So I finally got my permanent resident card. What is it used for besides getting my Bank Trust's? Does it help me at the border importing items? Do I get get discounts on Mexican Moonshine?
I know you cannot own or drive a US registered vehicle in Mexico. You don't need one for a Bank Trust. Not sure why you would want one, unless you want to become a citizen.
For one thing you get 200 bucks off your tax bill for bringing items into Mexico. And another you don't ever have to worry about getting another visa.
DD
I know you cannot own or drive a US registered vehicle in Mexico. You don't need one for a Bank Trust. Not sure why you would want one, unless you want to become a citizen.
I know that applies in Cabo but what about the "Free Zone"?
Has nothing to do with the free zone. Applies to holders of a Permanent Residency card irrespective of where they live. They are required to purchase in Mexico or import the vehicle they own and drive here.
Has nothing to do with the free zone. Applies to holders of a Permanent Residency card irrespective of where they live. They are required to purchase in Mexico or import the vehicle they own and drive here.
So how would they know if I have a Permanent Resident card, unless I show it to them?
The existance of a law and the enforcement of a law are two different things !! I don't know anyone who has ever been required to show a Mex visa except to work, get a Hacienda number or buy property.
Where can I find the requirements for permanent resident card holders? Rules regarding cars, border crossing, tax rules, etc. and anything else of importance. Would prefer a site in English, but Spanish is OK, thanks to translators.
Gracias playaperro, that does address some of the concerns I had. It also mentions amnesty & variations in how rules are enforced. I'm trying to find the authoritative rules since the consequences can be punitive. It sounds like I might have to scour Aduana for the car rules. I'd really like to find one place with everything spelled out.
There's a website http://www.mexperience.com/ that has a wealth of information about all things Mexico including an ebook with all the current information about immigration requirements. Think you may find what you need there.
Permanente (MPRV was FM2)
Summary – Permanent Resident Visa MPRV – If you are a Canadian or US citizen this visa allows you to stay in Mexico for as long as you want without restriction on foreign travel. You will need 4 years of Temporary residency status to get it.
Updated July 13, 2013 If you do not want to take this status after 4 years you do not have to. You will however have to start the application process from outside Mexico at a consulate. In that way you can get another 4 years of MTRV status. You may want to do this for various reasons like problems with having your vehicle in Mexico under a permanent status.
Updated February 2013: Please keep in mind that the current regulations are relatively new (Nov. 2012) so you may have different experiences depending on which office you use. The following information is gleaned from many sources across the internet it is only a summary of what I believe I understand. If in doubt consult a professional or ask a question on a forum to get information about the personal experience of others. If your experience is different or suggests errors in the information presented please comment below. Sharing has served us well in the past and will help us through these changes as well.
If you need to apply for a visa or change your immigration status in any way there is an on line procedure which starts the process. That process has been translated and documented here: INM ONline Immigration Application Procedure for Visas and changes
The cost of the visa or replacement of it is the same so don’t lose it: $3,815 pesos.
The application process costs an additional 1,000 pesos.
The MPRV can be obtained after 4 years of FM3 or FM2 status or a combination of 4 years of FM3, FM2 and Temporary Resident (MTRV) status. It does however depend when you renewed your FM3 or FM2. For example even if you had several years of FM? but last year had to reapply then you still have 3 years of Temporary status before you can get Permanent. In the case of a spouse of a permanent resident or citizen of Mexico the period is 2 years.
There are other ways to qualify they are:
by next-of-kin right to preserve the family unit
by right to preserve the family unit
by humanitarian reason.
There is a transition period in which if you have a non immigrant card (was FM3) or an Immigrant card (was FM2) which has been renewed 3 or 4 times then you can apply for a change of status to Permanent Residency winthin the 6 months prior to it’s expiry.
Once acquired the MPRV does not have to be renewed unless you are a minor.
There is a minimum income requirement for getting this visa in the range of 2,000 US$ per month or US$126,000 of investments for each individual. You may be required to prove this with bank statements for the past 6 months but the INM offices have the discretion to use a combination of assets including real estate to arrive at an equivalency. The idea is that you should be financially self sufficient. You cannot have a foreign plated vehicle in Mexico under this status.
You must inform the INM of the following changes within 90 days of their occurrence:
• ADDRESS
• EMPLOYER
• CIVIL STATUS
• CHANGE OF CITIZENSHIP
If you have an Immigrado Booklet then you can get a permanent resident card but that is optional. Not sure what the optional part means but INM says so. Additional Resources:
I have always found the Mexconnect forum extremely useful.
As of November 2013 you can go straight to Permanent Resident from no status in just a few weeks, If you meet the requirements.
Once you obtain legal status as a Permanent resident you will be very limited where you can drive your foreign plated car in Mexico.
On a different point if you have a permanent resident status and are out of the USA for 9 months a year, you are not required to sign up for Obama care.
Russ-other posts have said you cannot drive a foreign plated vehicle or risk having it seized. Is there a geographical boundary where you can drive a foreign plated vehicle? Thanks.
