Setting up our house in Mexico

[exqqqme]

This is my first post, and I am sure, it will not be my last...

My wife and I own a house in Mexico where we intend to retire in 7 years or so. Until then we will continue to travel there several times a year for vacations.

My wife has dual citizenship as she was originally born in Mexico and aquired her US citizenship 7 or 8 years ago.

We want to bring a car with US plates down to mexico to keep at our house until we retire.

My question is, what is the best way to do this?

I understand that with an FM3 visa I can bring a car to Mexico and leave it there for ??? some amount of time.
If this is true, can I apply for a FM3 visa now, or do I have to actually wait until I retire?
That is enough for now, I have lots of questions that I will post later...
Thanks!

[RVGRINGO]

With an FM3, you may leave the country without your car and there is no limit on the number of trips, etc. However, you should be aware that renewal of the FM3 is an annual event and that you must be in Mexico to do it at the same time each year. Here in Chapala, where immigration agents visit weekly, it takes about a month. It can be done faster in Guadalajara (in Spanish).

[exqqqme]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Renewing my FM3 each year would be a problem if it takes more than a week and I have to do it in Mexico...

Perhaps you know the answer to this: Since my wife is a Mexican National with dual citizenship, can she bring a car with US plates to mexico and leave it there indefinately? (I am assuming that she will not need a FM3 visa since she has dual citizenship).

I understand that Mexico just changed their laws regarding importing cars. Now they can only be 10 years old. None any older or newer will be allowed. so this is not really an option for us as the truck we want to leave down there is 11 years old...

Thanks again!

[RVGRINGO]

Yes, the changes are happening and they are very confusing. I suspect that they will remain confused for years and that each 'oficial' will have his own interpretation.
I think, but am not sure, that your wife can bring a vehicle to Mexico under entirely different guidelines than expats. You had better ask her to contact 'Aduana' for the latest details. She may be out of luck if the 10 year rule applies, as I think it will.
So, as you can see, this reply doesn't offer any solid answers and I'm not sure there will be any until these new rules 'shake out.'

[bournemouth]

A friend in the Lake Chapala area, who is a dual citizen, was denied the right to bring in a vehicle and was additionally denied the right to an FM3 on her US passport. As a Mexican returning to Mexico, she could not bring in a vehicle. Check carefully on this one.

[Rodrigo84]

They recently changed the law to permit nationalization of vehicles only from the year 1998, no less, no more, see Mexican law panics South Texas car dealers - Autos - MSNBC.com

My cousin used to know somebody here who was a dual Mex/USA citizen and brought a car down under a temporary import permit from California, but I am not sure as to how they went about doing that in that manner.

You can bring your car in under a tourist visa then (hopefully within 6 months) get your FM3. You don't need to get the vehicle permit updated, because it now runs with your FM3, not the dates mentioned on the permit. This part of Article 106, Article 106

[exqqqme]

Thanks everyone for the help...

I can see that this will take a lot of research, I was hopeing that my wife's dual citizenship would be an asset when it came to moving down there... I hope it does not prove to be otherwise...

[AmyLee]

You may also want to keep in mind that in order to bring in your household goods, such as furniture etc., without having to pay a tariff, it has to be done with-in 3 months (I believe) from the time you get your FM3.

[exqqqme]

Thanks for the tip...

It looks like my only choices, for now, are:

1. Buy a crappy car in Mexico that is already registered there (If I can't do it, my wife should be able to do it).
   
2. Sell my 1997 truck, buy a 1998 truck and have my wife import it into Mexico as a Mexican citizen, and register it there...

Does anyone see a problem with either of these options?

I would really like to find a way to work this out...

Thanks!

[Rodrigo84]

Nationalizing the truck isn't ordering a whopper, that's for sure, but it is doable and there are people along the border that can do this.

My American cousin, once he got his FM3, was able to buy a car here and register it in his name.