New Immigration Laws in Effect November 9, 2012
As with any government change of policy and the dissemenation of rules regarding the changes, it is difficult to get a firm understanding of the new immigration laws. All the internet sources seem to be second and third hand iterations. Trying to plow though 300 pages of Spanish legaleze of the original document might show how the information can so easily be misunderstood, but goes not serve to clarify the new rules. Perhaps the ambiguities were intended, to allow for the customary autonomy and 'wiggle-room' of the various immigration offices.
The dismantling of the FMM system (ie: FM3, FM2) has precipitated the following classifications: Visitante, Visitante Estudiante, Residente Temporal, and Residente Permanente, and Visa. They equate to Visitor, Student Visitor, Temparary Resident, Permanent Resident and Visa.
Rather than go into a fourth hand recounting of the new laws, here are a few links that seem to have done some respectable groundwork.
http://www.mymexicanlawyer.com/immigration-questions/mexican-immigration-regulations/
http://yucalandia.wordpress.com/living-in-yucatan-mexico/new-immigration-law-published-for-mexico-the-article/
http://yucalandia.wordpress.com/answers-to-common-questions/new-rules-and-procedures-for-immigration-visiting-and-staying-in-mexico/
http://www.pvpulse.com/en/news/mexico-news/how-the-new-immigration-law-affects-mexico-s-expats
For the original document:
http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5190774&fecha=25/05/2011
Cost of immigration status:
http://www.inm.gob.mx/index.php/page/D_S_M_O