car sticker

Registered the car when we came in last year, in husbands name. He is a Mexican citizen so does the sticker have to be renewed every 6 months? Thanks for any help.

Yes as the only way to extend (or not go to the border every 6 months) is with an FM3 or FM2... now.... I've seen Mexicans with US passports get FM3s solely to keep their cars past the 6 months!

Thanks Spencer. Will let hubby know and see what he wants to do. How long does it usually take to get an FM2 or FM3? Thanks again.

I'm sorry to be a skunk at your picnic, but what your husband has done is illegal. The laws in both México and the USA are quite clear in regard to dual citizens -- a person is a citizen of the country s/he is in at the moment and can not, must not, claim to be a citizen of the other country.

When your husband used his USA passport to get his FMT and car permit, he committed an illegal act. That car permit is, therefore, void and the car is undocumented.

Spencer is right that there are Mexican citizens who use their USA passports to get FM3s, vehicle permits, etc; but that does it make it legal. If they get caught, they'll be in a heap of trouble.

Your husband should understand that if he goes down that path and gets caught, he'll be in a lot of trouble and could have his car confiscated.

She didn't say here husband got an FMT, Mexican citizens living in the US can get car permits good for 6 months if they show they have a US residency visa with 1 year left on it.

I agree that the FM3 thing is shaky at best, heck I can't figure out why they'd give a Mexican an FM3 when it says they were born in Mexico but they do.

"...Mexican citizens living in the US can get car permits good for 6 months..."

Yes, but they can get only one every 365 days, so going back to border to get another is not going to work for him if he came in as a visiting Mexican. She should be able to get a permit in her name.

I theorize that it is this one-per-year rule for visiting Mexicans that has caused confusion in the minds of foreigners making them think, wrongly, that this rule applies to them also. It does not.

I wonder if enforcement is like the 180 day FMT or now FMM?

Sorry, I don't understand your question.

Well they say you can only get one tourist card per year good for 180 days but in practice many have gone to the border and turned in the old card on day 179 or 180 and then obtained a new card good for another 6 months.

One may be able to do the same with a car permit if Mexican and almost a guarantee if you keep switching between husband and wife's name.

Spencer, the one FMM per year rumor has been cleared up. There is no limit to the number of FMM's allowed. See Rolly's post on TOB HERE

I considered becoming a MX citizen and retaining my FM3, but abandoned the idea because even though I could probably get away with it, it's clearly against the law. Rolly's right, MX law clearly states that when a citizen of MX is also a citizen of one or more other countries, he/she shall always identify him/herself as a citizen of MX first while in MX.

There is not rule sayig only one FMT/FMM per year and never has been. It's a myth. This is my edited (shortened) quote from a post by a cyber friend in who I have great confidence.

Lic. Ismael Abarca INM and I had a wonderful one-hour chat on Thursday about the FMM. Actually I interviewed him, and he was gracious enough to telephone Morelia, and then Morelia telephoned the big enchilada in Mexico City to confirm (or deny) some of the claims that I have been gathering for the last several months about the FMM and it's regulations.
I specifically inquired as to the legality of exiting Mexico with the FMM on the 179th day, surrendering it, turning around and then obtaining a new FMM for 180-days. VERBATIM from Ismael "Some immigration officers do not like this; I think it best to wait a few hours or even overnight". This point was also clarified in Morelia and in Mexico City over the telephone.
Ismael telephoned Morelia in my presence and the DELEGADO FEDERAL HIMSELF telephoned Mexico City INM and inquired as to the existence of such a law. No one in INM ever heard even so much as a rumor and frankly they were puzzled that something like that was circulating.

Read the entire post here.

Looks like I was writing while Demonio was posting a link to the same information.

I have another reference, which I can't find this morning, which relates the same scenario -- local INM calls DF; DF says no such rule.

Ok, now that I am completely confused I guess we should contact somebody, but who. Hubby does not have a U S passport and is not a U S citizen. He is now a full time resident of Mexico with all the bells and whistles that go with living here. Costs to much to nationalize the stupid thing so that is out. Don't want to have to buy anything down here so I guess we punt. Gia

I think FM3 could get on after 6 months for applying. It still depends on your drivers' license. So you have to provide yourself a license if you still don't have one.