FM3s and so on

[rob mackay]

heres one babs and al.......since the tourist visas are good for 180 days why dont everyone just make 2 trips a year to belize hop off the bus hop back on, head back do it all in a day and have a new tourist visa for 180 days....do alot of people do that?
i can see the benefit of having a full time rez card but seems like quite a hassle, thanks

[maya]

Originally Posted by rob mackay

heres one babs and al.......since the tourist visas are good for 180 days why dont everyone just make 2 trips a year to belize hop off the bus hop back on, head back do it all in a day and have a new tourist visa for 180 days....do alot of people do that?
i can see the benefit of having a full time rez card but seems like quite a hassle, thanks

Rob its not quite as simple as all that. What happens if immigration dont give you the 180 days? Its happened in the past and no guarantees it wont happen in the future. What happens if you go to Belize and turn around and come back and immigration says no way-you need to stay in Belize for a couple of days. I know that has happened to some people. And actually getting an fm3 and having it renewed really isnt that much of a hassle if you live here-time consuming maybe worth having it.

[eugene]

Originally Posted by absoluteAL

My lawyer charges about 7000 pesos. I take her what she requests (paperwork) and after a time (which can vary) I receive my FM-3. With my FM-2 I had to appear with my lawyer at Immigration. Never had a problem.

You can legally bring a car into Mexico on a FMM but you have to leave (i.e., get sticker scraped) leave MX and come back into MX the next day and get a new FMM and Temporary Import Sticker. This is why I went to Belize last week.

Hi Al,
What it the trip like, How long is the trip & whats the road like?,

tankx,
eugene

[rob mackay]

Originally Posted by maya

Rob its not quite as simple as all that. What happens if immigration dont give you the 180 days? Its happened in the past and no guarantees it wont happen in the future. What happens if you go to Belize and turn around and come back and immigration says no way-you need to stay in Belize for a couple of days. I know that has happened to some people. And actually getting an fm3 and having it renewed really isnt that much of a hassle if you live here-time consuming maybe worth having it.

thanks maya i was kind of wondering what the scoop was on all that

[absoluteAL]

Originally Posted by eugene

Hi Al,
What it the trip like, How long is the trip & whats the road like?,

tankx,
eugene

Basically, it is a 3 hour 45 minute drive ( + or - 15 minutes). First 3 hours of the trip were done in about 2 hours 20 minutes as I was following behind a friend (met up with him and his wife in Akumal) and from Tulum to Mahahual he was doing 90 to 95 MPH............I followed close behind.
Roads are great the whole way. Plenty of PEMEX stations and places to stop should you choose to do so. Playa to the border is about 200 miles.
Slow down for the topes though......I am taking my car to the shop this morning.

[snappysammy]

Originally Posted by absoluteAL

Funny thing is that when I was looking at movies playing at Cinepolis today my computer's translation from Spanish for one of the movies was "Dinner For Dummies"............finally figured out that it was "Dinners For Schmucks" . I guess there is no Spanish word for "schmuck".

And by the way I have used the same lawyer for my 5 FM-3s (original and 4 renewals) and my FM-2. Makes life easier. Now I am using a guy that has come highly recommended to do the "work" and he is not a lawyer. I assume he has "connections". Also, about 1/2 price of what I had been paying my lawyer!

7000 is way too much to pay for the services for an fm anything
i will repeat once again, lawyers are not needed for this
i can get this done for 3000 pesos with a very dependable person
she has helped several friends of mine and never once a problem
for some reason, al likes to overpay for this service

as for the 180 days, it is now automatic
but legally one may only be in mexico for 180 days a year as a tourist
they can turn you away if they want to do so

otoh, you can get a renewal without going to belize at all
i have done this countless times and helped others to do it, too

ah, the misinformation is never ending
facts and opinions are two different things

[Paw'boy]

Originally Posted by eugene

Well, Aint you funny? No, not really, something else, Yes!,

Perhaps, begins with "Sch" And ends "muck"

Not funny, just the facts ma'am. We tried to do it ourselves, working FM3, and got thrown out of the country when our papers were not correct, although they said they were correct all the way along, and 7 months of waiting. Maybe a retirement visa is easier to do yourself, all I know is the time and effort it took me to try and do it myself, I could have been making money.

