BajaNomad

Considering moving to Tijuana - How to prepare?

Baseball1000 - 9-27-2017 at 10:00 PM

I am an American citizen (with no Mexican citizenship or residence) and I am considering moving to Tijuana and continuing to work in the United States. I already spend a lot of time in Tijuana and have friends who live there.

I have no issue with the commute and traveling back and forth, as I do that very much anyway. However, the issues with changing my residence gives me a bit of pause. At the moment, what comes to mind is obtaining a PO Box here in San Diego, and redirecting all of my mail to that PO Box.

Are there any other big preparations I would have to make? Do I need to apply for residency in Tijuana? What about my passport/Sentri? Would I even be able to change those to a Mexican address? Would there be any complications regarding me being able to work in San Diego, particularly with my tax return? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: Does anyone have experience with virtual mailboxes for maintaining an official residence in the United States? Supposedly, they can be used as official residences, but I'm skeptical of the possibility it could get me in some sort of trouble - though it does seem legal. Thanks again.

[Edited on 9-28-2017 by Baseball1000]

DENNIS - 9-28-2017 at 07:20 AM


I've used Postal Annex in San Ysidro for 25 or a million years, as my residence address. Works with Cal DMV because it's a street address.

Get SENTRI.......for sure. [I can't even remember which address I used for that. I think it was my Mexico address. Someone else here will cover it.

Many other details for preparation will depend upon your area of choice in TJ. Some areas will beg the requirement that you have your head examined. Other....not so much.
Good luck.

BajaBlanca - 9-28-2017 at 07:28 AM

Perhaps go to the Mexican consulate nearest you and ask for the most recent information on becoming a permanent resident.

Did any of your friends go thru this process? Perhaps they could give you a heads up too.

Parts of TJ are awesome!

tjsue - 9-28-2017 at 06:26 PM

I lived in Tijuana for a year. I had a PMB in San Diego for my address/mail, and crossed the border to work. If you don't already have a SENTRI, get one before you move. I didn't apply for residency in Mexico, it wasn't necessary.

Baseball1000 - 9-28-2017 at 06:39 PM

Thank you all very much for the very helpful responses!

Dennis - haha, any recommendations on which areas are US resident friendly?

BajaBlanca - the friends I have in Tijuana are actually all either Mexicans or have duel citizenship. I don't know any other gringos who have done this. :O But I am going to drop by the consolate! Thanks.

[Edited on 9-29-2017 by Baseball1000]

tjsue - 9-28-2017 at 07:15 PM

I lived in Independencia, and I have a friend that lives downtown. It's all up to you as to where you want to live.

BajaBlanca - 9-29-2017 at 07:08 AM

You know what? In retrospect, if I were you, I would go on the tourist visa or FMM and try it out for 6 months. If then you are happy, go for the permanent residency.

DENNIS - 9-29-2017 at 07:50 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Baseball1000  
Thank you all very much for the very helpful responses!

Dennis - haha, any recommendations on which areas are US resident friendly?



A really loaded question. You'll just have to do your homework. Maybe start with a history of US/MEX relations...particularly past differences and skirmishes.

SFandH - 9-29-2017 at 08:27 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Baseball1000  


any recommendations on which areas are US resident friendly?



I don't think any place in Mexico is U.S. unfriendly. It's my experience that Mexicans are friendly people.

As far as where in TJ, I'd recommend Playas de Tijuana. The main beach area near the bullring is old and rather funky but once you get back into the neighborhoods it's pretty nice. Nice houses, an upper middle class self-contained area. Apartment/condo buildings here and there. 20 minutes to the border crossing.



[Edited on 9-29-2017 by SFandH]

DENNIS - 9-29-2017 at 02:31 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
[
any recommendations on which areas are US resident friendly?

[/rquote]

I don't think any place in Mexico is U.S. unfriendly. It's my experience that Mexicans are friendly people.


How are your most heart-felt conversation skills with them? Or...are they all just happy little people, in your observation?
[ my gawd. I'm appalled at the ignorance of reality here at times]

JZ - 9-29-2017 at 02:51 PM

Go back to school and get a better paying job so you can afford to live in SD.

DENNIS - 9-29-2017 at 03:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Go back to school and get a better paying job so you can afford to live in SD.


Finally......some good advice. Snarky....but good.

bajabuddha - 9-29-2017 at 04:14 PM

nah, just snarky and a bit condescending without knowing ANYTHING about the OP.

DENNIS - 9-29-2017 at 04:43 PM




OK....I'll buy that. :biggrin:

Bob H - 11-10-2017 at 09:46 PM

DENNIS.... I've been off the board for quite a while. Glad to see you are still kick'n.... Bob H

elgatoloco - 11-10-2017 at 10:08 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob H  
DENNIS.... I've been off the board for quite a while. Glad to see you are still kick'n.... Bob H


Bob, good to see you checking back in. May want to peruse this thread........

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=87870&pag...

thebajarunner - 11-10-2017 at 10:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by elgatoloco  
Quote: Originally posted by Bob H  
DENNIS.... I've been off the board for quite a while. Glad to see you are still kick'n.... Bob H


Bob, good to see you checking back in. May want to peruse this thread........

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=87870&pag...




Yeah. Just sent him a private message and suggested deleting that post

aguachico - 11-11-2017 at 07:33 AM

Living in TJ is the easy part. Trying to get around the fact that you do not have a valid us residence is the tricky part. You have Sentri?

You will have to spoof your address for things like credit cards and insurance. It can be done. Living in TJ and working in the in the states actually sucks if you have to commute everyday. If you can work from home it is not too bad.

Disastrogirl - 11-29-2017 at 03:12 PM

I've worked with people who lived in TJ and worked at my office in Poway. It can take 2+ hours to get across the border in the morning and it's not consistent at all. They both had very early work hours so they could beat the worst of the traffic. It could work out OK if you can arrive at work either very early in the morning or after 9:30am. Watching what they went though I would be reluctant to commute from TJ.

Udo - 12-1-2017 at 01:12 PM

Without a permanent US address, you might have a difficult time obtaining a SENTRI pass. Even at that, do you have a squeaky clean record?
Quote: Originally posted by Disastrogirl  
I've worked with people who lived in TJ and worked at my office in Poway. It can take 2+ hours to get across the border in the morning and it's not consistent at all. They both had very early work hours so they could beat the worst of the traffic. It could work out OK if you can arrive at work either very early in the morning or after 9:30am. Watching what they went though I would be reluctant to commute from TJ.