Need some advice about moving to Queretaro

[quinta]

Yes, you would need a "Menaje de Casa" if you're shipping your things via air (but it will be very, very expensive). You would need to get your things to Customs, wait and walk them through Customs (you must be present) and once they're liberated, take them to the airport; unless you've got a Customs Broker to do this service for you that is (there are many all along the border)-
If you will be bringing your vehicle with you, an FM3 would also be a good thing to have in place since the FM3 will cover your vehicle as well as long as it's in force and make bringing it across easier, otherwise you'd be crossing it under an FMT (which has to be returned and cancelled at the point of entry and Consulates inside the country don't like doing this) and then you can get the FM3, seems redundant to me and if you're getting an FM3 you might as well just get it done once. Good Luck....

[RVGRINGO]

Originally Posted by quinta

.............If you will be bringing your vehicle with you, an FM3 would also be a good thing to have in place since the FM3 will cover your vehicle as well as long as it's in force and make bringing it across easier, otherwise you'd be crossing it under an FMT (which has to be returned and cancelled at the point of entry and Consulates inside the country don't like doing this) and then you can get the FM3, seems redundant to me and if you're getting an FM3 you might as well just get it done once. Good Luck....

Actually, you may bring your vehicle on an FMT, or any visa, but it does require a separate 'Importada Temporal' (Temporary importation) certificate and window sticker which remains valid as long as your immigration status is up to date (FMT, FM3, FM2). There is no need to return the vehicle to the border for renewals, in spite of the expiration date on the original sticker. However, the vehicle may not be registered in Mexico and must retain title and plates from outside of Mexico but insurance for Mexico. It must also be removed from Mexico eventually and cannot be sold there, even for parts.

[asegbert]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

Actually, you may bring your vehicle on an FMT, or any visa, but it does require a separate 'Importada Temporal' (Temporary importation) certificate and window sticker which remains valid as long as your immigration status is up to date (FMT, FM3, FM2). There is no need to return the vehicle to the border for renewals, in spite of the expiration date on the original sticker. However, the vehicle may not be registered in Mexico and must retain title and plates from outside of Mexico but insurance for Mexico. It must also be removed from Mexico eventually and cannot be sold there, even for parts.

I've done a lot of checking into the car process in the last few days, since I'm about to do it in a week. I live in Houston and will be crossing at the Laredo checkpoint. I recommend getting that temporary car permit at a consulate if it's not too far - call ahead to find out their hours (are very limited) and what documentation you will need. That will save time at the border crossing, but I also get the sense that the consulate is a lot easier to work with - at the border it just depends on the agent you get. When I contacted the consulate in Houston, they got back to me the same day and explained the process start to finish, assured me that it's not nearly as difficult as some people make it out to be (it was complicated for me because I just purchased the vehicle and won't have the plates, title, or registration in hand by the time I have to cross down there).

Also, previous posts have suggested that you have to insure the car here in the states and in Mexico - I am also learning that that isn't the case. It just depends on what all you need in terms of where you will have the car. Mine will be going down to Mexico for a year and not traveling north of the border at all during that time - so it would be silly to have to keep a US insurance policy. From what I am understanding (still going to check all of this with the TxDOT and Mexican Consulate), I just have to get full coverage insurance in Mexico (I will likely do it through Sanborn's, but I know there are other companies out there). I do need to keep the car insured through the time that I drive down to Mexico, and as soon as I come back into the states the car must be covered under a US policy. But that's fairly easy to set up for a lot cheaper than paying 2 insurance policies for a year

Also, if you cross the border with an FMT, the car permit is only good for 6 months and they will tell you that you have to drive north to the border to renew it. Like RVGringo said, that's not the case if you switch to a FM3. Once your visa category changes to allow you to stay longer than the FMT did, then the expiration on the vehicle permit is also extended. **However, you may still get pulled over, in which case sometimes you have to be the one to educate the police on the laws because the consulate told me that some aren't always as up to date. You will have paperwork to support you, so that's good

[RVGRINGO]

That's a very good recap. The process isn't complicated. It is just that the language difficulty may make it seem so. Most traffic police do know that, if you have legal immigration status, your car sticker remains valid. However, some want to intimidate you into paying them; a felony, but the way.
Simply refuse. They won't actually shoot you or take your car. Insist that they write a ticket. In Jalisco, they can't even hold your license. There are forms available to report dishonest police or other government employees and there is a nationwide program fighting 'mordida' ('the bite').

[sanantonio]

Originally Posted by tglobal1

I will retire soon, and am thinking about moving to Queretaro, Mexico, from Houston, TX but I don't know much about the American expat community there.

Does anyone have some info about the number of American expats living there? Or perhaps a website or two that I could do some additional research to help with my decision?

Thanks in advance,

Hello from Queretaro,

My husband and I have lived in Queretaro a few months and have not met any Americans yet. We are from San Antonio, Tx. I have tried the email address for the newcomers club but it has errors and my emails have been rejected.

The city is a good size. There is a Cost-Co, Sams, Walmart and of course many U.S. fast foods. People are friendly. Not much more I can say for now since we are also just getting the feel for the town.

[jimgkiss]

Hello, my wife and I are going to travel south Feb and Mar looking for a place to winter in the future. Have you found out more about Queretaro or any place else? We're also going to check out Tesquisquiapan. Thanks for sharing,

Jim and Laura
Asheville, NC

Originally Posted by tglobal1

I will retire soon, and am thinking about moving to Queretaro, Mexico, from Houston, TX but I don't know much about the American expat community there.

Does anyone have some info about the number of American expats living there? Or perhaps a website or two that I could do some additional research to help with my decision?

Thanks in advance,

[ORivas]

Hello both the above - not really sure how this works yet - or if you'll see my message as I appreciate it's a few months since you left yours...! I am also looking to move to Queretaro but unlike most other people on the site, I'm English. Actually, my Mexican husband is there now looking for work and I am hoping to join him early next year. Poster called 'Queretaro' - I see you run a language school - do you have any advice re finding employment over there as an English speaker with 'school girl' (but improving...) Spanish? I was considering a TEFL course but have heard others say its not really essential for teaching... are there other ways to earn a buck?

[Queretaro]

Hi Orivas. I would be happy to help. Our school focuses on Spanish for foreigners, so we do not hire any English teachers, but due to the nature of the business, we have many contacts in other Language schools that do teach English. I just helped a 2 of our students find English teaching jobs here in Querétaro, so I can say that there are plenty available.
If you speak English from England, you may actually be at an advantage. A good friend of mine is a British English teacher here in Querétaro, and she teaches private classes to executives that believe that the British English is the more "sophisticated" kind. That being said, she is also and English teacher with about 30 years of experience.

If you are looking to some other kind of work, then you may have a little more trouble, depending on what your work history is. While there are jobs available in many of the multi-national companies here in Querétaro, they have specific requirements (accountants, engineers, etc).

If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact me in a PM here, or through the email in my signature. I would be happy to help.

[ORivas]

Hi 'Queretaro' - thanks for the advice! It sounds as though the TEFL course could be quite a good option for me in that case. Perhaps when I come over I could forward you my CV? By the way, when you say I can reply to the email address in your signature do you mean the 'contact' form on the webpage you pasted in?

[Queretaro]

Yes, just send an email to the address listed on that page or use the form and it will all come to me.