BajaNomad

Tourist card

yankeeirishman - 3-15-2004 at 10:08 PM

Anyone with directions in SAN FELIPE for a Tourist Card office? Yes....we're going further south.

bufeo - 3-15-2004 at 10:37 PM

As you're driving into San Felipe, you'll pass by Los Arcos, and the main street will carry you through a couple of stop signs to a large round-about. Over on the east side of the street and at the NE arc of the round-about is Migraci?n. Their hours are Mon - Fri 8:00 (I think) until 3:00 (I hope).

If you hit San Felipe on the week end, you can get your FMTs at the airport--usually.

Hugo, Jorge, or Patricia are extremely helpful and cordial.

David K - 3-15-2004 at 10:37 PM

On the entrance highway, at the edge of the big trafic circle (way past the white arches' circle), on the left. See: INM (Imigracion Y Naturalizacion de Mexico) office.

NOTE: Not always open... Also, with only one bank in town (go left at traffic circle to one way street, turn right.. bank is on the right), a rediculous effort is needed to pay the fee and take it back to INM for the final stamp to make the card valid... BEST to get it done at the border (during banking hours at Mexicali or Tecate, or anytime at Tijuana)

bufeo - 3-15-2004 at 10:42 PM

Correction on DK's reply. Bank is easy to get to. Sometimes the folks at Migraci?n will take your money, therefore obviating a trip to the bank, and on the week end you can pay when you get your cards at the airport. The whole process is much more civilized and personal than dealing with Migraci?n at the border.

We have numerous visitors and the process in San Felipe has been painless.

David K - 3-15-2004 at 10:43 PM

Ha Ha... Bufeo and I responded at the same time! Just be careful of Bufeo's compass... The Sea of Cortez is EAST of that circle (Highway 5 heads south for 124 miles then bends east as it enters town. The INM is on the north-WEST corner of that traffic circle. :) (I get my east-west mixed up on the gulf side of Baja all the time!)

David K - 3-15-2004 at 10:49 PM

REALLY!!!??? If the imigracion officers are taking your money... then they are in violation of the law (AS I UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE REASON FOR PAYING AT A BANK) and probably not taking it to the bank... you think???

This is cool (I guess??), as long as you get a stamped card... GREAT! Thanks Bufeo

bufeo - 3-15-2004 at 11:10 PM

Technically, DK is correct about the location of the office. It is on the N or NW arc of the traffic circle. It is at your left when you get to the circle, but the easiest approach is to complete the circle and park on the street.

I have no clue about the "laws" (and I doubt anyone else on this BB does), but the bottom line is that the process in San Felipe is easy, the agents there are friendly, and none of our friends has ever had to go to the bank to get their FMTs stamped.

I see that their web page says they are open until 1300h, but we just got our FM3s stamped there last week at 1430h, and I almost certain that I saw a sign posted that they are open until 1500h.

well....

yankeeirishman - 3-15-2004 at 11:41 PM

Okay...I plan to go thru Mexicalli on Saturday past 5'ish pm. It sounds like I should get this card there. Where's the easiest in Mexicalli? And the airport in SF got directions/time the tourist dept closes? I am really trying not to stay in SF because of the spring breakers.......

David K - 3-16-2004 at 12:27 AM

OKay... so I am confused... If you are crossing Mexicali at 5pm (banks closed) and didn't want to hang around San Felipe... HOW were you going to do this?

Airport in SF is for private airplanes as no airline goes there. No night time (VFR) flying in Mexico, so airport will be closed when you get there after 7:30pm...
I think you should get the cards in Mexicali (only place that day open), and pay for them whenever you get to a bank (you have 7 days to actually pay, says some sites, then next time you find an open INM, get the final stamp).

Can't you just tell some government agency dreamed up this nightmare!!!

Tourist Cards?

meme - 3-16-2004 at 07:47 AM

My daughter & son-in-law plan to go to SF office on Thurs. or Fri. to get thier's, as we are heading south on Sunday. will let you know how it goes? But think he might not get it at Immigration on Sat. , not likly to be open? If it is probably closes early on Sat.

game plan 4 David K

yankeeirishman - 3-16-2004 at 07:51 AM

Hey David K...
Here's my game plan: Saturday leave Sacramento and arrive at Mexicalli at 6:00 pm continue to a La Ventana campsite. Sunday arriving at San Felipe at 10 am: The State Tourism Office / corner of Ave mar de Cortez and Calle Manzanillo 01152 (6) 577-55, 577-18-65. / Open Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm, Sat-Sun 10am ? 3 pm .
Bought a book last night, MEXICO?S BAJA CALIFORNIA ? produced by Automobile Club of Southern California. This is by far, the best info book I?ve come across. Detailed to conform with Hiway mile markers. Newbies?..buy this book!

