Really the process went very well. Total time was less than a month. Used Mauricio (as per the many positive recommendations) and he handled it. We were prepared in advance, having the necessary documents apostilled prior to moving to Cancun. The only hiccup was a loss of power that the immigration office which set us back a day, but that is about it.
What?!?!!? They took 5 months to get me from an FM3 to an FM2 (still don't have it).... *grumble grumble* At any rate, congrats! So glad you guys seem to be doing well so far Continue to keep us posted on how things are going.
Aw, G., that's totally unfair! You're the best possible candidate for permission to reside here, permanently. Not only was it done within the 30 days the law says INM has to complete the process, it also demonstrates that FM2 is possible- from the beginning- with no need to go through the FM3 for five years routine which, as I've mentioned before on this forum, was just "local practice," not a requirement of the immigration law. Even here, when I applied for my first FM3, in 2009, I was asked by the immigration officer if I wouldn't rather have an FM2: on the first renewal, I decided to change it to FM2, November, last year. Having a clear choice, newcomers will have to decide which is more suitable for them, for there are significant differences in the consequences of holding one over the other.
It appears none of the changes spoken of in the new law, 2011, have been implemented, yet: things are just as they were in 2010, at this point, based on everything I've seen in handling my wife's case, and what I've read, elsewhere.
last year mine got so screwed up (in their office) that at one point they offered me an FM2 just to make the problem go away.
Congrats! Just got mine back....3 months, 1 week.... And I am annoyed that I had to have the FM3 for five years, what a waste of time and money, grrrrrrr.
Me, too! 6 years in Mexico and now they're giving FM2s out to new arrivals! (No offense intended toward the lovely kgunn, of course... just very annoyed that they didn't do the same for me 6 years ago haha)
G., for reasons of their own the local offices of INM, for a good many years, chose to follow the procedure they applied to you, and Canuck, and just about everybody else you can mention. It wasn't required by law that they do this, it was permitted, under the law. Many other offices of INM never adopted this practice. In 2009, when I first consulted with Mauricio about the law he agreed with my suggestion that it was possible to apply for either, from the beginning, though local practice was to put everybody into an FM3, initially. Now, according to what I've read, all offices of INM are being encouraged to observe the same practice in regard to this question. So, it's the newcomers' choice which to have, initially. There are downsides to having an FM2/3. Both limit your freedom of movement: look how many times my wife, with her FM3, has had to get special permission to leave the country- just because her renewal falls during my summer vacation period. Stick with an FMM, and you don't have that inconvenience. The FM2 is even worse in terms of restricting movement: in this status you can't be out of Mexico more than 30% of the time during any five year period- and now, through the use of computer records, they are keeping track. Unless a person has their principle residence in Mexico this becomes a serious limitation, not to mention restrictions on being able to own a foreign registered motor vehicle, which those on an FMM or FM3 are not subject to (someone closer to this problem can tell us if this may have changed, as I don't deal with these issues, not having a car). FM2 renewals also cost significantly more, by nearly 2X, at renewal time. Are there any advantages to an FM2? Hmm, not for me that I can think of, unless I decide to go to inmigrado status, which will free me from having to do annual renewals; or, go to citizenship. Citizenship is another bundle of pluses and minuses: on the plus side, I would no longer need to own my condo through a Fideicomiso; on the negative side, the U.S. Embassy will not come to the aid of a citizen of Mexico, even if they are dual nationals with the U.S.; and, any income I might have from foreign investments, which are exempt for non-citizens, would then become subject to Mexican taxation. _____________________
