IMMIGRATION OFFICE

AND YOUR FM-3

WHAT'S REQUIRED FOR AN FM-3

For those of you who either lease lots, rent houses, or have purchased property through a Fideicomiso Irrevocable, you must have an FM-3 to be legal in Mexico. Once you have signed any sort of contract, you are no longer a tourist. I would like to say at the outset, that if you do not have an FM-3 and you find yourself in a property dispute or other entanglement which puts you in the arms of juris prudence, you literally have no rights as an "illegal alien". This means your property, bank accounts, vehicles and personal belongings, are in jeopardy. The very minimum you need for owning or leasing property is the FM-3 which is renewable every year for 5 years at a typical cost of around $100 dlrs. The following is a list of items you will need to obtain your FM-3:

1. $l,000.00 dlrs per person, or $l,500 dlrs per couple deposited into either a Mexican or American bank account. If not deposited into a Mexican bank, you must obtain a letter from your bank, translated into Spanish stating you have funds available in that bank. This letter must have an APOSTILLE from the Secretary of State's office and is not the same thing as a notary seal.  The letter should be signed and sealed from a valid notary of your state, but in addition, you must have this apostille from your state's secretary's office. You can contact the secretary of state's office of your state for more information on obtaining the apostille.

2. A letter from you requesting the change of characteristic (from tourist to resident);

3. An FMT typewritten, which you can obtain from the Immigration Office.

4. Photos - two front and l of the side, in black and white.

5. The necessary "Form #5" (which can be purchased in any stationery store). They need six (6) originals.

6. A current passport.

7. FM1; A form which goes with your application for FM3 or FM2 , which you can pick up at the Immigration office.

Take all these to the Immigration office. Upon completion of your file, you will be asked to take the "Form # 5" to the bank where Fees* and IRS* are paid and receipted. They will keep 1 copy, and you will return the rest to the Immigration office. Now you're finished. It will take about 1 month for your file to go to Mexico and be returned with your new FM-3.

*The Fee - Total of $755.00 pesos plus the IRS of $286.00 pesos. Please note that the fee will be raised every four (4) months thereafter. These fees are in pesos.

You can do all the paperwork and running around yourself. Start at the Immigration office.

There are 3 classes of permits: FMT, FM-2 and FM-3.

FMT: Is a Tourist Visa. If you stay MORE THAN 72 hours you need a Tourist Visa. The cost is $153.00 pesos (17.00 U.S. dollars). This can be picked up at Immigration office or at the airport.

FM-3: is a Visa for temporary residents up to 5 years or longer if desired.

FM-2: is a Visa for permanent residents available after 5 years as a temporary resident.

Just a helpful hint from long-time returnees: After you get your FM-3, when you leave the country, you may like to get it date stamped at Immigration. This will facilitate the renewal process - (possibly late fines) if you return later than the one year expiration date.

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