On the second day of my visit I had an appointment with Adriana at
Yucatan Expatriate Services. Their website offers an amazing list of services to assist foreigners in relocating to Mexico. The plan was to begin my application for an FM3 visa which allows one to stay in Mexico beyond the period of the simple tourist visa and can be renewed annually. What I did not know is that you must remain in the country for the entire process, which is three weeks give or take a day or two. Since I would be here for only a week this visit, the FM3 would have to wait. I am still working part-time, so arranging a three week vacation during the summer months will be a little dicey. Adrianna told me that many of the Mexican Consulates in the United States no longer process visas ( visae?), but the Consulate in Washington still lists this service on their website, so I just sent an e-mail to see if that is a possibility. Other people have told me that they were able to obtain their FM3 in the states. D.C. is a 3 & 1/2 hour drive from Norfolk - inconvenient but not out of the question. The website states that I will need a valid passport, two front-facing passport photos, a police report (how do I get that?), and proof that I have a monthly income of $1000.00 US.
Adriana is quite knowledgeable about all things expat and gave me lots of good (free) advice. I'm certain we will utilize their services (very reasonably priced) in the future. If anyone is considering a move to Merida or anywhere in Mexico, check out their website.
Some friends just came down with the visa from the Wash DC consulate. It's basically just a one time only entry visa, they still had to do all of the same paperwork (and the same 3 weeks) as doing it for the first time. Not worth it unless you need it for something else.
ReplyDeleteFor my first couple of years in Mérida, I also was working up north and traveling back and forth. A tourist visa worked without a hitch. I switched to an FM3 when I began living here full time, and now have an FM2. You should be fine with tourist visas for the time being. It is probably easier for you to get your FM3 when you have more time here. If you are here, it's not a big deal.
ReplyDeleteI just finished renewing my FM2 in Mérida (which is no more or less complicated than the FM3). The Immigration office here is efficient and staff friendly and helpful. I made three visits over a time frame of about two weeks, total time involved about two and a half hours. The initial application for an FM2 or FM3 takes a little longer.
I wonder if that web site you looked at is out of date. In six years of having an FM3/2 I have never needed a police report. I was told that they had dispensed with that. These days, they request color front-facing (3) and profile (2) photos, of a size slightly smaller than passport. In Mexico, it's called "infantil."
For the initial application in Mérida, they require a letter of application to the director (in Spanish) of the local office of the National Immigration Institute (INM), three months' financial statements to prove income, a "comprobante de domicilio," which is an electric, water or phone bill showing your address, and if you own your home (which allows you to have less income) a copy of your escritura, or deed. For the initial application you also need your tourist visa to show you are legally in the country, and two letters of recommendation from Mexicans who know you along with copies of their ID's. You need to bring with you photocopies of all the original documents, which they will keep after verifying that they are true copies of the originals.
Unless I have forgotten something, that's about it. One thing I notice is that the requirements seem to vary depending upon who you ask and where you are applying. Perhaps there is some leeway or the requirements differ due to region. This is what I have experienced in Mérida.
Here's what I wrote last year about going in to Immigration:
ReplyDeletehttp://marcoyucatan.blogspot.com/search/label/Instituto%20Nacional%20de%20Migración
Thanks Marc and Jonna for the info. Marc, it's good to know that you had no problem with just the tourist visa for those couple of years. Hopefully, that will work for us as well.
ReplyDeleteHey, We are working with Adriana Cruz with YES and she is great in all aspects. Very professional and on top of things. We just purchased a home and the Law Firm Puerto y Pina which is the YES partner firm was/is fantastic also.....We are from NC and maybe we can talk sometime as we are neighbors, sort of, here in the USA and soon to be in Merida.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the purchase of your home in Mérida. Would love to chat sometime. You can reach me via e-mail at jbnewfreedom@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteJerry where in NC are you from? I'm moving to Mexico in August. I'm really excited about the job opportunity that I have there in Guanajuato. Should I wait until I'm there to get my fm3 or get it now in Raleigh?
ReplyDeleteI believe that Jerry C. is in Raleigh, as well. We are in Norfolk. We are told by Yucatan Expat Services that you must be in Mexico for the entire process of obtaining the FM3, which takes 3 weeks from start to finish. Once you arrive in Guanajuato for your job you can start the process. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteJohn