11 replies to this topic

[Sarita]

I paid my lawyer 2200p up front for my first year renewal, as she requested. Now that it is finally ready to pick up, she says I owe another 900p. Last year when I applied for the first time, and paid in full up front again, I was later told by this same lawyer that I would have to pay 300p again because Immigracion claimed I had not provided some papers and this was the fee for reprocessing said lost item (which was rubbish- even she agreed I could never have gotten thus far without having presented it.)

Is this normal? Or am I being taken to the cleaners needlessly?

[Pogo]

I paid my lawyer 2200p up front for my first year renewal, as she requested. Now that it is finally ready to pick up, she says I owe another 900p. Last year when I applied for the first time, and paid in full up front again, I was later told by this same lawyer that I would have to pay 300p again because Immigracion claimed I had not provided some papers and this was the fee for reprocessing said lost item (which was rubbish- even she agreed I could never have gotten thus far without having presented it.)

Is this normal? Or am I being taken to the cleaners needlessly?

Hooo my! Yes indeed you are being ripped off. I just had my FM3 renewal done by Spencer at Intercam Legal and Financial Services. 1400 pesos. Done in less than two weeks. Absolutely no nonsense. 765-7553. I highly recommend you give them a call.

[Intercasa]

It is 1700 (not 1400) including all charges but you also pay for your own photos, you seemed to pay a bit much at 2200+ if your was a regular retiree FM3 and no changes nor working papers nor fines for renewing late.

[Intercasa]

By the way costs MAY go up soon as the local office is once again instituting changes such as limiting the number of people per day and per law firm. If they will limit our number of customers and still make us wait hours then all will raise prices, also this is problematic as some months have many renewals and some days their computers are down, stay tuned, I'm of the opinion this is illegal (unconstitutional) per Article 5 of the constitution as they effectively are limiting one's right to work as they say attorneys can only bring 3 people or files per day and a maximum of 10, so what if we don't line up before 9am? Computer is down? Holidays? They are effectively limiting the number of immigration clients a firm can have which flies in the face of the 5th article where the state shall not infringe upon one's freedom to work.

Also limiting 30 regular people so get there early and don't wait until the last minute... will be interesting to see the busy months and if there is a limit to 30 people per day (this is pick up and drop off) lets say that means 15 new clients per day (excluding the possibility they want another item) and 5 days a week so 75 people a week or 300 per month.... hmmmm....if there are more people than that lakeside than they will be effectively denying people the right to renew their FM3 / FM2, just hope your renewal month isn't one where there are others (more than say 400 people) who renew also or you should get in line at 7am and even then if the others have that idea, I could see people sleeping there in tents to get a spot.

[Ginger]

What are the busier months?

[Irish Gal]

When the snowbirds who have FM3s are here.

[MountainGal]

It really seems to vary on a day-to-day basis. I went in last week, Monday - got in line very early - and there were maybe 25 to 30 people (not including facilitators) by the time the office opened. Came back today for "pickup" and arrived at 9:30 and was number 6 on the list! Also, not as many facilitators today either.

[Pogo]

It is 1700 (not 1400) including all charges but you also pay for your own photos, you seemed to pay a bit much at 2200+ if your was a regular retiree FM3 and no changes nor working papers nor fines for renewing late.

OOPS! Sorry Intercasa. I was remembering the actual cost of the document. Nevertheless, your price and your service are excellent IMO.

[martystagg]

OOPS! Sorry Intercasa. I was remembering the actual cost of the document. Nevertheless, your price and your service are excellent IMO.

I have just paid 2500 pesos with Mago for a renewal. I have been with them for 5 years, I'm not
happy..........!

[Musicdoc]

We paid 100-p to have our paper work translated and completed AND 1294-p for the actual FM-3. It was painless - very easy.

If you have any questions - PM me.

Musicdoc

[RVGRINGO]

We do our own renewals and it pains me to agree with the limitation on 'facilitators'. We have been in the INM Chapala office and discovered that we were behind three or four 'facilitators' and lawyers. Each one had a stack of client's applications and took forever for them to be processed. On one occasion, we were number 11 in line but the facilitators ahead of us, with one number each, processed 20-30 clients, forcing us to wait from 9AM until 3PM. Yes, we were pissed!
So, I would suggest that such folks be allowed only one processing, then get a new number and get back in line. They should not have special privilege; it isn't fair to the rest of us.
The new online system is so simple that anyone should be able to use it, even if they might need the help of a Spanish speaking friend. Someday, it may even be in English. Even so, online translation is available.

[More Liana]

We do our own renewals and it pains me to agree with the limitation on 'facilitators'. We have been in the INM Chapala office and discovered that we were behind three or four 'facilitators' and lawyers. Each one had a stack of client's applications and took forever for them to be processed. On one occasion, we were number 11 in line but the facilitators ahead of us, with one number each, processed 20-30 clients, forcing us to wait from 9AM until 3PM. Yes, we were pissed!
So, I would suggest that such folks be allowed only one processing, then get a new number and get back in line. They should not have special privilege; it isn't fair to the rest of us.
The new online system is so simple that anyone should be able to use it, even if they might need the help of a Spanish speaking friend. Someday, it may even be in English. Even so, online translation is available.

Maybe a separate line for facilitators would be a more viable solution. Banks do that--separate lines for business clients.