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Living in México |
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You have completed your move, now it's time to settle in to your new life in a new country. Here are some of the things I have learned that may be helpful to you. Your Car's Permit, Insurance, and a Few Rules of the Road |
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Registering with INM: When you arrive at your new place of residence in México, one of the tasks high on your To Do list should be a visit to the INM (Instituto Nacional de Migración) office serving your area. You must register with them, and you need to visit soon to learn exactly what they want and to get the application form. You must do this registration within 30 days after you enter the country. (Later, if you change your address, you must to back to the INM to make a change of address.) Failure to register on time can result in a fine of $3,000 pesos. Go get the straight dope from your local office. In general you can expect to be asked for: FM3
and a copy of every page, including blank pages FM3 and passport will be returned application form that must to be typed, not written, and a copy 4 photos - 2 front and 2 side Annual FM3 renewal: Renewals
can only be made within México at your local INM office and must be made
within 30 days before your FM3 expires.
You already know where the office is.
Go back and ask what their requirements are. Prepare
a letter requesting the renewal with two copies.
This is the letter I use: Date Instituto
Nacional de Migración signature_________________ ________________________________________________________________________ In addition to the letter, you will need the following with two copies of each: (Some offices are now requiring only one copy of everything. Ask at your office.) Your FM3 visa booklet. Copy all pages, including the blank ones. Your passport. Copy all pages, including the blank ones. Proof of monthly income. Three months of recent statements from a Mexican or foreign bank or financial institution showing regular monthly deposits equal to or above the equivalent of 250 times the daily minimum wage in México City. In 2008 the min wage is $52.59 pesos, so the FM3 income requirement is about $13,147.50 pesos per month, or close to US$1,250 per month. The minimum wage increases a little on Jan 1 each year. If you use statements from a foreign bank, you may be required to present a translation done by an approved translator. Ask for instructions. If you own your home in México, the requirement is reduced by 50%. Bring title deeds of property in applicant’s name to show as proof. For each dependant (spouse, child) included on the applicant’s FM3, the income requirement is an additional 50%. Marriage certificates of spouses and birth certificates of children who are included on the applicant’s visa must also be presented. You will probably be required to have these translated into Spanish by an approved translator. The INM people will tell you what they want. Proof of address in México, such as telephone, water or electricity receipt (not more than 90 days old). Someone at the INM will fill out a payment form for you. Take the form to the bank and pay the fee of about $1,000 pesos. Return to the INM with the form, which is your receipt. Usually, you’ll have to fill out an application form for your first renewal, and that’s available at the INM, or they will tell you where to buy it. After your documents have been accepted by the INM, you will be given a receipt showing that your renewal is in process. Hold on to that! You’ll need to show that document if you’re driving and stopped by the Fiscal Police asking for your FM-3 while it’s in renewal. If you are out of the country when your FM3 expires, you can arrange a special extension of the renewal date by as much as 60 days. Look here for details: http://www.ajijiclaw.com/Forms.htm Fifth Year Renewal: You
FM3 booklet has room for four renewal stamps, so when number 5 comes up,
you will need to get a new booklet.
Once again go to the INM office to find out exactly what they
want. A new application form (typed) which you can get from them. And copies.
All the things listed above for a regular renewal.
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Your Car's Permit, Insurance, and a Few Rules Renewal of your car's permit: The car permit which you got at the border is valid so long as your FM3 is valid -- with renewals for as long as you wish. Look here to see the actual law that says your registration permit is valid so long as your visa is valid. Article 106 It also tells you who can drive your car. If you enter México with an FMT and while in country convert to an FM3, you will not be required to get a new car permit at that time. Your original registration continues to be valid so long as your FM3 is valid. However, if you ever drive out of México, at the border you are asked to turn in your FMT issued car permit and get a new one tied to your FM3 when you return. You are not breaking the law by driving with the old permit, but at the border they will want you to correct the disconnect. Update November 2006: Aduana is now asking that everyone turn in the permit when driving out of México even though you are planning to return. It is optional in the sense that there is no mechanism for enforcing the rule. It is a very good idea to follow the rule because if something happens to your car that you cannot return it to México, you will have a problem getting the dead car off the books. I have read so many sad stories from folks who did not turn in the registration and then found themselves with a BIG problem because they could not return the car. Be very sure to get a receipt showing that you turned in the permit, and bring it with you when you return in case the computer doesn't show that you turned it in.
