Navigating Immigration, Cancun

[V]

My experience with INM continues to be good. I went to my appointment, presented my photos and receipts, was asked to fill out a form and then was told to come back the next week to pick up the FM2. When I explained I was leaving Cancun the next day, they asked if I could wait about 15 minutes, during which time they would assemble the card. About a half hour later, they presented me the FM2 card, and I was done for another year.

[Gringation]

Originally Posted by V

My experience with INM continues to be good. I went to my appointment, presented my photos and receipts, was asked to fill out a form and then was told to come back the next week to pick up the FM2. When I explained I was leaving Cancun the next day, they asked if I could wait about 15 minutes, during which time they would assemble the card. About a half hour later, they presented me the FM2 card, and I was done for another year.

V-

You're my hero.

[rawkus]

Good to hear, V!

I found out yesterday that they have lost several things that I submitted... Idiots.

And the other day they misspelled my name, making the next step "impossible"...Ugh!! Hahaha

After a couple of hours of blame game, things got sorted and they admitted to have misspelled my name, and lost some documents.

So, resubmitted the 3 missing documents, and they handed me another paper that I will use to log in and wait for the next appointment.

She said "earliest January", so nothing to do but wait....again

[matkirk]

Next time Rawkus get V to assist you with his "Jedi immigration" mind tricks, just don't look directly into his eyes....

[V]

Rawkus, sorry about the bad time you had. As we've discussed before, there is no proper signing at INM to help guide you to the right desk for each stage of the process, and your report of the "info" girl directing people to the wrong work station for their stage of the process is the second report I've heard of that happening. (I don't think she intends badly, just doesn't always understand clearly, from what's said, the stage or state a case may be at.)

You might have avoided this if you'd read what I'd written while your case was still pending....

2. When he gets notice, through the website, that he is to report to the INM offices, and he shows up in response, they will offer him an appointment date and time (to get the appointment, he will report to the counter on the right, as you enter, then speak with the ladies who work towards the left end of that counter).

3. Returning on the day and time of his appointment, he will need to have with him the photos and proof of payment. His name will be called when they've worked through the appointments that day to the point of reaching his case. For anyone wishing a more little reassurance, you can go to the left end of the counter in front of you, as you enter, and locate the desktop monitor that is used to check the status of the case: telling the person working at that location that you have an appointment is all that is reasonably necessary: they'll either check the status of your case, to confirm, or simply tell you to wait till your case is called.

At the appointment, he will be called again to the counter where he got his appointment, and will be asked to produce his photos and proof of payment. He may be asked a few questions; for example, his height in CMs, and may be asked additional details.

4. The last step will be to return to pick up his new FM3 card.

There is no getting around that the flow of work through the office is confusing: I've been lucky that, most of the time, I've gotten directed to the right person, at the right stage: I'm sorry you weren't. Maybe it'll go better next year, now that you've been through it once, already.

[rawkus]

@V: I followed your advice, step by step. Didnt really matter much since they lost half of the paperwork

Other than that, Im happy to say that it has changed considerably the last 4 years. To the better that is



@mat: Patience, my young Padawan

[rawkus]

Ok, just got back from the INM office...

Not much to report, except that they made ME take the blame for THEM losing the paperwork(inside THEIR office...). Fine, said and done, haha

Just wanted to check the status so went to the line where the short lady calls out ur name.

So, submitted the sheet they gave when I started the process(the temporary FM3 if you will...) and sat down and waited some 40 mins. My name was called and she said "return tomorrow". Thats it.

No info, no news, no nada...

I also ran into the lovely Mauricio, and he said to call him if needed, which I most likely will have to do.

V, I need your Jedi skills in this, hahaha

Just getting REALLY fed up with this.... Ugh.

[V]

Ah, Rawkus, the mysteries that may lie behind those words, "Come back tomorrow." Believing that positive thinking is a big part of success at this sort of thing, I'd take that comment to be a positive sign!

You might check online to see if they haven't made a new entry, and advanced your case to the next stage.

[rawkus]

V: tell me about it, haha

I am quite positive(kinda feel I have to be by now...) as all papers are in order. What buggs me is the complete lack of info.

"Come back tomorrow", and then what? Do I need to bring anything etc.?

