BajaNomad

3 lads without FMT's...what to do?

pacside - 3-10-2009 at 09:15 AM

Hello fellow nomads,

My brother-in-law and his two amigos drove across Tijuana border without acquiring their FMT's. Yea I know, I told them exactly how to do it and was a requirement but they said no one was open when they crossed so they just cruised through.

In any event, they are here in Todos Santos area for several weeks and are wondering what to do now. Two will be driving back and one will be flying back.

Any suggestions on how/where/what to do to get these boys their FMT's now that they are here?

Thanks,
pacside

DENNIS - 3-10-2009 at 09:32 AM

I don't know what they should do but, I'll bet this happens more than one would expect. They're has to be a reasonable fix for their dilemma and I suspect it will be forthcoming here. In the meantime, ice down another box of Pacifico and don't worry.

[Edited on 3-10-2009 by DENNIS]

bajaguy - 3-10-2009 at 09:38 AM

They should immediately turn themselves into the nearest military checkpoint and beg forgiveness

pacside - 3-10-2009 at 09:39 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
I don't know what they should do but, I'll bet this happens more than one would expect. They're has to be a reasonable fix for their dilemma and I suspect it will be forthcoming here. In the meantime, ice down another box of Pacifico and don't worry.

[Edited on 3-10-2009 by DENNIS]


Yea one of them wanted to call a U.S. Consulate today...I said wait a day or two, I'll ask some experts. I also inferred the U.S. Consulate would probably be a waste of time.

Oh btw they are drinking corona's ($10usd a case at cabo costco) and just learned they can return the bottles at 3 pesos each. Does this 3 peso refund apply to other beers as well? I'm getting tired of coronas.

tks
pacside

INM Office

djh - 3-10-2009 at 09:42 AM

I would think the local INM office could help. They will likely charge a penalty and the std. FMT charge.

A couple years ago, the INM worker at the airport KEPT my brother's FMT copy... knowing full well he'd return to fly out and HAVE to pay a penalty for a "LOST" FMT. I've heard of this often enough to believe that it is a common problem... (cost him $40 to "replace" the "lost" one . . .) I have my FM3 and went through first.... I'm more of a mother hen on this stuff now !

Anyway, your b.i.l. and his buddies are not the first... An INM (immigration) office can issue the FMTs . . . and they'll need it to fly home for sure, and if stopped and checked driving North / home, the 2 amigos should have it also.

best,
djh

pacside - 3-10-2009 at 09:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by djh
I would think the local INM office could help. They will likely charge a penalty and the std. FMT charge.

A couple years ago, the INM worker at the airport KEPT my brother's FMT copy... knowing full well he'd return to fly out and HAVE to pay a penalty for a "LOST" FMT. I've heard of this often enough to believe that it is a common problem... (cost him $40 to "replace" the "lost" one . . .) I have my FM3 and went through first.... I'm more of a mother hen on this stuff now !

Anyway, your b.i.l. and his buddies are not the first... An INM (immigration) office can issue the FMTs . . . and they'll need it to fly home for sure, and if stopped and checked driving North / home, the 2 amigos should have it also.

best,
djh


thanks djh,
is INM the immigration office? if so, I think I know where that is in La Paz. Is it the same place you go to get your FM3?

Can anyone give me directions from Todos Santos to the La Paz INM office?

Reminds me of when I lost my FMT on a trip to Cozumel about 20 years ago...the authorities were very mean and tried to scare me and finally said it would cost me $50 USD. Wish they would of gone to the $50 USD upfront without all the scare tactics. I do think losing an FMT happens more often than not.

pacside

Bajahowodd - 3-10-2009 at 10:12 AM

OK. Everyone has given good advice. However, the odds are that FMTs won't matter. Call the airline that the one is flying and ask what they do if one is seeking to board a flight and has lost their FMT. I can't believe there would be any hassle, as long as the passenger has a passport and a ticket. The airline counter clerk doesn't work for Mexican immigration. As for the drivers, I've never been asked for FMT by army checkpoints. I've had to show the car registration a couple of times, but that's it. The only place where I've ever been asked for FMT is at the state line outside GN. And maybe I'm the exception, but in the dozens of times I passed through there, I have only had to show it once. I also know folks who failed to get FMTs and were issued them at the state line after a lecture, and with no fine. Depends on whether anyone will lose sleep over this.

