Question for Long Time resident ex-patriates

Hi All

I am going to be arriving in PV 1st of November for an planned early retirement and extended stay of 6 months. My post here has 2 parts to it.

1) I was wondering if anyone has any information on what to expect as far as being asked to show the Tourist Card, or ID to the Local Police. Most people go for 1 or 2 weeks, if they see your face around often, do they ask for your documents? I have read that we are all supposed to carry our ID and Tourist cards with us at all times. Is it really necessary?

2) Has anyone any experience at the airport in asking for and receiving a visa for 180 days rather than the normal 90 they write on the card? Or will they oblige me to go to the immigration bureau in 2-3 months to extend it?

Any thoughts or experiences on this subject would be greatly appreciated.
And before we go off on the FN3, it is not possible at this time, I need to rely on the typical tourist visa for now.


BTW...7 1/2 weeks to go. I can begin to smell the Ocean spray down.

No one will randomly stop you or anyone and ask you to provide your FMT, FM3 or FM2, unless by chance you are working, and I have only seen/heard of that in a few instances where migracion was tipped off to illegals working some place.

What you get stamped on your FMT will depend on the person stamping it. I have usually had 180 days when I was a tourist, but a couple of times I did get 90 days and once 30.

The one trip I needed 180 days, so I could get my FM3 processed, he gave me 30! I politely asked for 180 days and he scratched out the 30 and wrote 90. When I went to migracion (across from the Maritime Terminal, next to PeMex) they questioned if I changed the days. Either way, I was there to get my FM3, not an extension....and did not have a penalty.

There is a charge to change the days given at the airport on your FMT when you go to migracion. Technically, it should be free, but you know how it is.... (I do not know the price, but from what I heard it is around $20 USD)

Hi Earlyretire:
My husband and I live in the Toronto area too. Last year we stayed for 4 months and never experienced any problems at all, with either random checks or length of stay. Where are you going to stay this year?

Ellen
Hi All

I am going to be arriving in PV 1st of November for an planned early retirement and extended stay of 6 months. My post here has 2 parts to it.

1) I was wondering if anyone has any information on what to expect as far as being asked to show the Tourist Card, or ID to the Local Police. Most people go for 1 or 2 weeks, if they see your face around often, do they ask for your documents? I have read that we are all supposed to carry our ID and Tourist cards with us at all times. Is it really necessary?

2) Has anyone any experience at the airport in asking for and receiving a visa for 180 days rather than the normal 90 they write on the card? Or will they oblige me to go to the immigration bureau in 2-3 months to extend it?

Any thoughts or experiences on this subject would be greatly appreciated.
And before we go off on the FN3, it is not possible at this time, I need to rely on the typical tourist visa for now.


BTW...7 1/2 weeks to go. I can begin to smell the Ocean spray down.

Thank you so much all for your responses. I was concerned about being stopped randomly for id constantly. You all know what it is like, last minute jitters, worrying about everything that could go wrong, I have to keep reminding myself to lay back, relax and let the world unfold.
I have found a great place to stay in PV, with wonderful warm and kind people who will be my landlords. I will actually be living in a residential area in a private home that has 2 private apartments below the main house. And to boot, the landlords are ex-patriates from Canada themselves.
I have no doubt that my experience will be a peaceful, relaxing, and memorable one. One that I will be doing year after year after year for hopefully as long as I am able to.