Monday, December 1, 2008

FM3 and Vehicle Saga

We have had the usual Mexican confusion on our FM3 process.

Since FMTs only good for 180 days, Husband and the boys either have to cross the border twice before we move back to USA next summer or we have to get FM3s for them. We also have a vehicle with a 180 day permit and a cash deposit at the border. So we decide FM3 is best route.

Husband found a resource to help us with the process and started gathering all the necessary documentation. In several conversations, he verified that the our vehicle would be included. Right? Right.

Guess What? We sit down to finalize the submission last Friday and suddenly we can NOT include the vehicle. We must drive it back over the border at the same place we came over. Are you kidding? Well, there is no point in getting FM3s if we still have to cross border. We ask resource not to do anything till we get back to her.

Husband hits the internet in a fast and furious way. I hear a scream of delight! Husband found a local attorney who published an article on exactly how to get FM3 and vehicle extension done together. Husband calls her and sets up an appointment for today.

Husband meets Attorney this morning at 10am at Immigration. She needs copies of ALL pages of passport. Husband dashes home, makes copies and picks up me. We go back to Immigration. Attorney has all the letters typed with our specifics ready for signature and she gives us explicit instructions on what to do at bank. We have to go to airport so Attorney heads to bank for us. Oh, did I mention she is "a looker" - I mean really attractive. Nice, smart, organized and beautiful. Husband's lucky day!

Husband drops me off at airport and heads back to Immigration to finish applications. Wish us luck.

11 comments:

Bob Mrotek said...

Good luck! If everything goes well on the first try it will truly be a miracle. So that is what I will pray for...a miracle for you.

Steve Cotton said...

What blessing I can give, I give to you. But also remember, every government functionary has a job to do -- and that job is not necessarily designed to make life efficient for you. With patience, all will be well.

Theresa in Mèrida said...

Your fm3 and vehicle are done at two different places. Your vehicle is done by cutoms and is tied to your visa. As long as your visa is valid so is your vehicle importation sticker. You don't need to go to the border just to a customs office, here people used to go to Progreso (the seaport about half an hour away) before they changed the rule.
Your fm3 is done by immigration.
You do need to have a copy of your valid fm3 with your vehicle papers...
regards,
Theresa

Theresa in Mèrida said...

Here is the pertinent law"
El plazo para retornar los vehículos, será el de la vigencia de la calidad migratoria, sus prórrogas, ampliaciones o refrendos otorgados a dichas calidades migratorias conforme a la ley de la materia.

here is the Mexican Custom's website
http://www.aduanas.sat.gob.mx/aduana_mexico/2008/home.asp

sorry that you ended up paying for something unnecessary...

regards,
Theresa

Fat Doctor said...

Sweetie, your husband lives with "a looker." We are currently trapped in Mississippi waiting for legal stuff to come through, so I read this post and felt your anxiety. :)

Frankly Ronda said...

B & S - thanks for the good vibes - all expires at end of December so we hope this works. We really do want to be compliant.

T - I passed along your info to Husband. My question is if you know this - why wouldn't the original legal resources we talked with know this ...

FD - You made me smile. Thank you. Hang in there - how about a jaunt our way with the "new" family? Crossing the border is one alternative to taking custody :) - seriously we would love to have you in our ever so tempting guest room ...

Unknown said...

Hi! Well it is really easy to get an FM3 in Mexico, unlike to get a green card in America, basically you just need a good lawyer and there are several ways to make it. My sister in law (Poland) just got hers. Just be careful, dont pay too much money for it, and for the car thing too. People tend to be abusive.

Theresa in Mèrida said...

I am sure that your "attorney" knows it too. She offered to take care of it for a price, right? She didn't say that she would anything special. I gave you the quote off the (Mexican Customs Office)Aduana Website. It's that your car and your immigration are two different things and handled by two different offices.
People here in Merida routinely pay immigration attorneys to handle routine visa matters because they think that they need an attorney. If I had a business or was doing something unusual I might want an attorney. Or if I had a job and was being paid more than my attorney then my time would be more valuable.
Have you talked to the Aduana? Or had a Spanish speaking person talk to them?
Here is another resource:

http://www.rollybrook.com/article_106.htm


Theresa

Theresa in Mèrida said...

I forgot to add see section 5 of the article 106....
Theresa

did you ask your attorney what they were going to do for you?

Frankly Ronda said...

T - we have dealt with 2 different resources. Legal Resource #1 said we could NOT do it at all - not even for a price. So this was not an issue of money - more of knowledge. That was when we got worried.

Legal Resource #2 - the Attorney is actually really knowledgeable and the fee is not too bad. Frankly, with me in USA during week and Husband only one there to take care of boys he just does not have the time (as you know nothing is quick in MX) to spend that it would take to get it done ourselves. I think he could do it but we just do not have time with the 12/31 deadline fast approaching.

Anonymous said...

Hey! It is your bro-in-law. Tell your attorney I will volunteer to help her with computer stuff if she takes care of your situation quickly.