Paul and I headed out for Inmigracíon Thursday in the torrential rain to begin the renewal of our FM3’s.  Our first experience with Inmigracíon when we registered here in Mazatlán was efficient and friendly.  We had our fingers crossed things would go as well this time.

Paul made copies ahead of time of three months bank statements, our full passports and our full FM3’s.  After wading our way from the car to the entrance, we registered and waited just two minutes until we sat down with the clerk.  She gave us an application and an official letter of application for us to fill out, and an invoice for $1,172 mx that we needed to pay at the bank.

Slogging back to the car we headed home to fill out the forms and wait to see if the rain would let up.  No such luck.  So off we went to the bank and the copy store a couple doors away from Inmigracíon to get the applications and receipts copied.

Back to Inmigracíon, another two minute wait, and she told us to return on September 25 to pick up our renewed visas.  One of our neighbors was visited at home by Inmigracíon after she made her application – they are becoming more efficient in checking to make sure you actually live where you say you live.  So we’ll probably expect them to drop by sometime in the next two weeks.

Despite the rain, the whole experience was friendly, efficient and easy.  Makes you think about the probable contrast for a Mexican extending a visa in the US.