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spiderwoman

Oct 17, 2003, 5:05 PM

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Returning to the U.S. Permanently

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I am a U.S. Citizen currently in Mexico on an FM3. When I came into Mexico, I had a Menaje listing everything I was bringing in. Do I need any kind of "list" of my belongings to return to the U.S.? All we will have is our clothes, computer, and some personal items (pictures, etc.). Thanks for any info!

Rolly

Oct 17, 2003, 6:26 PM

Post #2 of 14 (964 views)

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Re: [spiderwoman] Returning to the U.S. Permanently

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No list is required. Used items are passed freely; new things may be charged a duty.

Before I moved to Mexico I asked the US Customs what I needed to do in case I wanted to come back. He said nothing was required. We had a nice little chat and laugh at the contrast between Mexico and the USA -- It's easy to get a visa to live in Mexico, but bringing your belongs is a hassle; while it is hard to get a visa to the USA, but very easy to bring your stuff.

Rolly Pirate

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

spiderwoman

Oct 17, 2003, 6:30 PM

Post #3 of 14 (961 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Returning to the U.S. Permanently

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Thanks Rolly!

raferguson

Oct 17, 2003, 8:22 PM

Post #4 of 14 (953 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Returning to the U.S. Permanently

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I like the customs man's analysis.

It is hard to get a visa to come to the USA, because half the people in the third world want to move to the USA, or at least come and work in the USA. I remember being in a remote part of the Bolivian mountains, it felt like we were at the end of the world, and our porters were asking about coming to the US to work. Even Palestinian youths who claim to hate the USA and it's policies would like to live here, I am told. Kind of a love-hate thing. Trends since 9/11 mean an increase in the US people barriers, despite the wishes of Fox and many Hispanic groups.

It is hard to move property into Mexico because of decades of trade barriers defending Mexican manufacturers. Many of the trade barriers have been lowered, but "tramites" live on. The US is already the cheapest place in the world to buy consumer goods, so no reason for US customs to worry about "black market" importation of goods.

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

shoe

Oct 18, 2003, 7:08 AM

Post #5 of 14 (930 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Returning to the U.S. Permanently

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Just wondering, like I always do. Can a person like this one, in the future, say 3 years from now, decide to come back, get a new FM3 (having let the old one expire) and a new manaje and come back to Mexico? Like they change their mind or some other circumstances change.

shoe

Nothing is intrinsically good or evil, but its manner of usage may make it so.
-St. Thomas Aquinas

Rolly

Oct 18, 2003, 7:37 AM

Post #6 of 14 (925 views)

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Re: [shoe] Returning to the U.S. Permanently

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One should not let the FM3 expire. It should be cancled -- turned in at the border as you leave. (Car papers, too) Later you can apply for another FM3, but not for another menaje. As I understand the rules, it is one menaje per person per lifetime.

Rolly Pirate

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

shoe

Oct 18, 2003, 7:44 AM

Post #7 of 14 (922 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Returning to the U.S. Permanently

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Thank you!!! I did understand about the vehicle papers having to be turned in but I had no idea that you should cancel the FM3 at that time. Interesting that you don't just let it run out and not renew it. Mexico is interesting.

shoe

Nothing is intrinsically good or evil, but its manner of usage may make it so.
-St. Thomas Aquinas

D.G.

Oct 22, 2003, 8:03 AM

Post #8 of 14 (776 views)

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Re: [spiderwoman] Returning to the U.S. Permanently

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I'm not sure about the advice rendered on this topic. It seems to me that I read that items taken into Mexico on an FM-3, have to be removed from Mexico when the FM-3 is cancelled. If that is the case, I would assume that some sort of checking process might be required by Mexican authorities to make sure that the same goods brought in on an menaje were removed from the country.

Can anyone clairify this point? Or am I just imagining things?

(This post was edited by D.G. on Oct 22, 2003, 8:05 AM)

bournemouth

Oct 22, 2003, 8:08 AM

Post #9 of 14 (773 views)

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Re: [D.G.] Returning to the U.S. Permanently

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I think that , technically speaking, you are correct. However, in the many, many times I have returned from Mexico to the US, sometimes with a heavily laden vehicle, I have never been stopped by Mexican officials to check on the contents. The day may come when this rule is enforced, but in my experience, it is does not presently happen. I must add that all my crossings have taken place at the various Mexico/Arizona ports of entry.

Rolly

Oct 22, 2003, 11:19 AM

Post #10 of 14 (747 views)

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Re: [D.G.] Returning to the U.S. Permanently

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There is no procedure for requiring the removal of your menaje items. Even the procedure to insure the removal of your car is very weak. If you don't take it out, you can never bring in another car. Not a very powerful tool.There is a myth that your credit card acts as a bond to remove the car -- if you don't take the car out your card will be charged. That is simply not true. I'm sure the Mexican government would like for us to believe that, but it ain't so. Of course if you posted a cash bond, you’d loose that.

Rolly Pirate

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

(This post was edited by Rolly on Oct 22, 2003, 9:04 PM)

pathall

Oct 22, 2003, 11:48 AM

Post #11 of 14 (741 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Returning to the U.S. Permanently

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I've always wondered why Mexican customs wants a photocopy of your credit card. It must be a foreign (not Mexican) credit card. What do they do with it? I realize now that they don't charge your credit card if you don't bring out your car when you leave.

SteveInPVR

Oct 22, 2003, 4:03 PM

Post #12 of 14 (705 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Returning to the U.S. Permanently

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Last year we had our list all ready for the border crossing....everything documented with it's value for the things we were bringing into the country for our home. When we got to the border, they saw we had two dogs in the car and didn't even take the time to inspect the vehicle or read the list of our belongings. All they said was "dos perros!" and waved us through. I guess we can bring some more stuff in this year!

Steve
Steve

jennifer rose

Oct 22, 2003, 8:49 PM

Post #13 of 14 (676 views)

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Re: [SteveInPVR] Returning to the U.S. Permanently

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Don't count on it. Sometimes you get lucky, and sometimes you're taxed. It has to do with satori, the lunar cycle and Planck's Constant. And sure enough, the only time you think you can weasel by without the dog papers or a menaje, you'll be asked for both. Cross enough times, and it will happen. Sometime.

Still, if you even out the odds with the times you've been able to pass by unscathed with the time you're taxed way too much, it all evens out.

Carron

Oct 23, 2003, 9:05 AM

Post #14 of 14 (641 views)

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Re: [spiderwoman] Returning to the U.S. Permanently

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Sorry you have to return to the US after all you went through to get into Mexico. But here is an observation you might consider. When I left Chiapas several years ago and moved right up to the Tex-Mex border, I had all my furniture shipped north by a Mexican moving company. I didn't have to lift a finger other than sign the inventory. My things were a combination of US furnishings and many more I had bought in Mexico. When I received my shipment, on time and in the same condition everything left Chiapas, there was a signed notice from some point along the way that the contents of the moving van had been inspected, but it passed with no problem. I suspect the use of a Mexican moving company expedited matters.

There is absolutely no problem moving your personal goods back across the border into the States. But you might want, for convenience and economy, to have a Mexican company ship your things to the border.