In the past in order to keep your registration current, it was necessary to notify Aduana when you renewed your FM3. In March 2005 that rule was dropped. It is no longer required to notify Aduana UNLESS you registered your car using a cash deposit rather than a credit or debit card in which case the following still applies: (Everybody else can skip on down to Insurance.) Within 10 days after you renew your
FM3 or after you convert from FMT to FM3, you must
notify Aduana to continue your registration. You do not have to
go back to the border, you can do it by mail or in person if you live near
one of the 42 cities that have an Aduana office. There is no fee. You will not be given a new sticker or registration papers,
so be sure to keep a copy of the letter in your car attached
to the copy of the registration form that you should always carry in your
car. Do NOT carry the original in your car. You will need that
paper if anything happens to your car. Administración General de Aduanas [*= number of days of your FM3 renewal – usually 365] Lo que estoy avisando a esta
autoridad para los efectos del Articulo 106, fracción IV, inciso a de la
Ley Aduanera, con respecto a la importación temporal de mi vehículo:
Insurance in México: Automobile labiality insurance is not required, but it is VERY important to have it. I have devoted a separate page to this vital subject at Automobile Insurance. Insurance and registration back in the old country: Your car in México must have the license plates that were issued with your registration that you had when you arrived in México. (Or new plates if you change your registration.) From that time on, México has no interest in whether you keep that out-of-country registration up to date. Likewise they don't care what you do with your non-Mexican insurance. They are only interested in your plates for identification. Your "registration" in México is the permit you were issued at the border. Unless you need to drive back to the old country from time to time, you can probably save a goodly sum by letting registration lapse and canceling the insurance. If you return to the old country to live, all insurance companies will charge you a penalty for being uninsured for some period of time. Before you leave, talk with your insurance agent. He may be able to offer you a non-operating or storage policy that will keep you on the rolls for only a few dollars per year. Some of these holding policies also allow for short term re-activations when you want to return north for a visit. There are some states (NY, FL, perhaps others) that will suspend your driver's license if you do not maintain insurance on your car. This can cause you great problems if you want to drive in the USA at any time. (Unless you get a Mexican driver's license; it is recognized in the USA just as your USA license is OK in México.) In those states you need to arrange non-operating registration and insurance to save you driver's license. Or you need to register your car in another state with easier rules. A few years ago, if one wanted to drive back NoB with expired plates, it was possible to get a temporary permit to cover your expired license plates and to buy trip insurance. Those days are gone. It is no longer possible to work around expired plates or to get trip insurance. So if you are living in México with expired plates, forget about ever driving north again. If your plates are still good, and if you can reactivated your insurance, you can still make the trip Personally, you couldn't pay me to drive back. Fly and rent a car, it's cheaper and a lot less painful. Some Rules for your car: Who can drive my car? Anyone with a valid driver's license can drive your car IF YOU ARE IN THE CAR. If you are not present, the car can only be driven by family members and other foreigners with FMT, FM3 or FM2. Read Article 106. No matter how pressing the circumstances, don't loan your car to your Mexican friend, or gardener, or maid. etc. What is the penalty for breaking this rule? -- the confiscation of your car. Can I use my car to make money? No. Any for-hire use of the car is a violation of the permit. Consequence of cheating? -- confiscation of your car. Do I need a Mexican driver's license? No, if you have a valid license from the old country, it is OK in México. However, as the lady in my local license office explained to me, while the law says you don't need a Mexican license, some cops don't understand that and having a Mexican license may save a hassle. I have one. It was very easy to get. Since my California license was still valid, I did not have to take a written or driving test. Nor a vision test. All I had to do was fill out an application, have my picture taken in the office, pay some money, and, strangely, go to a local clinic to have a blood type test. My blood type appears on my license. Actually I think that is a good idea. Driver's licensing is a state matter, so the rules vary about what tests you may have to take and how much it costs. The states of Morelos, Puebla and Guerrero require only a tourist visa (FMT). The states of Durango and Coahuila will issue a license only to a citizen of México. All the other states require an FM2 or FM3 visa. Can
