Job Discussion Forums

jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

Just wondering what happens to my tourist visa after I get my FM3 work visa? Also, will I need to go to immigration once I get my work visa and turn in my tourist visa? Will I have to file for a change of status or will the school I'll be working for do all of that for me? What about if I leave Mexico to visit the States? Just show them my work visa?

I always turned in my tourist visa when I left Mexico if I was flying, but the two times I took a bus, I never turned in my tourist visa because the bus would never stop at an immigration ofice on the way back to the States.

Dragonlady · Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:16 am Post subject:

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Dragonlady · Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:31 am Post subject:

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

Yes, you must get your FM3 (or FM2) stamped when exiting Mexico. The Immigration office in the airport takes care of this important detail.

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

WHen you make the application for your FM3, immigration will take your tourist visa. They will give you the 'solicitud de tramite migratorio' as previously mentioned. This allows you to be in the country legally (but not to work legally) while they are processing your application. Technically, they are supposed to process your application within 30 days. If you need to need to leave the country during that time, you must get special permission to leave. Some offices will do this and some won't.

After you get your FM3, you will need it, your passport, and a 'FME para extraneros" to leave and return to Mexico. You get this form at the airport. The FME para extranjeros is also called "Forma Rosa," which is what the immigration officers and the airline desk agents call it (at least at the airports I dealt with). Depending on who has them, you'll get this from from either an immigration officer or a gate agent. The immigration officer always filled mine out for me and they have to stamp it. There are two copies, one for you and one for the airline desk agent, which they take in lieu of your tourist visa. The immigration office will also stamp a page called "Registros de Salida" toward the back of your FM3 (page 15 in mine). Do not lose the copy of the Forma Rosa that you get. You will need it to re-enter Mexico. When you come back you will present your passport, FM3, and Forma Rosa to immigration. They will take the forma and stamp the page called "Registro de Entradas" in your FM3, also toward the back (page 16 in mine). Some airports will let you go through the mexican citizens line (shorter and faster), some won't.