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FMM for business?

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WoodWorker
  4/19/2017 12:11 EST

Anyone get an FMM for business? Any hassles in getting it? And advice from those that have gotten one?

RVGRINGO
  4/19/2017 12:24 EST

You cannot simply enter Mexico and work, or conduct business. Make an appointment with your nearest Mexican Consulate or Embassy to consult on the options available to you as an investor, sales representative of an approved business, etc, etc.

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WoodWorker
  4/19/2017 13:12 EST

According to the website you most certainly can conduct foreign based business on an FMM. Just trying to get details from those that have actually done it.

RVGRINGO
  4/19/2017 13:19 EST

What do you mean by your use of “FMM“?
It is a multi-purpose form, as its name indicates: Forma Multiple Migratoria.
As such, it does have some “business“ applications.
Why do you resist contact with a consulate, where you can get your answers? No two situations are likely to be the same.

WoodWorker
  4/19/2017 13:50 EST

Sorry, didn't mean to be snippity. I'm not resisting contact with the consulate, just hesitant. Hoping for real world experiences first.

WoodWorker
  4/19/2017 13:56 EST

"Visitors who do not require a visa, with a stay up to 180 days
Citizens from the following countries who wish to visit Mexico as tourists, in transit, for business, technical activities, as journalist or for studies, for a period not exceeding 180 days, and who will not receive any remuneration at all in Mexican territory, do not require a visa:"

FMM, same as what tourists get for stays up to 180 days, but with permission to conduct non renumerated business activities.

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RVGRINGO
  4/19/2017 18:14 EST

That would have no advantage for you, over a tourist permit. You would still be limited to 180 days in Mexico; non-renewable. Unpaid business permit are appropriate for commercial representatives, with credentials, who will be calling on Mexican clients, etc. If you have such credentials, you would apply to INM for such an FMM permit, rather than a tourist permit. The same form can be used for missionaries, people in transit (with travel route restrictions) to other countries, etc.
If you are trying to figure out how to live in Mexico longer than 180 days without a residence permit, you must realize that Mexico now has computers & does use them. Then, there is the vehicle consideration.
Exactly what is it that you are trying to accomplish? If we know, we may have some ideas; or, at least some better answers. If you cannot qualify for a residence visa in Mexico; which is one of the easiest countries to offer such visas, then you will have to wait until you can. You are not alone.

WoodWorker
  4/19/2017 20:03 EST

RVGRINGO, thanks for your help.
What am I trying to accomplish? --------------------------------------------------- I want to apply for a Temp. Res. Visa which I financially qualify for, but also want permission to conduct non re-numerated activities within Mexico. The consulate replied back via email with a link to the same information I've been reading for weeks. I will send one more inquiry and attempt to be more precise. Thanks for any input.

WoodWorker
  4/20/2017 09:35 EST

"Why do you resist contact with a consulate, where you can get your answers?"--------------------------
RVGRINGO, I received an answer to this question of your today in an email reply. They simply won't answer questions. They state that they will answer my questions on the day of my appointment. That in itself is a bad joke on me as the nearest consulate is 1000 miles away. Though I shouldn't be, I am still astounded as how lazy, backwards and upside down Mexican administrations can be. Oh well, I will try another approach to get an answer to my simple question.

katzgar
  4/20/2017 09:50 EST

They may not know rules regulations in the law are really more suggestions in Mexico than anything else so things are always changing and a lot of it has to do with relationships and not the law

joaquinx
  4/20/2017 11:58 EST

>>>FMM, same as what tourists get for stays up to 180 days, but with permission to conduct non renumerated business activities.
>>>
What is a non renumerated business activity?
There is an FMM for business, but that is for sales people, consulting technicians, etc. who will be in the country for a few days or months and receive compensation from a Mexican company.

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WoodWorker
  4/20/2017 12:07 EST

"What is a non renumerated business activity?
There is an FMM for business, but that is for sales people, consulting technicians, etc. who will be in the country for a few days or months and receive compensation from a Mexican company."