David K - 3-16-2004 at 08:37 PM

Have a great vacation Y-I!

I just read an email (from a well known travel writer) that said tourist cards are not needed by U.S. citizens going anywhere in Mexico for up to 7 days... that it was changed several months ago... I replied that I would like to see the official memo on this.

I know it doesn't apply to travelers by plane...

I would be curious if anyone who passed Guerrero Negro area can report on what the officials at the station there is saying...??? Do they ask if you are staying less than 8 days and waving you through?

wow!

yankeeirishman - 3-16-2004 at 10:10 PM

Be nice to confirm this before Friday :)

Mexray - 3-16-2004 at 11:14 PM

As you know we went south to Mulege after the 'Matomi Tour 2004'. We hadn't stopped in Mexicali on the way to Nuevo Mazatlan to get our tourist cards...

When we crossed into Baja Sur at GN, Immigration provided cards for us to fill out and then they validated them. They told us to be sure and pay at any Bank BEFORE returning North. The '7 day' thing wasn't mentioned as we told them we'd be in Baja Sur for a couple of weeks. Immigration would only give us 120 days on our visa, however, and I didn't understand their explanation. I didn't press them, as this 120 day limitation wouldn't affect our time table this year anyway.

We were staying o'nite in GN so we went and paid there in town the following day.

BTW, the Mallarimo Motel was FULL up, so we went about a 1/4 mile farther in town and stayed at the El Moro Motel - about $30, nice room and good shower. El Moro also has a small restaurant in front that had adequate food - nothing special, about a 'four taco' rating out of ten...

Now for the rest of the story...Next trip south to Baja Sur, if you've got your ice chest packed with lots of choice American steaks, or lots of fresh fruit, and you don't want to get it confiscated...there is a slight, somewhat bumpy, shortcut into GN, BEFORE you hit the Iron Eagle.

Look on page 24 of your Baja California Almanac (new version)...see where there is a road to the RIGHT (at an angle) just AFTER the 'Aeropuerto' road...it's just past the KM125 marker (N28-01.057 W114-00.648 NAD27, MX). There is an abandoned building all by itself, just where you would turn RIGHT, down the shoulder, and onto the road. This road eventually gets you into GN, right where it shows on the map - right next to the big Pemex in town on the curve of the main road. I WOULDN'T suggest this 'detour' if you have a MoHo, or are pulling a trailer - it's a bit bumpy and muddy in places...but, like I said, if you need to save a couple of miles, and need to get directly into town...well, it's been done before, as was told to me by a dependable source!

We kind of 'resorted' our food stuff on the way down, and went through the check-point at the border, and got our visas. We tried the 'detour' on the way back north, later, and after a couple of mis-starts from GN, found the correct road - it was still light. I kept looking for an armed escort to intercept us, but it didn't happen, and we had our correct papers, anyway - but it was kinda fun to 'sneak' around the 'Iron Eagle'...I just kinda figure if the Mexicans can get away with it on OUR border, turn-about is fair play!

David K - 3-16-2004 at 11:51 PM

There are other open roads into Baja Sur that don't have checkpoints as well.

The link to the Tijuana visitors Bureau web site with the news about 7 days anywhere in Mexico not needing a tourist card is: http://tijuanaonline.org/english/tourist_info/knowbefore8.ht... Here it is printed out:
------------------------------------------------------
VISAS AND VISITORS PERMITS


No visa, permits, paperwork or fees are required for visitors traveling anywhere in Mexico if staying less than seven days.

If staying longer than seven days, you?ll need an FMT, which is good for 180 days. These tourist visas are available at the first port of entry, at the borders or at Mexican consulates and embassies.

U.S. and Canadian Citizens may obtain an FMT by presenting one of the following documents:
a) passport
b) birth certificate, accompanied by a photo ID
c) voter?s registration card, accompanied by a photo ID

It is necessary to keep the FMT with you while in Mexico and turn it in when you leave the country. Minors must be accompanied by parents or have a notarized letter from the absent parent authorizing them to leave the U.S.

