2011 Minimum Income Required for FM3 and FM2

The Zone A basic minimum wage for 2011 will be $59.80 pesos per day. This is the base for calculating many government charges including traffic fines and INM requirements.

The 2011 minimum income for an FM3 (No Inmigrante) will be $14,950 per month.
For an FM2 (Inmigrante), it will be $23,920.

What's an Inmigrante, is that like a mexican immigrant??

Rolly wrote:The Zone A basic minimum wage for 2011 will be $59.80 pesos per day. This is the base for calculating many government charges including traffic fines and INM requirements.

The 2011 minimum income for an FM3 (No Inmigrante) will be $14,950 per month.
For an FM2 (Inmigrante), it will be $23,920.

How do they calculate household income...?

And, do you have the adjusted requirement for property owners?

Inmigrante is the new name of an FM2.
No Inmigrante is the new name for an FM3.
The old names are no longer used by INN.

INM is not interested in household income; they want to know if one's personal income meets the minimum requirement. They may, at their discretion, allow a discount on the income requirement of as much as 50% for holders of an Inmigrante visa. They no longer offer a discount for a No Inmigrante.

Rolly wrote:Inmigrante is the new name of an FM2.
No Inmigrante is the new name for an FM3.
The old names are no longer used by INN.

INM is not interested in household income; they want to know if one's personal income meets the minimum requirement. They may, at their discretion, allow a discount on the income requirement of as much as 50% for holders of an Inmigrante visa. They no longer offer a discount for a No Inmigrante.

Just for those of you serious about immigrating to Mexico as are we; once you have completed four years on an "inmigrante" visa or FM-2, or, to put it another way, at the fourth renewal date of that FM-2 visa, you can apply for "inmigrado" status which is equivalent to the "green card" or resident alien status in the U.S. If and when you decide to apply for inmigrado status, which is the only logical step up from FM-2 status, you need show no proof of any income at all. In fact, at that point, you need to simply pay some fees which, at present, come to about $4,400 Pesos per person for processing and issuance and you get thet inmigrado card and, unless you lose it or have it stolen from you, you never have to go through the hell of an INM visit with its attendant costs, ever again.

Now, when we moved to Mexico in 2001, we could have gone to FM-2 immmediately (which we hear may no longer be an option) but we didn´t because then we were not certain we would stay here or, perhaps, would move at least part time (in the summer) to my wife´s native France or, God forbid, back to the states. We were intimidated by the 18 months in five year out-of-the-country requirement of the FM-2. As a result, we didn´t move up to FM-2 for some three plus years when it finally dawned of us that we would not even come close to being out of Mexico for 18 months in five years. Had we not made that mistake we would have achieved inmigrado status by 2006. Today, I´m not certain what one´s options are upon seriously moving here but I say, get to inmigrado status of even citizenship ASAP. You have nothing to lose but a few pesos in somewhat higher fees in the short run. In the long run your gross fees will be far less if you stay here.

Believe me, when you carry the inmigrado card and travel about far-flung regions of Mexico and have to pass army or immigration or police checkpoints as do we when we travel to Chiapas as we do at least twice a year; or you are stopped by some sleazy local cop in the sticks for mordida, you are treated with far more respect than you ever will be with that FM-3 "extended tourist" visa. Those local crooks, er, cops, back off so fast if you challenge them and show them your Mexican driver´s license and inmigrado cards, you only see their dust.

If I never see the inside of the INM office in the Federal Building in Downtown Guadalajara again it will be too soon.

Thank you Jesus!

SnowDaddy wrote:What's an Inmigrante, is that like a mexican immigrant??

Inmigrante is Spanish for immigrant.

Here are the definitions of each type of visa:

FMM - The Short-Term Non-Immigrant Visa
Short term visas are intended for visitors (usually tourists) to Mexico on short term (six months or less) visits. For trips of longer than six months, a non-immigrant or immigrant visa should be considered—see the sections below for details. The FMM has a 'Business Visitor' section, specifically for persons who come to Mexico for short business visits not exceeding 180 days. FMM visas are issued by airlines and are also available at ports of entry. (No minimum monthly income required)

FM2 - The Immigrant Visa
FM2 visas are intended for people seeking permanent residency status in Mexico or those who may seek eventual Mexican Citizenship.
There are various categories under which FM2 visas are granted, and these relate to the activities you intend to undertake while in Mexico. Under the terms of the FM2, you are authorized to only undertake certain, specific activities which may be lucrative or non-lucrative. ($23,920 per month minimum income required) ($1,950 CDN)

FM3 - The Long-Term Non-Immigrant Visa
The FM3 visa is a renewable long term (more than six months) permit which gives non-immigrant temporary residency status to the holder. This means that it gives a person the right to live in Mexico (under terms as set out in the visa) but it does not lead to, and cannot be converted to, a visa leading to permanent residency or Mexican Citizenship. ($14,950 per month minimum income required) ($1,220 CDN)

Rolly wrote:Inmigrante is the new name of an FM2.
No Inmigrante is the new name for an FM3.
The old names are no longer used by INN.

INM is not interested in household income; they want to know if one's personal income meets the minimum requirement. They may, at their discretion, allow a discount on the income requirement of as much as 50% for holders of an Inmigrante visa. They no longer offer a discount for a No Inmigrante.

Rolly, doesn't a spouse (or dependant) only require an additional 50% on the no inmigrante visa?

Correct

Yes, if the visa is tied to the partners visa. In applying for same you'll need an Apostilled and translated copy of your marriage certificate. If separate then he/she must meet the full income requirement.

It is easier to keep the spouses separate. It used to be one package for a married couple but now they want everything separate and if kept separate then no matter what the future brings any issue with one is not likely to affect the other.

"Apostille in Canada

Canada didn't sign Hague convention. Instead Canada requires and is required to provide a Certificate of Authentication or Form 10 - International Certificate of Identity which is almost similar like apostille. It is this Certificate of Authentication issued by canadian authorities which is same as apostille"

Intercasa wrote:It is easier to keep the spouses separate. It used to be one package for a married couple but now they want everything separate and if kept separate then no matter what the future brings any issue with one is not likely to affect the other.

This year was the end of year 5 on our FM3s. When we got the new Credencial there was no difficulty having them linked, except that we did have to provide a translated copy of our marriage certificate. However, in the future we're going to separate them for the reason stated by Intercasa.