Renewing your FM3 Visa
If you are working in Mexico as a non-immigrant, then every year you must renew your FM3 visa. If you are looking for information on how to get it in the first place, go here.
The renewal process is much simpler than getting the visa in the first place. You can apply to renew the visa 30 days before your visa expires. Make sure that the dates on the application and letters are from within 30 days, not before. For example, mine expires on May 31st, and if I brought in an application and letters dated in April it would be rejected.
Expect to go a minimum of twice. Bring everything you can the first time. They can check it and tell you if anything is missing, and you can get the form for the payment and any other forms you are missing.
Here's what you need for the renewal:
1. Your FM3 card and passport.
2. A payment of $2,356 pesos. First get the form and instructions from the office. You can pay at any bank. Bring your passport for ID.
3. A form called 'Formato Basico' that they will give you at the office. It is simple personal information and you can fill it out there. Make sure you know your height and weight in metric.
4. The application. Fill it out online and print it. Do this within 30 days of the expiration date of your FM3, not before. Here's the link: inm.gob.mx/index.php/page/Solicitud_de_Estancia
5. A letter from your company stating that you will continue working under the same contract. They should also give you the form they have from the government to hire foreign workers. Unless you are their first foreign worker, they will know exactly what to give you.
6. Copies of your last three pay stubs. On the official list of documents you need it says just one, but they asked me for three. It is better to bring more than fewer documents.
7. A letter from you stating that you want your FM3 renewed. Here, you can use mine:
Instituto Nacional de Migración
Subdelegación Local en xxx
Re:
Mi nombre es xxx, y mi nacionalidad es xxx. Solicito mi prorroga de calidad de no inmigrante y manifestó que subsisten las condiciones bajo las cuales me fue concedida la característica migratoria, así como confirmo las mismas actividades en las que me encuentra realizando. Soy xxx (your profession).
De antemano, agradezco puedan llevar a cabo mi solicitud de manera positiva.
Saludos cordiales.
xxx
8. Five photographs in color and in 'infantil' size: three from the front, and two from the sides. If you have doubts, you can get a paper that explains it all in the office.
It should take between one and two weeks. Remember to dress nice, be polite, and make copies of everything.