Originally Posted by absoluteAL

My lawyer charges about 7000 pesos. I take her what she requests (paperwork) and after a time (which can vary) I receive my FM-3. With my FM-2 I had to appear with my lawyer at Immigration. Never had a problem.

You can legally bring a car into Mexico on a FMM but you have to leave (i.e., get sticker scraped) leave MX and come back into MX the next day and get a new FMM and Temporary Import Sticker. This is why I went to Belize last week.

We now pay 6000 pesos for 2 working FM3 renewals, that includes the cost of the FM3, which I think was close to 2000 pesos each. Oh, don't forget the cost of the photos, 220 pesos/person.

Originally Posted by Babaloo

Pretty expensive if you ask me.
Did you ask me?
Oh. Never mind.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by Kellygirl

Totally uncalled for. That's the kind of remark that puts people off this forum.

Thanks for watching my back KK.

Originally Posted by absoluteAL

Basically, it is a 3 hour 45 minute drive ( + or - 15 minutes). First 3 hours of the trip were done in about 2 hours 20 minutes as I was following behind a friend (met up with him and his wife in Akumal) and from Tulum to Mahahual he was doing 90 to 95 MPH............I followed close behind.
Roads are great the whole way. Plenty of PEMEX stations and places to stop should you choose to do so. Playa to the border is about 200 miles.
Slow down for the topes though......I am taking my car to the shop this morning.

Yea, how 'bout that tope at Muyil for the crosswalk at no town!!!!!!!!! It is a mountain, my friend hit it at 70 KM/h, not good!!

Originally Posted by snappysammy

7000 is way too much to pay for the services for an fm anything
i will repeat once again, lawyers are not needed for this
i can get this done for 3000 pesos with a very dependable person
she has helped several friends of mine and never once a problem
for some reason, al likes to overpay for this service

as for the 180 days, it is now automatic
but legally one may only be in mexico for 180 days a year as a tourist
they can turn you away if they want to do so

otoh, you can get a renewal without going to belize at all
i have done this countless times and helped others to do it, too

ah, the misinformation is never ending
facts and opinions are two different things

Good price, and yea AL, your the one that sent me to Punta Allen for sticker renewal, why Belize?? Reminds me, I need to go to Punta Allen soon for a new sticker.

[absoluteAL]

Originally Posted by Paw'boy

and yea AL, your the one that sent me to Punta Allen for sticker renewal, why Belize?? Reminds me, I need to go to Punta Allen soon for a new sticker.

If I sent you to Punta Allen - all that I can say is. I sent you to the Banjerito in Puerto Juarez not Punta Allen. And why Belize - it is somewhat complicated but to make a long story short, I have 2 cars here.

[ChrisCapron]

Originally Posted by absoluteAL

My lawyer charges about 7000 pesos.

Wow...The last time I had a lawyer for my FM3 (2 years ago) I paid 650 pesos but that was in Monterrey. This didn't include the cost of the FM3. The assistant of the lawyer drove me to the Instituto Nacional de Migracion and did all paperwork for me.