I asked if it was to set the appointment, but all I got was an empty look and yet another "come back tomorrow"... Haha

So, Im heading back again, not knowing what line I should be in, as usual... Not knowing if everything is ok and not knowing if I should have brought anything...

If this isnt cleared up by Friday, Im getting in touch with Mauricio and he can finish the last part, as its just ridiculous and a huge waste of time.

And no, no new entries, still the same "report to the nearest INM office".

Ill let you know after my visit tomorrow.

[Gringation]

Rawkus- My personal rule of thumb is to always wait at least 2 weeks beyond what they tell you the first time. It will *almost* always be ready. Less trips to INM makes me a happy girl

I'd say wait a week before returning, unless you really need it right away for something. I'd be pleasantly surprised if it's ready by tomorrow.

[V]

I'd say wait a week before returning, unless you really need it right away for something. I'd be pleasantly surprised if it's ready by tomorrow.

It depends. It's really hard to know from what people post here exactly where a case is in the process BUT, assuming Rawkus has already filled out the form giving details of his employment, color of eyes, etc., and resubmitted the missing documents, his card could be ready tomorrow. (I'm basing that on the fact that it seems he's had his appointment, already, and all that remains is to prepare the card- which takes no more than 15-20 minutes, and it may be ready when he gets there.)

Rawkus, try going first to the leftmost station as you enter the building (there is a gate there, that gives admittance to the areas behind the counters); present the paper identifying your case and tell them your there simply to pick up your document (FM3)- at best, your card will be ready and they'll just ask you to wait a few minutes to give them time to find your file; or, at worst, they'll send you to the appointment desk (counter on the right as you enter, leftmost station) where they will see all is in order and give you a date to return to pick up your card . My prediction, for what it's worth.

[rawkus]

V: You are WAAAY ahead, haha

All I have done is submitted my application with all the documents... Thats it as of now.

Resubmitted the lost stuff, and was told to "return in January", which I did.

The good thing(I hope) is that she didnt give me anything else to resubmit.

The bad thing? No damn info, whatsoever. Haha

Im still waiting to get instructions of payment and acquiring photos etc.

Gringation: Yeah, kinda needed it before Xmas, but what to do, right?

I dont want to wait a few weeks between the visits, as Im assuming the process of such is done(documents etc.). From what I understand, all Im waiting for is an appointment where I have to present proof of payment and photos.


So guys, to sum it up: All documents have been submitted - no appointment given....

If nothing has changed by Friday, Im getting in touch with Mauricio - this is just getting ridiculous.

[V]

In this case, perhaps the second scenario, that they will give you an appointment date tomorrow, is the more likely.

[At the appointment, the applicant fills out a final form which inquires about details of employment, physical characteristics of the applicant which are personally identifying, etc. This procedure, plus the fact that it is done by appointment, makes this stage more readily recognizable. Following submission of that form, and a final review of the case documents, the card preparation process can begin.]

[rawkus]

V: My bad, the payment and everything was "canceled" as they couldnt go ahead with documents missing. And they also misspelled my name, making it even more messed up.


Im hoping its all in order and that I, tomorrow, will be given a damn appointment, haha

I just wish they could provide a sheet, kind of like the steps you wrote down, so that people can follow it step by step. It would make it easier for them as well as for us.

The frustrating part is the complete lack of info. With complete, I mean nada.

Ps. "When I win a million dollars"... Im gonna by them some REALLY nice signs and hire someone to put them all up in their office

[rawkus]

Also, the form that you have to fill out, is it complicated?

I do feel positive about tomorrow as I hope that they will simply give me the appointment and thats it.

If not, then Mauricio will go there with me and raise hell, hehe

[V]

The form that you complete at the interview is simple enough, and they don't even require that all of it be filled out: they will indicate (mark) the portions you must fill out.
__________________

I agree with you, that by giving more detail about the order in which the steps occur, and marking the stations in the office with the number for each of the steps, it would reduce the ambiguity for the applicants, and save them time.

