If you are wondering why it has taken me so long to write another blog, it isn't because I am lazy (which I am) or because I am out of ideas (which is also true). It is because my Internet has not been working except a few hours in the middle of the night or early in the morning. When the company was called, they said, "we are working on it" In Mexico that translates to "we do not have a clue". This has been going on for almost a month. It is Mexico!!
When you enter Mexico, you are given a six month visa. With a FM3 card, you are considered a legal resident and can stay as long as you want. Since I planned on returning every 4 or 5 months for doctors, etc. I did not see the need for one. Then I began to hear more reasons to apply. You cannot open a bank account here without an FM3 (I have yet to decide if I need an account here). As a senior you can use the card to apply for a discount on buses and Mexican Airlines. Then I heard that within the first six months you can bring a whole household down here with no duty. I do have "stuff I would like to have shipped down here, so after a friend of mine got his card, I decided to apply.
He paid a lawyer 1,800 pesos, plus fees to handle it for him. My apartment manager said they had a lawyer who would handle it for 1,500. Then a new friend told me that I could do it on my own and he would take me to the immigration office, and walk me through it. How could I resist?
Part One was easy. I waited only about 20 minutes for the "downstairs" lady" to go over my paper work. I was told that among other items, I needed to copy every page of my passport. The first thing she did was to rip off the first two pages and throw the rest away. She gave me a form that had to be filled out in Spanish, told me a needed a "request letter' and gave me a bill of about $40.00. You can't pay her, but must find a bank (about a half mile away), pay the bank and get a receipt, then make two copies of the receipt. My friend then took me to a woman about a block down the street who filled out the form and printed out the letter for about $2.00. Next the trek to the bank to get the receipt.
Once I had the receipt and the copies made across the street at an Internet cafe, I carried the paper work back to the "downstairs lady" She looked over the paper work and gave me a number and sent me upstairs. My number came up in about 15 minutes. Every paper was stamped with something then he told me to check their web site for when the card was approved in about 10 days.
I found the web site, but of course it was all in Spanish, so I had a friend of mine check it. Within one week, the web site said it was ready. On my own, I managed to find the place and went to see the downstairs lady. I waited for almost an hour for her to check my status and give me another bill that I had to take to the bank. I raced off, but the bank wasn't operating. It was open, but not working (maybe their computers). A man told me to come back in two hours. Since the Immigration place closed at 2:00, I had less than an hour. He directed me down the street to the next bank. I asked how far and he said it was "a couple of blocks" I walked for 15 minutes and no bank. Then I spotted an American walking toward me that looked like he lived here. I asked him. He said the bank in the direction I was headed was about a 30 minute walk, but there was one in the other direction. I told him I was just there and the bank was not working. He told me that there were three banks there. ( I guess the guy was directing me to one of their own branches.) I raced back with less than 30 minutes to go. I found the other bank, got my receipt, got the duplicate and raced back to Immigration. I had 5 minutes to spare, but luckily once you are inside they continue to process you application.
It took about an hour, but I finally got my FM3 card. I am now officially a Mexican resident. I thought
this would make it easier to go in and out of Mexico. No so! Before I leave the country I have to go to an immigration office at the airport and get permission to leave (Nothing is easy in Mexico). Now I must find out what kind of paper work I need to get my "stuff" sent here without paying duty on all of it.
I went back to the same "downstairs lady" and found out that there are forms I must get at the Customs office at the airport. Stay tuned.......
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