Job Discussion Forums

[Eager2teach]

Hi, I have read a few conflicting things on here about legalizing or notarizing documents.

I received a Cambridge CELTA certification. Do I need to take that to a Mexican consulate here in the US, or can I just take it to my state's sec. of state?

Thanks all,
John

[ls650]

[snorklequeen]

i was looking into the requirements for getting an FM-3 as a retiree since i haven't taken a TEFL course and so won't be teaching for a while, and it said Mexico requires you to apostille your proof of financial means

a missionary friend told me last week that he heard that in December of '06, the Mexican gov't is going to start enforcing the tourist visa's legal limitation of 6 months per year in Mexico only for US citizens; i have friends who have historically lived for years in Mexico year-round with just taking a week out of Mexico every six months at the Texas border, and that those days are coming to an end; don't know if it's true; hope not

Queenie

[M@tt]

hey
do you happen to know anything more about the retiree thing?
i'm not retired, but i might as well be for technical purposes as i have a stream of income from the US, and it would be sweet if i could get an fm3 out of it. i'm here as a tourist and not sure what to do when my 6 months run out. i want to hang on for a few more years if possible.
matt

[lozwich]

Matt,

I saw something about being able to get a completely separate visa if you were independently wealthy (or had income coming in from overseas) or a retiree. I can't remember if it allowed you to work in Mexico, but it was on the Mexican department of immigration website. Unfortunately I don't have the address, but Google should be able to help.

I'm in the process of trying to find a way to come back to Mexico myself, without worrying about FM3's.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

Most of the foreign retirees that I know who live here have what they call a non-working FM-3. As part of the process of getting one, a person has to show proof of income via three consecutive monthly bank statements with x-amount of money deposited each month. The amount is set by the local immigration office. Several years ago here in Merida, the amount was USD $900 per month, but I imagine it has gone up since then. Obviously, since it's a non-working visa, a person can't work in Mexico (can't have a Mexican income) on this type of visa.

[ls650]

[Guy Courchesne]

I spent the better part of last night looking and looking for new info on this and couldn't find anything published online. I would bet that there is a lobby group in the Chapala and border areas that would petition the Mexican government over this.

The amount for the non-working FM3 you have to show as foreign income is now $1,500 usd per month, so I've read. The Mexican government calculates it as needing to have 400 times the daily minimum wage in Mexico, and a further 200 times the daily minimum wage for each dependent.

[M@tt]

Thanks for the helpful replies, everyone. It would be interesting to hear from someone who has gone through the process but it seems like none of us fits the bill.

hahaha

[Eager2teach]

Love that sombrero M@tt!

[Samantha]

Been there. It is called the Fm-3 Rentista and I know other teachers who have chosen this route too. (Not that it gets you off the hook if Migracion rings the doorbell to inquire if you are working, but at least you don't have to exit the country every six months or tell fibs about losing your tourist card) AND you can keep your car in Mexico.

Depending on your Immigration office you either need to show a regular monthly income of approximately $1100.00 or $1200.00 USD (in my area anyway) for the preceding 3 months OR a tidy little lump sum in the bank. They are concerned that you can support yourself whilst in Mexico. (ha! can any of us?) The secret work-around for this is to transfer or deposit the same required amount into and out of your foreign bank account for all of the immediate 3 months prior to applying for the Fm-3. As long as they can see a consistant deposit it will qualify the application. They don't care where it comes from or where it goes to, just that it is deposited consistently for 3 months.

About the 6 months FMT limitation per year, I can't see this ever happening. Business travellers, missionaries, airline employees etc. all come and go over the course of the year, many times. For some reason the foreign rumour mill has become rather paranoid, perhaps with elections looming, and all kinds of things are being passed around as fact.

[snorklequeen]

here's some info' on it, Matt -- it says it was updated 9/14/05; the website is www.mexonline.com/business/visa2.htm

"Mexico Temporary Resident Visa / FM-3

General Information | updated 9/14/05

For persons wishing to reside or retire in Mexico.
1. VALID PASSPORT AND ONE PHOTOCOPY.
Passport must have at least 6 months of validity remaining. If person is a legal resident of U.S., a copy of the front and back of the alien registration card is also required.

2. LETTER FROM THE BANK THAT PROVES A MINIMUM MONTHLY DEPOSIT OF ONE THOUSAND ($1,000) DOLLARS PER DEPENDENT
OR COPIES OF YOUR BANK STATEMENTS FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS THAT PROVES YOUR MONTHLY DEPOSIT COVERS THE AMOUNT STATED ABOVE."

[doesn't say how much per month of income for us]

"3. TWO (2) PASSPORT FRONT VIEW PHOTOS
NO AUTOMATIC MACHINE PHOTOS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

4. COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM

5. FEES :
One Hundred Thrity Two (132.00) dollars (U.S.) paid in cash only - no money orders, company, personal or cashier's check will be accepted.

NO RENEWALS ARE DONE AT THE MEXICAN CONSULATE.
You must get in touch with the Mexican Immigration dept. 30 days prior to expiration date.

NOTE
Applications accepted at Mexican consulates.
Applicants must apply in person between 8 and 12 noon.
Please allow document to take at least 24 hrs. for processing"

ditto on the sombrero

Queenie

[lozwich]

[Samantha]

Maybe your rental income would qualify you for minimum required income purposes on the FM3-rentista? (Don't know what rents are like in your area of the world). As far as I know from personal experience, you only have to prove the previous 3 months for income. About the investment income proof, I would check with the INAMI office where you plan to apply as this is where things can be different in various locations. I would think though that if you have notarized proof of equity that would cover the minimum monthly figure x 12 months, it should be sufficient. But don't take my word for that. I have heard various amounts in the 5 figures bandied about.

You will need to have a permanent address in Mexico which will be tied to your FM3 application just like on a work permission FM3. If you move from said location, you must notify them within 30 days (so the rules say) and pay a fee.

[snorklequeen]

good point! i'm not independently wealthy, either!

i read, re the FM-3 for residents/retirees, that if you have a lump sum in the bank [401k, IRA, etc.], generally that will be acceptable instead of the $1,500-per-month-for-three-consecutive-months-deposit

my brother, living in Mexico, has a close friend who has his own computer business in San Antonio, Texas, and he lists my brother as an employee of his company; my brother gets his FM-3 this way; his friend writes a letter on company stationary each year, we send it to the Texas Secretary of State with the fee [$10? $20? cheap] for the apostille

Queenie