Essentially, the steps are these-

Go online and submit your application;
Go to the office, ask for a number (the ONLY time you are required to take a number) at the rightmost station at the counter in front of you as you enter and, when it's called, submit all the required documents to accompany the application (this is also done at the counter in front of you, as you enter, rightmost station): you will be given a document identifying your case;
Check online from time to time to see if you've been invited to come back to the office (if you are, your case has been approved): this step typically takes about four weeks, but can be longer;
Go to the office when invited, go to the counter in front of you as you enter, and hand the paper identifying your case to the lady behind the computer: she will then direct you to the appointment station (counter on the right as you enter, leftmost station), where you will be offered an appointment date and time; you will then be directed to the counter on the right as you enter, rightmost station), where you will get details regarding payments and photos, etc.;
On the day and time of your appointment, you should get in line at the appointment desk where you will submit evidence of payment, photos, and be given a form to complete. If all is in order, you will then be given a day and time to return to pick up your card.
________________

If all is in order, the best you can hope for is to do this in four trips to the office.

[CancunCanuck]

Mauricio is a godsend, I'm telling you! I'll never set foot in that office again as long as Mauricio is around. It's impossible to do it on your own if you've got a day job that you can't take leave from, waste of time sitting in that awful office only to get the run around. If I had taken the morning off and was told to go back again the next morning, I'd be hardpressed to be able to do it. Can't wait to get my citizenship and be done with the whole mess. One more renewal......

[Jim in Cancun]

You are right, CC. Unless you have the patience of Job are are working on cultivating it, unless you enjoy the hassle and run around, condescension and inefficiency and/or just wish to show how tough you are or how you are going to "teach" them, then I see no reason to be bothered--masicism aside of course. When I still had to do those things and even during the naturalization process, I paid someone else to do it.

I have so little space in my brain that I don't need other people taking too much of it! Just imagine how nice it would be in the Sates if you could just pay people to deal with the DMV for you! But then some people like to do their own taxes so go figure.

[V]

Aside from Rawkus' experience, it seems those who've posted about their recent dealings with INM have had pretty good things to say about it. T.J. wrote, in sum-

I did pick up my new FM3 (card) on the date promissed, which was the day after my "appointment". The wait each time I went there was minimal. They tossed a couple of minor obstacles in my way but gave me not only the problem, but the solution.

Rawkus complained of his name being misspelled, and having to start the process over again, because of that; but, I'll remind the readers that the process starts with the applicant going online and inputting all the data, including one's full name, after which the completed application is printed X2 and taken to the INM, along with other required, supporting documents. Only the applicant would know if he had correctly entered his name, online, and whether it was correct as it appeared on the application he had completed. Errors made at that stage are not chargeable to the INM, and they will not be likely to catch such an error until the application, and supporting documents are reviewed.
_______________

I've recently commented that it is often hard to fully understand what may have happened, judging from a post, alone, so I may not have caught some aspect of what went wrong in Rawkus' case. I took what he said to have been a case of an objection by INM to a discrepancy between the spelling of his name in the application he submitted and the spelling of it in other documents, perhaps including his passport: sorry, if I misunderstood.

[matkirk]

I know Jim, it's great isn't it - I've got no time to go to immigration or anything like that so I think it's great to be able to pay someone to do it all and deal with the hassle which I don't need in my life.

I did my whole divorce from the parking lot at best day - a fist of pesos and a pen, no work missed

[rawkus]

V: Went back today, and it was the same story, all over again.. "Come back tomorrow". That does it. I already contacted Mauricio as my patience with INM is completely gone, haha

What they did was to misspell my name, "Mikael" became "Michael" and that meant I had to redo half of the process. Come to think of it, they also misspelled my wife`s name. They switched an "a" for an "e" in her name...

Went they typed up and printed my "file", I noticed it and told them right away... I dont know how they managed, since my application form has the correct spelling and my wife`s IFE card has her correct spelling..

V, your form/process might be different? Mine is "Dependiente Economico".

They then managed to lose 4 documents that THEY had in THEIR office... I promise, I didnt break and enter to destroy my own documents at midnight

This, along with giving absolutely jacksh*t worth of info, does it. Have to fly out of Mexico, and being sent back, once every day, wont speed this along at all.

A Canadian I spoke to today(at INM), said that they do still make people run around like headless chickens, every now and then. Guess I was the "lucky one", eh?

Once this gets sorted, Ill be fine.

