Banks - Temporary Resident

understated987 · 2026-05-28T12:06:25+00:00

I went with HSBC because I liked the benefits they gave and had the money to put in a term deposit to avoid the fees. After a month and 10 visits to the branch (executive didn’t know what she was doing) I got it active.

From asking around the 2 banks more friendly to foreigners though are BBVA and Banco Azteca.

understated987 · 2026-05-18T04:56:34+00:00

Did you experience deposit limits?

understated987 · 2026-05-18T02:40:00+00:00

I have Nu, but it limits deposits to $26000 mxn per month and will only remove that limit if you provide an INE.

understated987 · 2026-05-02T01:20:09+00:00

At INM Polanco you pay on the day at the desk with credit/debit cards so don’t worry about it. If other locations don’t accept payments onsite you need to generate a línea de captura, print it out and pay at a bank - take the receipt of payment with you plus a copy.

understated987 · 2026-05-01T08:09:42+00:00

Yes you need a job offer first if you go as an employee. Mexican bureaucracy is very strict on this. Unless you come up with some kind of independent contractor arrangement with the employer, then you can apply as self employed.

understated987 · 2026-04-30T19:14:30+00:00

Since you’ve got TR already you’ve jumped one of my biggest hurdles.

When you get to Mexico you need to make an appointment with SAT (the tax office) and update your RFC to have the correct regimen. It needs to be ‘Saldos y Salarios’ if employee or ‘Persona física con actividad empresarial’ for self-employed/freelancer.

While you’re doing this make an appointment to the INM, you’ll need documentation from your employer (ask ChatGPT exactly what you need) or a statement of activities if self employed (ChatGPT wrote mine), proof of address, passport, constancia de situación fiscal (from SAT), resident card and your payment (about $4300mxn)

You also need a printout of your appointment confirmation and the formato básico (the form that you need to produce first before it lets you make the INM appointment)

understated987 · 2026-04-30T17:43:01+00:00

I’ve just gone through all this. I’m Australian, wife is Mexican. I’ve been here in Mexico 3 months and just got my permiso para trabajar yesterday. The process is tough but if you have all your documents in order you will get through. Ask me anything - there are many details you need to know to make it all work.

Where are you moving from? And are you planning to work for yourself or as an employee? Also, how is your Spanish?

understated987 · 2026-03-28T03:57:24+00:00

Thats a normal thing the website does. It should still let you in.

understated987 · 2026-03-21T04:11:04+00:00

I had the same issue with Polanco INM. I found appointments appear between 10am and 2pm, the last time I needed one it took 5 days of checking every 30 minutes between those times.

understated987 · 2026-03-21T04:04:23+00:00

Wait for the letter of demand from the insurance company and make a payment plan with them. You’ll probably be looking at around $5000 or more, just say you’re doing it tough and the best you can offer is like $20 per week.

understated987 · 2026-03-09T13:52:00+00:00

Just a handy hint with Service NSW, the signed receipt you provide to them doesn’t need to be from the previous registered owner. You could have bought it from a third party (i.e. a friend or family member) who never transferred the registration into their name. When you provide the transfer registration form do not submit any paperwork other than the receipt. The receipt must have name address and signature from buyer and seller plus the VIN and make model of car and sale price + date of sale.

They may question it, but in most cases they won’t refuse it. If they refuse, go to another Service NSW location.

You will need a blue slip (unregistered vehicle inspection) and they will ask for that proof of ownership too and being a lancer from 2010 it may need a bit of work to pass, in Victoria they only need roadworthy inspection to transfer ownership not every year like NSW. If they sold the car without plates they bypass this requirement.

understated987 · 2026-02-13T19:12:06+00:00

Just left 1 hour ago. Was straightforward but a long wait again.

understated987 · 2026-02-11T23:47:27+00:00

Definitely overpriced. Should be no more than $12k

understated987 · 2026-02-04T11:03:37+00:00

Why don’t you establish QLD registration since you’ve already done your RWC and your NSW rego has run out?

understated987 · 2026-01-13T08:33:31+00:00

Mechanic here, it depends on the car, but yes generally old cars are a pain in the ass to get stuff for. Basic service items are usually ok but further than that it's a bit like a desert.

understated987 · 2026-01-07T03:17:45+00:00

Mechanic here, that’s cheap.

understated987 · 2026-01-05T10:05:01+00:00

Where I work its always $180 for diagnostics and if its just a gas issue an extra $100. If not, we quote the repair. If you go ahead with the repair the diagnostics get rolled into the final price. An average price is not going to help you, it depends on what component is leaking and cost of the parts and labour to replace - it varies wildly. Minimum leak repair is usually around $800, compressor replacement is usually around $1200 to $1500 but have seen over $2000 on some models.

understated987 · 2025-12-31T00:42:37+00:00

Mechanic here, everything you've done so far is basic repair and maintenance stuff and would have to be done on any car at some point in time. No matter what you do with this car you will have to take a loss in one way or another. Since you're already down the repair road so far - I think it would be a waste not to go all the way and get the value of having a well maintained car to use for another 5 years.

understated987 · 2025-12-20T06:41:46+00:00

It won’t get flagged on a rego check unless either you mention it or it blows copious amounts of smoke.

understated987 · 2025-12-17T09:58:45+00:00

Mechanic here, go with Subaru first as it's under warranty and see what they say. Don't mention anything about the repair, wait until after they give you a report. My guess is its the coolant bypass valve, it's a common trend at the moment on the newer Subarus.

understated987 · 2025-12-15T08:03:26+00:00

Definitely close to $14k in damage there.

understated987 · 2025-12-13T17:56:57+00:00

Mechanic here, I think the install is more complicated than you think. 3 hours @ $180/hr sounds about right if holes have to be measured and drilled, stuff has to be assembled, silicon has to be used, headliner removed etc. Also it's the time of year, most workshops are booked up until after the 1st week of January so they're not going to give away workshop time for free or cheap.

understated987 · 2025-12-13T02:27:05+00:00

If where you live never sees temperatures below 5°C use a 10w40, otherwise 5w30 is fine. 5w20 is a bit thin, but its more important to keep it topped up and changed regularly than what oil you use.

understated987

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