I own a Mexican plated car? Yes. What if my car is stolen? If it is recovered, you only need to deal with the local police and your insurance company. If it is not recovered, you will also need to deal with the Aduana/Banjercito. The basic view of the government is that an un-recovered stolen car could also be a car that you sold and then reported stolen. Unless they have a real reason to suspect you of the crime, they won't make a point of it, but you will have to pay a "tax" on the car that you cannot account for. Often the tax can be settled for 40% of what you get from your insurance company. You will have to pay this tax before you can clear the stolen car from the computer and thus be allowed to bring another car. If bringing in another is not an issue, then I guess you could just let the car ride on the records. I hope I don't ever have any first-hand experience with this. What if my car is destroyed in a wreck? There is a procedure for removing it from the records. Go to you local Aduana office for the forms and instructions. What if my car is broken down and not worth repairing? There is a procedure where by you can give the car to the Mexican government, and that gets it off the records.. Go see the Aduana. The Mexican government is very gung-ho about their car rules. Don't mess with them; you'll loose. Some Rules of the Road: If you hit a bicycle, it's your fault no matter what. All states allow a right turn on red. But not all cities allow it, so inquire locally. Seat belts are required by most states, but not all, so ask. Or use them to live longer. You will find that street signs and stop signs are not in great supply in Mexican towns and cities. This makes using a map a real chore. It also requires that you understand the local customs in regard to "implied" stop signs. For example, in Lerdo (my city) all north/south streets have the right-of-way, and all traffic on east/west streets must stop at every intersection whether there is a stop sign or not. There are a few streets that are exceptions to this rule. They are well marked with stop signs, thank goodness. In many larger cities the rules for implied stops are different in different parts of town. When in doubt, give the other guy the right-of-way -- you'll live longer. Where there are street signs, they are often on the side of a building rather than on a pole by the side of the street. The sign is typically a single line with the name of the street, and an arrow indicating the direction of traffic. The color of the sign acts as a traffic sign -- red=stop, green=right-of-way. Sometimes you will see a stop sign and a traffic light at the same intersection. Go by the light. Of course, when there is a policeman directing traffic, obey him. Railroad crossings are often without any signal device; sometimes there is not even a sign warning that tracks cross the highway. In my town a warning signal was recently installed at a crossing. The red lights flash all the time, 24/7. They are not connected to a sensor that turns them on when the train approaches. (I hope this is not going to become common practice at crossings. Ugh) The sign says Deje Piedras Sobre el Pavimento. Don’t leave stones on the pavement. It is customary when someone suffers a breakdown on a highway to pick up rocks and put them to the rear of the broken-down car to signal the hazard. Then when the car has been repaired or the tire changed, the driver usually drives away without clearing the rocks away. Last, and certainly not least, are the left turn and the left turn blinker problems. It has been my experience that commercial vehicles are pretty good about using turn signals, but most ordinary drivers are not. But what does the left turn blinker really mean? In town it most likely means the vehicle is going to turn left. On the open highway it may mean a turn is coming; but very often when it comes from a truck or bus, it is a courtesy signal indicating that is it safe to pass. Be very careful that you understand which it is before you start to pass. Some of the left turn rules are different from NoB. Lets consider several situations: If there is a left turn lane and an arrow light, no problem. If there is a left turn lane without a light (unlikely), turn when it is safe just like NoB. If you are on a one-way street, turning left is just like NoB. If you are on a two-way street without a light, turn from the left lane when it is safe just like NoB. But be careful to watch the car behind you that might mistake your left turn blinker as an OK-to-pass signal. If there is a traffic light with a left turn arrow, you can turn only on the arrow. Sometimes there will be a sign Vuelta con Flecha which means turn on the signal. In most cities if there is no left turn arrow with the traffic light, you are not allowed to turn left at that intersection even though there may not be a sign forbidding a turn. Inquire locally about the rule, or just go around the block. Out on the open highway, the situation is different and more dangerous. Here your left turn signal is more likely is be interpreted as an OK-to-pass signal, so be very careful. The rule says that you should pull to the far right and allow any following cars to pass before you make a left turn. In many places where the road to the left does not cross the highway (a "T" intersection), there will be a circular turn-out that allows you to swing around and face the highway as thought it were a true "X" intersection. Unfortunately, there are many highways were there is no space to pull to the right, so you just have to be very careful that you don't get overrun by the car behind. I usually pull a little over the center line to discourage the car behind from passing. Good luck finding a place to park. Go to this website for a lot of detailed information about driving in México: http://www.rversonline.org/ArtMexDrive.html |
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Accessing your money from your USA bank can be easy or a bit complicated depending upon your needs and your bank's rules/charges. Many people retiring to México have found that ATMs meet their needs for access to their money. Others, including me, have found benefits in having a bank account in México. There are pros and cons to each. Cashing a check at a Casa de Cambio is a third option. ATMs
are common all over México. You’ll
find them in every bank and most large grocery stores. They also offer a good exchange rate for converting dollars
from your home bank into pesos out of the machine.