The FMM for business is for non re-numerated business activities from what I understand. Meaning, it can be used for sales calls. The actual transaction would be conducted internationally by the business that was represented by the sales person. This is from the consulate website for Canadians, this comes under FMM I believe.---------------------------------
"business (letter in Spanish from the company indicating that you are an employee of the company and that the services you will provide in Mexico will be paid for by that company, or a letter of invitation from a public or private institution to perform non-remunerated activities in Mexico, indicating the purpose of the trip, estimated time of stay and taking responsibility for your travel and lodging costs);"

joaquinx
  4/20/2017 12:24 EST

From what I can gather from INM site is that you need a letter, as you described, and fill out the FMM you get on the airplane noting that your stay is not as a tourist but for business.

WoodWorker
  4/20/2017 12:37 EST

Yes, I believe it is that simple. But, I was looking at two options, the other being the Temp Res Visa and being able to conduct non-renumerated activities on that. So, I need to deal with the consulate which bothers me because they won't give me enough information in advance as to whether there is a chance of getting permission to conduct non renumerated business in addition to a Temp Res Visa. So I'm rolling the dice as they say.

WoodWorker
  4/20/2017 12:37 EST

Thanks for the input everyone, especially you RVGRINGO, I'm a bit thick at times but your advice got through.

RVGRINGO
  4/20/2017 13:51 EST

Consulates are part of SRE, the equivalent of our State Department, and are not part of INM (immigration), nor do they communicate well, or know each other‘s rules and regulations in detail. That is probably why you are not getting the answers that you want. Only INM can decide if you qualify for consideration as a business agent visiting for a specific purpose, under the auspices of a foreign business, which will pay for your services in your home country. If not, you can only enter as a tourist, or with a visa approval to be changed (canje) by INM, in Mexico, to the actual visa, upon proof of residence, etc.
INM can grant a lucrativa endorsement, under certain conditions, permitting specific defined work in Mexico with limitations that they will determine.
You are still pretty vague about what you wish to do & why the simple Residente Temporal visa will not be sufficient, leading me to think that you really want, or need, to work in Mexico, but want to make it seem that you will be unpaid.
Am I overly suspicious? If I were INM, I would be.

WoodWorker
  4/20/2017 14:18 EST

I don't think I have been vague, I thought I clarified it above with my overall intention of wanting a Temporary Resident Visa(maybe I didn't). I'm probably not communicating well because the information on their website is vague for the most part. So it's simple. I am planning on applying for a Temporary Resident Visa based on my regular income from online work based out of the United States/Canada. But I wish to undertake another endeavor as a sales rep for a N.A. company that does business in Mexico. I would be their walking business card, would not be paid by anyone in Mexico but would be paid by the company in N.A. . But I require permission to conduct these non-renumerated activities. I guess I will find out at the consulate when I go for my appointment. As for being suspicious about my intentions, you are reading between the lines and not doing a good job at at as there is nothing between the lines to read.

RVGRINGO
  4/20/2017 18:02 EST

OK. That does help.
I suggest that you try to qualify for the Residente Permanente visa. It will allow you to work in Mexico with simple notification to INM. It also avoids the need to ever renew and you may enter/exit Mexico at will. Where you are paid, now or in the future, is not a concern.
If you cannot qualify for permanente, then just go ahead and get the temporal. Once settled, you will be able to deal directly with INM to apply for a change of status to meet your needs.
Of course, if you explain everything to SRE, up front, and with confirmation from your employer in the USA insuring that you will be paid in the USA, they may be able to make the determination.
The unusual factor is your residency in Mexico, which may make your idea unworkable......no pun intended.
The business permit would work for you if you are a US resident. Otherwise........I wonder too ?????

WoodWorker
  4/20/2017 18:47 EST

Thanks RVGRINGO, I have heard that sometimes one can get a Permanente up front. I had not been considering it, but will try it. -------"The unusual factor is your residency in Mexico, which may make your idea unworkable......no pun intended." Yes, I'm starting to see how that may be a problem.

WoodWorker
  4/21/2017 16:27 EST

The verdict via a phone conversation with a rep at the consulate says YES, I can have permission to engage in non re-numerated activities in Mexico as long as I have documentation from my employer verifying that I am paid in a foreign country and not in Mexico while living in the country on a Temporary Resident Visa.

RVGRINGO
  4/21/2017 16:36 EST

You did it! ¡Felicitaciónes!

hrlee7804
  4/24/2017 10:23 EST

Woodworker maybe you saw this a few days back on here but I love this You Tube video Government bureaucracy sketch. I can't make the link come up here but it is worth watching for sure. Kinda fits your situation.

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