What Can I Bring into Mexico: Mexican Customs Rules

January 8, 2012
Yucalandia offers the following update to Aduana’s policies on what is allowed for visitors to Mexico as a part of an ongoing series of articles on common issues. We welcome you to propose your own questions or issues for additional articles.

Full article at:  “What Can I Bring into Mexico: Mexican Customs Rules – The Article”

Aduana’s current webpage for passengers says:

What can I bring in duty free?
° The items allowed in your personal luggage, according to the length of your trip.

° Up to 75 USD per person in permitted goods, or its equivalent in other currencies. Passengers traveling with family members (spouse and children) may combine their personal exemptions only when .    .    .

.    .    .

Which items may be included in my personal luggage exempt from duty?
° Goods for personal use, such as clothing, footwear and personal toiletries and beauty products,   .   .   .

* * * *
Full article at: “What Can I Bring into Mexico: Mexican Customs Rules – The Article”
* * * *
Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

Yet More Mexican Immigration Info: Jan 6, 2012 Updates

More Immigration Issue Updates: Jan. 5, 2012

A lawyer posted the following updates on another Mexican expat forum:
“Immigration fees have gone up about $150 to $400 pesos depending on the type of application. Regular FM3 renewals are $1,451, FM2 are $3,139.

As far as the new law, early indications are that you will be able to change / renew for periods of one to four years with costs for temporary residents being $3,130 One year, $4,690 Two years, $5,940 Three years and $7,040 Four years. Residente permanente will be $3,815 pesos.

Looks like annual renewals will be a thing of the past with the approval of the prior fees. “
“Chapala Board INM Update”

The multi-year visa proposals look tasty…

The author gave no references or citations as to where he got the information.

===============================

Fee Details from “2012 INM Fees for Immigrants”

Procedure:   2011 fee / 2012 fee in pesos
Changing from FMM to FM2/3  – $491 / 550
Prórroga for FM3  – $1294 / 1451
Refrendo for FM2 – $2801 / 3140
Declaration of Inmigrado – $3414 / 3828
Processing fee for Inmigrado  -$892 / 1000
Registro Nacional de Extranjeros  -$669 / 750

Thanks to Ric Hoffman: http://www.mexconnect.com/cgi-bin/forums/gforum.cgi?post=173088#173088 for identifying the six useful items for expats from the longer list, and for the format of presenting 2011 and 2012 INM fees.

* * * *
Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

Mexican Immigration Rules: January 2, 2012 Update

Full article at: “Mexican Immigration Rules: January 2, 2012 Update – The Article”

As a long-time observer, author, and writer on expat issues, Carol Schmidt has a good history of digging to the bottom of key issues affecting expats in Mexico. Carol has contacted the official in charge of the San Miguel Allende INM office with a series of questions, and she offered us a chance to publish her questions on Mexico’s New Immigration Law and the INM official’s answers. We are grateful for the opportunity to publish the results of Carol’s efforts.

Carol reports:
“Apparently we have three or four more months under the current immigration law. What is new is the amount of the fees for the various services for 2012. He also verified that it is legal for those on what are now called tourist permits to leave Mexico and return on a new 180-day permit indefinitely. Tourist permits are going to be called: Visitor with no lucrative activity. But all may change under the new regulations in three or four months. …”
. . . .

* * * *
Full Article at: “Mexican Immigration Rules: January 2, 2012 Update – The Article”
* * * *
Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: Carol Schmidt & YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

Weaponizing Viruses

Full Article at: “Weaponizing Viruses – The Article” Yes, we’ve created yet another new verb by “-izing” a noun.

What are your thoughts on the US govt. sponsored research in Holland that has taken a highly pathogenic (but poorly transmitted) H5N1 bird flu virus through “several mutations” to create a new strain of bird flu that is in an airborne form that is both highly contagious and has a roughly 50% mortality rate?

The creator insists that he should be allowed to publish his results to:
1. Give the exact sequences of genetic codes of the final form that allow the virus to become airborne and contagious.
2. Give the exact sequences of genetic codes that lead up to that final form, so scientists can monitor natural bird flu virus populations to see if the natural viral populations are mutating in ways that can or may someday result in a form that would likely cause a world-wide pandemic.
3. To prove wrong the respected scientists who previously said that the H5N1 bird flu virus could not mutate into a highly contagious airborne form.

I find the last item particularly interesting, because the creator says that this was his purpose in starting the research. . . .

*             *             *              *
Full Article at: “Weaponizing Viruses – The Article”
*             *             *             *
Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

New 2011 IRS Requirements: Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)

Dec. 15, 2011 Update on New US IRS Requirements for Expats: This new regulation requires expats who have over $50,000 total of foreign financial/savings/checking/investment accounts to file a new form with the IRS every year, starting with our 2011TY filings in 2012. From the IRS website: “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Summary”

Summary of Key FATCA Provisions
“The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), enacted in 2010 as part of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, is an important development in U.S. efforts to combat tax evasion by U.S. persons holding investments in offshore accounts.

Under FATCA, certain U.S. taxpayers holding financial assets outside the United States must report those assets to the IRS. In addition, FATCA will require foreign financial institutions to report directly to the IRS certain information about financial accounts held by U.S. taxpayers, or by foreign entities in which U.S. taxpayers hold a substantial ownership interest.