Here are a few things you need to know: 1.
Your daily withdrawal limit is set by your home bank, not by the
ATM you are using although some machines have a built in limit per
transaction of around 4000 to 5000 pesos.
2. Your card should have a 4-digit PIN. 3.
The Mexican banking rules say that if an ATM retains your card for
any reason, the card will not be returned to you; it will be destroyed
by the bank. It is,
therefore, wise to bring two cards. México is still largely
a cash society. Almost everyone pays their bills (power, water, telephone, internet, etc) in cash in
person. Cable or satellite
service is usually paid by credit card, although cash is acceptable.
On-line bill paying is just beginning in México.
You can pay your power bill on line if your Spanish is good enough
to deal with the process. I find it much easier to pay at the office.
I pay the phone + internet bill at the grocery store. The down side of using
an ATM card is the fee charged by many banks for using their ATM card at a
foreign bank.
You should shop around to find a bank that does not charge a fee
for foreign withdrawals – they do exist. There are a few banks that offer free ATM usage in
México. Bank of
America has arrangements with two banks There is another US bank owned by a Mexican bank that offers free ATM, check cashing and check depositing bi-directionally, that is you can move dollars from the USA to pesos in México and pesos from México to dollars in the USA. The banks are Inter National Bank (INB) in Texas and Banorte in México. Look here: http://www.inbweb.com/ An account with INB can be opened through Banorte. I was told by a representative at Banorte that when one opens an account with Banorte, one can also opt for an account with Inter National Bank without going there and without the need for a USA address. I have not tried it, so I can't verify that it really works that way. A Mexican bank account: Back home you probably had a bank account to make billing paying easy. But in México you may not want to have an account for this purpose because so few businesses will accept a personal check. While you can pay some utility bills by check, you will still want to do so in person – you should NEVER entrust anything of value to the Mexican postal service. You should understand
that there is no Mexican equivalent Effective October 2003,
you can have your US Social Security check direct deposited to your bank
account in México, but you cannot have your IRA or company pension check direct-deposited to a Mexican account.
Since the big money laundering scandal a few years ago, Mexican
banking rules have gotten very strict.
Except for your SS check, you can deposit money in a Mexican bank in only two ways:
a cash deposit or a bank-to-bank wire transfer.
Wire transfers are expensive, and many US banks make them hard to
use. Sometimes a known, well
established customer may be allow to deposit a personal check drawn on a
foreign bank, but the deposit will be held for two or more weeks to be
sure the check clears. If you want a Mexican bank account, here are some things you
will need to do. 1. Choose a bank. In a moment I’ll explain why I chose Banamex and why you may want to do so too. 2.
Go to the bank to get an application.
If your Spanish is not good, take a translator with you. 3. You will need to show your FM3 and some form of proof of residency. This is usually a utility bill in your name at your address or a letter from your landlord. In most (all?) banks you cannot open an account with an FMT.