Visitors staying more than seven days also must pay a Non-Immigrant Fee (DNI), payable at any national Mexican bank. The fee is $205 pesos or around $20 but is subject to change.
------------------------------------------------------
Sounds good, but is it for real???

Be warned as I still have seen NO official Mexican Federal statement about this. Seems that Tijuana has joined San Felipe with their own rules to get tourists to stay longer than 72 hours...???

[Edited on 3-17-2004 by David K]

Now David....

Debra - 3-17-2004 at 07:49 AM

I know you have seen my posts about the 7day no tourist card thing......(Baja Norte, no exemption for Sur that I've seen) and "Mr. Chuck" (his pet peeve) blasting me for reporting that on Fred's board...and someone else (more computer talented than I, 'coping and pasting' the report from the Minister of Tourism de Mexico that if in Norte and less than 7 days you don't need (to be 'legal') a tourist permit, and not further down than San F, or just south of Ensanada.....I'm going to get my butt in a sling again here, But.....there are no checks for visas until you get to the Norte/Sur border at GN

Disclamier: I am not a Mexican attorney...any info. I share here is to be taken with the "the grain of salt due" said info is just that .info. That I have read......(on their web page, if 'they' can't figure out their own laws, I surely can't)

My Pet Peeze Mr. Chuck: Get your (to the Mexican goverment, not Mr. Chuck) DUCKS IN ONE ROW! I'm weary of us lowly Americans having to know more of Mexican law the officals that pemit us to visit their country....I'm all for following the 'rules'...just PLEASE, let me know what they are!! ??

And as to Mexico killing tourism with a paid visa,........well, most countries require that, the good old USofA being one of them (and one of the most expensive BTW)

JESSE.....you jump in here.....you tell us how it's okay to leave us in the dark and then fine us for our, "wrongs" Us 'Dumb' Americans really need to know.......BTW, I don't acccept the 'different rule' thing you stated a few posts ago. That seems racist to me....again, you can't have it both ways.....Or maybe you can??????

DonC - 3-20-2004 at 08:52 PM

I'm a little late chiming in with my two cents, but here goes. At Christmas time, my wife and I bought FMT's at San Felipe. Wednesday morning at 10 A. M. We paid at the office with pesos, asked for and got the 180 day version,helped by a polite young man whose name I didn't get,in and out in 20 minutes.

Me No - 3-20-2004 at 09:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K

I just read an email (from a well known travel writer) that said tourist cards are not needed by U.S. citizens going anywhere in Mexico for up to 7 days... that it was changed several months ago... I replied that I would like to see the official memo on this.



I have been saying the same thing for over a year now, since Earl first posted it on Amigo's. But how dare the MX gov. go against what DK is telling people. *************************

[Edited on 3-21-2004 by BajaNomad]

David K - 3-21-2004 at 12:54 AM

Minnow, ********************** READ what I typed... you even reposted it.

Where's the retraction of your threats about the Matomi adventure? You said after that weekend half the folks would finally 'know what I was' or some such bunk...

Minnow, I try to make more friends, not back stab old ones... I did nothing to you. However, you choose to believe the lies told to you... I want a retraction also from when you said, that I posted Wild Bill's GPS data given me. (He never gave me any). Also, your lie that I lifted something about Papa Fernandez from you... I asked you to tell me what and show me where I used it in my writings... I asked you why you didn't mention it before so I could happily remove it... Silence from your end.

You know, I don't go to Baja.net and slam you or try and recruit people to come here... Is it really so boring at .net that you have nothing better to do than pick on me because I don't think of Baja as a private playground and because I like to help people find adventure in Baja? Such 'drama'... ********************************... Making a decal X'ing out the avatar Doug made for me is pretty 'kooky', too.

PS "Earl" (of Amigos) is spelled Earle [maybe if you knew him, like I did, you would know that], and he NEVER posted anything about me, specially in a negative way. How much are they rewarding you to come here and do their dirty work, huh?

Photos of Earle at my Viva Baja parties is in my web site... Amigos de Baja was a big supporter of my get-togethers. Eric told me (12-02, Raquel & Larry's) that bringing Amigos together so they become in person 'real amigos' was the highest complement to his web site.

You even came to my party with a lady named Alejandra, I thought was your wife. I also have emails from you that speak well of me...

Then you hooked up with Baja.net and turned 180?. Not from anything I did to you, but what others told you to think about me...

[Edited on 3-21-2004 by David K]

[Edited on 3-21-2004 by BajaNomad]