Last  week, TOP Mexico Real Estate was invited to the Riviera Maya University where Mr. Paul Sanchez gave a presentation regarding SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT and how it is and can continue to be introduced here in the Playa del Carmen land growth and development that is occurring.  Mr. Paul Sanchez administers the CEA, a non profit conservation organization based in Akumal.  He helps to review the impact of the growth and development upon the environment.  His goal is to share his know-how, the data he collects from the environment in order to help educate the government, the private sector, and all people the relations that exist between ecology and community development.

In the presentation he stated;

“Sustainable development is development that satisfies present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to satisfy their own needs.

The core principles that we need to work on are economic, social, and environmental, searching for equilibrium among the three.”

From here, he pointed out the importance of having adequate indicators introduced to the process in order to adequately measure changes in the system.  Depending on the region or the specific environment in question will determine the type of indicators that  must be implemented.  Here in thePlaya del Carmen and the Riviera Maya region, the coral reefs, the sand dunes, the mangroves, cenotes, underground streams, the jungle, and the wild life that lives within are some of the Eco system that we must… protect while development occurs.

The Playa del Carmen real estate market is one of the fastest growing communities in Latin America.    With so many people being introduced to this region, it is hard to overlook the “shock” this trend is placing upon the eco system.  I enjoyed listening and learning of this message that Mr. Paul Sanchez was transmitting.  Paul has a large task set before him and many people I speak with feel their contribution will be too small and a mere drop in the bucket  therefore insignificant.   But all actions (such as conserving water, ensuring your property’s drainage system, voicing your opinion with the public officials etc.)  executed jointly and with persistence will make the difference.

What do you think?
Don’t our kids and our grand kids deserve an effort  from us so they also can experience this … “paradise”?
To learn more about Paul and CEA click here ( CEA  )

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the company’s web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

This past Friday, the Playa del Carmen real estate market was having their future zoning, land use guides, and transportation planning amongst other development regulations discussed and defined by the city officials and directors.  TOP Mexico Real Estate was invited to the meeting at city hall to see the first version or first draft of the plan.

The meeting was headed by the mayor of Solidaridad, Roman Alcocer, Director of Urban Development, Jose Alonso Duran, along with other members of the council including representation of the private interests as well as several professional associations such as Engineers and Arquitects.

The Urban Development Plan for Playa del Carmen includes Akumal and Puerto Aventuras.  It is important to point out that one of the main reasons for the new plans is due to the creation of the new municipality of Tulum.  During this adjustment of territories, Solidaridad lost a little over 50% of its territories to the newly formed Tulum district.  The new plan contemplates the loss of territory and focus on growth towards the western parts of the city upto the year of 2050.  The design incorporates past statistics and data from the record breaking growth rates of the city, state regulations, tourist and economic growth figures along with projections.  As many of you might be aware, Playa del Carmen has had some remarkable population growth figures in the past 8 years.  Only one in five residents of our city here in this Mexico real estate region has been living here for more than five years!  This is a small sample of how fast the region is actually growing.

There were three areas that caught my attention of the new layout.   A new toll road to be constructed on the west end of the community to connect to the existing Cancun-Merida toll road.  Also, another highway connecting Cancun – Playa del Carmen – Tulum which will replace the current 307.  This will be located further to the west end of town relieving the pressures in the downtown areas.  So sometime in the future, the main entrance into the Playa del Carmen real estate area will no longer be in the front of Mayakoba…El Cielo…Mareazul, it will be further out in the jungle.  Finally, the layout allows for the possible introduction of a subregional train, again connecting Cancun-Playa del Carmen – Tulum!   This introduction of the regional train sounds quite exciting.  Trips into Cancun will possibly be done by rail.  This will be a fantastic feature for tourists, future Mexican retirement community residents, and for current Playa residents.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the company’s web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

When buying real estate in Mexico you can focus all your time on the purchasing process and sometimes forget that you are moving to a different country and will need a visa.

For most of us coming and living in Mexico for a few weeks doesn’t cause any problems and you can get in with an FMT or as of May 1^st 2010 an FMM. This is the visa every tourist gets when entering the country.  Its one of those documents you get handed on the plane to fill in. This entitles you to stay for no more than 180days. In some case you can apply to extend this when you get close to the end.

When you want to stay in Mexico for longer periods of time and when buying property in Mexico you should apply for the non-immigrant FM3. This allows you to stay in the country for up to a year, close to the end of that year you should go back to your immigration office and apply to renew for another year.  This can be done for 5 years and once you have been on your FM3 for 5 years you can then change and apply for the FM2.

You can either come to Mexico on your FMT/FMM, go to the local immigration office of where you want to live and buy a property and apply there
or
If you don’t have time in Mexico you can go to your local Mexican consulate at home and apply there

I my self have applied for many different visas in Mexico and I now hold a FM2. So I will be talking about applying for a visa while in Mexico.

You have two options you can do it your self or get a lawyer to do it for you.

The Lawyer route:

This option is good for those:

• Who aren’t able to speak Spanish (or enough to get you through, I’ve seen many Americans and Canadians who can’t speak any Spanish going to immigration on their own, you may be lucky and get one of the officers who speak English but this will depend on where you are), or can’t go with some who does.
• Doesn’t have the time to sit and wait in the immigration office. (The last time I was there, I had to wait almost 3hours before it was my turn at the desk.. The offices usually open at 9/9:30am so get there before then so you are sure to be first or not have a long waiting time)
• Who don’t think they pass the requirements for the visa you are applying for.
• Who haven’t done this before and would like help.

One of the main problems I found with using a Lawyer is that in some cases they can charge you a large amount of money for something that really can just take you a few hours.

First you should go to your local immigration office and ask for the requirement check sheet for the visa you would like to apply for (more than likely it will be in Spanish but again depends on where you are). With this you can take your time and gather up all the documents you need.

I must point out that each Mexican States immigration office has different, processing times and requirements. Maybe not by much but its much better to have the check sheet for the office you are applying in. This will save you some painful hours waiting to be told you are missing something or you don’t need that document. Also they update the process often so you should make sure you have an up to date check sheet and application form.

For example I used to live in Manzanillo in the state of Colima on the pacific coast, there they don’t see many people wanting to apply for FM3 or FM2 but dealt mostly with ship captains. What I found here was that the application for an FM3/2 could take a while or be done in a day all depending on what mood the officers were in, but getting information was difficult as there was only three windows and you had to queue with everyone else just to ask a question.

I now live in Playa del Carmen and found that the immigration office is more geared towards foreigners coming to apply for visas. Here they have an information desk where you can get all your check sheets, application forms and any help with what you are looking for.

The officer here will after speaking with you decide if you need to go to one of the processing desks. This saves a lot of time and I wish that was available in Manzanillo when I was applying for my Married visa.

Next door to the Playa Immigration office is a small “shop” offering services like photocopying, letter writing, translations, photos etc. This is very useful as when I applied for my FM2 visa I needed three letters, one to say that I am married to my wife, one to say my wife is married to me and one to say what visa I am looking to get, for $100pesos each the gentleman working here typed these letters for me within 10mins and I was ready to go. I know that is a lot for 3 pieces of paper, but its all done in Spanish and covers exactly what you need. You could try searching for a template for each letter you need to save money.

You can also ask here for help on what documents you need, as he must see thousands of confused tourists come and go and knows exactly what you need to get your visa. Just make sure you use one of his services when asking him loads of questions, its only fair.

When you to buy a property in Mexico your best option for a visa is a FM3 rentista. This version of the FM3 is for everyone who wants to come and go to Mexico. Best when you want a holiday Mexico home and only want to be here for a few months at a time. To get a visa like this you have to prove that you either have a monthly income of $1000USD or have $12,000USD in a bank account. This is to prove that you can come to the country and don’t have to worry about money or turn to working. You can stay for one week or for the whole year if you want but you can’t work.

At the moment you will get a passport size book. A green one for the FM3 and a grey one for the FM2, but as of May 1^st 2010 these will change to ID cards. This is going to be a lot better as you are meant to carry your visa with you everywhere and keep a copy at home.  So with a card you can just put it in your wallet or purse and not worry about it.

To sum this up, If you have the time and patience, first get the check sheet for what you need spend a few days gathering your documents together and take a book and a bottle of water and go to apply for your visa. You will also find that you will have to go back a couple of times. I went in to apply for my visa, then to go back 3 weeks later to make sure it was all ok, sign a few forms, get my finger prints done and hand over some pictures (You will be told what size and type of photos you need) then wait another 10 days until going back for the third time with the payment and collect you visa.