4. You will be asked
for names and addresses of two
references. Usually the bank
will
contact your references. This
is supposed to weed out drug dealers. I
chose Banamex because they make it possible to move money from the US via
the internet with no transfer fees for amounts greater than US$1,000,
lesser amounts pay a $5.00 transfer fee. Banamex
has a wholly owned subsidiary bank in the USA – California Commerce
Bank. I can transfer funds from CCB to Banamex via telephone or on the
internet and have the funds available in about one hour during banking
hours. There is no service change with CCB, and they pay a small
interest (2% currently). I
can use my CCB ATM card at Banamex without a fee. Banamex will also
cash personal checks drawn on my CCB account. You can have IRA, etc checks direct deposited to your CCB account, and then move the funds to Banamex as needed. You will be given an ATM card from CCB, but you should note that it is only an ATM card; it is not a check/debit card. You cannot use your CCB account for on-line bill paying. For on-line ordering and paying, I maintain another account at Bank of America. I have my IRA direct deposited in one and my SS in the other. The CCB account is for my regular living expenses; BofA is for on-line ordering and travel. You can find information
about the CCB/Banamex deal from any Banamex branch. Or you can call CCB directly.
The number is 1-800-222-1234 when calling from the USA.
The number from México is
01-800-111-1234. An automated voice system will answer. When asked for
your language, answer "English" then press 2. That will connect
you with an agent at the bank in Los Angeles without a toll charge. Be
sure to call during banking hours Los Angeles time. You
can open the account by mail and phone.
You do not have to be present at the bank in Los Angeles. There
is one interesting restriction on the CCB account.
It is intended for retired people living in México, so you must be
55 years or older. As one guy
said: “I never expected to carded by my bank.” The major drawback to this arrangement is that Banamex pays a very poor exchange rate on the transferred funds. Feb 2006 UpDate: The California Commerce Bank name has been changed to Citibank (Banamex USA). (What a strange name!) The web address, phone numbers, and service remain the same. Caution: This no fee service at Banamex is only available through Citibank (Banamex USA) in Los Angeles. It is NOT available from other Citibanks in other parts of the USA. Casa de Cambio: There is another option for moving your money to México. Many Casas de Cambio will cash your check drawn on a foreign bank. You will need to show them your FM3, proof of residency, etc. to establish an account. These businesses usually offer very good exchange rates -- certainly better than Banamex and probably as good as Bank of America. If you use this service, you should be very sure the check will not bounce. México is even more strict on hot checks than the USA -- you'll surely end up in jail. |
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You can only renew you passport at the US
consulate serving the area where you live in México. You must appear in
person.
http://México.usembassy.gov/eng/edirectory.html |
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First, I am not a lawyer and what follows is not legal advice; rather it is just some things to think about and discuss with a lawyer in your home country and another lawyer in México. If you have possessions in your home country and in México, you will need two wills -- one for each country. It is customary for a will to include a clause that cancels any other prior wills; you need to modify that clause to acknowledge the validity of a will in the other country. You can will property to a Mexican citizen, including your car. But the recipient cannot keep your foreign car in México. If you die in México, your family will need to contact the nearest consulate of your home country to make arrangements to convert the Mexican death certificate into one valid in your home country. You can find additional USA information at http://travel.state.gov/law/info/death/death_707.html You can be buried or cremated in México, or your body can be returned to your home country at a substantial cost. All cemeteries in México are public; there are no church cemeteries -- it's part of the Mexican Constitution that places some restrictions on religious organizations. |
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Traveling with a dog: Most hotels in México will not let your friend in the door, so taking him on a trip can be a big pain. Here is a website that has searched out some hotels around the country that will welcome him: http://gringodog.home.comcast.net/pet-friendly.htm Politics: As a guest resident in México, you have no right to be involved in Mexican politics; in fact, it is strictly forbidden. If you are caught engaging in any political activity, you will be expelled from the country. This prohibition includes making political speeches, engaging in demonstrations, signing petitions, etc, and, of course, voting in any kind of Mexican election. Even a bumper sticker could get you in trouble. Voting:
You may continue to vote
in your home country if they allow voting by people living outside the
country. Citizens of the USA are allowed absentee voting. To
learn how to register click here: Taxes: There are a number of important tax laws that you need to learn about. But the subject is too complex (and important) for me to discuss, so I suggest that you check out these web links: General Advice on Taxes: More useful information can be found on these websites: http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categories.cfm?catid=17 http://mexconnect.com paid registration required, well worth the small cost.
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