FM3-laws-arrest
Once you want to live in Mexico for more than six months at a time you need to apply for your immigration papers, or FM3. The FM3 is easy to obtain; you can do most of the paperwork yourself. The FM3 grants non-immigrant status and is applied for through any local immigration or notary office in Ensenada, Tijuana or Rosarito. The FM3 needs to be renewed on a semiannual or annual basis. After holding your FM3 for 5 years you can then apply for your FM2. The FM2 grants immigrant status and is applied for through the Mexico City immigration office. These papers can take awhile to be processed and you will probably need professional assistance.
AND REMEMBER: The FM3 with commercial activity (One allowing you to run a business) is more complicated than a simple retiree FM3 visa, more expensive, and takes longer to obtain. It can be done, and I have one. There are also requirements that must be met.
Aida Topete Ochoa, Calle Sexta (6th St) , Ensenada, a certified Perito Traductor Oficial, will help you with either process. She prepared ours: atopete@gmail.com and she speaks fluent English. Fast and efficient, professional. She’s awesome!!
….You may also apply for your FM3 visa at your nearest Mexican consulate office in the U.S. or you can wait to apply when you get to Mexico. It is just as easy to wait until you come to Mexico. There are English speaking people in the immigration office here in Mexico and there are local attorneys or notaries who will be more than happy to help you for a small fee. You will need original or certified copies of your birth certificate and marriage license (if applicable). You will also need to document the minimum income requirements. You will need to show $1,000.00 U.S. dollars monthly income for each month you stay in Mexico. You can provide paycheck stubs, or 3 months bank statements showing reserves or a letter from social security showing your retirement benefits.
The reasoning behind this is to verify that you can support yourself without working for the length of your stay. You will also need to provide an address for where you will be living and proof of the address, such as phone, electric bill, or the deed to your property. You will need to obtain passport photos and have your documents translated from English to Spanish. In some cases a visa holder is allowed to obtain work in Mexico. You will need to find an employer who will sponsor you and ask for your permission to work in Mexico. The biggest deciding factor when immigration is granting permission for employment is whether or not you are taking a job away from a Mexican National. Your FM2 or FM3 can also help you to avoid capital gains taxes when selling your property. Once you have purchased your home, your immigration papers will need to have the address of your property. If someone proves they were living on their property for two years in Mexico, they can avoid paying any type of capital gains. Warning, please apply for your immigration papers early. It can take up to eight weeks to receive your completed documents. Do not let your tourist visa papers expire prior to receiving your FM3.
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When someone decides to live full or part time in in a different country from where he has lived, you should always prepare to have the necessary documents to identify himself and copies stored in a safe place. Before leaving, you should scan and print copies of your passport’s picture page, driver’s license, social security or citizenship card and copy of birth certificate, one set stays behind and the other is put in a safe pace in his travelling bag or vehicle. Passport should always be with the holder –never leave it in a vehicle or other place.
When one decides to not only live in a different country, but also to buy property or work he will have to present certain required documents that must be recognized as legal documents in the new country. To have legally recognized documents is easy to do, Two process exist, “Legalization” in countries that did not sign the International Convention or “APOSTILLE” for the ones which did.
In the case where the country of origin did not sign the convention, one must present the document, in its original form, to the consulate of the country were they will be used; in the case where the country did sign the Convention one can go to either the consulate or to a government Dept. or Sec., of the country where the documents originated. In the USA one can go to any Secretary State Dept., office and ask that they be “Apostille”.
Documents that are signed by the holder, letter, contract, power of attorneys etc. one must first sign in front of an authority that will recognize the signature, in the USA and Canada a person who has been recognized by the government as a notary will do this, in the province of Québec, Canada these persons are called “Commisaire à l’asermentation”.
September
September in Mexico is about three important events, first it is the Month of the Flag (la bandera mexicana), recognized as the THIRD best looking flag in the world, the complete month is dedicated to said red white and green colored “drapeau”.
The second event is independence day “El dia de la indepedencia ” (Sept 16th) celebrated by ringing the bell of independence, at midnight of the 15th., which is done by the president of th Country at government house, in front of the biggest public place in the world, (El Zocalo also called the La Plaza de la Constitucion) in Mexico city and in each of the 31 states by the governor at midnight local time. Said tradicion started in Puebla where the last battle with the french army occured.
The last and third item is that September is known as the month of the Will and Testament and Notario Publico normally gives a 50% discount. Contrary to other offices a complete Will and Testament is in Spanish with its official translation in French or English or Italian or German. Each Will and testament normally cost 130.00 US$ including the official translation.
Every Will and Testament is registered in a central registry in Mexico city, thus garanteed to exist at any time. An original plus two copies are given to the client. Remember that a Will and Testament reduces problems for survivors, when one departs this world.
To be able to do a Will and Testament one needs to present: IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT or CARTA DE NATURALIZATION along with BIRTH CERTIFICATE and PASSPORT.
Once documents have been received, you must have the seal making them legal documents in the new country, along with the other generated documents, translated in the official language of the country where they will be used, in countries where two or more languages are recognized as official. The translation must be done by an official translator, in other words, a translator who passed exams and received a license form the government to translate. At this time one must ask the translator if he is authorize to translate from the foreign language to the local one or reverse. To make sure the translation will be recognized one should have the document(s) translated by an official translator in the country where they will be used.
Finally, when one presents (in their original form) the translated documents along with the translations, one must always do so with copies and never leave the originals unless one presents, at the same time, a letter requesting that the copies be certified and the originals returned. The best way is to ask the person receiving them to acknowledge at the time of reception that he has seen the originals and certifies the copies as valid as the originals and that the originals are keep by the one who presents them. 
LIC. JACQUES-EDOUARD BEAULNE,
Abogado, Avocat, Lawyer,
Miembro del Colegiado de Abogados en B.C.S.
Member of the Lawyer’s college in B.C.S.
Senior member of the Firm,
Notaria 8, Planta Alta, suite 4 & 6,
Esq., Allende y Serdan,
La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico.
From outside Mexico: 011 52 (612) 348-9793;
From outside 612 area using hard line phone: 045 + area + number;
From inside 612 area using hard line phone: 044 + area + number;
From outside or inside 612 area using cell phone: area + number.
Heres another:
Rivero and Associates -they practice Mexican law, the American way. Call your transborder legal team now!
website: www.riverolegal.com
email: arivero@riverolegal.com
858 3rd Ave suite 240, Chula Vista CA 91911
619-270-5379
SPECIALIZING in: International transactions, Real Estate Law, Corporate Law, Litigation, Arbitration, Immigration Law, Fideiscomiso, Homeowners.
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In Mexico you can be arrested for the following:
Causing an auto accident or injuring a person.
Drinking in public.
Disturbing the peace or being a public nuisance.
Fighting
Nudity or immoral conduct.
Use or sale of false documents.
Possession or use of any weapon.
Possession or consumption of drugs.