-Robert Young

The Costa Maya real estate market is still in the early stages of development.  On the southern half of Quintana Roo south of the Riviera Maya and bordering with the country of Beliz, the Costa Maya region extends for nearly 100 km along the Mexican Caribbean waters. The northern half is marked by the border with the Sian Kaan Reserve limits and southern far point with the small village called Xcalak.  Mahahual is situated in the middle of Costa Maya where a cruise port exists receiving thousands of tourists a year at their piers and downtown boardwalk.

Last week I took a client to see some Costa Maya real estate options.  We travelled north to a beachfront lot in the Sian Kaan Reserve. I hadn’t been there for a couple of months and was surprised to see how much the vegetation had grown and how I had forgotten just how wide and incredibly beautiful the beach was; gentle waves rolling in over the fine sugary white sand with a multitude of tall elegant palm trees swaying in the breeze. This lot is at the entrance of the reserve and only a 45-minute (50km) drive away on a well-surfaced road from the busy Mahahual village (it was a cruise ship day), yet the feeling of peacefulness there was amazing.

Residential buildings are the only type of construction permitted in the reserve and the building density is very low here. That means that the lots are large so it’s perfect for people looking for peace and quiet with the knowledge that there will always be a lot of space between you and your neighbors. Needless to say an offer has already been made on this lot!

In the late afternoon preparations were being made for the Mahahual Carnival 2010. The carnival has been established for the past few years, but this year was the first where there was a great feeling of community as both Mexicans and foreigners, living along the coast, in the village or in the main residential area, “Las Casitas”, which is next to the cruise ship port, were ready to party. The floats were led by “Las Bomberitas”, (the fire fighting girls), sponsored by Sol beer, who proved to be very popular!

Following were a number of other floats, including the International Float, a recycling float, the school floats, with the youngest dressed as baby chicks to the older ones looking very professional in their glittery costumes complete with large colourful feathers, “Las Mahahualeñas” a group of ladies dedicated to community work in Mahahual, dive centres and many more.

The procession left the “casitas” and passed through the village doubling back on the new promenade, “malecon”. It was spectacular to see the tourists and locals alike (many wearing their own carnival face masks) watching in awe as the array of different floats passed them by.  Finishing up at the stage area on the “malecon” different groups performed their dance routines with spectators enjoying the show and lots of cold beer. A full moon, the palm trees and the beach completed the perfect picture of paradise and provided a stunning backdrop for a great evening enjoyed by all.

Come visit us for Carnival 2011 to see what it’s all about!

Rebecca Lotto is from the United Kingdom and has been traveling and living in Latin America for nearly ten years.  Costa Maya has become her home residence in the past 5 years where she and her husband have settled and have become involved and active in various community organizations.  Rebecca brings British business ethics and Mexico business experience together to give buyers unparalleled service. 512-879-6546

THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

If you have been living in Mexico in 2008 or if you earned income while in Mexico, chances are that the April 30th deadline for filing a Mexican tax return applies to you.

Income in Mexico is broadly defined and includes wages from an employer, income from personal services, rents, dividends, income and other items If you have received income, then it does not matter if you are considered a Mexico resident or non-resident, the law says you must file a return.

Requirements for residents are different There are several ways to determine whether or not you are a resident The easiest way is to see how much of the year you have spent in Mexico If you were here for 183 days or more, you are considered a resident You can also be considered a resident if you maintain your primary residence in Mexico or if you receive more than half of your income from Mexican sources When in doubt, the Mexican government will consider you a resident Bienvenidos!

Residents are required to pay taxes on their worldwide income, just as the US requires you to do This means that any income you receive from the US: social security, pensions, interest and so forth; will be taxed under Mexican law Similar to the US, you are allowed deductions for medical expenses, charitable deductions and the like You receive an exemption for the first MXN 125,000 Income from 125,000 to 1,000,000 is taxed at a 15% rate Above one million pesos, the rate is 30%.

If you need to file a tax return, http://www.sat.gob.mx/sitio_internet/asistencia_contribuyente/principiantes/eres_extranjero/78_9768.html for more information While many have neglected to pay taxes in the past, it might be wise to start paying attention to this issue As the economic situation worldwide has deteriorated, governments are eager to seek out additional tax revenues US President Barack Obama has been putting heavy pressure on Swiss and other European banks to release information on Americans with accounts there There is no telling what goverments may do to maximize their tax revenues should economies continue to deteriorate

Keep in mind that if you pay taxes in Mexico, as a US citizen, you must also file taxes in the US More about this issue in Part II If you would like to receive, free of charge, a comprehensive booklet describing the taxation of Foreigners living in Mexico, drop me a message or a quick note by CLICKING HERE (Mexico Real Estate Blog CONTACT US) along with any questions you may have I ll be more than happy to send it to you immediately and respond as best I can on any tax questions you may have.

