FM2: Big Bother at the Border

[Doyle Phillips]

If you have an FM2 make sure it allows you to have your vehicle in Mexico. For the seven years I?ve lived in the country there was no problem with my car permit. But recently when I returned at Laredo the car was not allowed because my new FM2 is not designated as ?rentista?. More at www.doylesmagazine.com Miscellaneous Page, Noteworthy

[Bill Biscoe]

If you have an FM2 make sure it allows you to have your vehicle in Mexico. For the seven years I?ve lived in the country there was no problem with my car permit. But recently when I returned at Laredo the car was not allowed because my new FM2 is not designated as ?rentista?. More at www.doylesmagazine.com Miscellaneous Page, Noteworthy

Doyle, Being quite new to GTO and Mexico, I am looking for someone 'local' to give advice/assistance re my FM3. Any names?
Bill 473 103-1263

[toli]

Well, Doyle, that seems disappointing enough and just what were they expecting, to say the least. I mean this could be really bad news for those who are having a similar situation. Car permits are becoming unusually strict and unnecessary these days! People who are new to Mexico and have a FM2 could really find this pretty hard to face!

[KenMacD]

If you have an FM2 make sure it allows you to have your vehicle in Mexico. For the seven years I?ve lived in the country there was no problem with my car permit. But recently when I returned at Laredo the car was not allowed because my new FM2 is not designated as ?rentista?. More at www.doylesmagazine.com Miscellaneous Page, Noteworthy

Doyle, Being quite new to GTO and Mexico, I am looking for someone 'local' to give advice/assistance re my FM3. Any names?
Bill 473 103-1263

Bill,
Martha Roberts (a member of this forum, User Name meroberts) can get you started in the right direction for your FM3. Martha used to provide this assistance on a regular basis before the government greatly simplified the process earlier this year, and I don't know if she is still actively doing so, but she will undoubtedly be willing to help you get going.
Good Luck, Ken MacDonald kwmacdonald@sbcglobal.net

[colleen]

Well, I've had an FM2 for nearly 5 years and have never had a problem bringing a car down and getting an auto permiso. I chose to buy a new one each year rather than assert my right to continue on the same one while my visa was current. Tried it once and had to wait for them to search the entire car. But they let me thru w/ no problem.

They come up with some whacko stuff when you go for the permiso, sometimes. I have been told that I needed an original marriage certificate. Gimme a break! I told her I didn't need it and I wanted to talk to el jefe. He tried to argue a bit and gave up. Too bad. I didn't cry and think I had to head back to the US for more docs.

Another time I was told that my husband could not bring another car into the country and that we needed specific permission from the consulate in Chicago. Again, gimme a break! I was too stupid, I mean innocent, to understand that that statement was the invitation for a bribe, or just a payment for his help. I put the permiso in my name and the other problem has never been solved by Chicago, or any office here in MX. Who cares? As my neighbor explained, I was being told something so totally ridiculous that my response should have been to ask kindly, explaining that I understood he was very busy but also very knowledgeable and I would appreciate it if he could help me resolve this problem and, of course, I would pay for his time and knowledge. I have to assume that this is what happened to Doyle.

Migracion asks nothing from you about whether or not you have a vehicle. There is no place to indicate your vehicle or who in the world in migracion is authorizing it's entry. I believe that the only thing relating cars and FM2 visas is the fact that when you complete your 5 years, you must drive a MX plated car. My car is MX, I'm not yet but I'll be inmigrado in July.

Who the heck is the authority at the auto permiso office who decided this? I have a tendency to argue with these guys and not do the Mexican shoulder shrug and then do as they say. There are numerous types of FM2. Can an inmigrante familiar have a car? I'm inmigrante asimilado and never had a problem. I don't know of a type of FM2 visa that does not designate the type of visa. And why would one type of FM2 have the right to bring a car in and another not have that right? I know. I know. Logic doesn't matter in MX but I'd sure like to hear from anyone else who has an FM2 and has brought in a US car.