Staying in touch

They say you carry your home inyour heart. But, when I movedhere eight months ago, I hiredmovers to collect 157 boxes from myoverstuffed New York City apartmentand transport them across the Mexicanborder.

I was seven months pregnant andleaving family, friends, job and birthplacebehind. A sanctuary of familiarthings, I believed, would ease my transitionto Mexico. So I packed what I’dcollected over the course of a lifetime,including a trove of flea market itemsawaiting re-upholstery and at least onehalf-used roll of aluminum foil.

When I called the movers to set adate for pickup I hadn’t yet researchedthe requirements for trucking my stuffto Mexico. Without transport approvalfrom the Mexican government, the movingcompany wouldn’t move. Instead ofheading to Mexico, 4000-pounds of myold life were deposited at a storage facilityin Upper Manhattan.

I’d assumed that, married to a Mexicannational, moving my stuff wouldn’trequire working out my immigrationstatus. I was wrong. I needed to file amenaje de casa, the paperwork thatallows holders of the FM2 or FM3 visas(and Mexican nationals meeting certainconditions) a one-time exemption for aduty-free transport of used (at least 6months old) household belongings.

I went ahead, the boxes stayed behind,and the storage charges mounted.

From Mexico, I applied for my FM2.I was 9 months pregnant by the time itwas issued so the mandatory appearanceto deliver my inventory list at the consulatein New York was out of the question.Luckily I could file power of attorney; myMom went in my stead.

Menaje down… customs letters stillat-large? This last detail had simplyfallen through the cracks – it’s strangelyabsent from the consular website. Mymovers required a quartet of letters,addressed to customs officials, signedby me. The letters put a value on myshipment, declared that my belongingsincluded no illegal merchandise, andagreed that my menaje would be exportedfrom Mexico if ever I moved out ofthe country.

Finally, my boxes were loaded into atruck and began their journey south.

I gave birth just four days before themovers arrived. A bit dazed, I held mydaughter as they filed through the frontdoor with 157 boxes of clothes hangers,books and aluminum foil.Six months later, the furniture remainsun-upholstered, and I’m still notentirely unpacked.

Ni modo, as they say.Plenty of time for that. I won’t be reversinga menaje anytime soon.

Tips

1. Plan ahead! Check withconsulate on time requiredto process your request.

2. Have passport andMexican visa (FM 2 or FM 3)ready before beginning petition.Visa must be within6 months of issue.

3. Confirm preferredmenaje format.

4. Don’t close boxesbefore everything is listed.Note all electronics’ specifications(make, model, serialnumber, year of manufacture)and describe largefurniture.

5. Remember: “Used” =six-months-old, or more.

6. Prepare all copies andsigned pages before yougo to the consulate. You’llneed $127 US D (cash orbank check).

7. Take the approved inventorylist to movers, orwhoever will arrive at aduanas-customs with theshipment.

8. Provide movers withletters required by customs:A) declaration giving effectivepower of attorney to themoving company; B) declarationof value; C) declarationthat all merchandise isused, for personal use, thatthe shipment contains noillegal merchandise; and D)that you will repatriate themenaje when/if your visa isto expire.

9. Expect that every boxwill be opened by customsofficials.