But this year I decided to get an early start. I began depositing $1k a month into my Mexican bank account in June, and carefully saved the receipts, plus I got a statement this month from my friendly banker Oscar. Three months of deposits. Lucky they don't demand 12 months, I don't always have that much lying around.
This morning Miguel stopped by to help me put together a checklist so I'll have all my paperwork ready when I apply. So I dug out my documents, even though my horoscope today said:
Avoid any tasks or chores that involve paperwork or numbers today...I still have our rental agreement, which I will scan so I don't have to worry about losing it. I have a rent receipt and a utility bill, which I will also scan, so that hopefully I can keep the originals and just hand over the copies. I already have my passport and original FM-3 book scanned, so all I have to do is re-scan the pages that have been stamped since last year, when I left and re-entered the country.
Miguel wrote a letter, or solicitud in Spanish requesting my renewal, which he sent me via email, so I can just update the document from now on. And there's a form called the Hoya de Ayuda I was given last year, which he said I should take along just in case. I looked up "hoya" and my software diccionario said it meant "sand trap" as in golf, while my hardcopy didn't even list the word. I know "ayuda" means "help." A sand trap of help?
Last year I paid Miguel $50 to assist me, but this year I gave him $10 for the letter and consultation. I'm going to try to do it alone. My Spanish is (somewhat) better, I'm not late, I have all the paperwork. Vamos a ver...
Now, if I could only do something about the photo in the FM-3...muy feo!