shari - 3-10-2009 at 10:20 AM

I would go to the immigration office which is located at the beginning of the Malecon..next to Taste restaurant. The one thing I would do is say they just arrived last night because I think you get fined for each day...you could call our fix it guy in la paz...Alonso, his number is 612-142-9590 maybe he can help.

roundtuit - 3-10-2009 at 10:52 AM

I agree with Shari, play dumb,state line wasn't open when they went through.
Pay the fine if any,sometimes si sometimes nada. INM at the airport will charge for lost FMT . Happened to sis-in-law,very expensive.
Also passport for airlines ?:?::?:

slimshady - 3-10-2009 at 11:19 AM

Go to the INM office in Cabo and pay the penalty. They are more than willing to take your money. There is a penalty involved and probably a couple of hundred bucks. At least they will be legal.

Martyman - 3-10-2009 at 11:31 AM

Blow it off. Don't worry about it. No problema. Just don't get in a car crash.

I was in Oaxaca a long time ago without an FMT. They gave me a temporary at the Oaxaca office that was good for 48 hours. Then you must be out of Mexico!!! WTF!! I went to Guatemala for an extra week.
If you ask, it will be a hassel unless you get the right officer to help you.

DENNIS - 3-10-2009 at 11:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by slimshady
Go to the INM office in Cabo and pay the penalty. They are more than willing to take your money.


The only thing that will be cause for concern is How Much?

Don Alley - 3-10-2009 at 11:46 AM

In Loreto, you cannot board the plane without your FMT, or, for those with FM2/3, a red exit paper. They will not check you in until that's taken care of.

Lost FMT? $40 (US) fine, then you're on your way.

Question is...are the FMTs entered into a data base? If so, you may not be able to say you "lost" yours if you never really had one. Then maybe the penalties are higher. No big deal.

There should be an INM office at the airport to handle this.

I forget who once said that there are few problems in life that a suitcase of money won't solve.:biggrin:

pacside - 3-10-2009 at 11:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by slimshady
Go to the INM office in Cabo and pay the penalty. They are more than willing to take your money.


The only thing that will be cause for concern is How Much?


I hear what you all are saying...I'll let the young men decide.

Wondering if anyone knows if the INM office in La Paz or Cabo would be the cheaper option relating to amount charged in fines.

Shari-yes I thought of contacting Alonso tambien.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

pacside

CaboRon - 3-10-2009 at 03:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
OK. Everyone has given good advice. However, the odds are that FMTs won't matter. Call the airline that the one is flying and ask what they do if one is seeking to board a flight and has lost their FMT. I can't believe there would be any hassle, as long as the passenger has a passport and a ticket. The airline counter clerk doesn't work for Mexican immigration. As for the drivers, I've never been asked for FMT by army checkpoints. I've had to show the car registration a couple of times, but that's it. The only place where I've ever been asked for FMT is at the state line outside GN. And maybe I'm the exception, but in the dozens of times I passed through there, I have only had to show it once. I also know folks who failed to get FMTs and were issued them at the state line after a lecture, and with no fine. Depends on whether anyone will lose sleep over this.


Everything at the airport now is on computer and they will know if you ever had one issued.

Do not lie to Immigration or the fines can be huge .

Just go to the Immigration office on the Malacon in La Paz, just one block north of La Arca.

Explain to them what happened and they may or may not ask for a fine and will probably issue their FMTs right there.

They are what I would call a friendly office.

CaboRon



[Edited on 3-10-2009 by CaboRon]

Al G - 3-10-2009 at 03:56 PM

A couple months ago, while I was applying for my FM3 a couple entered and ask me if they could get a FMT here because they didn't stop at the border. I told them no that they would have to return to Ensanada and pay a penalty.
It serves my right for opening my Baja Nomad misinformed mouth. They got to the counter the same time as I did and ask the agent and the agent pulled out a form and gave them the FMT. The total was $40 something so don't think there was any penalty.

