Went to Puerto Juarez with my freshly updated FM3 in hand and was told by Christian that I did not need to renew my car permit as long as my FM3 was valid. This is the first time I have heard this from any official source. He even printed off a copy of the law in Spanish and highlighted the pertinent bits. (probably the same text that has appeared on this board before) The joke is, I am still going to renew my permit because I drive all the way back to Canada every year. Having a valid permit is just insurance and an easier time at the border. (The other joke is, I could not renew it yesterday as I was too early! Immigration got my FM3 to me so quickly this year, my old one never expired...a first for me. Now I have to wait a week to renew my permit) Saludos Rob
Rob - Congrats on your quick turn-time with INM. I know your better half had an even easier time than you did. I think INM downtown is enjoying a period, expected to be brief, of good management. My FM2 renewal this year took a total of 2 visits and 1 week, they hurried because I was set to travel and they were really nice to me this time.
RG, I could not believe how well it went this time at IMN. It was like every facet of the place was better. The AC was cooler, the line ups shorter, the forms easier to read and fill out, the workers nicer and far more efficient. It makes no sense that mine took a week longer than Jo's...but who really cares? 2 trips/3 trips...compared to the hellish 18 of a few years ago, it is nothing. There are still a million things they can do to improve and streamline. The stack of identical papers and copies we give them each year is unbelievable. I estimate IMN must have 30 copies of my business papers and 60-80 of my ID. We essentially have to start over from scratch every year. There are also strange things, like I have to file a letter with them offering myself a job each year. A letter from Jo would make more sense, but it has to come from me. The irony here is that I feel I finally understand the process, and apparently it is all going to change on May 1. They say it will be easier...how can I not believe that?
Yeah sure. INM is going to change a bunch in May. But have they user-tested the changes they plan to make? I'll bet they make it easier on themselves because they understand how their own system makes their jobs tougher. But I'll bet that some things will be easier for us, and other things will remain stupid and inefficient. I saw the new version of the FM-T form and it's BAD, BAD, BAD. It was not designed by someone who bothered to practice actually filling it out to see how it will work in real-world use. With just 10 minutes of user testing that form could be improved 90%. I took one look at it and found a dozen problems, serious ones. So my hopes for their planned changes are tempered with an understanding of the reality, which is that they don't have enough competent people involved to make sure the changes will be good across the board.
