fm 3

I need to get my tourist status changed to retirement status.. FM 3 .. I have been getting by for several yrs on the 180 day tourist permits.. am afraid that one time soon, they may stop me from entering..

I am real skeptical about furnishing financial records.. Can anyone explain to me how does one go about furnishing required info and bank records for proof of income, without giving away enough info for someone to access your bank account?? thanks for any help.. jonw

Well you have to give them copies of your bank statements as well as proof that the account is really yours (check book or letter from the bank). If that scares you I can't think of other options

You should talk to other ex-pats in the area where you live. The process is different in every part of mexico and sometimes different from day to day! It is a lot easier if you can find an accountant or a lawyer that specializes in this (preferably one that is recommended) , because they already know all the people working in migracion. You will find it loads cheaper and easier than trying to do it yourself. Believe me, i did it by myself once and those migacion people brought me to tears, literally!

Click here to read how INM describes its requirements, on its website (in English). The information may not be current, so checking with INM in Veracruz is what you should be doing (because it's that office that's likely to process your application).

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>i did it by myself once and those migracion people brought me to tears, literally! <hr></blockquote> We've found the exact opposite here in Manzanillo. Immigration is very helpful, efficient and even enough English to help with the few tricky things.

I've heard of people that will make it very easy for you in the Chapala area - and maybe other gringo enclaves - but I doubt they can bypass the income requirements

Had no problems whatsoever at the immigration office in Queretaro. The Consulate in San Miguel de Allende helped with the financial aspect of it.

Marti in Mexico

I have been to migracions several times.. I am not worried about getting paperwork done.. its just the fact I have to give them the "keys" to my bank accounts is what bothers me..

I suppose I can shuffle some things around.. maybe open up a new account only for this purpose.. but then will have to wait another yr. before applying.. (to show deposits) ..

thanks anyway for your thoughts on the matter.. jonw

Identity theft and/or theft of funds from an account are legitimate concerns, though I've never heard mention, anywhere, of someone who has suffered a loss because of providing INM with copies of the bank statements. My FM3 was work-related and I didn't have the income test to meet - as far as showing a bank account; my employer(s) had to provide a letter pledging a guaranteed minimum salary, though.

Others in your shoes will, I've no doubt, be providing you with things they've experienced. Maybe you should cross-post the question to a forum where many expat residents (and FM-3 visa holders) hang-out, such as this one.

One additional thought: why not go ahead and provide INM with a copy of your bank statement and, concurrently, open a new account. Move your cash out of the older account and into the newly-opened one. I'm going to assume that you deposit into your older account more than the minimum required by INM on a monthly basis (and have done so for more than the past year), and the deposit record should demonstrate that. Then, on a monthly basis . . . transfer into that older account enough to satisfy INM's requirements so you can get your renewal each year. Switch all of your direct deposits into the new account, and from this new account transfer into the older account enough to meet the minimum required by INM, and later transfer that money back out into the more secure account (and follow this practice monthly - in/out, in/out). At first, this suggestion requires some bookkeeping changes (such as changes in direct deposits), but that's a one-time thing. If you're interested in changing your status in the near-term, maybe this will help you accomplish that.

I am not an expert on this, but some years ago, several people reported using an official letter from their bank stating they had monthly receipts of adequate amount, or maybe it stated the monthly amount, rather than supplying an official bank statement with all numbers, etc. Worth looking into???

We used a letter from our Canadian bank stating the net amount of our monthly income. The year before we'd used bank statements, which were multi-page, and since everything has to be translated, it was far more costly than that simple letter.

Caroline