Bajahowodd - 3-10-2009 at 05:08 PM

Much of this assumes that they actually have a data base for FMTs. It would shock me if they did. And as for Ron's comments, heading South on a flight, the airline is acting in stead for immigration. That's why they collect the FMTs when you check in to return North. Ron, do you actually know of such a data base? I have to admit that my last flight to Mexico was at the Cancun airport, and I only dealt with a counter attendent for Alaska. No migra.

David K - 3-10-2009 at 05:15 PM

Don't bet on it... the forms are hand filled out... You think there is someone in back entering all the data into a terminal?

Naw, it's just a way to get some more dinero... They had to come up with the free 7 day one because this tax on tourism was hurting the economy, big time! Before 2001, they were free folks... even for 180 days.

They still need better PR people in INM to impove the information to travelers, because that really IS where we are supposed to go FIRST for trips down Baja or the border area longer than 72 hours.

Sounds like they stopped checking for them at the state border? The old folks in the U-Haul got through, too!

CaboRon - 3-10-2009 at 05:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Much of this assumes that they actually have a data base for FMTs. It would shock me if they did. And as for Ron's comments, heading South on a flight, the airline is acting in stead for immigration. That's why they collect the FMTs when you check in to return North. Ron, do you actually know of such a data base? I have to admit that my last flight to Mexico was at the Cancun airport, and I only dealt with a counter attendent for Alaska. No migra.


Yes the data base does exist and is up and running.

Mango - 3-10-2009 at 06:22 PM

Quote:
The old folks in the U-Haul got through, too!


:lol:

Maybe nobody can find them because they have been detained in an immigration office somewhere..

BajaNuts - 3-10-2009 at 06:28 PM

yea, (Before Online with Nomads)
I drove through the TJ border on a green light and kept driving to La Paz.

Someone mentioned FMT and I said "FM-who?"

Like someone else said, go to the office on the Malecon on a Monday (or say you got in the night before,) pretend you got off a boat????, the idea being that you did not just drive the whole length of Baja without proper tourist documentation.

On our first trip via airplane to La Paz, we were told to "KEEP THE FMT SAFE! You will not be allowed to leave without it!" I' can't say if that part is true, just relating what was told to us.

PS- The counter stations at the Immegration Office in La Paz open at 9:00am, but the lobby opens earlier than that. I got to the office at 8:45 and there were 4 people ahead of me. If you get there later, you will be waiting for all sorts of emmigration and Immigration (and as seating is limited in the lobby) with everyone's extended families also.

[Edited on 3-11-2009 by BajaNuts]

Bajahowodd - 3-10-2009 at 11:31 PM

Seriously Ron, as I look around that poor excuse for an office at the San Ysidro crossing, I really have a problem believing that my info ends up on some data base. I mean really, other than a head count, what could it possibly matter? That being said, if you are correct, I still don't think, in my wildest dreams, if I was asked for my FMT at the state line, and told them I lost it, they would be accessing a data base inside that shack. Just my opinion. But, returning to the original post here, I do not recall if there was ever anything said about the three stooges having passports. Not to mention that I have tremendous doubt that everything was closed at the SY border. We all know that with the exception of the occasional potty break, this is a 24 hour station, including the bank.

BajaNomad - 3-11-2009 at 01:00 AM

I've seen it alluded to - but didn't notice it communicated outright - to fly back, they must also have a passport.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/air_...

CaboRon - 3-11-2009 at 05:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaNomad
I've seen it alluded to - but didn't notice it communicated outright - to fly back, they must also have a passport.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/air_...


Thankyou for that, although flying with a passport is old news.

Baja&Back - 3-11-2009 at 07:19 AM

Don't seek help from a Migracion office at any airport. They are generally staffed by a**holes. An aquaintance was forced to fly from Loreto to TJ to obtain the FMT once.

For the drivers, there is a little known Migracion office right in front of the Universidad at the glorieta in central Loreto. Those guys are great - friendly & helpful. Fill out the form for you, with a smile. Try there & say you're heading south.

Hope this helps!