Do you know if Peñasco is in the limited area we can have a US plated vehicle?
I've had my FM3 / temp res card for 4 years and can go perm this year. We are in the slow process of moving to Peñasco but will be going back and forth to the US a lot. We would prefer to not nationalize our vehicles ..... yet. Just trying to make sure I know ALL the implications before I upgrade.
(FWIW, I already signed up for Obamacare in December. It's the only way I could get US insurance.)
As long as you have a residence in the States (MVD requirement) and happen to be a resident of Mexico you are probably OK driving around Peñasco for the time being. If you try to go past Caborca you will be asked for ID. As long as you show a USA ID and registration for the car you will not be harassed probably as you are traveling as a USA citizen and a tourist. If you try to obtain permission to travel outside of the State of Sonora going South or East you cannot get permission for your foreign plated car because you are a resident of Mexico. If you try to cheat the system by using your US passport (instead of declaring residency in Mexico) to obtain temporary permission for your vehicle as a tourist you stand the chance of giving up your residency in Mexico.
My thing is....if you plan on being a resident of a country you should try to follow the rules of that country it just makes life easier.
Having said that....if you hold residency in Mexico for business reasons or because you own property here but still live the majority of the time up north and don't want to drive outside of Sonora then you should be ok.
Things here are not always as they seem. There are laws on the books but sometimes there are no procedures to impliment these laws so it is left up to the officials on the ground. There is really little interest in immigration here. You get differing explanations depending on who you speak to. You can read the regs, but they are often vague and even contradictory. So, don't stress about it.
Yeah, well.....I would rather know what is expected from me and try to fit that than do my thing and hope nobody notices. As immigration goes, there is very little left to the imagination. I deal with immigration on a monthly basis, it is real and there are rules that must be adhered to. I don't find it wise to throw caution to the wind if you plan on having both feet on the ground here. Now on the other hand if you are here to live but never plan on staying or can bolt when it gets tough then there is nothing to worry about.
The way I understand it is as long as you are a temp resident you can keep your car lic in the US but if you go perm you must change it. At least that is the deal here in Cabo. Here, a Perm or a Mexican National can not drive a US plated car
If I am stopped in RP by the police, I have absolutly no intention of giving them my perm. residency card. Just my drivers license and proof of insurance. I don't even carry my card with me. It's in the safe at the house.
You will seldom get asked for visa, maybe passport crossing into Mexico, unless you are interrupting interstate commerce (homeport), they will ask for immo papers and export you back to the border empty handed, Fact...
We went today to Tucson Mexican Consult to get our permanent resident cards. They were very patient with us because it took 3 trips before we had everything. We spent more time driving home to get something. Once they had everything they told us to come back in a 1/2 hr. When we came back they would call us right up. We never had to wait. Excellent service. When I got my first FM3 15 years ago, it took all day. This was very simple.
1 yr bank statement. The SS statement that says how much I get. You either qualify by income or assets. I had both passports. The two women were very nice. We had to come back three times because we didn't have something. I also had to have a passport picture. We gave them all the stuff and went to lunch, came back and they called us up and gave us all of our paper work. We did need to know the next time we would be going to Mexico.
I had to get my first FM3 because I did work in Mexico. Then my husband had to get them because we have rental income. Supposedly it will make it easier for us to do banking. My property manager encouraged us to get this. I understand there are some benefits to having it.
I think so. You are required to register your vehicle in Mexico and get a Mexican drivers license.
Per my insurance agent in Penasco last month- "if you obtain the permanent resident , you have the right to have a Mexican Driver license and Mexican vehicle , but is not required by the law , it is not necessary is just an option.
Our recommendation to all the Americans that they leave their vehicle the way they are because it is more convenient you. Importation is expensive and you have to buy the Mexican Driver License plates and the insurance will be Mexican too."
Hola Mondone, Not sure who your agent is but down the road doing it this way you may run into some problems in the following scenario. If you decide that you want to make a road trip out of the Frontera "Free Zone" you will need to obtain a temporary import permit for your car. Let's say your car has Arizona plates and you are a permanent resident of Mexico "paperwork wise", You drive to the importation place to do the import permit (which is only good for tourist at this time) You show them your perm card, they deny your entry with that car, you then produce your American Passport and verify that you qualify for temp permits for your car, you have just declared to them that you are not a perm resident just a visiting tourist. It has happened in the not too distant past that you have just given up your permanent residency and must reapply if you choose to do so. The law says if you are permanent, you must plate and register your vehicle in the country of your residency. In the Frontera this rule is not enforced it is overlooked since so many people who have perm res here also are living in the states part time and have a perm address there so no harm no foul "in the frontera". Everything changes when you start to travel. Let's say you decide to visit the wine country in Ensenada and you are coming from Rocky Point. Before you get to the Rumourosa part of the trip you are pulled over by Mexican authorities checking for your Mexican papers (IE Tourist visa, perm res card) of course you whip out your perm res card but your car plates say AZ.........It can be a major problem. It's the law, just because it is widely ignored here does not make it merely a suggestion. Going from here to Phx you are never likely to be questioned. If you travel outside of this zone you may have some answering to do, just sayin.
