Job Discussion Forums

Tretyakovskii · Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 462 Location: Cancun, Mexico

Has anybody been through the process of entering Mexico on a student visa, then going to INM to get permission to stay more than 180 days (perhaps get an FM3, as a student)? I've got a friend who is a little perplexed about the process, now. Is it similar to getting other FM3s?

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

The student visa IS an FM3. The permission on it is to study. He or she cannot work on a student visa, and they are very strict about that.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 6:11 pm Post subject:

I think the OPs question was not about changing from a student FM3 to one that gives you permission to work, but rather about an extension of the original visa beyond 180 days.

MotherF · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 6:33 pm Post subject:

I think either Tret or his friend need to be a little bit clearer.

He says his friend entered on a student visa. Sam is right, students are issued FM3s with permission to STUDY. It may be that Tret's friend was issued an FM3 to study for 6 months (180 days). In which case if the friend wants to continue studying in Mexico for another semester. The FM3 can be renewed for another six months with papers showing said person will enroll and finacial support of some form--usually US bank statements.

Or it could be that Trets friend, like many study people on Spanish language courses, actually entered Mexico on a tourist visa, rather than a proper student visa. In which case it is possible to change to a student FM3 in country, similar documents as I mentioned above should be submitted to IMN. Proof that you are accepted into some study program and proof that you can support yourself while on said study program.

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

MotherF wrote:

Tretyakovskii · Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 462 Location: Cancun, Mexico

I can't interpret it, but I can describe it. The UK national obtained a student visa at the Mexican Embassy in the UK: it is in the form of a sticker affixed to her passport, like many visas are, and clearly indicates it is a single entry, student visa.

When she entered the country she was intending to study for nine months: she was told she must apply for an FM3, if she intended to stay beyond 180 days. She did. But, this involves a change of "calidad" apparently and now she is in a jam because she is not permitted to leave the country while the process is pending: INM told her she would have to petition to withdraw the application for the FM3 is she persisted in her plans to leave for the UK to celebrate Christmas with family before her FM3 were issued.

She's scheduled to leave 4 Dec; they have told her it will be mid Dec before her FM3 is issued. Begging them to speed up the process has not produced results.
__________________

Risking interpreting this situation, I would tend to think Isla is on the right track.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 9:43 pm Post subject:

When this person applied for a student visa (apparently not always an FM3) at the Mexican embassy in the UK, did she tell them she was planning to study for longer than 6 months? If she did and was not informed that she'd have to apply for an FM3 once she arrived in Mexico, that's a real shame. When she applied for the FM3 here, was she told that she couldn't leave Mexico till it was approved? I know my questions won't provide a solution to her dilemma - I'm just trying to get a clear understanding of what's going on.

Tretyakovskii · Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 462 Location: Cancun, Mexico

Yep, Isla, she knew she'd have to apply for an FM3, in country, and did: what she didn't know was that she could not request a permiso de salida y regreso while it was pending. (This may be the case with each, first time issuance of an FM3, though that's clearly not the case with a renewal of an existing FM3).

With a Christmas holiday abroad planned, I ran into the same problem- no permisos could be issued on my cambio de calidad, but INM solved the problem in my case by agreeing to accelerate the process so I'd have my FM2 before the time came to leave.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 11:01 pm Post subject:

Tretyakovskii · Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 462 Location: Cancun, Mexico

Thanks for the kind words, Isla. I've got no special friends, but I've been treated with unbelievable kindness by Mexican people. I always treat people in immigration with the utmost respect, shower them with documentation, and demonstrate unlimited patience. It seems to work.

In Mexico, I think it's possible to take advantage of an ingrained Mexican impulse to feel they are being kind, and helpful. Ask for assistance, or a favor, and they can see themselves in this light. Push them, or demand that they do something, and they cannot. It may help to go with the grain. I have no greater insight into it than that.

I felt a little guilty, today, when the lady who handles the appointments said, "Oh, senor, you have no idea the problems you cause for us," then proceeded to set an appointment for me to get the FM2 card between now, and the time I was planning to leave the country (8 Dec).

Dragonlady · Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 12:45 am Post subject:

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

Isla wrote:

Isla Guapa · Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:31 am Post subject:

Dragonlady · Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:36 am Post subject:

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

Well now, isn't that the truth! You have to be a super-sleuth to get to the bottom of what really goes on in this fine land. Type A personalities don't do so well in this environment, for sure.

As far as myth busting goes.. The FM2 out of the gate is not anything new. You must qualify, whether it be now or later. And if you are planning to obtain an FM2, and you qualify, push for it now so the clock can start ticking. Here is another link from a respected Mexico website (a website that has been referenced here in the Sticky section):

http://www.mexperience.com/liveandwork/immigration-mexico.php