AboutClaudia Reyes-Hull Expertise I have lived in both the US and México. I am familiar with both cultures and languages. I now reside in the mountain town of Coatepec, Veracruz but have traveled extensibly (with and without kids) throughout Mexico and can answer to general questions on culture, travel, people, etc.
Experience Mexican National with experience as a guide for professional architects from the US and Worldwide. Extensive travel through Mexico with and without kids.
Education/Credentials Masters degree in Architecture
Certified translator/ interpreter English/Spanish
Art Teacher
Personal Chef
Question Dear Claudia,I have a number of questions. My husband and I as well as our three dogs are moving to San Miguel de Allende from the U.S. in September. It is a permanent relocation. We are U.S. citizens and live in Buffalo New York. We purchased a home there last summer. We need to know about permits to bring our car and pets into Mexico, when we we should apply for our FM3, and at what town should we cross over. Any information you can give us would be appreciated.
Answer Dear Carol:
That is a big move, but I am sure you won't miss the snow too much!
Ok, first off, I recommend crossing over at McAllen/Hidalgo/Reynosa, but Laredo is an OK option too. Reynosa and Laredo have nice toll roads leading to Monterrey which is your first large city to go through on your way down to SMA. Laredo is a larger crossing (Customs) facility, Reynosa has less people, so the paperwork is faster. We usually cross @ Reynosa and they are very helpful and fast.
As well as permits: the faster way to go is visiting your closest Mexican Consulate and starting all your paperwork there. The permits for the car are obtainable online, but I am not very comfortable with this service. You are suppossed to be able to get your permits even six months in advance for your vehicle. As far as the FM3, you might be able to get it right now through the Mexican Consulate (I believe there is one in Buffalo). You will have to show passport and income proof as well as the deed for your house in Mx. Some times consulates don't like giving FM3s because of who knows what reason and you have to wait until you are in Mexico to get one. If you are unable to get your FM3 prior to getting to Mexico, you get a tourist visa at the Border crossing in Reynosa or Laredo. In the customs building in either city you can get your car permit and a tourist (180day) visa to get into Mexico. This takes only about an hour and not too much paperwork (passport, vehicle registration and drivers license). Then, in SMA, you can get your FM3 in a month or so (this visa takes some time to be proccessed- maybe that is why consulates don't like giving it out). The permit for your car is for as long as your personal visa is for: 180days when you have a tourist visa and then it changes to 365 days with the FM3. You need to renew your FM3 every year for 3 to 5 years and then you can upgrade and even seek citizenship.
For the dogs. You are allowed to bring in two dogs just with their veterinary immunization and health record. I am not sure how three would work, I have a feeling there would be no problem as long as all her papers are in order. I recommend asking at the consulate, but I believe as long as you get an export health certificate from their veterinary doctor, there won;t be much of a problem. (If they are small breed, it might be even easier). Worse case scenario, they might want to charge import charges for one of the dogs and go through fitosanitary watch... but I find it really hard to think that they will actually want to go through all the trouble.
I also recommend you bring a good amount of food for your dogs from the US and prepare to give them bottled water at least for a couple of months. I usually tell relocators to start having lactobacillus (like Culturelle) at least two weeks before their move and continue to have them for a couple of months once in Mexico since the change in food will affect them no matter how careful they are in their diet. For dogs, I recommend to bring their food from the US (for a couple of months) before making the change to a Mexican brand (even the Kirkland brand in Costco is different in Mexico) and not let them have faucet water for at least a month. The move is pretty stressful for the dogs and the change of food and water can be terrible for them. As soon as you get to your new home in Mexico, take your dogs in to the Vet and be prepared to have to de-worm them in the first weeks. You will be amazed how much stuff they pick up just from sniffing here and there! Mexico has a pretty dirty environment (and lots of stray dogs) so it is very easy for dogs from the US to get very sick, so a lot of TLC for your pooches the first few months will pay off in healthy, happy pups!
Hope this helps, let me know if you need more info.