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that this writing is intended to provide you with high level information and is not intended to be considered as tax advice. Tax laws in most countries are complex. You should meet with your professional tax adviser to review your individual situation before acting on any suggestions made in this article.

Gary Lewis' ideas incorporate more than 30 years working with investments including 20 years experience in the deriviatives industry and 10 years as a fee-only comprehensive financial planner. He specializes in designing portfolios that meet the client s required rate of return with a minimum level of volatility.

Gary holds the CFP and ChFC designations and earned a Master of Management (MM) degree in finance from Northwestern University. He currently resides in Mexico City(512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

Where TOP real estate experts from ALL regions of Mexico come together to share their Tips & Knowledge to help you buy safely ! .

I am sure you have all wondered when vacationing down in Mexico, “what happens to me if I lose mytourist card , also known as a FMT ( Forma Migratoria Turista)” . The tourist visa is the document that you get on the plane or as you drive across, fill out, and then hand to the customs/immigration officer He then stamps it with the date you arrived and the number of days you can remain in Mexico.

We recently had a very interesting and yet worrying experience. For the first time ever, we took a domestic flight from Mexico City into Cancun (though our trip started in Canada) We never received an FMT card on either the flight into Mexico City, nor the one into Cancun We initially thought that perhaps these visas were no longer required This was until our friends arrived a few days later on a charter flight with tourist cards in hand!

We had thought it extremely unusual that we did not go through customs and that our passports were not stamped in Mexico City nor Cancun Upon arrival in Mexico City we did not change terminals; we just got on our flight to Cancun - bags checked through We have since been told that terminal one in Mexico City is an old terminal and it s possible to completely bypass customs

Advise one:When travelling abroad, your first port of entry will most likely be the area required to present your passports, visas, and travelling documents to obtain stamps from custom officials

Needless to say, we became very worried when we discovered our friends had one. From past experience we knew that you could pay for the tourist cards at a bank, but you had to have the card in hand. On further investigation we found out that we needed to go to the Cancun airport toexplain the situation to the Mexicana Airline people and immigration. As you can imagine, this took several hours and took away from our valuable Beach time.The airline was surprisedthat we did not receive one and immediately suggested we talk to someone at immigration.

At this point I knew we would meet up with either very professional/conscienceous personnel OR we would have topropina our way out of this We discovered the following information.

Advise two: you need proof of citizenship to obtain an FMT card, this can be either a passport or a birth certificate accompanied with a photo identification.

The official gave us the 2 FMT cards once we had shown him our passports We had to fill out the documents which asked where we were born, purpose of the trip, and our final destination.

Advise three: You will need to take your airline ticket if your Mexican FMT is lost, as well as your proof of citizenship

After filling out the documentation, we were required to pay for the administrative fees which have an approximate cost of $250 pesos per fmt

The FMT is a tourist visa, and can be obtained for a maximum period of 180 days Although hardly any Immigration officier will stamp approval for these amunt of days, they usualy will approve a 90 day FMT

Nancy Schneider -Deacon

www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

512-879-6546

The amount of people moving down to Mexico from other countries is growing at a good clip The Mexico Real Estate market had been receiving a great quantity of buyers looking to invest into rental properties over the past 4 or 5 years, but this profile seems to be shifting towards non-Mexican buyers who are looking to make a permanent move If you are looking to move here full time and get a job, you will be required to get a Mexican Visa in order to work The resident professional fm3 visa and the resident executive fm3 visa are widely used for these non-Mexican people looking to continue workingAs the requirements require for the other visas listed out in my previous posts, the Inmigration Offices will request:

Resident Professional Visa

a) The application form filled in

b) Your official ID and your FMT card

c) A letter to the Inmigration Offices stating the reasons you wish to live in Mexico full time

d) If you plan to work professionaly and independently, you will need to include a signed, sworned statement atesting to this fact outlining where you plan to work and what you plan to do.

e) A letter from your employer on a letterhead document This document will specify the nature of the work, your renumeration, and where you plan to work

f) Documents from your employer including: Articles of Incorporation, last taxes paid, and proof of registration into the National Registry of Foreign Investment

