Mexico Visas
Mexico, glad to say, has modernized its immigration system. Now the rules and requirements are posted on the Immigration Department's website at: http://www.migracion.gob.mx/ A section of the website is in English: http://www.inm.gob.mx/EN/index.phpz.
Where do you go in Acapulco?
Instituto Nacional de Migracion located at Juan Sebastian Elcano #1 Fracc. Costa Azul. It's located across the street from the Cici.
Tourist Visas for Mexico
If your are from one of the larger English-speaking countries (like the US, Canada, UK, Australia or New Zealand) obtaining a tourist visa to enter Mexico is so easy that it is hardly worth fretting over. The tourist visa is called an FMT visa (which stands for Forma Migratoria para Turista). As a tourist planning to stay only a few weeks, all you need to do is show up with a passport. The era of entering Mexico with just a driver’s license and a birth certificate is over.
Citizens of the following countries can show up at a port of entry with a passport, unannounced, and enter: USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, EU, Norway, Poland, Hungary, Switzerland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Iceland, Japan, Singapore, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile.
Even if you are arriving by land, that is, walking or driving across the border from the US or arriving by international bus, it is recommended to ask for a tourist card. Though the authorities may just wave you through, the tourist card is your proof of lawful entry, and could be useful later on. The card is issued for the length of time you declare to be your intention to stay, up to 180 days.
If you are unsure of how long you want to stay, request politely for the maximum time on your tourist card (FMT visa). This is 180 days. How much time the official gives you on your visa is a matter of complete discretion, so it is best to be presentable and on your best behavior. Whatever the time granted on the visa or tourist card, plan to exit comfortably before the expiration. If you want more time, just re-enter. At some border locations you do not actually have to exit to obtain a new card, but rather, just appear and request a new FMT. Alternatively, you can request a renewal-extension of time at an immigration office inside the country, but extensions are not always granted, and there are fees to pay.
Student Visas for Mexico
While tourist visas are easy to get and largely hassle free, other visas are considerably more complicated. For starters, if you're planning on studying in Mexico, there is a visa especially for students. Sometimes even the school officials advise students to come in as tourists, just to avoid the bureaucratic headache of a student visa. A good strategy is to enter Mexico first as a tourist and then apply for the student visa at a local immigration office. This seems to work more smoothly than trying to make things happen through a Mexican consulate abroad.
The requirements for a student visa are an acceptance letter from a Mexican university; numerous passport photographs; a letter of proof of financial solvency (which is for a student is about $350 USD per month); a passport; possibly a certificate of good health; and possibly a registration (within 30 days) at the National Registry of Foreign Citizens in Mexico City. It is the "Oficina del Registro Nacional de Extranjeros" Instituto Nacional de Migracion, on Av. Chapultepec No. 284 Esq. Glorieta Insurgentes, Colonia Roma,C.P. 06700.
Resident Visas for Mexico FM2 & FM3
For those who want to stay a while, but don’t want the burden of leaving the country every 6 months, there are the FM2 and FM3 visas. Generally you must fist get your FM3, wait five years, then apply for your FM2, but most stop at the FM3 because it has some practical advantages over its higher ranking counterpart.
As the holder of an FM3 you are considered a non-immigrant resident. You can stay without going to the border every 6 months for a new one. You can have a car with foreign plates and you can come and go as you please. The right to have a foreign plated car is great because you don't have to pay the tenencia (the annual car tax which is assessed according to the value of your car), which can be expensive.
In order to obtain an FM3, you need:
You have to renew the FM3 each year for a minimum of five years. At the end of the 5 years, you can upgrade to the FM2 or continue with a new FM3.
For the FM2, you need pretty much the same things that you would for the FM3, but you get a different set of rights. After 5 years of this visa you basically get your Mexican Green card that gives you all the rights of a Mexican citizen save the right to vote. Two big disadvantages are that you must reside in the country a majority of the year and you can no longer have a car with foreign plates. However, you can work in almost any job.
Photograph Requirements
Before processing any paperwork, be careful to confirm the number, size, color and poses of the photographs required. These rules change often. Sometimes the size is "passport" (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm) other times "infantil" (2 cm x 3 cm). The number and poses can vary as well, according to the procedure. Two frontal and one right profile are the minimum requirements, but more may be requested. Color photos are usually required.