EDIT: The misspelling started on the document where they declared that they needed 3(or 4?) documents to be resubmitted. Still - they had the names and copies of the ID`s, but still managed to misspell them both

[rawkus]

Scorpio: Mikael is my middle name, haha

I kinda need it to exit the country, sadly enough. Im going to go for a few months, and my visa was finishing before I was going to travel.

And no, Im not settling here... Maybe when I retire(although I highly doubt that I want "Cancun" even then )

The horror stories where actually more accurate a few years ago, when they openly both asked me for "cash in hand" AND ripped my application in pieces when I refused to hand them cash...

This time it has been better, but obviously far from perfect


So: Renewing it so I can get out for several months, and later come back for a bit Sounds strange, huh? Haha.

Mexico is not for me - I knew this a few years ago, but I still LOVE to learn new things in life, such as having "near 90%" Spanish, learning to appreciate a good system(like at home) and appreciating the little things...

All in all, a great experience in many ways, but also sh*t in even more ways, BUT: The stuff one learns from bad experiences are invaluable.

[V]

Went they typed up and printed my "file", I noticed it and told them right away... I dont know how they managed, since my application form has the correct spelling and my wife`s IFE card has her correct spelling..

I've been helped through the processes more than hindered by the staff, but it's easy to notice that a few of them are not the brightest bulbs on the string. Remarkable that with the correct spelling on your supporting documents, and in your application, someone took it upon themselves to make changes to what had been input by you, and made errors in what they themselves had to enter on the computer. Even the slow ones know that in Mexico, as elsewhere, getting the details right the first time is extremely important in bureaucratic processes, like these.

Sorry this happened to you, and spoiled your efforts.

[rawkus]

V: Why didnt they just copy+paste from the file to the "requisitios" paper..?

Just seems too simple to mess up.

[TraceyUk]

Our renewal for the family took 2 months from start to finish- no immigration lawyer involved or paid for and it all went smoothly. Yes the queue outside in the heat was a pain in arse but apart from that it was fine.
I have friends that have been here 13 years on FM3s and now FM2 and they have told me the Playa office is much more efficient and less frustrating.
good luck all
Tracey

[rawkus]

@Scorpio: Oh, if I could have left "just like that", I would have, trust me

The issue is that my FM3 would have expired when I was on my trip, meaning that I would have been fined once returning to Mexico...

And since its fairly unclear if I am coming back for a longer period or not, I absolutely REFUSE to do it all from scratch again(apply for a NEW FM3...).

Stupid rules? You betcha!

Yes, I am married to a Mexican citizen, but Im still in the same squeeze... I spoke to Mauricio about this a year ago, and he also recommended to extend the FM3 and then leave, rather than coming back and doing it all again, and at the same time losing the years I had previously collected... Ugh.... Hahaha.

Regarding fish and fruits: I had the best(and cheapest!) fish tacos in DF...

Since they decided to kill the mangrove at the start of the Hotel Zone, prices will go up as they literally eliminated a HUGE breeding area for fish and crustaceans... But, at least there will be even more empty high-rises in Puerto Cancun, thats always something to be proud about.

[V]

A question to **V** (from Scorpio)- Don't you find it strange and what IS in fact the driving force/motivation for you to settle permanently in Cancun?? Is it people? Sea?? Summer 24/7/365?? Or may be I'm NOT getting the whole picture again??)

Read here, old boy, and you'll find your answers, involved though they may be!

Why do you live in Cancun?

[Gringation]

Yesterday I just realized that my birthdate is wrong on my FM3.

F***.

[Isla Zina]

Migracion can fix that...with the proper documentation. But your CURP and everything else is dependant on that date, like your taxpayer Id (RFC). I had an error in my CURP that I didn't catch for a year or so and had to get a new CURP, present it to SAT for a new RFC, and then go to every payee to correct it for my facturas, not to mention reprinting my own factura blanks. Big pain in the butt!

[Gringation]

Isla Zina - Luckily this is a new error! My birthdate was correct on my previous FM3 (and CURP)... it wasn't until I got the new FM3 card a few months ago that the date was wrong.

Still, a trip to immigration is never a good thing.

Wouldn't it be great if I could just walk in, hand them my card and passport, tell them the error, get a new card and walk out?