Mexico Resident Executive

If you are planning on working for a Mexican Entity, then the following docs will be required:

items A thru C listed above, a copy of your job offer (this should list out the position and the name of the entity.) A letterhead document will be required listing out position and location of the employer The same documents requested by the Government for the Resident Professional listed in section F, will also be required for the Resident Executive visa.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. Active broker and current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the company`s web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

In a few previous posts, I wrote about the various options available for non-Mexicans to obtain residence status here in Mexico In my line of business, Mexico Real Estate industry, I meet many Mexican foreigners who are estabishing a new life concept, moving from their native country to set up a business in various regions of this emerging country I have also met a tremendous amount of people with a life plan of purchasing their retirment getaway here in distinct parts of Mexico, whether it be in Cancun, Merida, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende or even in Oaxaca No matter the case, when you invest into a real estate here in this country, one of the frequently asked questions heard from the ex pat communities is

“How do I Establish Legal Residency in Mexico, and Do I need to Give up My Native Country Citizenship”

The answer to the question of needing to give up Native Country Citizenship is , NO When obtaining legal residency status in Mexico you are not required to forfeit your home country citizenship I will write a future post on obtaining Mexican Citizenship and how this affects your native citizenship But, you can hold onto 2 citizenships in the majority of the cases except for a handful of countries in the world which restrict duo citizenship status As mentioned in the previous posts, there exists several visa classifications outlined in VISA CLASSIFICATIONSIn this post we are outlining Resident Investor visas The main criteria of qualifying for this VISA is an investment into a Mexican corporation, a Mexican industry, Service, Commerce for an amount greater than $150,000 usd Such investment may include the purchase of Real Estate The requirements for application inlcude:

a) official identification such as your passport

b)FMT or current Mexican visa

c) A letter addressed to the Mexican Institution of Migration outlining the reasons why you are asking for residencyIn this letter you should address in what industry you are investing, the type of investment such as stock shares, equity certificates, or trust beneficiary rights in the case of buying a Mexico Real Estate through a bank trust This letter must be written in spanish

d) Accompanying these documents you will also be required to show proof of this investments such as the documentation with the Mexico National Registry of Foreign Investment offices of Mexico City Or, in the case of investment into Mexico real estate, proof of acquistion via copy of deed or copy of the bank trust if purchasing within the restricted zone here in Mexico

As I mention before, our team has much experience in assisting people just arriving to Mexico in establishing themselves and starting the process of obtaining legal residency We do recommend that you retain the services of a professional lawyer expert in residency and citizenship laws to guide you in selecting the most convenient visa and to coordinate the activities during the process of registration

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. Active broker and current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the company`s web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

One of the most common permits obtained by Mexican Foreigners is the Resident Pensioner visa (FM3 or FM2) On a previous post, the classification of the differences between non-resident, temporary resident, and permanent residents was outlined The Resident Pensioner permit (temporary resident) is described as those foreigners who want to live in retirement in M xico, subsisting on funds, interest bearing securities or pensions generated from any country other than Mexico.

Applications for FM-3 and FM-2 can be realized at any Mexican Immigration Office within Mexico, or at any Mexican Consulate It is also a good note to point out that depending on the office or consulate that you contact, the requirements of documentation for application may vary But below I have put a list that I consider as … a general starting point

To obtain a Mexico Resident Pensioner Permit you must submit:

a) an application filled out of your request to change of migration status to Resident Pensioner

b) an official identification (passport) and your FMT visa

c) a letter made out to the National Institute of Migration, outlining your reasons for your request to establish residency in Mexico (letter must be written in Spanish)

d) a letter from your financial institution or trust demonstrating your income generated from abroad with a yield above $12,500 pesos monthly

*(some offices may only require bank statements, or monthly statements for 3 consecutive months demonstrating these incomes)

** (for each family member that is dependent, the amount of income will increase by $750 usd per member)

*** (if the non-Mexican has purchased real estate in Mexico for residential purposes, the National Institute of Migration may reduce the required monthly income by as much as 50%)

As mentioned above, some requirements may vary depending on the migration or consulate office that you insert your application Below is an estimated cost to obtain these permits quoted from Quintana Roo and on this date.

