Immigration
Information
Rule
changes, higher prices, and rumors all contribute to the confusion surrounding
your legal status here in Mexico. We would like to help clarify some of
this confusion. Lets start with the 4 basic statuses in which you can be
here in Mexico.
1)
FMT – Better known as a Tourist
Visa. This is the migratory document you receive when entering Mexico, either
driving or flying.
2)
FM3 – This is your temporary migratory
document you apply for here or at a Mexican Consulate in the US or Canada.
Good for 5 years, renewable ever year.
3)
FM2 – This is your permanent migratory
document you can only apply for here in Mexico. Good for 5 years, renewable
ever year.
4)
Inmigrado - This is the status
you obtain after having an FM2 and abiding by its rules for 5 years.
Most
common myths for these 4 migratory statuses
FMT
– Need a passport to obtain? False. All that is required for an FMT is your
birth certificate and the new fee of $210 pesos.
FM3
– Must be a least 55 to apply? False. Some Consulates in the U.S. state
this, but this is not true if applying in Mexico. Any age can apply as long
as you meet the requirements such as the monthly income requirement.
FM3
– As long as my FM3 is up to date, my foreign plated vehicle is also legal?
True. It has been rumored that one must drive back to the US/Mexico border
and re-register their vehicle, which is false, even if the windshield decal
is expired. As long as the registered owners migratory status is legal,
so is their vehicle.
FM3
– If I’ve obtained my FM3 outside of Mexico, I must register it when I come
to Mexico? True. You have 3 months to come into Mexico and register it.
If you come after the 3-month period, Immigration will confiscate it when
entering the country.
FM2
– I cannot leave the country for more than 3 months a year, or a total of
18 months over 5 years? True. These are the rules outlined by the Mexican
government.
FM2
– I must have an FM3 for a number of years before I can apply for an FM2?
False. You can apply for an FM2 right from a Tourist Visa.
Inmigrado
– I’m no longer allowed to drive a foreign plated car in Mexico? True. However,
there are special considerations for those people whom have had a foreign
plated vehicle in Mexico for over 5 years who have switched to Immigrado.
It involves petitioning the Government.
Other
Facts
Some
other facts to remember: when applying for these documents (except for the
FMT) you must photocopy every page of your passport, including the cover,
even if the pages are blank. They also require a proof of address, such
as a lease, deed, phone bill etc. Another major change is that Immigration
will no longer accept bank statements printed off the Internet. The reason
is that it is just too simple to change the amounts of income on these statements
by cutting and pasting your statements into a document. Bank statements
from Canada, the US, or your offshore investment house are all accepted
from Immigration. If you want to work in Mexico, you can have a work permit
added to your FM3 or FM2. If you are Inmigrado, you can work with only having
to inform Immigration, no permit is required.
The
prices of these migratory documents go up every year, and this year is no
exception. These are the taxes that must be paid when applying for your
documents: FMT $210 pesos -
FM3/New $1432 pesos - FM3/Renewal
$1038 pesos - FM2/New $2783 pesos – FM2/Renewal $2247 pesos.
These prices are just the taxes required by the State, these prices do not
include fees for any official translations or other associated fees.
Back
to Legal Tips Menu
Adriana
Perez Flores
www.ajijiclaw.com