I imported my Van and my Jeep in the last couple of years. Number one my Full coverage insurance dropped a lot on my cars, they are Mexican cars insured by a Mexican Insurance Policy which by the way covers me in the States. The importation also frees me from the heavy renewal fees imposed by ADOT, my late model van is 900 pesos a year for renewal of plates at 15 to one thats reasonable. Drivers licenses are more expensive here to be sure about 200 pesos a year.
All in all I would prefer to be legal that not. I do not want to be limited on where I can drive.
Just my 2 cents worth. or more based on the length of this comment
Per my insurance agent in Penasco last month- "if you obtain the permanent resident , you have the right to have a Mexican Driver license and Mexican vehicle , but is not required by the law , it is not necessary is just an option.
Our recommendation to all the Americans that they leave their vehicle the way they are because it is more convenient you. Importation is expensive and you have to buy the Mexican Driver License plates and the insurance will be Mexican too."
If your insurance agent is correct (and that is really the only interpretation I've heard that makes any sense at all) I can breathe easier. . . . . Oh wait -- I just read Russ's response . . . . breathing slightly labored again. But thanks for the clarification, Russ.
Hola Mondone, Not sure who your agent is but down the road doing it this way you may run into some problems in the following scenario. If you decide that you want to make a road trip out of the Frontera "Free Zone" you will need to obtain a temporary import permit for your car. Let's say your car has Arizona plates and you are a permanent resident of Mexico "paperwork wise", You drive to the importation place to do the import permit (which is only good for tourist at this time) You show them your perm card, they deny your entry with that car, you then produce your American Passport and verify that you qualify for temp permits for your car, you have just declared to them that you are not a perm resident just a visiting tourist. It has happened in the not too distant past that you have just given up your permanent residency and must reapply if you choose to do so. The law says if you are permanent, you must plate and register your vehicle in the country of your residency. In the Frontera this rule is not enforced it is overlooked since so many people who have perm res here also are living in the states part time and have a perm address there so no harm no foul "in the frontera". Everything changes when you start to travel. Let's say you decide to visit the wine country in Ensenada and you are coming from Rocky Point. Before you get to the Rumourosa part of the trip you are pulled over by Mexican authorities checking for your Mexican papers (IE Tourist visa, perm res card) of course you whip out your perm res card but your car plates say AZ.........It can be a major problem. It's the law, just because it is widely ignored here does not make it merely a suggestion. Going from here to Phx you are never likely to be questioned. If you travel outside of this zone you may have some answering to do, just sayin.
I imported my Van and my Jeep in the last couple of years. Number one my Full coverage insurance dropped a lot on my cars, they are Mexican cars insured by a Mexican Insurance Policy which by the way covers me in the States. The importation also frees me from the heavy renewal fees imposed by ADOT, my late model van is 900 pesos a year for renewal of plates at 15 to one thats reasonable. Drivers licenses are more expensive here to be sure about 200 pesos a year.
All in all I would prefer to be legal that not. I do not want to be limited on where I can drive.
Just my 2 cents worth. or more based on the length of this comment
Russ, you are 100% correct. What local immigration is telling us and our agent is that locally here in the free zone is that no one is going to hassle us. True, outside the frontera would be an issue, but I'm not concerned with that. That's what the "Russ Bus" is for!
We come down Monday to finish the permanent resident card and finish paying the fees. Good thing we had a lot of rentals this summer. I know Monday is a Holiday but we will start on Tuesday. We haven't been down for awhile. Looked at all the restaurant reviews. I really want to have some beach and pool time and eat out. I will poat how we do in finishing up this project.
I see no reason to be a citizen of Mexico except if the world goes to hell and the USA is not safe you can cross the border into Mexico.
Not to likely in my lifetime but who knows ?
I see no reason to be a citizen of Mexico except if the world goes to hell and the USA is not safe you can cross the border into Mexico.
Not to likely in my lifetime but who knows ?
We are NOT citizens, that's a whole different ballgame. We are not becoming Mexican nationals, merely legally obtaining visas to live there permanently, which by the way I need to do anyway to get a application through for a bidirectional electric meter with CFE.
We are NOT citizens, that's a whole different ballgame. We are not becoming Mexican nationals, merely legally obtaining visas to live there permanently, which by the way I need to do anyway to get a application through for a bidirectional electric meter with CFE.
I see no reason to be a citizen of Mexico except if the world goes to hell and the USA is not safe you can cross the border into Mexico.
Not to likely in my lifetime but who knows ?
Why not? I like the idea of having dual citizenship. Besides, there are RECORD numbers of US citizens renouncing their citizenship. The good 'ol US of A ain't what it used to be.
We stopped at Lukeville to get our Visas. There were a few other people there doing the same thing. My husband got a permanent one and I got a temporary. Tuesday and Wednesday he got his picture and fingerprints and paid his fees. Seaside will keep it till we come back again. I will just keep getting a temporary visa each year.