$444.00 pesos for the application

$1,172.00 pesos once the applicant has been approved and processed

service fees for the coordination of this document again varies depending on the location and the company offering such services The service fees may run as low as $250 usd upto $900 usd

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. Active broker and current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the company`s web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

As many of you know, my business is in the Mexico Real Estate Industry But our services also include helping the new buyers “move and adjust” into this new country, introducing them to new friends and neighbors, and helping them become legal Mexico residentsWe are starting to receive a great amount of emails over the past couple of months with the questions

“I am a Mexican Foreigner and I want to live and work in Mexico full time, How do I get a Mexican Visa” I have written several articles before on this subject, but I thought with this recent surge in emails regarding this theme, I would revisit and update these articles.

MEXICO VISA CATEGORIES

Non-Mexicans are allowed to enter into Mexico with basically two visa options which is the path towards obtaining a permanent residency:

a) Non-residents are non-Mexicans with a temporary permit.

b) Temporary-residents are non-Mexicans with the plan of residing in this counrty and a plan to eventually obtain a permanent status

c) Permanent-residents are non-Mexicans who obtain the the right to reside permanently in this country.

MEXICO NON-RESIDENT PERMITS

These permits inlcude the FMT visa which is commonly used by tourists These are typically prepared with 30 days but can be requested with a period upto 180 days Other permits within this category include the student permit, Political Refugee, Correspondent permit amongst others

MEXICOTEMPORARY-RESIDENT PERMITS

This is what most non-Mexico Real Estate buyers obtain in order to help them with their documentation, to set up bank accounts and other day to day activities The most common permits are the Resident Pensioner, or a Mexican resident who lives off of revenues generated from another country other than Mexico The investor resident is one who invests money in Mexico and lives off of these earnings A Professional resident is one who practices his/her profession in Mexico, while an Executive resident works specifically for a position in a Mexican Entity Artists and sports professionals is exactly as the title describes, those who practice their talents within the Mexican territory There are basically two permits allowed for the TEMPORARY-RESIDENT, the FM3 and the FM2 The FM3 is valid for a maximum period of 12 months Once it expires it can be renewed for another 12 month period Once the Temporary Resident has obtained five of these permist consecutively, he can apply for a FM2 Again the FM2 is only valid for a maximum of 12 months and can be renewed indefinitely

MEXICO PERMANENT RESIDENT

After 2 years of receiving the FM2, the temporary resident is elgible to apply and obtain a permanent resident status in Mexico This process is called naturalization, and there are other options to obtain this residency For example throught birth, if you are a direct descendent of a Mexican, or through marriage

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. Active broker and current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the company`s web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

The majority of the people coming to visit Mexico either arrive by plane or by driving across the border. After filling out the correct documentation for yourself, your family and friends (SEE POST ON WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED WHEN TRAVELLING TO MEXICO), your next decision ischoosing the lane to DECLARE ITEMS being imported into Mexico or choose the lane of NO DECLARATION .

What does this mean

In the lane of NO DECLARATION, you will be asked to press a button, if the green light turns on, you will pass on through into Mexico, if the red light turns on, a physical inspection will be realized by the customs officer on your luggage and carry on items. The majority of the time, the inspection is quick and efficient, and then you will proceed on into Mexico.

If you choose to DECLARE ITEMS, then please read the last paragraph on how much you will need to pay in duties on your excess items being brought into Mexico.

WHAT ITEMS CAN WE BRING INTO MEXICO WITHOUT PAYING DUTIES

Basically the items that can fit in your luggage and which are listed below are duty free when travelling into Mexico.

1. Goods for personal use, such as clothing, footwear and personal toiletries and beauty products, as long as they are appropriate for the duration of the trip, including wedding party items.

2. Two photographic cameras or video recorders, 12 rolls of film or videocassettes; photographic material; two cellular telephones or radio phones; a portatil typewriter; an electronic calendar; a portable computer (laptop), notebook, omnibook or similar items; a copier or portable printer; a portable projector, and their accessories.

3. Two sports equipment, four rods, three speedboats with or without sails and their accessories, trophies or recognitions, provided that they can be transported normally and commonly by the passenger, one stair climber and bicycle

4. A portable radio for the recording or reproduction of sound or mixed tapes; or a digital sound reproducer or portable reproducer of compact discs and a portable reproducer of DVD s, such as a pair of portable speakers, and their accessories.

5. Five laser disks, 10 DVD disks, 30 compact disks (CD) or magnetic tapes (audiocassettes), for the reproduction of sound and five storage devices or memory cards for any electronic equipments.