Reporting by U.S. Taxpayers Holding Foreign Financial Assets
FATCA requires certain U.S. taxpayers holding foreign financial assets with an aggregate value exceeding $50,000 to report certain information about those assets on a new form (Form 8938) that must be attached to the taxpayer’s annual tax return. Reporting applies for assets held in taxable years beginning after March 18, 2010. For most taxpayers this will be the 2011 tax return they file during the 2012 tax filing season. Failure to report foreign financial assets on Form 8938 will result in a penalty of $10,000 (and a penalty up to $50,000 for continued failure after IRS notification). Further, underpayments of tax attributable to non-disclosed foreign financial assets will be subject to an additional substantial understatement penalty of 40 percent. …”

If you have more than $50,000 in foreign accounts, check back here at Yucalandia after Jan. 1, 2012 to find out more specifics on how to comply with the new policy.

* * * *
Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

New Immigration Rules for Mexico to Start Jan. 2, 2012

Dec. 20 Update on New Immigration Law: There are reports from INM offices around Mexico that the New INM Law will begin implementation on Jan 2. 2012. There are reports that INM staff have been attending special training sessions on the new Reglamentos this past month. We spoke with 2 different INM employees at our Merida INM office last Thursday, and they explained that they would not answer questions on the new Reglamento , but they made it very clear that when the offices re-open on Jan. 2, 2012, they will be using the new law for immigrants starting fresh applications for visa renewals, etc.

Hopefully, the training will pay-off, making a smooth transition.

If you want details of the New Law – but still no info on the new Reglamento – see our article at: “New Immigration Law Published for Mexico – The Article”

* * * *
Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

Updated Absentee Voting Information for US Expats in Mexico

Full Article at: “Updated Absentee Voting Information for US Expats in Mexico”

Consulado de los EEUU en Mérida, México
Calle 60 #338K x 29 y 31, Colonia Alcalá Martín
Mérida, Yucatán, México
C.P. 97050

Message for U.S. Citizens
Dated: December 7, 2011
Dear U.S. citizens:
For your information please read below and attached the information from the Federal Voting Assistance Program (www.fvap.gov), thank you.
Regards,
Merida Consular Section
Subject: News Release # 34- Federal Voting Assistance Program

December 7, 2011

SUBMIT YOUR REGISTRATION AND BALLOT REQUEST FORM FOR UPCOMING JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2012 PRIMARIES

Voting Assistance Officers should contact voters from these States and inform them of the need to act soon. Refer them to FVAP.gov web portal and assist them in requesting and returning their absentee ballot. . . .

*         *         *         *
Full Article at: “Updated Absentee Voting Information for US Expats in Mexico”
*         *         *         *
Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

New Permanent Import Vehicle Emissions Testing Requirements for Mexico

As of Nov. 20, 2011, Aduana has instituted new emissions testing requirements for permanently importing vehicles from the US into Mexico. Contemporaneous testing must be done in the USA at certified stations before entering Mexico to get a Permanent Import permit: Emissions Testing Requirements for Permanent Vehicle Imports to Mexico

The Mexican Government is now requiring that permanently imported vehicles pass emission tests in the four US border states no more than 6 months before entering Mexico. Some border crossings have emissions testing stations nearby, while others do not. Vehicles that do not pass must be repaired and retested. This can mean trips from the border crossing to the closest city: Nogales crossing: Tucson (because only certain AZ counties have smog testing requirements), Nuevo Laredo crossing: San Antonio, etc.

Since Florida, Louisana, et al are not one of the 4 US border states (CA, NM, AZ, TX), then cars coming in by ship are currently in LIMBO… “how low can you go…” The most recent cars imported by Linea Peninsular into Progreso are being held for Aduana/Customs for inspections for drugs/cash/contraband(?) and then released after approval from Mexico City(?), but it is not clear how the policy will play out in the future.

As the demand for these new services increases, small businesses in the US border towns are applying for licenses to do this testing close to the border, so, check your border crossing’s status before you come, because they may or may not have testing facilities. After an emissions repair, there are also reports that some cars computers require that the car be driven up to 1,000 miles before the car’s computer registers sufficient approved data, so maybe it would be best to get your car tested and repaired well before approaching the border, and driving enough miles to register the appropriate data in the car’s computer after initial test failures.

We plan updates of this information on this changing situation as more information becomes available.

* * * *
Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

Income Tax Liabilities in Mexico

Full Article at: “Income Tax Liabilities in Mexico” Expats’ tax liabilities for work performed in Mexico comes up over and over on forums across the web. The situation becomes even more interesting if they live here full-time, doing on-line work for a non-Mexican company, and receive their pay in foreign (non-Mexican) accounts. This ball was most recently kicked-around at length on a Mexconnect thread.

At first glance there appears to be a conundrum between: Hacienda’s policy that worldwide income must be reported by expats whose principal place of activity is Mexico and INMs policy for (not?) giving visas to expats work online and live in Mexico, who do not work for Mexican employers and receive their pay outside of Mexico.

Here’s one more perspective on the issue: …

* * * *
Full text of article can be read at: “Income Tax Liabilities in Mexico”

* * * *
Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

Labor Law for Household Employees in Mexico – What must we pay?

Full Article at: “Labor Law for Household Employees in Mexico – What must we pay? and What should we pay?” Yucalandia is pleased to welcome a guest author contributor, Solomon Freimuth, who, along with his partners at “Calderón & Asociados” has fine expertise in Mexican Law focusing on issues affecting expats. We look forward to your comments!

What is an employee?

Mexican labor law says that anyone who performs a subordinated, personal service in exchange for remuneration is an employee. There is a jurisprudencia, or established legal precedent based on decisions of the Mexican Supreme Court, that defines subordination as …

Includes information on Mexican workers, part time domestic workers, house-cleaners, gardeners, aguinaldo requirements, vacations, holidays, documenting workers pay, firing and severance issues…
* * * *
Full text of article can be read at: “Labor Law for Household Employees in Mexico – What must we pay? and What should we pay?”

* * * *
Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .