rbfactor - 4-14-2007 at 11:35 AM
We are heading down into Baja Sur pulling a trailer early Monday morning.
Does anyone know how to purchase tourist permits (FM-T's) in Ensenada at the boat docks?
(Where to buy them, hours of operation, reliability,parking etc.)
Is it less hectic to buy them in Ensenada than at the US border?
Thanks!
Don Alley - 4-14-2007 at 02:06 PM
You turn right, off the highway, just as you begin to reach the downtown area. Parking is parallel parking on the street; you may have to drive ways
down the street looking for parking. And you will have to walk farther to a bank to pay.
Thee have been many reports that the nice man at the immigration office there says those who do not get their FM-Ts at the border have been naughty
and must pay a fine before they can get them in Ensenada.
I'd pull off in the declare lane at San Ysidro/TJ, lots of parking, bank windows there, very convenient. I've never seen it looking really hectic
there, southbound. Much faster than doing Ensenada because the bank's closer.
DavidT - 4-14-2007 at 02:12 PM
I'd stop at the border. If you are real early you might have to knock on the window to wake up the bank teller.
Debra - 4-14-2007 at 03:02 PM
Don't wait until Ensenada, at the border get in the far right lane, it says "something to declare" I think, 2 windows, one for the paperwork, next
window is the bank..............the really good part is you come out at the front of the line if it is busy, and off you go! In Ensenada, it's a pain
in the butt to park, then you have to go to the bank to pay (a few blocks away) Don't tell anybody, but even when I don't have to get a FMT I still
(if busy) pull into the "something to declare" line just to avoid the huge back up on saaaay a friday evening 
fmt
sylens - 4-14-2007 at 04:16 PM
info is correct. you will be fined if you wait until ensenada. law requires tourist visa be obtained upon entry to country. ensenada is entry only
for those who enter on the water.
but for about one year now, there is "full service" including a bank and a clerk who will make copies and help with completing forms (e.g. for fm3)
available right there next to the inm (immigration) office.
buen viaje.
vacaenbaja - 4-15-2007 at 12:56 AM
YES YOU WILL BE FINED. I thought that it was inconvienent
to stop at the boarder because every time I do the customs
people want to tear my car apart thinking that I have something to declare. Even though they are open 24 hours many times you do have to knock on
windows, hunt people down or
wake them up depending on your hour of entry.
Parking is hard at Ensenada. Next time I am stopping at the boarder despite the sometimes over zealous inspectors.
A rather ill constucted law if you consider what happens if you were in
Ensenada on vacation for a week and someone convinced you that the fishing is great at LA Bay and you could go and
return within the week. I suppose you would then be guilty
of starting your trip without the proper documentation that
you should have obtained at the boarder before you even
thought about going further south.