Baseball1000
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Considering moving to Tijuana - How to prepare?
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]
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DENNIS
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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.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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BajaBlanca
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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!
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tjsue
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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.
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Baseball1000
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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.  But I am going to drop by the consolate! Thanks.
[Edited on 9-29-2017 by Baseball1000]
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tjsue
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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.
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BajaBlanca
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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.
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DENNIS
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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?
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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.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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SFandH
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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]
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DENNIS
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| 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]
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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JZ
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Go back to school and get a better paying job so you can afford to live in SD.
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DENNIS
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Finally......some good advice. Snarky....but good.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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bajabuddha
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nah, just snarky and a bit condescending without knowing ANYTHING about the OP.
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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DENNIS
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OK....I'll buy that. 
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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Bob H
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DENNIS.... I've been off the board for quite a while. Glad to see you are still kick'n.... Bob H
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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elgatoloco
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| 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
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Bob, good to see you checking back in. May want to peruse this thread........
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=87870&pag...
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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thebajarunner
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Yeah. Just sent him a private message and suggested deleting that post
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aguachico
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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.
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Disastrogirl
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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.
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Udo
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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. |
Udo
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