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John M
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Posts: 1906
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
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Is it possible to enter Baja without a passport?
How big of a hassle is it? A couple of folks on an upcoming trip haven't gotten their passport yet . Taking way longer that they thought.
Does it really depend on the person at the desk when they are getting their FMM?
Personal experience preferred, not second hand info please.
John M
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dusty.rambler
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Location: In hot water....
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You could enter Baja without a passport easily and not get a FMM..... Getting out of the country would be a challenge though... I would not recommend.
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mtgoat666
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Quote: Originally posted by John M  | How big of a hassle is it? A couple of folks on an upcoming trip haven't gotten their passport yet . Taking way longer that they thought.
Does it really depend on the person at the desk when they are getting their FMM?
Personal experience preferred, not second hand info please.
John M |
You can't get an FMM w/o a passport. Many gringos enter Mexico w/o getting an FMM...
USA citizens can enter USA w/o a USA passport. May take a bit more time at the border inspection...
You cant fly across border w/o a valid passport.
A family member recently need a passport renewal that was taking way too long via normal renewal process. She made an appointment for expedited (24
hr) passport, and PP agency found her file and shipped it to expedite office,.... after many phone calls. You can only book expedited appt 14 days in
advance of travel.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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BajaNomad
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Thread Moved
2-9-2023 at 11:24 AM |
bajaric
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It is entirely possible. In many trips south of the border I have only been asked to show a passport once, at the border, and have never been asked
to show my FMM. The Mexican government does not seem to be overly concerned with enforcement of their immigration rules for tourists who are
traveling in a US-plated private vehicle. They want to encourage tourism. The people that are most concerned are obsessive-compulsive gringos who
for some reason would like for Mexico to be just like the United States, with an hours-long wait to cross the border to check documents.
Crossing north, a valid driver's license will get a US citizen across, though it might result a trip to secondary. A driver's license and a birth
certificate is probably enough to get waved through.
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TMW
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Location: Bakersfield, CA
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A couple of years ago I left my bag beside the hwy after adjusting the back of my truck. It had my passport in it. When I went back for it the bag was
gone. I crossed the border at Tecate and told the border agent what happened and he said no problem my drivers license was good. I crossed the border
a couple of times before I got my passport back and I had no problems.
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1906
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
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Thanks for the info
Hi TW!
I appreciate the various viewpoints.
JM
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4x4abc
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about "nobody ever asked for the FFM" - ask any tourist in the US (or other countries), they are never asked for their tourist visa while in the
country. However, if you run into one of the secondary secondaries along the US border, tourist have to show their I94 or similar.
Same in Mexico - on rare occasions roadblocks in high traffic tourist areas fish out people without proper papers.
Automatic 2 week jail followed by deportation (some heartbreaking youtube videos about that).
Again, checks rarely happen - but do you really wanna be the next one recording a video in a Mexican jail?
Harald Pietschmann
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4x4abc
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it is the US equivalent to the FFM
multiple entries etc
tourist visa
Harald Pietschmann
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4x4abc
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like the FFM, it is no longer needed by US visitors to fill out the paper form
all online now and a stamp in the passport
about $20 bucks last time I got one
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/i-94
Harald Pietschmann
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BigWooo
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It is possible to travel without a passport or tourist visa. You "probably" won't be asked to show it. However in the last 3 or 4 years I have been
asked to show my immigration status a couple times at checkpoints. I live here and travel around so that's pretty good odds. Here's the problem
though. If you get into an accident, or have health issues and need to evacuate back to the U.S., or Canada for life saving health care, this where
you will run into problems. Without the proper documents you will be at minimum greatly delayed, or worse denied transportation. That could make the
difference between life and death. But then again.....without it your'e gambling that nothing will happen. Just hope nothing happens.
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mtgoat666
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Just get a passport. It’s easy.
If you are a bad planner and need PP urgently, there is a way to get it fast.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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pacificobob
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Super expedited passport service is available through various providers. My former employer used a service with a 7 day turnaround when it was our
passport was about to expire.
I once got it renewed in an hour at the american consulate in hong kong.
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tomieharder
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Your knowledge is a little dated. The US no longer issues paper I-94s. It's all digital now. Cost is $6 for 6 months.
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surabi
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I know it's a challenge for you, but try reading before telling someone their info is outdated , tomie. 4x4 already said it was all digital now
yesterday.
[Edited on 2-10-2023 by surabi]
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mtgoat666
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You can’t enter baja by air or using CBX without a passport.
If you ride a bus across border, often you have to get off and go thru customs, and you’ll need a passport. If you want to enter baja legally at a
land border, you will need a passport to stop and obtain a FMM. If you are arriving in baja by boat, you best clear customs, and you’ll need a
passport for that. If you are on a cruise ship and want to enter Mexico, you need a passport.
Lot’s of illegal gringos in Mexico, they enter Mexico illegally by vehicle, just blast past the immigration stop without a thought to obtaining
their fmm. Many of these same gringos get irate when Mexicans enter usa illegally. These people are quite illogical.
[Edited on 3-2-2023 by BajaNomad]
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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AKgringo
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wonder how many user names JJJ has burned through before getting banned again?
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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thebajarunner
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Get a passport card, always, along with your regular passport.
Keep it in your wallet, you always have it with you
Not good for air visits to Mexico but same as passport for land travel.
When I renew my FMM I always just toss the card on the counter, not the passport.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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| Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner | Get a passport card, always, along with your regular passport.
Keep it in your wallet, you always have it with you
Not good for air visits to Mexico but same as passport for land travel.
When I renew my FMM I always just toss the card on the counter, not the passport. |
I have used both. The cool part for using the regular passport is that it gets stamped. Oddly, each time for Mexico, the ink is so lacking it is
difficult to impossible to read the stamp.
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RFClark
Super Nomad
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There’s been a lot of talk about changes in how the FMMs are issued at the border crossings into Baja CA. We just came south and stopped at the
Mexicali office. Nothing has changed. You still get a paper visa good for 180 days for 700 Pesos.
On the subject of visa checks while in Mexico. We have been asked by the national guard twice in the last year for our visas. Both times in BCS north
of San Ignacio.
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surabi
Ultra Nomad
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An FMM is not synonymous with "tourist permit". It's just that the bottom half of the form serves as a tourist permit. It's a form used to track
entries and exits of all foreigners, regardless of whether they are tourists or residents.
Referring to an FMM as a tourist permit is like calling ground beef a hamburger, when using it to make a hamburger is only one of its uses.
Up until recently, residents also had to fill out those forms. They are being phased out, and in many places they aren't used at all anymore- INM just
stamps passports, including for tourists.
[Edited on 3-3-2023 by surabi]
[Edited on 3-3-2023 by surabi]
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