Mine are about not to be.
On 17 April my FM3 visa expires. That is the same day I am supposed to fly to Oregon.
After I injured my ankle, I considered the possibility of letting it expire. To renew it, I needed to get to a portion of Manzanillo not easily reached without a vehicle.
But that easy solution would result in at least two problems.
1) I spent a lot of time getting my initial FM3. I don't want to go through that full process again.
2) The tax-free status status on my truck is tied to my current FM3. I would prefer to avoid any future problems with Customs simply because I took the easy way out.
Lou volunteered to drive me to Manzanillo on Monday. So, I grabbed my FM3, my passport and copies of each page, a utility bill and my constancia de domicilio to prove my address, a copy of my lease, and the original and copies of my last three bank statements to prove I have adequate income for an FM3.
The process was simple. The clerk took my copies and filled out the renewal forms. Lou then went to the bank to pay my renewal fee. When he returned, we waited about twenty minutes for my temporary visa.
That was it. The final visa will be ready for pickup on 9 April.
I was about to say that I was surprised at how easily the renewal process went. Even though I had read up up on what the Manzanillo office was currently requiring for documentation, the clerk surprised me with a new request. She needed a copy of my land lady's proof of residence.
That will be easy: she is a naturalized Mexican citizen. She gave me a copy of her voter identification card to drop off when I pick up my final visa in another week.
I once wrote that each border crossing is a performance art. The same can be said for visa renewals.
But, when I leave in two weeks, I will have a valid visa for my return to Mexico in November.
