edevart
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 3-30-2004
Location: Medio Camino
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Get FMM tourist visa stamped 24 hours??
Is the the San Ysidro/El Chaparral immigration office open 24 hours a day? What about holidays? Do you think we'd have trouble getting our FMM or
tourist visa stamped after hours on Xmas eve, for example?
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David K
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Technically, any hour the border is open, so is immigration. Finding an officer on duty at extreme hours might be another deal... But, you have no
choice... the tourist card MUST BE activated at the border, with his stamp, even if you got a prepaid FMM before your trip.
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Gulliver
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Driving at night? I dunno. Usually a pretty bad idea.
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willardguy
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not alot of cattle on the road up here......I don't see an issue
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Gulliver
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Maybe some cattle driving the pooooolice cars!
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bajaguy
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It's the one you don't see that causes the problem
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mtgoat666
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Quote: Originally posted by edevart  | Is the the San Ysidro/El Chaparral immigration office open 24 hours a day? What about holidays? Do you think we'd have trouble getting our FMM or
tourist visa stamped after hours on Xmas eve, for example?
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You ask about After hours xmas eve?
Who knows!
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gsbotanico
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Location: Cardiff by the Sea, CA
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| Quote: Originally posted by edevart | Is the the San Ysidro/El Chaparral immigration office open 24 hours a day? What about holidays? Do you think we'd have trouble getting our FMM or
tourist visa stamped after hours on Xmas eve, for example?
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The crossing is open 24 hours. There should be an agent there. You may have to rustle up an agent to help you or rouse someone. The office will be
open.
It's sort of like the toll booths on the toll road -- open 24 hours. Very late at night or very early in the morning there will be someone there.
I've been on the toll road at 1 am, and there was always someone to take my money, even if I had to gently wake them. 
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BajaMama
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I would never drive at night. Although no recent reports, lets just say everything bad with the TJ police happens after dark. I would leave sunrise.
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edevart
Junior Nomad
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Location: Medio Camino
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Thanks for all the input everyone. Is it worthwhile to get the prepaid FMM? The only times I've gotten the FMM in the past were several years ago
when you could get them at the port in Ensenada (with a trip to the bank to pay, of course). I've yet to experience the TJ FMM scene, so not sure
what to expect there.
As for driving after dark, we'd just be crossing the border and heading to our place south of Rosarito for the night, before heading further south in
the morning. I've done the TJ to Rosarito drive at night many times without incident. But yes, driving at night further south is not a game I like to
play if I can avoid it.
Thanks.
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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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No advantage of a prepaid one really, because even with the prepaid FMM, you still MUST stop at the border INM office and validate it with their
stamp... the moment you enter Mexico.
It used to have some value when you needed an open bank teller to pay for the FMT or FMM... But, since 2012, the INM officials can accept the money or
there is a teller in the same building just for FMM payments.
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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I've never gone thru the online fmm site, not to pinch
pesos, but is there a price difference in the online fmm
as opposed to the Border Imm office cost? Recent post
stated border fmm was $20.50 US, can't remember it
as inexpensive as that recently. I understand
you fill out a date on the online fmm and have to get it
validated to start the 180 day
I'm sure the site is secure, but I avoid using a credit
card in Mex
[Edited on 10-27-2016 by sancho]
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