[maya]

Originally Posted by snappysammy

7000 is way too much to pay for the services for an fm anything
i will repeat once again, lawyers are not needed for this
i can get this done for 3000 pesos with a very dependable person
she has helped several friends of mine and never once a problem
for some reason, al likes to overpay for this service

as for the 180 days, it is now automatic
but legally one may only be in mexico for 180 days a year as a tourist
they can turn you away if they want to do so

otoh, you can get a renewal without going to belize at all
i have done this countless times and helped others to do it, too

ah, the misinformation is never ending
facts and opinions are two different things

misinformation indeed. First of all, anyone can take care of their renewal for nothing-except for the cost of the fm3. We choose not to-we use no lawyer but also a friend. That 180 days is not necesarily automatic. The agent writes the days down like he has in the past. I believe that everyone is getting 180 days-I hope that dont change. Steve if they give you lets say 90 days, of course you can go to immigration for an extension. However you HAVE to leave the country if you go past the 180 days. Lets make that clear. Immigration will not give you more than the 180-at that point you need to apply for an fm3

[playa mama]

I am in the processing of renewing my FM3 right now. First let me say that you do need an FM3 to have a valid car sticker for a car that you want to keep here. But you no longer have to go to Cancun to get the renewal sticker as long as your FM3 is valid.

I renew my FM3 in PDC and it costs me about $200 for the whole thing. I go to the man in the copy shop outside of immigration and have him write the letter, make the copies, fill out the application, etc. for about $22.

Then I go into immigration. The only thing I need to bring to renew my FM3 was my passport, FM3, letter and application form. But I am only renewing...last year when I applied for my 2nd FM3, I had to have lots of stuff, family history, fingerprints (they do them), bank statement, letter from police back home, letter from dr back home, electric bill, and application. It took 7 weeks to get.

This year there is a new renewal process and it takes 1-2 weeks. You can track the progress online...they give you the info for doing that. If you come during off peak seasons (May-October) you can get it done in less than a week. At the end you no longer have the little green book but a laminated card a little bigger than a drivers license.

I wasn't able to renew this year in MN like I did last year, but I'm hoping in the future that will be possible with the card.

Don't be afraid to do it. Yes, it involves a little work and patience waiting in line, but you certianly don't need to hire anyone, let alone a high priced attorney, to do this for you.

Good luck.

[snappysammy]

Originally Posted by maya

misinformation indeed. First of all, anyone can take care of their renewal for nothing-except for the cost of the fm3. We choose not to-we use no lawyer but also a friend. That 180 days is not necesarily automatic. The agent writes the days down like he has in the past. I believe that everyone is getting 180 days-I hope that dont change. Steve if they give you lets say 90 days, of course you can go to immigration for an extension. However you HAVE to leave the country if you go past the 180 days. Lets make that clear. Immigration will not give you more than the 180-at that point you need to apply for an fm3

technically, yes, in reality a big no
as for the 180, the policy now is 180 for everyone

and yes, one can procure and renew the fm-3 without hiring someone, but i love just going in to sign
as for getting a lawyer to do this, it is like using money to wipe your azZ

[Paw'boy]

Originally Posted by playa mama

Then I go into immigration. The only thing I need to bring to renew my FM3 was my passport, FM3, letter and application form. But I am only renewing...last year when I applied for my 2nd FM3, I had to have lots of stuff, family history, fingerprints (they do them), bank statement, letter from police back home, letter from dr back home, electric bill, and application. It took 7 weeks to get.

This year there is a new renewal process and it takes 1-2 weeks. You can track the progress online...they give you the info for doing that. If you come during off peak seasons (May-October) you can get it done in less than a week. At the end you no longer have the little green book but a laminated card a little bigger than a drivers license.



Good luck.

Please advise on your timeline after it is done. I am very interested to see if it only takes 2 weeks.

Also, is everyone here only talking about a living/retirement FM3 or is there anyone here doing a working visa?

[Solomon]

I changed from FM3 to FM2 (working) this year, I turned my paperwork in on the 24th of August and got my little laminated card on the 3rd of October. It was a fairly painless process.

[himynameisjan]

On a completely different note. I am getting our FM3's here in the US. A very fast and painless process. It costs approx. $135.00 per FM3. You do have to go to the consulate with a fair amount of paperwork, but it's not hard to gather up. Since the FM's changed in May, consulates in the US no longer issue the actual FM's, but you get a receipt for one that you turn into the IMN in Mexico. I am hoping that process takes less than 5 weeks, as that is all I will have.