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Sonia

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Posts posted by Sonia

  1. 6 hours ago, AndyPanda said:

    So you are saying that this Courchesne is providing them with fake utility bills?

    Utility bills that are not here. But he also has them pay at the bank review fee plus fine plus visa fee at once to the bank. Anyone smart pays only review fee to see if approved as no refunds are given. Once that amount is paid, he says, ohhh INM needs 3000 pesos to make it happen as they know you do not really living in the state of QRO. So people are between a rock and a hard place. Pure fraud. INM in Mexico City is aware.

  2. In Queretaro, expats with an expired FMM are applying for Temporary Resident. Be very careful, as applicants are fraudulently giving an utility bill with a Queretaro address. In some cases INM staff are asking for a 3000 pesos bribe. If caught, you could be deported.
     
    I have also gone to INM in QRO, and confirmed the need for an utility bill. I have proof of the request for 3000 pesos from several expats.

    The con artist is Guy Courchesne from Mexico City working with a lawyer in Queretaro. To make matters worse all INM fees are paid at once instead of just the review fee of 1410 pesos. So if denied you get no refund. And, at that point he asks for a 3000 pesos bribe and you are so committed financially you pay it.

  3. 25 minutes ago, ScottB said:

    Sorry, Sonia, I don't understand your response to my question about the UMA standard. Are you saying that because a 15% increase in minimum wage is in the works thatng  UMA is less or more likely to be implemented as the benchmark for qualifying residency income?

    There is no indication consulates will be using UMA. For the past three years, minimum wage has gone up 10, 16 and 20%. Slowly consulates implemented these increases. They are just as likely to implement the 15% this year if approved. You will also find consulates are not consistent in the amounts they require for financials nor how it is proven nor even how to make an appointment. Each consulate has a web site although some are not current. FYI, consulates are not a part of Inmigracion.

     

     

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  4. 20 hours ago, ScottB said:

    Well, so far I have not been able to find a consulate in the U.S. that is actually quoting the UMA numbers. Does anyone have a consulate that has made the transition?

    That is because they use minimum wage which likely goes up 15% Jan 1.

    If you enter with an expired visa you still have to convince immigration at your point of entry not to mark you tourist. Clients have done so but I prepared documents in advance which they had with them. Do not count on every immigration person at every point of entry to know the law. Once you enter as a tourist that is what you are.

    And people may disagree all they want. INM offices have different processes they follow whether you like it or not. In SMA for example, in some cases I can and have applied for TR after a person has a humanitarian FMM renewal. And, I can renew an expired FMM. Neither may be done in PV nor Nayarit and I believe not in GDL. 

    So saying you may enter with an expired TR visa months (not sure why PR was noted a they do not expire) after it expired is not applicable at every INM office. Similarly, to say the 90 day rule is not in effect is not applicable at every INM office is not how it works in reality. Try going from TR to PR after 4 years and not having changed your Mexican income status in Mexico for 6 months and see what happens. Bingo, threat to deny PR status and a fine and accountant scrambling to make changes all in the past week.

    INM, at each office rightly or wrongly operate independently. The requirements may change at any time. The example, I noted TR after humanitarian FMM. Locally, the requirements for financials changed again last week. Investments no longer are allowed.  It is critical to work with a person who works closely with INM staff. In my case many are personal friends. I can WhatsApp a question to INM staff from 8 am to 6 pm and get an answer. If there are issues I am informed by WhatsApp and that does not happen with individuals. I have more than 500 INM processes annually. My point is, if seeking someone to assist do it with someone who has a close professional relationship with INM staff and has extensive experience. 

     

  5. Expired FMM Renewal Process in Mexico
     
    This is a temporary program and end date is unknown. Not all INM offices offer this process. If you are not in Guanajuato state and not available where you live but wish to renew your FMM you will have to come to San Miguel de Allende. The process will take about 2 weeks.
     
    Your FMM must be expired but by no more than 60 days. This is not a humanitarian process.
     
    There is a review fee 1365 pesos, FMM fee 575 pesos and a fine determined at time of submission to Inmigracion.
     
    Your FMM will be renewed for 180 days.
     
    If one has a car with a TIP, at a very few Aduana offices you may renew your TIP (Queretaro airport is one), but if expired, you will lose your deposit.
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  6. Temporary Resident Visa Application In Mexico

    Not all Inmigracion offices in Mexico, may be offering this program. Please ask locally. If not, you may complete your process in San Miguel.

    THIS PROCESS IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A CURRENT HUMANITARIAN FMM TOURIST CARD THAT HAS NOT EXPIRED. THOSE FMM’S WERE ISSUED IN MEXICO THIS SUMMER. 

    Names on passport and financials must match 10000%. Larry R Smith is not the same as Larry Robert Smith to Immigration. 

    Financial requirements below are based on La Unidad de Medida y Actualización (UMA) which is currently 86.88 pesos. On-line financial printouts are sufficient. The amounts are per person including children. 

