Leaving Mexico without getting fined

[kdaca]

My FM3 is being processed, but i need to leave the country indefinately (death of an immediate family member. already missed the memorial services for financial reasons, but now my way is being paid to go home, which i plan to do by bus).

I've been told by my employer that I may be fined, but I'm leaving for very personal reasons. There may be a way they can ask permission for me to leave, but that may only be the case of me returning, which I'm not going to do.

How can I leave the country for personal/family reasons without getting fined? I've crossed the border by bus before and no one even thought to check my tourist visa, so I'm wondering if I'm worrying over nothing. Aside from that, it's been more than three months since the paperwork was turned into the lawyers, and I was told that the entire process was only going to take 8 weeks. Put another way, they're the one's taking so long, why should I have to pay for their delays?

Any suggestions would be helpful.

[RVGRINGO]

If you had gone to immigration yourself, to renew, you could return to them and get a letter of permission to enter/exit Mexico while your FM3 is in process. Now, you'll probably have to work that out with the lawyer, who should have been able to renew your FM3 in a week. I don't recommend just leaving the country and abandoning your FM3; you should cancel it if you don't have plans to return soon; otherwise, if your plans change, it could be difficult to get another one in the future.

[kdaca]

Thanks RV

This was the first FM3 I had applied for. Basically the lawyers are waiting for the appointment, so the process is in the last stages, so I really don't think asking for permission to leave would be a problem except for the fact that I'll be taking my passport with me.

Would I still be fined if I cancel it?

[RVGRINGO]

That appears to change things. If an FM3 has not been issued yet, you are still without an immigration document since your application has your FMT attached. You should have the FMT to travel. If it has expired, you can still get a letter of permission while the FM3 is in process. If none of that applies, I suppose you could simply walk out of Mexico and re-enter the USA with your passport, call the lawyer and cancel your application. Of course, you can't fly out without a current immigration document, so you will probably have to take a bus to the border and walk across. I know nothing of fines going out and you wouldn't be stopping at Mexican immigration, outbound, unless you had an FM3 to be stamped.

[kdaca]

i've got a copy of my fmt (weird how that little voice inside told me to ask for a copy). if i'm stopped for whatever reason, at least i have that...although i'm sure they'll try to fine me because it's not an original.

thanks rvgringo. your input was quite helpful.

[RVGRINGO]

A copy is not acceptable and your lawyer should cancel your FM3 application and return your FMT. If he has submitted the application, he will have a receipt for the FMT and you can get the letter of permission for about 250 pesos. As before, you do need to have a current immigration document when you travel. I trust that your FMT has not expired.

[maesonna]

You need to get a Permiso de Salida y Regreso; which is basically just a letter saying that your FM3 is en trámite and you are allowed to leave Mexico and return using the letter itself as your exit and entrance document. As RVGRINGO said, it costs around 250 pesos. You can probably find a list of the documents you need to apply for the letter if you search the website www(dot)inm(dot)gob(dot)mx for "Salir de México permiso de salida y regreso".

Basically you need the usual identification documents (passport), the copy of the application form for your pending FM3 process (i.e. the receipt they gave you or your lawyer when the submission for the process was made), any documentation you might have showing your need to leave the country at this time (airplane ticket [bus ticket in your case?]; possibly any documents you might have about the bereavement, if any), the completed payment form showing that you've paid the appropriate fee at the bank, and a letter you've written attesting that you aren't subject to any pending legal process (i.e. you're not fleeing arrest). And of course copies of everything.

Your lawyer ought to be able to help you with this. If you can get this letter, there should be no need either to cancel your pending FM3 process or run the risk of using your expired/canceled FMT.

[kdaca]

Thanks RV and Mae,

No, my FMT is good for another two months.

I've recently been told by the lawyer's secretary that there may be a chance of me getting fined over $100usd if I leave Mexico before the visa is processed (which she said may be ready by July 30). I'm not sure if she was just giving me the worst case scenario, but I'm supposed to meet with the lawyers tomorrow morning.

My question now is: Will they let me leave the country without paying whatever fine I'm being told I might have to pay? I seriously don't have the money; and if I did I'd still have a problem paying based on having to wait six weeks for an appointment to get the visa.

[maesonna]

As far as I know, the lawyer's secretary is right. The reason is that your application for FM3 superceded your FMT, and it's no longer valid, regardless of the expiry date on it. The practical question, though, is whether you would get caught, and I honestly don't know what the chances are.

If I was in your position, I would just go ahead and get the Permiso. It's not hard to do nor expensive, and it doesn't affect your FM3 process at all. Then you could travel with the assurance that you will be allowed to leave the country.

[kdaca]

Is there any reason why I couldn't get a Permiso? I'm not fleeing any pending legal process.

I wasn't even asked to present my expired FMT when i crossed the US/Mexico border (via bus) in March. Do you think I'd be somehow marked/followed to the border now that they "know" me? Even though I'll be taking the bus again, I'm starting to get paranoid.