BajaNomad - FMT's in Mexicali

FMT's in Mexicali

DonBaja - 4-15-2007 at 05:21 PM

I did a search for 'Fmt mexicali" and didn't get any results..... So I must ask the question, Where in Mexicali do I get an FMT? All of the results show going to the boarder in TJ...

Thanks,
DonBaja

Bajafun777 - 4-15-2007 at 10:00 PM

The Mexican Customs in Mexicali went out to the East Port instead of the downtown old port. You drive across and get into the lane that says Immigration it is the nearest lane to the building and the other three outside lanes are the Mexican Secondary or like our Secondary. You will drive past the building and if the Mexican Secondary officers approach your vehicle just point to the building to your immediate right and say Immigration and they will wave you on. Park in the area that says Immigration or Tourist Cards always seems to be plenty of parking spaces. You can also call the Mexican Consulate in Calexico at 760=357-3863 and they are located at 408 Heber Avenue in the city of Calexico right by the Calexico Police Department and the County Calexico Courthouse. They have people that speak English at the Consulate just ask for them if you need to. Hope this helps and this will probably be quicker than T.J. to get this done. bajafun777

David K - 4-15-2007 at 10:36 PM

777, are you saying that you can no longer get a tourist card at the down town border in Mexicali? I think that it should be available at every border crossing...??

Bajafun777 - 4-15-2007 at 11:00 PM

No, you have to go to the new East Port as that what happened to me when I went to the old port. They told me everything went out to the new East Port and that is where I got my Tourist card when I went to Maztalan

. I had always gone to the old port as that is where it always was. Damn everything keeps changing but I must admit they took care of me pretty fast at the new port. Later-------------bajafun777

David K - 4-15-2007 at 11:21 PM

Thanks 777... They just don't care if people have them or not going into Baja!

More questions

craiggers - 4-16-2007 at 11:11 PM

Can you make the payment at the two places mentioned, ie the Consulate and the new crossing east of Mexicali or do you still have to find a bank after that?

Is there anything in Tecate ?

Is that car permit required? I will be in baja at least a month and hope to make it to cabo unless I get distracted along the way

I've also considered taking the ferry across for the trip back.

David K - 4-17-2007 at 08:48 AM

There is a bank across the street from Tecate's INM

You will need the car permit if you ferry to the mainland, Baja is exempt.

After reading that they won't issue you a visa anymore at the main Mexicali border, I just don't know anymore...

The FMT thing is really such a joke: No firm rules on when or where it is required... just what we read in books or Internet... different answers from every official in Mexico... a few dollars solves most any situation... It really would be funny if it wasn't so sad!

osoflojo - 4-17-2007 at 11:57 AM

If you take the ferry back from Santa Roselia to Guaymas you will not need a car permit as Sonora no longer requires them. Any other ferry crossing will require one. Also if you want to use a ferry I suggest you make a reservation as they can fill up quickly. Suerte........

Bajafun777 - 4-17-2007 at 07:06 PM

At the East Port in Mexicali they have the bank right there where you can pay and then go for a little walk across the parking lot and show customs you paid. You do it all right there no hunting for a bank. You get your card permit in the same building from customs. They send you back and forth getting paperwork signed and stamped and then back to pay at the bank that you cross over the parking lot to get to. Nice people no real problems except you think they would have you pay and then go over with the paperwork but it is just backwards from that thought. Again, just have your driver's license, passport, and vehicle registration to do all of this so no extra trips (I also had my American and Mexican car insurance but they did not ask to see it). If you do not have a passport get a certified birth certificate. Now Tecate might be more of a headache than you think as I bet they have less people and less hours that they do this if at all. bajafun777

DonBaja - 4-18-2007 at 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

The FMT thing is really such a joke: No firm rules on when or where it is required... just what we read in books or Internet... different answers from every official in Mexico... a few dollars solves most any situation... It really would be funny if it wasn't so sad!

Dk, do you think it's really necessary to even get an FM-T ? I'm going to be traveling for about 2 weeks and may make it to CSL, nobody else in our group is getting one but I wanted to be safe... the others in our group are saying "don't worry you have money" there will be 5-8 offroad cars traveling together.

[Edited on 4-18-2007 by DonBaja]

David K - 4-18-2007 at 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DonBaja

Quote:

Hi Don Baja,

Well, the one and only place on the peninsula they ask for your FM-T (Tourist Card) is at the state border near Guerrero Negro, on Hwy. 1. (just past the Eagle Monument)

I think, as a rule we being guests in Mexico should try and follow their rules (even though they change from official to official). I don't think we try to be undocumented aliens! :mad:

Here's the problem: If everyone (non-Mexican) traveling south of Maneadero is required to have it, then they need the office put back south of Maneadero that used to be there many years ago to issue them. :coolup:

Also, the issue that there needs to be a bank teller to accept the fee is non-functional... or saying we have to get the thing paid for before leaving Mexico... dumb! So, you would be driving around with an unvalid tourist card until it was paid for. :smug:

The FM-T was free before mid 2000, and should be again... It only hurts tourism to have a fee on people coming into the country to spend money. Last year, they made the thing free for a week stay... that helps. :biggrin:

Since the official in Ensenada is no longer issuing them with collecting a (new) fine, that leaves Tijuana the only place to get one or get the one you might of bought at Discover Baja, stamped. Yup, it is no good until the border man stamps it! Since it takes just a few minutes more to get and pay for the thing, have it all done at Tijuana. :spingrin:

How? Well, you got to get into that far right lane signed 'Something to Declare', and on Friday afternoon/ evening you best use I-805 and not I-5, as you won't be able to cross all the lanes full of cars to get to the right declare lane! I-805 is the freeway on the right where the two come together at the border.

Park in the covered, secondary inspection area and walk to the offices facing the parking area... Go to the office called 'INM'. If an officer walks up to you when you park, tell him/her you are getting a tourist card and have nothing to declare. :cool:

Have a passport OR birth certificate and driver's license and a pen... fill the form, request 180 days for paid FM-T or just 7 days for a free FM-T. The 180 day one is reusable for other trips in the 6 month period. They sometimes will mark just 90 days if you don't tell them 180...

Take the form to the bank teller (next door or close to the INM office), pay the fee (U.S. dollars okay) and return to the INM for a final stamp and that's it. :wow:

As you drive out of the parking area, you will press a button for the random red/ green light. If red, go back and get inspected... If you have nothing to declare, then it will be quick and easy. :yes:

Now, if you don't care to try and be a legal alien, then don't cross the state border on Hwy. 1 (there are other ways into Baja Calif. Sur)... But, don't get into trouble either!!! :light:

bajalou - 4-18-2007 at 05:34 PM

BajaFun777 - it sounds like you are getting a permit for Temporary Importation of a auto. not just a FMT, tourist visa.

DonBaja - 4-19-2007 at 08:42 AM

So if I cross the border on Sunday morning in Mexicali through the east port will I be able to get my card and be good to go ? or will the bank teller not be open because it's on a sunday or maybe because I cross before they are open?

bajalou - 4-19-2007 at 09:13 AM

East crossing is only open 6a to 10p - 7 days a week.

turtleandtoad - 4-20-2007 at 10:36 AM

At Tecate, if you're driving anything larger than a standard sedan or towing anything, park on the US side and walk across to get your FMT. There isn't any large rig parking on the Mexico side. See my website for details.