David K - 3-11-2009 at 07:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaNuts
yea, (Before Online with Nomads)
I drove through the TJ border on a green light and kept driving to La Paz.

Someone mentioned FMT and I said "FM-who?"

Like someone else said, go to the office on the Malecon on a Monday (or say you got in the night before,) pretend you got off a boat????, the idea being that you did not just drive the whole length of Baja without proper tourist documentation. ....


The FM-T clearly is marked the method of travel: Boat/ Plane/ Car... I suppose you could get in by one method and leave by another?

David K - 3-11-2009 at 07:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Baja&Back
Don't seek help from a Migracion office at any airport. They are generally staffed by a**holes. An aquaintance was forced to fly from Loreto to TJ to obtain the FMT once.

For the drivers, there is a little known Migracion office right in front of the Universidad at the glorieta in central Loreto. Those guys are great - friendly & helpful. Fill out the form for you, with a smile. Try there & say you're heading south.

Hope this helps!


Great to know Barry!

Pescador - 3-11-2009 at 11:38 AM

All immigration offices will have the same fine for not getting the FMT prior to entry. It is the same fine at all of the offices (with the exception of the airport) so whatever is most convenient. Things are rapidly changing in Baja (and probably all of Mexico) and the days of letting things slide have been replaced by trying to stay on the correct side of the law.

pacside - 3-11-2009 at 11:57 AM

thanks everyone for your replies especially morgaine for giving me exact directions to the INM office. the 3 stooges are on their way now to the la paz INM office. they all have passports. will give you an update upon their return.
pacside

CaboRon - 3-11-2009 at 12:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador
All immigration offices will have the same fine for not getting the FMT prior to entry. It is the same fine at all of the offices (with the exception of the airport) so whatever is most convenient. Things are rapidly changing in Baja (and probably all of Mexico) and the days of letting things slide have been replaced by trying to stay on the correct side of the law.


I find it interesting that friends are now asking me how to get their FM3s .....

A couple , who have lived here for years, asked me how they could get an FMT :lol:

And the days of running without current tags is rapidly expireing .....

Definately in the big cities like La Paz and CSL ......

I have always played on the squeeky clean side as far as papers and tags are concerned, and I am amazed at how many never have bothered with those things.

It seems to be tightening up on all those things that people were used to letting slide :cool:

CaboRon

Bajahowodd - 3-11-2009 at 12:35 PM

Relieved to hear that they all have passports. Without them, no FMT and in the case of the flyer, no boarding; let alone what the other two would have encountered at the border from our guys. Still am curious about the migra office being closed at San Ysidro.

pacside - 3-11-2009 at 01:01 PM

got a call from one of the 3 stooges. said no problema at la paz INM office. 300 pesos each to obtain an FMT...dang that's cheaper then what we paid at the border! they do have to go to another place to pay and then go back to the INM office to pick it up but they said it has been a pretty easy process and the folks in the office were friendly.
pacside

Bajahowodd - 3-11-2009 at 01:27 PM

Right around $20. I think that's what I last paid at the border. Wouldn't recommend doing it this way, even if it was cheaper.

David K - 3-11-2009 at 03:32 PM

NO PENALTY!

Way-to-go for your friends PacSide!

Al G - 3-11-2009 at 03:36 PM

Ron, I agree. no one in my park was legal...some here for 15 years. I am legal with stickers (SD) and Fm3. all have ask about South Dakota and you will see many SD plates in Todos Santos. Many have applied for FM3, because I got mine the first time, with little effort...so easy, except some passport places are not aware the the size of pictures have change...they are now the size of your thumb print box. I think most people are aware things are changing.
Quote:
Originally posted by CaboRon


I find it interesting that friends are now asking me how to get their FM3s .....

A couple , who have lived here for years, asked me how they could get an FMT :lol:

And the days of running without current tags is rapidly expireing .....

Definately in the big cities like La Paz and CSL ......

I have always played on the squeeky clean side as far as papers and tags are concerned, and I am amazed at how many never have bothered with those things.

It seems to be tightening up on all those things that people were used to letting slide :cool:

CaboRon