Job Discussion Forums

[gypsygirl1475]

Hi everyone hope yall's holidays were good?
I know this has probably been discussed somewhere before but here goes anyways.
My husband and I are departing for Mexico on Feb. 8, he is a citizen of Mexico and I am an American citizen entering on a tourist visa. Can we take funishing across the border? We got new bedroom funiture a couple of months ago before we made the final decission to move permanently down there, so now we don't know what to do. Other than this we don't have much else to take.
I also understand that we may have to pay taxes if we can. Should we just sell everything?

[notamiss]

Yes, you can bring your furniture and basically any other household goods you want (clothes, books, dishes, etc). Been there, done that. A bit of paperwork is involved, but it's not too strenuous; the part that may be the most time-consuming is making a list of everything. See the relevant sites from this search: (http://www.google.com/search?q=%22menaje+de+casa%22+site%3Agob.mx) for details.

[gypsygirl1475]

Thanks! I'll have my husband readd over it. Still learning spanish.

[notamiss]

[gypsygirl1475]

Ok,
We are about to leave in a week without the furniture. I bought a '89 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 (Sport Utility Limited) for our tip down.
My question: Has anyone recently crossed the border? Does anyone know the updated bond rates, or procedures for crossing?
I have read several sites, but they need to be updated.

[Samantha]

The only time you need to worry about leaving a cash bond for the vehicle is if you don't have a credit card in your name. Your vehicle permit will be issued with a charge of about $30.00USD on your card. Your driver's license, vehicle registration/title, and credit card must be in the same name. You will also need to arrange a Mexican tourist insurance policy for your vehicle.

[gypsygirl1475]

I have a bank debit/atm ard with Visa on it, sometimes it gets chrged for credit not debit, will this work?

How do I know the insurance I get for Mexico is a real company? I've gotten quotes from Mexpro already.

Do you have to run to the border to get a new permit or can you do it in the city?

On the consulate website it said you can not sell your vehicle for profit, but what about giving it to someone?

Most of the websites I have looked at need updating badly, and the consulate is hard to reach over the phone and never return email. Their website is also very vague with details.

[Samantha]

You may not or may not get away with a debit card, as I have heard varying tales about this, depending on your crossing point. And that may have changed as things do. In the website below, he says a "check/debit card" is okay. (I have posted the bond rates here previously, and if worse comes to worse you would withdraw money from an ATM and post the bond.)

You cannot sell or "give" your car away in Mexico. The temporary permit you sign for at the border states that you are responsible to make sure the vehicle is removed from Mexico, having the permit scraped off and obtaining a receipt, as you leave. If you decide to sell it, and the purchaser wishes to bring it back into Mexico, he would do so under his own name. As long as the car is in Mexico with your permit attached to it, you are legally responsible.

You will want to get an FM3 within the 180 days allowed on your FMT-tourist visa, and then your car is legal to stay as long as your FM3 is current. Permits can only be issued at the borders, so if you do not get your FM3, you will need to take yourself and your car across the border and return with new documentation.

Here is an up-to-date website you should read for all sorts of information about moving to Mexico. He keeps up on all the recent changes and for the most part is as accurate as you can be in keeping up with changes. www.rollybrook.com and in particular this specific page of his site http://rollybrook.com/how_to_move_to_mexico.htm

[ls650]

Question for those FM3 holders with imported vehicles:
I will be returning to Mexico (hurray) in April with a car I've bought here in Canada. Once I get my FM3 completed, I plan to stay in Mexico for sometime and keep the car for local transportation. I'm wondering - what happens if the car has a major break-down or is a write-off in a crash? Do you need to file some special paperwork before you can import another vehicle?
(Please note I'm not actually planning to crash my car or anything...)

[Samantha]

ls650, this is where it gets a bit tricky. Technically you have to get it out of Mexico. What you should do is visit the local Aduana in your area to ask about this, as I read recently that they did accept a vehicle, taking a sum of money (like a few hundred dollars) from the owner for "disposal". The owner received the appropriate proof that he was no longer responsible for the vehicle and could import another.

I have known of others who have had to take police reports noting the VIN and the Reg. numbers, and most importantly, a piece of the windshield with the sticker still firmly attached, to the border as proof the car had been obliterated. I have also heard of foreigners locally who have had to have their non-functioning vehicles towed out of Mexico (ouch!). Your local Aduana office would be the place to visit for the ultimate word.

P.S. If your insurance runs out around the time of your trip and you don't want to face the renewal amount, ICBC had a temporary insurance permit which covered me until I got to the Mexican border. I bought a 5 day policy from them.

[gypsygirl1475]

Thanks. I will figure it out in a couple of days, I guess. I just thought someone might have crossed lately. I've heard differenet stories about what is allowed and what is not allowed.Does that mean I have to post a new bond every six months till I get my FMT3?
It's funny how all the expat sites I have read have conflicting stories.

[Samantha]

Gypsygirl: Did you at least take a look at Rolly Brooks site??? He is very thorough and as up-to-date as you can get. I wasn't pulling this stuff out of thin air (re your hoping someone had crossed recently - no two border crossing experiences are alike, trust me.) My husband helps expats with Immigration and Customs, so is required to keep up on this stuff. As far as reading and believing expat sites, some of the sites on the internet are ancient and secondly, many of them refer only to travel in Sonora and the Baja where regulations for bringing a car in are not the same as for the rest of Mexico.

Bringing used household things in is not a big deal. List everything with garage sale price. Don't bring new things. Expat snowbirds bring loads of things when they come to their winter homes. Admittedly, the Aduana is tougher on Mexicans bringing things into Mexico, but your husband could get something similar to a "menaje de casa" which covers Mexicans returning to Mexico. Have him check into that.

Yes, as I previously posted, you (and your car) will be treated like a tourist until you get your FM3. Tourists and their vehicles are permitted to stay in Mexico up to 180 days at a time. If there is doubt that you will get your FM3 anytime soon, perhaps you should think about putting the car in your husbands name and having it legalized for Mexico (done at the border). Mexicans are able to do this, when following the proper procedures and paying the required taxes and duties. He could call some brokers for more information. We have a Mexican friend working in Arizona who brings in a different car to leave with various family members each time he returns to Mexico for a visit. He mentioned paying about $400.00 USD to get it done. Again, depending on the age of the vehicle, etc. so you need to check ahead.

[gypsygirl1475]

Sorry, yes, I read it am still reading it. Just a little uptight, I guess. I got my Mexican car insurance a few minutes ago. I am just going to go with the flow, have gotten all my documents together and copies of everything like they say to do on Mexconnect so it should not be too hard and the website you posted. Here is the article that got me confused.

[Samantha]

You should remove that link from your post, so as not to refer others to it. Please note what I said about OLD stuff sitting on the internet...That article is 7 years old. Before reading anything on the internet, especially to do with Mexico, please check the date it was published.

[MELEE]