http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas An entire Lightstalkers thread via RSS/XML. en-us Hi all I am planning to go to Mexico to shoot for a month. I am wondering if any of you went on a tourist visa and what the situation is when working there with police or army. Do they bother you a lot for journalists visas or can you go and do some work on a tourist entry visa? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks. c Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:07:50 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas Tourist Visa is fine dude. Press pass doesn't hurt to have obviously..... especially one in Spanish. I will PM you about the police and army. Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:19:15 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#137428 Thanks man c Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:01:10 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#137429 I second Brian's note. I lived and worked on stories in Mexico for 5 months with no problems. Also covered the elections and Oaxaca unrest in 2006 on a tourist visa, no worries even with police and Federal services in an occupied town. A very official, NYPD issued, press pass did help a lot though. If you have any other questions just email me at jeremy@jeremymlange.com Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:18:28 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#137430 True, tourist visa is fine, but the situation with the federales and army changes drastically where you go. I drove throughout the country from the TX border to Guat and you always have to go through an army checkpoint when crossing states and every checkpoint was a cakewalk for me but somtimes you will run through the checkpoint from hell and you never know what you will get. In Acapulco, they shook me down for any excuse they can come up with. DF can be just as bad. Everywhere else was great. Just don't give them excuse and you should be fine. Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:59:29 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#137432 You might need a journalist visa if you plan to photograph inside a maquiladora, especially one of the larger foreign owned ones. Mexican immigration sometimes audits them to make sure the foreigners working there are legal in Mexico. If they determine a foreigner is not legal to work in Mexico they can fine the maquila owner. Every time I went into an auto plant (several times into the GM plants, less frequently in the VW plant in Puebla) I had to show my FM3. Same story for foreign owned credit card processing centers in Juarez. Otherwise, for working on the streets, it's not such a big deal. jack Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:36:09 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#137471 Thank you all guys. all this info will save me lots of time...c Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:42:59 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#137472 ola, well when i was working all over africa i used a tourist visa always. i never had any trouble. as long as i had a press pass with me at all times they never asked. just assumed. i don't think you will have a problem. but as jack mentioned you may need a visa for certain locations to photograph at. plus it will be easier for you to get through customs back into the states. they will want to know how much you made while in the country. Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:52:01 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#137474 Hi... I just moved here and processing a work visa to stay for a while, if you need anything or just want to hook up with someone while you're here (I'm in DF) feel free to call me. I also have a good immigration lawyer if you get into any troubles ;) or if you find out you need a temp work visa for something in particular. My Mexico cell number is on my website: http://www.shawnanelles.org Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:25:40 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#137487 Hi Shawna... do you know what yer lawyer costs for an fm2? Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:42:38 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#137488 Not sure for FM2 but I do know she's fair and she's very good. My FM3 was $15,000 pesos Let me know if you want her contact info. Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:10:13 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#137490 I lived and work in Mexico for a few months, got and FM3 to work and never once was asked for it while shooting, as long as you have some kind of press pass in spanish it should be ok Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:06:11 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#137501 This link will take you to the info provided to the journalists who covered the most recent Aids Conference in June. http://www.presseafricaine.info/article-20449222.html Short answer: Visas are required. If you're intending to cover the drug-related violence down there, I'm sure the authorities won't take kindly to your presence without the visa. However, if you're discreetly researching the flight path of the Monarch butterfly, you probably won't have any problems. Mon, 22 Dec 2008 02:54:35 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#137502 Carlos: I don't know if you are already here in Mexico, but anyone who tells you that you can do the kind of work you want to do with a tourist visa is just plain wrong and uninformed. Things have changed here. You will need a FM3 immigration document. Requests for access to police and army patrols will undoubtably engender a check of your credentials and immigration status by the officials at those groups 'communicación social' sections. You might get by the immigration and customs officials at the airport (even with your equipment) but that's not the problem. When you identify yourself as working for an agency or magazine, which I assume you will do to help get your access, the checks will start. Stop by the Mexican Embassy in Bogota and begin the process there. Yeah, it's official bs but you do need it. Shawna: $15,000 pesos for a FM3! Either you added one too many zeroes or I am in the wrong business. That's incredible! I have had one for the last 20 years and never, ever have paid one peso to a lawyer to get it. It's not that complicated and yes it takes some time, but hijole! Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:33:26 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#138152 Keith absolutely knows his stuff... but Ive personally never had an issue with it... must depend on yer luck. I also have a local Mexican Press pass as well, probably helped me and I didn't even realize it. I would also say it depends heavily on the types of stories yer planning on doing obviously, but... I have done work that would be considered "touchy" as well as done "official" type assignments at embassies, presidential palace etc., and still haven't had a problem at all... Maybe I have just been lucky.. don't know. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:00:37 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#138153 FM3 $15,000 - is a fair price for a good lawyer in Mexico City. I looked at doing it on my own but heard too many bad stories from others that have gone that route these days (perhaps it was easier to initially apply for a visa 20 years ago?). What I understand from my lawyer is renewing it every year is easy and I won't need her. She's been incredibly helpful and she's a friend of a friend so perhaps more helpful than most would be. Getting it done quickly and done well from the start was necessary in my case because I'm here for a long time, have other work, and most importantly have my son with me so can't afford hassles more than I can't afford a lawyer. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:50:41 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#138156 Shawna: Initially applying for a visa FM3 20 years ago was like passing through various levels of hell. Believe me, today it's a piece of cake, given that the burden the first time you apply rests on your agency or employer. I can tell you some stories about greased palms and flowers for secretaries back then, but that would probably brand me as an unrepentant, politically incorrect foreign correspondent. Heaven forbid. Everyone has their needs and a lawyer certainly will help take care of the bumps and stones in the road that Gobernación and Migración annually place in our paths. (Seems like every year there are new ones.) You are right, next year it will be much more easy for you. All the best. Carlos: I am not an expert by any means on Mexican immigration law. I only speak from experience as a photographer here. I just think it would be a real shame if you were to be here wanting to work on sensitive subjects and you are denied because of some bureaucratic, governmental restriction. If you want to get a taxi and driver for the day and ride beside army and police patrols and never get close to them, then go with a tourist visa. If you want to have access that gives you the possibility of making some decent images as a representative of a major magazine or agency, then you had better do it by the book. The army is incredibly sensitive right now. Requests through their office of comunicación social here in Mexico City will require that you prove your medio and status here in the country. If I can help let me know. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:20:28 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#138157 Boy those discontinued manual Nikon 35 mm film cameras must be really popular in Mexico, fetching those kinds of prices! Looks like even the lawyers have gotten into the business of selling them. How much can I get for my FM2? It's in great shape! Do I need a lawyer to sell it for me? :-) Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:26:50 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#138185 Hi Carlos, this is the link to the migration institute and the form for the FM3, it shouldn´t cost you more than 60usd http://www.inm.gob.mx/index.php?page/Solicitud_de_trmite I really think you should have it, as Shawna said. I live right now on Tijuana and I´ve being working the border for a few years now, and it´s getting harder. A week ago the Federal Police held a Telemundo cameraman an the reporter for more than an hour only because they where taking some shots near the hotel where some Feds are staying. Most of the time you will have no problem, but...don´t risk yourself and your proyect. saludos Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:07:50 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/mexica-visas#138353