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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. Care and Feeding of Your FM3 and FM2 updated 15 March 2012 Renewing your US Passport updated 20 October 2011 Stuff and Things updated 26 December 2011
Please be aware that rules and regulations change from time to time and some Mexican authorities sometimes put their own interpretations on the rules. While I have tried to keep the information here accurate and up-to-date, you may find variations. The INM is still trying to come to grips with the new procedures, so don't be surprised if your INM office has a somewhat different take on the rules. If you do find situations that differ from what you read here, I would like to hear from you at rolly@rollybrook.com. |
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Care and Feeding of Your FM3 and FM2 Registering with INM if you applied at a consulate:
When you apply for an FM3 or FM2 at a
consulate in your home country, the consulate will attach a special form
to your passport. With this attachment, you will have 180 days to make your move to México.
Once you arrive in México, you will have only 30 days to go
When you enter México, be sure to get an FMM which you will need to turn in to the INM office when you complete your visa application. If you fail to have an FMM to turn in, you will face a fine of $1,196 pesos.
When you
present your documents at the INM office, they will want you to fill out a
Formato Básico and give them
some pictures for the form and for you new visa
Annual FM3 and FM2 renewal: Renewals can only be made within México at your local INM office and must be made within 30 days before your FM3/2 expires. There is a myth that you have a 30-day grace period after the renewal date in which you can do a late renewal without a penalty. This is not true. There is no grace period. The fine for late filing is a minimum of $1,196 pesos. The exact amount will depend on the lateness. There is a 60-day grace period if you are out of México when your visa expires. If you return during that 60-fay window, get yourself in gear to do your renewal promptly, and you won't be fined. You will need proof that you were gone -- airline receipts and boarding passes should help.
INM has a webpage where you must create a
personal account that will begin the process. This is not
optional, you must apply online. If you are married or have
children, each person must make their own application.
You will need to take the following to the INM office.
They will
tell you if anything more is required. They will give you a
payment form to take to
the bank to pay the fee.
No Inmigrante
Inmigrante ( The 2012 minimum monthly income requirements for a single person, each dependent adds 50%.
In most, but not all offices, you no longer need to take bank statements or proof of address. Instead you must write a letter in Spanish stating that nothing has changed in your income or residence. Here are two sample letters: The first one is for an FM3 renewal.
Instituto Nacional de Migración Yo bajo protesta de decir verdad declaro que mantengo las mismas condiciones y actividades realizadas bajo las cuales me fue concedida mi característica migratoria No Inmigrante
__________________________
____________ The following text was written for me by an INM lady for an FM2.renewal:
Instituto Nacional de Migración Por medio de la presente, solicito a usted un refrendo de mi inmigrante.[FM2 number] para vivir de los recursos traídos del exterior con domicilio en [your city, state]. Yo protesto de decir la verdad que subsisto bajo las mismas condiciones que me fue autorizada.
__________________________
____________
Yo,
[your name],
bajo protesta de decir verdad declaro que mantengo las mismas
condiciones y actividades realizadas bajo las cuales me fue
concedida mi característica migratoria
Some INM offices are still requiring bank statement in addition to the letter. Check with your office for their wants. Checking on the progress of your renewal can done from this website. The Pieza is your application ID number. The INM office will give you the Contraseña (password) and the NUT numbers when they accept your papers. After you enter the Pieza and Contraseña, click on Buscar, and a new page will come up asking you to select the NUT -- probably only one choice. Then all the particulars of your application will appear. Leaving the country while an application is pending: The new renewal procedure is much faster than the old one, but there still could be a situation requiring you to leave the country while your renewal is in the hands of the INM. There is a procedure to take care of that. It's called Permiso de Salida y Regreso. You can apply at the INM office where they will sell you a permit that you can use to exit and reenter the country. There is a PDF form here that you can print and fill out before going to the office if you wish. FMM extension: An FMM has a maximum time limit of 180 days and cannot be renewed. The amount of time given is at the desecration of the INM agent at the border. 180 days is the norm, but if a shorter time is given, this form can be used to request an extension up to the maximum of 180 days.
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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.
This website is for renewing by mail, which you cannot do from México,
but it contains useful information and will lead you to the application
form which you will need to fill out and take to the consulate.
Use the option for filling out the form on line; it is easy and works
well, You need to contact your consulate to find out their hours and local rules. Here is a list of consulates with links to their websites: http://México.usembassy.gov/eng/edirectory.html If you live near México City, you can go to the Embassy. |
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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 want to have two wills -- one for each country. México, like most other courtiers, has reciprocal agreements to honor wills from other countries. However, the paperwork required to use a foreign will in México is so onerous that separate wills are the best. 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 or the executor of your will must contact the nearest consulate of your home country to make arrangements to convert the Mexican death certificate into one valid in your home country. If you are receiving USA social security, the consulate can notify SS to cancel your checks. You can find additional USA information here. 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. Some cemeteries allow the pre-need purchase of a burial plot (I have bought mine); others assign plots in the order of need. Some cremation services offer a pre-paid plan. |
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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.com Politics: As a guest resident in México, you have no right to be involved in Mexican politics; in fact, it is strictly forbidden by the Mexican Constitution. 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. Participation in non-political actions is allowed. Here is a translation on the germane parts of 2 articles from the Constitution. Article 8 - Public officials and employees shall respect the exercising of the right of petitioning, as long as it is formulated, by writing, in a calm and respectful manner. However, in political matters only citizens of the Republic shall have use of this right. Article 9 - The right to associate or peacefully assemble for any lawfulpurpose shall not be abridged; but only citizens of the Republic may do so in order to take part in the political affairs of the country.,,, By singling out political matters, it seems reasonable to believe that actions regarded as non-political are OK. The rub comes from who gets to decide what is political and what is not. Well folks, it ain't us. This will be done by a politician/bureaucrat. Depending on how many stripes he has on his sleeve, his definition could result in a heap of woe for the expat that roiled him. Bottom line: Pick your causes with care lest you get a quick trip to the border. The Mexican Constitution: Look here for the 2009 version of the Constitution. 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: |
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