:48 AM

Post #15 of 15 (370 views)

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Re: [jomary3] actually, you can sell it

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and for that type of vehicle a buyer will be easy to come by. You then will be participating in the black market auto business which has associated risk.
Alex