    ·      Investments: 1,737,600 pesos (20,000 days x UMA) with 12 months of individual statements, OR 

    ·      Monthly Income: 34,752 pesos (400 days x UMA) of work or pension income showing 6 months of bank statements, OR

    ·      Home Ownership in Mexico: 3,475,200 (40,000 x UMA) with original deed

    There is a review fee and a temporary resident fee. In San Miguel the process will take about 2 weeks. 

     

     
     
     
     
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  7. Someone needs to do their research. Most cities in Canada have a lower murder rate than Merida. It has the same murder rate as Toronto. As well, in Mexico, it is estimated 90% of crime is not not reported and only about 2% goes through the justice system, meaning stats have even less value. It reminds me when someone states Ajijic has second best weather in the world.  

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  8. On 9/29/2020 at 8:14 AM, telcoman said:

    They sure jumped in Vancouver. Direct to permanente is now out of reach for most retirees, $4750  a month in after tax income or $190,000 in the bank. My wife would just squeak under that for monthly income, I would not. If we can't get back in time to renew our temporal, I guess we will redo it all by having her go permanente, me temporal, then I apply for permanente tied to her. Still trying to find out from Teresa in PV if expiry renewals are now allowed past the 55 day period. She said she woudl check with INM when she can. With 2 friends dead of covid, I am not willing to get on a plane, I am in the high risk group, plus my aging parents need me in Canada right now. She did say they can now do them in one day in PV. That is good news, anyway.

    All the INM covid exemptions have ended, unfortunately. 

    From my FB which I posted today:

    The law says you may enter Mexico up to 55 days after expiration of a Temporary Resident visa. In reality, INM at point of entry will usually keep your expired visa and / or issue a FMM marked tourist unless you are able to convince them otherwise. If you enter as a tourist, the result is you need to start over, proving financials at a Mexican consulate. If allowed to enter and your FMM does not indicate tourist and you keep your expired card, you have 5 days to start the process at Inmigracion. If you enter beyond the 55 days you are a tourist.
     
    If your Temporary Resident visa expires in Mexico, you have 60 days to apply for a visa. The qualifiers are income or savings or home ownership in Mexico. These amounts have just been lowered by 1/3 as per my web site under visas as UMA is now used with the multiplier. There are 3 fees including a fine, review fee and visa fee. Your Temporary Residentvisa will be for 1 to 3 years. Translated financials are a must.

     

    • Like 1
  9. On 9/29/2020 at 8:25 AM, telcoman said:

    Thanks Sonia. That will make it easier. One question. I have an address in Barra Navidad, Jal. If I have your agent in PV do my renewal, do I need to change that to an address in PV?  Still in Jalisco. I am guessing the INM office in Melaque still takes 3 weeks or so.

    Sorry I just saw this. Teresa Sanchez represents me in PV and Riviera Nayarit. Email: marinvallarte@gmail.com. 322-303-2623. She is bilingual and great feedback from her clients.

  10. On 9/29/2020 at 9:21 AM, AdamAdamLopez said:

    Awesome. One question, when it comes to providing my husband's birth certificate, how recent must the copy be? I know that when I applied for my INE they gave me a hard time because my copy was 6 months old. We would have to have his mailed from Virginia and I want to make sure it meets the dates requirements. Thanks

    I do not believe there is a time limit. 

  11. To marry in Mexico, you need a valid FMM. The easiest place to marry is Mexico City as a gay couple. 

    And to be sponsored by your husband again you need a current FMM. As to the process please read my web site under visas / family and marriage to a Mexican national. Your names must match 100000% on passports and marriage license. You obtain an apostle of your California marriage license. Then it is translated in Mexico by a certified translator. Next, register your marriage with Registro Civil. Finally, you apply at Inmigracion. It is easier than it sounds. I have more than 500 INM processes annually and this is the process I have applied often including our own marriage.

    www.soniadiaz.mx

     

     

     

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  12. 5 hours ago, More Liana said:

    Sonia, I've had difficulties with two different banks in getting my fingerprints to "read" on their fingerprint readers.  I understand that my fingerprints have pretty much worn away with the passage of time!  Weird, no?   But apparently true.

    On October 5, I have an appointment with INE to update my credencial.  Can you offer me any advance pointers or alternatives if my fingerprints refuse to register on their readers?

    It should not be an issue. In the same way I have has clients with fingers missing.

     

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  13. Now in San Miguel and Riviera Nayarit, you may submit FMM renewal and any visa process (except a first visa with a consulate pre-approval) and you will have finger prints and visa all in same day. This is coming to all of Mexico.

    Expected later is the office will require appointments.

  14. INM is doing away with the need for infantile size photos. When one goes for finger prints and signatures they will also take your photo and eye scan. Once done, you leave with your visa. This is now in effect in San Miguel (and likely other INM offices) and in time throughout Mexico. 

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  15. In San Miguel, I have renewed 40+ FMM tourist cards, once expired. After renewal, Aduana in Queretaro will renew your TIP (car permit). Once you have your new FMM you may apply for Temporary Resident, again locally. I have had clients come from as far as Zihuatanejo and Ajijic to renew FMM's and TIP. I also have TR applications being processed using financials and this temporary program.

    Last year, in San Miguel, I had more than 500 immigration processes not counting my office in PV / Riviera Nayarit.

    www.soniadiaz.mx

     

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