Job Discussion Forums

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Has anyone out there applied for and obtained an independent FM3 under the title Persona de Negocios (Business Visitor) without school sponsorship?

MO39 · Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 1:26 am Post subject:

I'd be interested in finding out about that too. During my recent stay in Mexico City, several schools that I contacted might have offered me work if I'd already had my FM-3.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I should have added also - without being married to a Mexican, having children here, nor having someone respond for you.

I paid a visit today to investigate someone's attempt at getting such an FM3 and it seems easy to do by the checklist, but there has to be something missing. Hoping for someone's experience...

For people retiring in Mexico and showing income from abroad...this is something different. I mean, to be able to engage in lucrative activities.

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

Does being a business visitor limit the amount of time someone could work in Mexico? I think I read somewhere that you're limited to being there for a month at a time. I am trying to investigate how to come to Mexico as a business person, without having to limit the amount of time I am in the country. Any clues? And does it mean getting involved with Hacienda? Shocked

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

When you arrive on a plane, the visa form you get offers two options...tourist or business visitor. I'm not 100% sure, but I think this 30 days visa is for people who do sales or otherwise are only visiting for a short period. FM3 "Persona de Negocios" would be for longer stays, when you work representing a foreign company not represented in Mexico, a foreign company with branches in Mexico, a foreign 'inversionista' already in Mexico, or for a foreign government's company (not sure on that last one), as I read it here from the checklist migra gave me yesterday.

It would seem, Loz, that you can get a multiple entrance/exit FM3, on an independent 'persona de negocios' application to engage in lucrative activities in Mexico with a mere letter explaining your activities. This is article 12 of the checklist if anyone gets hold of it.

It can't be that simple...I don't know what's missing as the checklist isn't very clear on this part. I plan to go into migra again next week to see more about this.

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

This is phenomally interesting! I am going to try to wade through whatever I can find online, to see what I can figure out. I just hope there isn't some horrible "as long as you're not in competition with Mexican businesses" loophole.

MO39 · Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:06 pm Post subject:

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

That is the critical question...

The vast majority of foreigners probably use the retiree visa, student visa, or be sponosred either by a Mexican employer or a foreign employer. I was discussing this with my wife to come up with a list of professions where a person would normally or likely be independent, and wish to do business in Mexico.

Translator/interpreter
Tutor
Foreign products distributor
Lawyer (perhaps)
Sports or entertainment agent
Headhunters
Consultants
Author/writer

In every case, you would have to be 'dado de alta' with hacienda (registered with the Mexican tax authorities) to issue honorarios, which is a common way to get paid. Well, there's cash of course, but the jobs above would most likely deal in honorarios IMO.

MO39 · Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:41 pm Post subject:

Although they don't apply to me, possible professions to be added to your list could be "artist", "photographer" and "musician".

M@tt · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 473 Location: here and there

bootblack, haberdasher, smithy...

(note lack of quotes, indicating that these are, in fact, real professions)

some waygug-in · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 339

I know a couple of people who have done this. Although it has been 5 years since they did it, but they are still in Mexico.

When they applied for their FM3 they just applied as an independant teacher. I don't think it was any more difficult than a regular FM3. The only difference being that you have to hire an accountant to look after taxes. Depending on who you hire, that can be a costly endeavor.

That's about all I know about it.

Hope this helps.

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

What if you apply for an FM3 as an independent teacher and then go work for a company?

I used to do this in my home country, and would just invoice the college where I worked. They paid me more per hour than the teachers on salaries to cover all of the perks that I was missing out on. Is that possible in Mexico with the honorario system?

Also, what if you do say 15 hours of teaching a week, but then also have a job in say, a ruler factory, to help with income? Do you think that would work within the confines of the independent FM3??

I have a dream of recreating my old life in Oz, but with teaching English instead of what I used to teach, and combining that with my other work/hobbies to have the perfect life. Or am I dreaming?

Cheers,
Lozwich.

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

I just found this website.... http://www.inami.gob.mx/ Its a bit hard to get around, (what do you mean, Lozwich??? Mexican bureaucracy that is difficult to fathom and full of contradictions??? Laughing

) but maybe its a start.

Although, just now I'm thinking a visit to a Mexican Consulate might be a bit easier...

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

snorklequeen · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:13 am Post subject: FM-3 [personal de negocios]

fascinating!

what proof do you need of your independent business? does it say? need to prove an annual income? need company formation documents? US tax returns?

despite the vast differences in the two legal systems, a US attorney could act as a consultant to a Mexican lawyer on the US legal system, or some aspect of it