At the end of March we decided it was time to get our FM3s as our tourist visas lapse at the end of April. FM3 is a special type of Mexican visa that allows us to stay in the country up to a year without having to leave. You need to provide copies of your last 3 months of bank statements to show you have sufficient income to support yourself, or at least $1250 US per month.
We asked Maria Joaquna Sierra Chavez to act as our agent to help us with the process. Maria works out of Philo's in La Cruz which is convenient for us. When we started the process, we had her draft a letter to accompany our application indicating that my mother was under hospice care and that we would appreciate expediting the process which could take any where from 10 days to 3 weeks.
On April 7, I decided that I needed to fly back to see my mother. I called Maria and she suggested that I purchase my airplane ticket and bring a copy to the immigration office in Bucerias on Monday.
Monday morning at 8:30 am with a copy of my ticket in hand I went with Maria's assistant, Elena to the immigration office. Elena's two young daughters joined us as they were on vacation from school. Rich would remain at the boat in case the mechanic arrived but he would meet me in Bucerias with my suitcase later and we would go to the airport for my 4:15 pm flight to Portland.
The immigration office is open from 9 am to 1 pm. We arrived a little early. The office was guarded by 3 federales with automatic weapons and body armor. The office is protected by a locked gate and a roll up metal garage type door. We signed in and waited. The office staff arrived and were escorted in by the federales. After they arrived and were settled, the gate was unlocked and the garage door opened to the office for folks waiting in line. We got our number, 5, and waited. More and more people, mostly gringos arrived and took a number.
Our number was called and Elena spoke in rapid fire Spanish to explain that I had turned in my FM3 application but that I had a ticket and I need to return to the US and could I get my FM3. The man behind the counter explained that he had to speak to his supervisor. So we waited some more. About 1/2 an hour later he said that they would only in this case and that I should return at noon for my fingerprinting and to pick up the FM3 card. It was a little before 10 am at this point so I decided that staying was a better course of action.
Elena had other applications to work so I tried to keep her two daughters entertained. As they spoke only Spanish and my Spanish is very limited, I switched on the IPhone. The game of Sudoku was perfect. I could practice my numbers in Spanish and the girls practiced numbers in English. After a while we switched to Unblock Me. I also walked down to the Oxxo for some much needed water for the four of us.
Close to 12:30 pm, Rich arrived in the taxi with my suitcase. Elena tried to explain to me that they wanted my receipt for my tourist visa. Hmm. We had completed the check in to Mexico at Bahia Santa Maria during the Baja Ha-Ha and I did not get a receipt. I agreed to pay $294 pesos for a new receipt. Elena to my pesos to the bank and returned with the receipt.
I asked Elena to check on Rich's FM3 application. Again, there needed to be a discussion with the supervisor. Luckily there was agreement but again there was no receipt. So we gave Elena another $294 pesos and she made another trip to the bank.
At 1:30 pm, I had my FM3. Rich told the taxi driver, who was still waiting, that he would give him $100 pesos to pay for his wait. The taxi driver was happy, we continued to wait now for Rich's FM3.
By 2:30 pm we were back in the taxi and on our way to the airport. We made it in time to check in, grab a bite to eat and then walk to the gate.
Mission Accomplished. Thank you Maria and Elena!
Sent from SV Windarra iPad
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