Costalegre Community Message Board

I notice on TomZap an ad to help with your FM3 visa ... and there are a number of other people around that offer their services for a price.

The reason I take exception to these offers is that Manzanillo must be the easiest place of all to get an FM3. Maybe other parts of Mexico or Consulates up north you'd find it difficult ... but Manzanillo is a snap!

Just talk to a few of us here online ... or in person and we can run you thru it. I took Frank down a few weeks ago and it took no more than an hour and a half including going to the Banjercito a few blocks away to pay the $140+/-. Can't guarantee anyone will hold your hand at the window but you may not even need that.

Here's a PDF file that I put on my site that is the VISA request form. The trickiest part of dealing with this form (the only one you fill out) is translating the questions on your physical make up. Also don't use your mothers maiden name - use the name on your passport.

This is the first thing you do ... and they will create the actual request letter for you from the info you give.

This PDF file was prepared by a hotel in Mazatlan for it's employees. If you clear the form and move your cursor to box ... a little translation box will pop up. You can also just print it out and study it ahead of time.

http://sparks-mexico.com/Assorted/Visas ... cation.pdf

$250us + for this service is out of line as well. Buyer beware!!

I used to pay $60 USD for the visa service in Chapala (plus the cost of the visa) but the distance is what made me think about doing it here in Manzanillo this year. It was pretty easy in Manzanillo as most of you know.

I think the $60 was about right as I did not have to do anything other than drop off my documents and return for them. Two 5 minute visits at their office. They did a lot of them and bunched them up and took care of a bunch at a time. When I had to do the thumb print they took us to Guadalajara to get it done and pick up the FM3.

shoe

Thanks,
I've heard a few different stories. what should be a straight-forward process seems labyrinthine. I just want to know the rules, so I can follow them.

If you are asking for what the proceedure is in Manzanillo, I and others will be glad to relay the info

Thank you, Sparks.

Yes, I'm planning to work in RE in one of the small cities down there, probably Barra.

I'm told that even though Mexican RE agents don't need any qualifications - I do, because I'm American. So, I've been trying to reach the Mexican consulates here to discuss the requirements with them. However, they either don't answer the phone, or, well the "Minute Men" had a rally in front of the Mexican Consulate in San Diego on Monday. I thought it was a poor idea to call them.

I've also been told that it is a better idea to get the document here, rather than in Mexico since I will have to have things apostille-ed.

Please, any advice will be appreciated. Thank you.

Julieann

Nobody needs special qualification to be a real estate agent in Mexico. As a foreigner you need working papers for any job.

Most of us here are retired so the help may be a little slim for a working FM3. Nothing here needed to be translated for a retirement visa. If you are planning to work for an existing company I'd suggest contacting them via Email or while here on a 6 month tourist visa. They should be willing to help with any paperwork you need.

Starting a company or freelance is another issue

Here's my web page on visas along with an Immigration link to - FM3 for Actividades Lucrativas in English

http://sparks-mexico.com/Assorted/Visas/visas.htm

http://www.inm.gob.mx/EN/index.php?page ... profession

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Just what the area needs. Another gringo RE agent. Stay home, carpetbagger.

I do have to add to wiseguys comment.

Realtors are NOT very well thought of around here except maybe by the $300k condo crowd who have a lot of money and little sense. Your circle of friends my be pretty small because of that.

Ditto ditto ditto. Finally someone else who will say what others will only think!

I wonder why the local RE agents have garnered such ill will. I would like to know because I have no plans of being a carpetbagger, being dishonest, nor of misleading buyers or sellers. I have seen these things - the agent who harasses ejido sellers into thinking that their properties are not valuable, the agent who doesn't educate the buyer, the agent who abandons the buyer after the sale.

Having seen these things, I believe that foreigners may leave their chosen country after building their dream home, because they have been disappointed time after time. One woman I knew could not get even simple work done on her house, because they workers disrespected her. They even urinated in her housepaint.

I also do not believe that ejidatarios should be ripped-off because they cannot read, or don't understand the process.

Seriously, I want to know what has occurred to make board members dislike the RE agents in town. Please email me privately at signet303atyahoo AND I WILL KEEP ANY AND ALL INFORMATION IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE.

Thank you.

People here don't want to see this area become another PV. And the gringo real estate agents are seen as major contributors. All of the gringo funded developments in the area seem to be linked to foreign real estate agents. Now that money is starting to come into the area, you have gringos flooding in to take advantage. And it isn't limited to real estate. More and more restaurants, shops and other types of businesses are being operated by gringos. And some of them give sleazy a bad name.

Mexicans, who have struggled for years to make it and finally have a chance at a little prosperity are at a distinct disadvantage due to language and cultural differences and, due to negative stereotyping in the NOB press, deemed untrustworthy by many gringos, etc..

Shouldn't they be the ones benefitting from the situation?

I doubt anyone will single out a certain real estate company here so there's no need for secrecy. It's more about the rapid development and large complexes funded by outside money.

Eco-friendly is almost laughable when you clear mangroves, channel lagoons, cut off beach access and hughley tax the water table.

Seaway Development ( http://www.seawayinc.com/ ) finally closed it's website after it's obscene project was stopped in Barra - a least for now.

Pre-construction sales pitches, false associations with Grand Bay and last year Time Share sales people were seen in Barra.

I know Mexicans that have lived here for 35+ years and most are not benefiting much unless they owned and sold a piece of property. Even construction crews are often brought in from outside.

Change is gonna happen but outside big money and attitudes makes it rather distasteful

Another part of the problem is that many of these so-called agents (even those affiliated with well-known companies) do not know anything (or at least not much) about local land issues. I bet many of them can't even spell "ejido" much less understand and explain what "ownership" of ejido land involves. I've seen these agents tell their clients that the ejido constancia is the "deed" to their land...
Julieann, do I detect a patronizing attitude? Why do you think ejiditarios don't understand ejidos?? It appears to me it is the foreigners who do not understand the meaning and historical importance of ejidos. And to imply that ejiditarios are not literate is just plain ugly. Sure there are illiterate people here, both ejiditarios & others, but you can get yourself into trouble with some of those ejido board members with an attitude like that. These are sharp, informed people, and yes they CAN read and write!! All the documents in Villa Obregon ejido are computer generated. I think the attitude you display in your post is a perfect example of why some people resent the foreign agents.