Uh-oh Criminal Background Check

I forgot to get it before I left the US Virgin Islands. Now what? I sure don't want to have to fly back there to get one.

Do not give it a second thought. Criminal background check is only required if you apply for your fm3 in the States or Canada. Come in on your tourist visa and apply for your FM3, sorry FMM like the rest of us did. Half of us would not be here if we had to go through the criminal check process.

Zoey

PS, take your max of 180 days on your tourist visa. You cannot open a bank account here without your FM3, but you need to have three months of bank records showing income of about 1200 USD per month, or the equivalent for 12 months. you need a lease and you need a utility bill in your name, either phone or electric. I think I am correct, but would welcome any other helpful responses to you. NO, I am not sure why I seem to be stalking you today, either. grin. Zoey

Hey Zoey, please stop using the "quote" feature until it is fixed. Thanks.

I opened a bank account in November on an FMT.

Once again, I prove the value of my information. Sorry Carry Bean. I had a friend who could not open an account without an FM3. You will learn this is not unusual here. Had friends renting long term needed to put their phone number into their name for FM3 renewal and I told them what I had done. They went to TelMex and were given a massive list of what they had to do as tenants, to get the phone number into their name and were pised off at for my misinforamtion
I asked them who they talked to. They told me. I said stay away from her and try again with a man. Worked in a heartbeat. I am sorry I gave you information that was not correct for you, but was correct for another. The wonders of Mexico. Zoey

Oh, I know that there are usually 20 answers for every question such as requirements to bring a pet in. I nearly went nuts trying to figure it out & argued with my vet, etc.

I'll have an attorney or someone who does it regularly handle it. If I wind up needing it after all, I hope someone back there can get it & send it to me. When I find out for sure, I'll post back.

I was surprised that Immigration went so smoothly since they changed the forms. I expected mass confusion on that score but it didn't happen.

CB, now that my credibility with you is at asolute zero, please know that I know of absolutely noone who has applied for an FM3 in Mexico that needed to provide criminal clearance and would welcome any responses that will agree or disagree in attempting to help you. Zoey

I'll back Zoey up on this one, having personally acquired two FM-3"s from scratch in the last ten years, and NEVER having heard of anyone in Jalisco being subjected to a criminal background check when applying for an FM3.

As far as financial accounts are concerned there seems to be a distinction between banks and investment houses. Lloyd, MultiValores and InterCam are investment houses and so its possible to open an account there sans an FM3, but I don't think you can at a bank. If anyone has personal evidence to the contrary please let us know.

Depends on the bank. Some banks want to see an FM3. Bancomer is the easiest without an FM3 or a utility bill in your name.

Multi Valores was where my friend was told she needed to have an FM3. Perhaps, if she had talked to a diferenent account executive, she could have opened an account with her FMT. Who really knows? No one. It depends on your attitude and the mood of the day of who you are dealing with, I think. Zoey

Lloyd's also offers a debit card so one can make withdrawals from an ATM if there is no office close by. Lizzy

I opened it at Bancomer in Ajijic. Glad to hear I won't need a criminal records check which is totally clean, I might add but it would be a hassle for someone to get it for me so thanks for that info.

You don't need an FM-3 to open an account at MultiVA. All banks provide an ATM card, including MultiVa Bank. The problem with Lloyds is they are NOT a bank.

Are these local banks networked nationally.... If I were in Cancun or Acupulco, could I access my accounts in Chapalla?

Yes

Good to know... Thanx Rolly :)