Job Discussion Forums

MO39 · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:16 pm Post subject: Independent FM3?

Hi Everyone,

I've been living and teaching in Madrid since January and am heading back to the States in about a week.

After making sure that my early-retirement pension from Social Security will indeed be forthcoming and figuring out how to send those lovely checks to a bank in the DF, I hope to wend my way back to Mexico in early September. Since my pension will not be enough to cover all my expenses, I plan to teach English a few hours a week. I know that there is now a way to apply for (and pay for, of course) an FM3 on your own, but I have no idea what the process involves, how long it takes, how much it costs, and so on.

I welcome comments from anyone who has recently applied for and received this invaluable work visa!

Marsha

J Sevigny · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 161

Every immigration office here is different, as you probably know. I think you need to get to the place you're going to be working and ask for the requirements there. Don't forget to get everything apostilled before you come.

Clear the Air · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 21

I have an independent FM-3. The process was relatively easy. Of course, it involved returning to immigration many times, but since I didn�t live far, it wasn�t too much of an issue. As the other poster said, every office is different. Be pleasant, appreciative, and play dumb with the clerks there. Make friends, as this will greatly facilitate things and you�ll be seeing a whole lot of them. If you can manage to befriend one clerk and return to see that person every time, that would be best. Because different clerks can say different things, but if you stick with one it�ll be easier.

Regarding what paperwork you�ll need, a couple things that come to mind: 1) a bank statementfor three recent consecutive months, proving that you have an income 2) a copy of your airline ticket/receipt 3)apostilled diploma, likely with a certified translation that can be done in town

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Thanks for posting that info. Did they explain why they would need a copy of your airline ticket? I hadn't heard of that requirement and obviously not everyone (especially those in the country for a long while) would be able to produce one of those. Is your FM3 good for a year, or for 6 months? Some offices are issuing 'Independiente' FM3's for only 6 months and others seem to be processing for a year. My local office is taking the 6 month route, which can get expensive.

Clear the Air · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 21

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

I got my FM3 independente in the Merida immigration office(yucatan). I needed a letter typed expressing the reasons why I wanted to live in Mexico and what my plans for my residency were, a copy of the utilities bill for my habitation,(this did not need to be in my name and I just asked my landlord to borrow a recent but not current electrical bill, I made copies of it, showed the original to immigration and they kept the copy), bank statements from the US and Mexico, and a copy of each and every page of my passport . I also had to get a passport sized photogjraph to be pasted in the FM3 passbook, and went to the bank twice for payments, the first time to switch out of tourist status and that cost me 380 pesos and a second time for the application for FM3 status which cost me 1680 pesos. When I went to renew the FM3 for my second year here, I paid the bank 1903 pesos in only one trip since I then did not have to paperwork out of tourist visa status.
It took me all of 8 trips to immigration the first time and the second time took me 6. In speaking with other people who went through the process, their trip numbers were similar. Twelve years ago, the process was even more wieldly and took 14 trips, but the office has become computerized in the meantime.
By the way, Marsha, Paul Light is interested in hearing from you. He is compiling a group show from the co-op and quite a few people are on board.

MO39 · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:32 am Post subject:

Thanks to everyone for your helpful postings. I do have a couple more questions:

How much money do the authorities want to see in your three consecutive bank accounts?

Do you have to mention what you'll be doing to support yourself while living in Mexico on the independent FM-3?

I'm looking forward to being back in the States for a couple of months, where I'll have an internet connection at home and won't have to hike to the nearest computer cafe to find a free computer to stay in touch!

MO39 · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:57 pm Post subject:

I'm back in the States for the moment and am ever so happy to have an Internet connection at home. I know that every immigration office has different requirements for applying for FM3's, so it would be very helpful to me to hear from someone who's applied for one in the last year or so in the DF. I'm especially concerned about the three bank statements mentioned by a couple of posters since I won't have a ton of money in my US account.

Mil gracias,

Marsha

jessn · Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 20 Location: Vermont, USA

I wish I had an answer for you; instead, I have another question about independiente visas: Can they be used to teach at the university level? or only for private tutoring?
I am hoping that if I can jump the hoops to get an independiente then I will be ready to legally do any sort of teaching job, thus making it somewhat easier for the person who (hopefully) hires me. Thanks,
Jess

MO39 · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:45 pm Post subject:

Jess, that's what I'm hoping too, that having an independent FM3 will make it easier for any school who might consider hiring me. The last time I was in Mexico (in fall of 2005), several schools I spoke to would not even consider hiring me because I didn't have working papers.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

Yes, the independente FM3 can be used for university teaching. Been there, done that.

MO39 · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:54 pm Post subject:

I realize that it will take several trips to the local immigration office to jump through all the hoops needed to get an independent FM3. What I'm wondering now is how much time will probably elapse between the first and last visit; in other words, how long will I most likely have to wait before I receive the FM3 and can show it to prospective employers? If there's anyone who's done this recently in the DF, I'd especially appreciate hearing from him or her!

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Mo, I get the impression that many teachers working in el DF do so without work permits, which is why you haven't had much of a response from teachers who are actually legal there. This will leave you to chart new territory. My impression is that you will be far better off getting a solid job offer and having said employer sponsor you for a regular work permit. That may be easier if you can't show the minimum income or a lump sum equal to 12 months of the minimum requirement, and it may be the realistic option in order to work legally. Just my random thoughts after watching the non-existent or vague responses to your posts by folks who supposedly work legally on this type of FM3.

P.S. My understanding of this process is that you still need to keep Migracion informed of the places you work.

MO39 · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 3:25 am Post subject:

Samantha, when I was in living in Mexico City in fall 2005, it was very difficult to find a school that would either hire me without papers or offer to hire me and sponsor me for a work visa. Maybe I was looking in the wrong places.

melisssssa · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:12 pm Post subject: FM3 vs regular work permit?

SAmantha and Marsha,
you mentioned the FM3 in contrast to a regular work permit. I haven't been successful in finding clear guidelines on the migracion website--what exactly is the difference there?

thanks
Melissa