6. Books, magazines and printed documents.

7. Five toys,included those that are collectible and a video game console and videogames.

8. One device that permits measurement of arterial pressure and one for glucose, as well as medications of personal use; in the case of psychotropics the medical prescription should be shown.

9. One set of binoculars and a telescope.

10. Valises, trunks and suitcases necessary for the movement of goods.

11. Passengers over 18 years of age, may introduce a maximum of up to 20 packs of cigarettes, 25 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco and up to three liters of alcoholic beverages, and six liters of wine; in excess of the above, cannot be imported without complying with applicable regulations and restrictions.

12. Baby travel accesories, such as strollers and baby-walkers

13. Two musical instruments and its accessories.

14. A camping tent and camping equipment, as well as their accessories.

15. Handicapped or old travelers may introduce items for personal use, useful to have a better performance of their activities, such as walkers, wheelchairs, crutches and canes.

16. A set of tools including its case, it might have a hand drill, wire cutters, wrenches, dices, screwdrivers, current cables, among others.

17. Beddings, that will be able to include a set of matching sheets and pillowcases, a set of towels, a set of bath, a set of table linen and a set of kitchen.

18. Up to two dogs or cats, maybe introduced as well as their accesories, provided that the corresponding zoosanitary import certificate issued by (SAGARPA) is presented to the customs officials.

What if I Bring an Item That is Not Within the Luggage and Not Outlined in the List Above

Up to $75 USD per person is permitted on goods, or its equivalent in other currencies. Passengers traveling with family members (spouse and children) may combine their personal exemptions only when arriving together on the same vehicle or same plane In order to claim this additional exemption, passengers must have the corresponding commercial invoices or receipts available

If the amount is greater than the $75 exemption permitted yet less than US$3,000, you must pay duties and taxes. There is a flat 15% rate of duties and taxes and you must fill out the payment form intended for it, which is available at the Customs counter.

If the amount of the goods is over the US$3,000, then you must hire the services of a customs broker, who will present the legal forms to pay the duties and taxes (you can ask where to reach one at the Customs Office).

If you are driving your Canadian or American automobile, then check out this POST on HOW TO OBTAIN A MEXICO TEMPORARY IMPORT PERMIT ON VEHICLES.

Thomas Lloyd www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

Travelling to Mexico can be very memorable, exciting, and adventurous But let the adventures start in Mexico and not at the border by informing yourself of the correct documentation and procedures beforehand.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED WHEN ENTERING INTO MEXICO

The Mexico government requires proof of citizenship and a photo i.d. for visitors into Mexico A passport is the recommended ID but other documents such as a certified copy of a birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate, or a Certificate of Citizenship will also be allowed by Mexico immigration Canadian versions of these documents are as well required by Mexico; notarized affidavits must be executed in Canada . The “Canadian Identification Card” is accepted by Mexico as proof of citizenship document as well Bring the originals and practice keeping copies on hand A tourist card issued by Mexico, better known as the FMT, is the third document needed to travel and visit within Mexico.

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS IN THE FUTURE

Mexico does not require a passport, but USA citizens do require this document on re-entry since January of 2007This applies only to Americans returning to the states by Air For those returning to the states by land, this passport requirement does not start until June of 2009

HOW TO GET A MEXICO TOURIST CARD

You can obtain a FMT document from Mexican consulates, Mexican border crossing points and from most Mexican tourism officesIf travelling by air, the airlines usually hand these formats out during the flight This is basically a document where the traveller states his/her purpose of visit to Mexico being as a tourist You can request that the quantity of days allowed for the visit to be for a maximum of 180 days For those who are planning to travel or work in Mexico for periods longer than 180 days, link here to review the FM3 and FM2 visas.

SAVE YOUR MEXICO TOURIST CARD

Always keep your FMT card well filed while you are travelling in Mexico This simple ticket proves your legal presence in Mexico for any type of circumstance and is required when exiting the country If you are travelling to Mexico to purchase real estate, the FMT is required when signing any legal documents to prove legal status of a party within the country when entering into contract Such contract can be the Promissory Contract or the Purchase Sales agreementA good tip is to keep it filed with your passport, or with your other original legal identification documents Once you have your documentation in order, then you can prepare for the items you plan to take with you into Mexico, CLICK HERE to see what you need to declare and what you are allowed to take with you

Thomas Lloyd www.TOPmexicorealestate.com