Immigration Procedures


I. General

Our Law on Population provides that you must have a visa at the time you enter Mexico, otherwise you will be breaking the law and your entry will be illegal.  You will need to have either a Tourist (FMT) or a Student (FM3) Visa upon entry into Mexico. Please be aware that all visas must be stamped and dated by an immigration clerk at the time of entry, otherwise, you could be fined.

Important: The above information may change without any previous notification from the National Immigration Office in Monterrey. Tecnologico de Monterrey is not responsible for any consecuences as a result of any changes.

For students coming to Monterrey for a summer program (less than 12 weeks), a Tourist Visa will be enough, while students coming for a semester, trimester or a year will need to get a Student Visa.

For those students coming with a Tourist Visa (FMT) for a trimester or longer, it would be necessary to change it into a Student Visa (FM3) once they are enrolled in the university. A fee will be required to change a Tourist Visa to a Student Visa. Information about specific cost for changing a Visa is provided in your acceptance package in the “estimated budget” section.

Even if you get a Student Visa in your country you will have to register it at the National Immigration Office in Monterrey. There is also a fee for registering a Student Visa. Information about specific cost for registering a visa is provided in your acceptance package in the “estimated budget” section.
 
Keep in mind that for changing a visa or just registering it, students need to do either procedure within 30 days after entry.  Any procedure done after 30 days will result in a fine, and the student could run the risk of having credits become invalid.

Important:

Advising for Migration Procedures: Upon arrival, you will receive more information about advising given by the International Programs Office and procedures during the orientation week.

II. Getting your FMT (Tourist) or FM3  (Student) visa.

Both visas are available in any Mexican consulate or Mexican Embassy. You will not need any papers from Tec to get a Tourist Visa.

For the FM3 Student Visa, you will need the acceptance letter from Tec. Please have in mind that some requirements as well as costs may vary from one consulate to another, so we advise you to call and check before applying.

Also, for some countries it is possible to get an FMT Tourist Visa on the plane or when you cross the border without any formality (Group 3). Nevertheless, there are countries where you must get a visa at the Mexican Consulate or Embassy before traveling to Mexico (Group 2).

There are also countries where you must have a visa before traveling to Mexico (Group 1). The procedure may take months, so we advise you to take due precautions. If your nationality appears in Group 1, contact marisafm@itesm.mx .

a) Group 1

If you are a citizen of the following countries you will need special permission from the Mexican Consulate or Embassy to obtain a visa in order to enter the country.

Armenia Libya

Azerbaidzhan Lithuania

Bahrain Macedonia

Bangladesh Moldova

Byelorussia Mongolia

Bosnia-Herzegovina Nigeria

Colombia North Korea

Congo Pakistan

Croatia Palestine

Cuba Rep. Dem Árabe Sajarahui

China Popular Russia

Estonia Srilanka

Federación Rusa Serbia

Gerogia Rep. Slovenia

Hong Kong Somalia

Haiti Sri Lanka

India Syria

Iraq Taiwan

Iran Tadzhikistan

Jordan Turkey

Kampuchea Turkmenistan

Kazakhstan Ukraine

Kirguistan Uzbekistan

Letonia Vietnam

Yugoslavia Rep. Fed.

b) Group 2

If you are a citizen of any of these countries then you must have a visa before traveling to Mexico.

Albania Guinea Equatorial Nueva Guinea

Algeria Ghana Nicaragua

Andorra Granada Nigeria

Antigua Bermuda Guadalupe Oman

Antillas Guatemala Panamá

Rep. Dem. Guinea Paraguay

de Argelia Guinea Bissau Perú

Aruba Guyana Filipinas

Bahamas Honduras Polonia

Barbados Hong Kong Qatar

Belice Hungría Rumania

Benin Indonesia Ruanda

Burundi Ivory Cost Arabia Saudita

Bolivia Kuwait Senegal

Botswana Laos Seychelles Is.

Brazil Malaysia St.Lucía

Brunei Malawi St.Thomas

Bulgaria Mali Sudán

Burkina Faso Malta Surinam

Buthan Martinica Swazila

c) Group 3

If you are a citizen of the following countries then you can ask for a visa when you enter Mexico (open entrance).

Germany Liechtenstein

Argentina Luxembourg

Australia Monaco

Austria Holland

Belgium New Zealand

Bermuda Norway

Canada Portugal

Chile Puerto Rico

Costa Rica San Marino

Denmark Singapore

Finland South Africa

France South Korea

Great Britain Spain

Greece Sweden

Iceland Switzerland

Ireland United States

Israel Italy

Japan Uruguay Venezuela

III. Evidence of financial stability

An important requirement of Secretaría de Gobernación (SEGOB) to issue an FM3 is evidence of financial stability. That is, you must prove that you have the necessary funds to pay for all your expenses in Mexico. To meet this requirement, you can choose one of the following two options:

IV. Bringing a car to Mexico

If you wish to drive to Mexico, you will require a special permit to cross the border and buy car insurance. To get the permit you need to:

Upon arrival to Monterrey, you must see that the permit is extended to cover all of your stay in Mexico.

Additionally, you must keep the following in mind:

Whenever you drive your car you need to carry the permit, a copy of your visa, and your driver’s license.

For more information consult with the Mexican Custom Department (Aduana Mexicana) www.aduanas.gob.mx

V. Restrictions to work in Mexico

Under Article 90, Section X, of the Mexican Population Law, foreign students may not work for pay.  But, those who are doing an internship or mandatory community service, and have a permit form the Mexican Immigration Institute, may be paid for transportation and housing.  Such activities must also be a part of their curriculum and require certification from their school. Internships will be allowed as long as students have the required permit.

For non-profitable internships all you need is, for the summer program, your FMT or, for trimester and semester programs, FM3 visa. For paid internships, you require a special visa (FM3  – Visa for Visitors with a Profitable Activity). This kind of internship only applies for graduate students.  If this is your case, our staff will help you with the formalities when the time comes and once you have been enrolled in your courses. You will also have to pay a fee for this visa; the exact amount is noted in your acceptance package.

VI. Lost or stolen visas

If for any reason you lose your visa or it is stolen, you must report it immediately to our office in order to advise you in filling out a police report.  Any police report filed involves a fee.

VII. Leaving Mexico during your stay

Leaving Mexico during your stay in Monterrey is not as simple as packing your stuff and leaving. At least not until you have your Student Visa (already registered in Mexico) in your hands.

In order to leave the Mexican territory, either temporarily or permanently (even if it is on account of an emergency), you must follow certain procedures and get a special permit. This special permit has a cost. Information about costs will be provided on your acceptance package in the “estimated budget” section.

If you do decide to leave Mexico without this special permit, you could face serious problems re-entering and could be fined. This special permit will be required only if you don’t have your Student Visa (already registered) in your hands. 

Upon your arrival and during Orientation Week, you will receive more information about this.

VIII. Change of address

It is the student’s obligation to report any change of address, campus and/or program within 30 days. If you don’t, SEGOB may penalize you.

IX. Other considerations

It is of the utmost importance to remember the migration laws in Mexico are very strict. If these regulations are not observed, students will be fined or deported, and it could cause serious problems with their studies.

In recent years, Mexico’s foreign policies have changed rapidly. Therefore, the information in this section may change without notice. If you are in doubt, call our Immigration Services office at Campus Monterrey at the telephone numbers located at the introduction of this handbook.

Remember, if you don’t want to have any immigration problems, you must report to the International Programs Department as soon as you arrive in Monterrey. We will advise you on the required procedures.