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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1906
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
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Returning a free FMM at Mexicali East
With the tighter rules about returning a free FMM sometimes enforced, we decided to do that this past Saturday at Mexicali East. We had gotten the
free 7 day FMM at the San Ysidro port of entry.
We chose Mexicali East because it's relatively less crowded than the Mexicali West exit.
It was EASY. Took less than five minutes. I've attached a map. Pretty self-explanatory I think.
John M
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Thank John. Looking forward to the trip report!!!
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John M
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Trip report
Went to watch the 1000 with my daughter. Had fun.
John
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Paco Facullo
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Hey,
Simply one of the best trip reports ever !
.
.
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woody with a view
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Fotos or it didn’t happen!
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bkbend
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Location: central OR or central baja
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That's at the stop sign, correct? I thought it was just an inelegant U-turn to the southbound lanes.
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John M
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Returning FMM
Yes, it is at a stop sign.
It is also at this stop sign that US Customs and Border Protection says it's the place for drivers in the SENTRI line to drop off non-SENTRI
passengers to walk across the border though many wait until much closer to the inspection booths.
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David K
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Oh, you think you can get by with just that??? LOL 
Thank you!
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John M
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Stay on topic
This is about the FMM return process
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David K
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OK boss...
So, what would you do if there was a mile or more long line of cars? I have used Mexicali East a couple times, and it was never short. Do you think it
isn't a problem to merge back into the northbound lane? If it is a 4-way stop, would that be honored with a gap for you to get into?
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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Throw it away.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
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Thank you for the excellent report. I thought it might put an end to its impossible to return...but I guess not.
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John M
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cutting in line
At the stop sign where you'd turn left to go over to the Mexican office there was a fellow there that held up northbound cars in both the Fast Pass
& SENTRI lanes. A few cars behind us were impatient and began honking their horns but the guy eased us across with only a minute or so delay. So,
you are not on your own to make the left across other lanes and not reliant on the courtesy of other drivers to accommodate you.
Returning to get in line there was no issue as traffic wasn't backed up that far at that time.
This stop sign is actually pretty far from where traffic normally backs up. Maybe we got lucky but this fellow was on the ball.
My daughter & her husband went through this same routine two months ago with the same minimal delay.
John M
[Edited on 11-21-2017 by John M]
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David K
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Not impossible, I described the return process at Tecate in detail a year or so ago. It is Tijuana and Mexicali downtown that would border on
impossible or unrealistic (for the driver).
A reminder, that this return deal applies only to the FREE 7 day or less FMM. The Pay 180-day FMM (for land travelers) does not require returning.
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sancho
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I usually cross into Mexicali Downtown, last 3 yrs. they are adament
about returning the 7 day fmm, had a Imm guy stand in front
of the Imm office, telling me to come no., drive in the sentri
lane (I believe) to his office to return it. Looked like a cluster,
I get in the lanes going into Calexico, let the wife drive and
walk the 5 blks. to the office. TJ is another story. But I've
yet to see, here or any other place, any report of Imm
penalizing, hassling one who did not return a 7 day fmm,
I don't believe it happens, but they ask at Mexicali West
so I comply
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Exactly why paying for a 6 month FMM is so worth it... 500 pesos... 30 bucks, and no fuss coming north, plus use it again before the 180 days expires.
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DawnPatrol
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years ago I posted on BloodyDecks the address to MAIL the FMM in. Do not know if its any good any longer. But I did mail them and they never have got
them back
of course that doesnt prove anything
INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE MIGRACION
PUENTE PUERTA S/N
COLONIA FEDERAL
TIJUANA, B.C. MEXICO C.P. 22310
PHONE # FROM U.S. 011-52-664-682-9862
FROM MEXICO 01-664-682-9862
FROM TIJUANA 682-9862
[Edited on 11-22-2017 by DawnPatrol]
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David K
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That was in the days of the FM-T (and no free 7-day FMM). Discover Baja provided that address. Ferna de Tijuana (DEP) said the building where that
address was torn down when the new border crossing was constructed.
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DawnPatrol
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Quote: Originally posted by David K  | | That was in the days of the FM-T (and no free 7-day FMM). Discover Baja provided that address. Ferna de Tijuana (DEP) said the building where that
address was torn down when the new border crossing was constructed. |
oops! wish we had the NEW address David!
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Mexitron
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What is the point of returning the 7-day and not the 180-day FMM?
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