Job Discussion Forums

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

My wife is Mexican but I'm a gringo. I'm wanting to just get my FM3 when I get to DF and get a job, but my wife says maybe she could apply to get my permanent resident card. I'm thinking to just do the FM3 because I'm not sure how long I would have to wait to work if my wife tries to get my PR card first.

Any wisdom on this?

MELEE · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:07 pm Post subject:

I think you're wife is a permanent resident of the US right? I think she is mistaking US INS policies/percedures for Mexican ones. As far as I know there is no "Permanent Resident CARD" or any CARD of any type you can get. You can apply for an FM2(or FM3) based on being a spouse of a Mexican. An FM3 is non-immigrant resident with freedom to come and go as often and as long as you like. An FM2 is a immigrant resident and there is a maximum amount of time you can be outside of Mexico. This FM2 does not allow you to work freely, but you will still have to have any lucrative activities approved by immigration and noted in your FM2 booklet. After 5 years on an FM2 you can apply for immigrado status.

After two years in Mexico on either an FM2 or FM3 you can apply for citizenship based on your marriage if you so desire.

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

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

Thanks longwayhome and MELEE. I'll stick with my original plan of getting the FM3 work visa. I'm assuming those can be renewed every year for as long as you live in Mexico, correct??

I may just keep renewing it every year. Sounds like that's the easiest way.

Smile

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

Sounds like I'll just do the old FM3 on my own with the school I will be working for and leave my wife out of it for the first two years then if I want, I may try to do some changes. Then again I may just keep getting another FM3 every year.

Here's a question I'm wondering if anyone can answer. Our marriage isn't recognized in Mexico yet.Only the States. My wife will need to do whatever it is they do in Mexico for the government to recognize our marriage legally.

We were only married by the church in Mexico. So, anyone know how long this process would take? My wife (A Mexican) wanting our marriage recognized legally in Mexico.

Personally I don't think this is very important since I'll be using an FM3 but she's curious.

MELEE · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:58 pm Post subject:

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

Thanks MELEE. We were married in Kentucky in 1997 and the marriage certificate was apostilled by the state of Kentucky in 97 so I'm hoping it will still work since it was so long ago.

GueroPaz · Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 216 Location: Thailand or Mexico

Speaking of marital status and Austin, Texas....I got divorced there in 1985 or 1785. Do the Mexicans need proof of that, too? If I go to Austin to get my degree apostilled, should I also get a copy of my divorce from family court and get that apostilled?

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

MELEE · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:41 pm Post subject:

GP I assume you never changed you lastname.

If any ladies are reading this who have been married and divorced make sure you have porper legal notification of name changes handy, as Mexicans get all confused and may even think you are trying to pass someone else's degree off as your own if you have documents with different lastnames on them.

Mrs L · Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 72 Location: Rainy England

Know it's a longtime since last post on this thread but wanted to respond to jfurgers Q about getting your American marriage recognised in Mex. Here in UK the Mexican consolate offers a births, marriages, deaths registry for all Mexicans resident here. It's free of charge to get it registered, you just need to pay you you want a certificate.
Don't know if it's the same situation in the States, or if 10+ years after your marriage is a bit late but it's worth looking into...if you're not already down in Mexico.
Good luck Very Happy

PS Would be interested to know how the FM3 thing works out for you with being married to a local, and if it's true you can apply for citizenship after 2 years in the country. When I've enquired about citizenship because of my marriage all I've been told is how to become an 'economic dependent'. Assuming that means I can't work, not very useful!!

notamiss · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:37 am Post subject:

Our Canadian marriage certificate didn't have to be apostilled, if I recall correctly (so long ago!) but we did have to present a translation into Spanish by a certified Mexican translator (traductor perito). We (a Mexican and a Canadian) presented the original and translation of the Canadian marriage certificate at the Registro Civil and got the document that proved that our marriage was registered in Mexico from that point on.

notamiss · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:49 am Post subject:

Mrs L., this is the legal backing for a foreigner married to a Mexican being able to apply for Mexican nationality after 2 years. http://www.sre.gob.mx/tramites/nacionalidad/leynacionalidad.htm#III The part that applies is Cap�tulo III, Art�culo 19 & Articulo 20-II. If anyone wants a translation into English of same, I will post it.

Re TheLongWayHome, Jan. 11, about the permanent resident card, it's not the card that gives you permanent residence status, rather what happens is that after 5 years of an FM2 with annual renewals, it can't be renewed any more and you have to apply for inmigrado status. When it is granted, you are no longer an inmigrante; you have become an inmigrado. I went through that, but it's annotated in my FM2 visa booklet, and I don't have a card, but that doesn't make any difference; I do have the inmigrado status.

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