I'm going to Playa Del Carmen in December(wifes vacation)
and then heading to Baja for first time in January(my vacation)
Can I get a tourist visa(FM-T) while in Playal Del carmen to save the hassle of obtaining one @ the border?Bajahowodd - 11-18-2009 at 11:53 AM
You don't mention your mode(s) of transportation. I'm assuming that If you're only going to Playa Del Carmen, you're probably flying to Cancun. If so,
the airline issues the visa and charges you in the price of the ticket. They also confiscate it when you check-in to board your return flight. That
said, assuming you will be driving to Cabo, the process at the border usually takes less than 15 minutes. Also, assuming you will have FM-T upon your
arrival at Playa, it would seem to me to be illegal for you to try and obtain a second while carrying a current valid one. You can certainly check
with the port captain.Vanderpooch - 11-18-2009 at 12:06 PM
You are correct. I am flying in and out of cancun
and
driving in and out of Baja.
I have never flown to MX. I was unaware that the airling issues you a tourist card. Is it standard issue to confiscate the card. it was to my
understanding that an FM-T card is for multiple entry. That is why they don't collect them when departing MX border crossings.
Is the airline FM-T card good for 180 days still or just for your vacation duration?Bajahowodd - 11-18-2009 at 12:09 PM
We just had another thread on this topic. For whatever the reason, the airline is obligated to confiscate your card upon checking in. They won't let
you board otherwise. Seems inconsistent to me, but that's the way it is. So, like I mentioned, you would appear to be breaking the law by trying to
obtain a second FM-T while already in possession on one.prt328 - 11-18-2009 at 12:10 PM
If you are flying r/t to Cancun and then flying r/t to Cabo; get the FM-T's for each trip an be done with it. If you fly into Cancun, then fly, drive
or swim to Cabo - without leaving Mexico - then the FM-T issued in Cancun is all you need to leave the country (by any mode). You do not need an FM-T
or passport to fly within Mexico. Make sure your FM-T from Cancun has enough days on it cover your entire trip!prt328 - 11-18-2009 at 12:15 PM
I assumed Cabo for your Baja trip but you did not state. If you are staying in Baja Norte you don't need and FM-T at all. If you cross into Baja
South you would need one to get past the "other" border. You can get one at any immigration office along the way to Guerroro Negro.DENNIS - 11-18-2009 at 12:21 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by prt328
If you are staying in Baja Norte you don't need and FM-T at all. If you cross into Baja South you would need one to get past the "other" border.
Not exactly. There is what's called a Free Zone in the top part of Norte. That is where the one week exemption is in effect. For all points south,
an FMT or better is required.
On the Pacific side, the free zone ends at Maneadero, about ten miles past Ensenada.
[Edited on 11-18-2009 by DENNIS]Vanderpooch - 11-18-2009 at 12:24 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Vanderpooch
You are correct. I am flying in and out of cancun
and
driving in and out of Baja.
It seems as though they are anly issuing the cancun FM-T card for 30 days and collecting them apon reboarding. in order to extend it I would have to
venture to downtown cancun @ immigrations and I will not have time for th\at side trip so looks like I will just have to go ahead and aquire a new one
when crossing into baja via my vehicle.
[Edited on 11-18-2009 by Vanderpooch]prt328 - 11-18-2009 at 12:26 PM
I did not know that; I thought it went to the BCS border! So I was almost correct - but stop before you leave Ensenada right?woody with a view - 11-18-2009 at 12:30 PM
the guy in ensenada will make you feel like an idiot and charge you for the privledge of giving you the fm-t. get it in tj...DENNIS - 11-18-2009 at 12:42 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by prt328
- but stop before you leave Ensenada right?
There's a military checkpoint a ways past Maneadero that has been known to ask for it. No problem...they would just turn you around. Even the chance
that they would ask is slim.
Get the FMT in TJ. It's just one less thing to worry about.k-rico - 11-18-2009 at 12:46 PM
I had to show my visa at GN when I went through in mid-Oct, 2 PM or so on a weekday.Bajahowodd - 11-18-2009 at 12:47 PM
The advice is golden. Get it as you cross the border. Takes 15 minutes, max. And make sure you ask for 180 days.
And Dennis- I'm curious. I've never been asked for FM-T by any army checkpoint. They have on occasion, asked for the vehicle registration. Oh, and
since I'm here, I have never, repeat, never been asked for FM-T anywhere in Baja. The notorious State Line office, even northbound- nope. Just must be
the luck of the draw.DENNIS - 11-18-2009 at 01:05 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
I'm curious. I've never been asked for FM-T by any army checkpoint.
I haven't either but, inconsistencies abound. I know someone who has. It's not the policy, it's the person working.Bajahowodd - 11-18-2009 at 01:09 PM
Sort of like whether you get waived through, asked a few questions, or have your vehicle tossed!woody with a view - 11-18-2009 at 01:35 PM
3 weeks ago headed south about 3pm the border at BCS was not stafed. no sprayer, either!
2 weeks ago on the northbound at the same spot the guys were standing at the booth but not stopping anyone!!!
That Bothers Me
Bajahowodd - 11-18-2009 at 01:46 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by woody in ob
3 weeks ago headed south about 3pm the border at BCS was not stafed. no sprayer, either!
2 weeks ago on the northbound at the same spot the guys were standing at the booth but not stopping anyone!!!
If it was so darn important to protect the agriculture of BCS, and if whatever that stuff is that they spray at you is actually something more than
water, then it peeves me to think they can be so lax.MitchMan - 11-18-2009 at 02:08 PM
I was looking at some notes that I made on the FMT. My notes say that if you fly from USA into Mexico, the airlines give you an FMT that is good for
only 90 days. I don't remember what source I copied the notes from.
However, driving across border into Mexico, you can request and get an FMT good for 180 days.
Anyone ever hear about 90 day FMT when flying into Mexico, as mentioned in the first paragraph above?Bajahowodd - 11-18-2009 at 02:44 PM
First and foremost, the airlines collect the fees in their ticket price to prevent having any passenger arrive at their Mexican destination without
the funds to pay for the visa. I don't know how many folks recall the old days when Mexico had a departure tax payable in cash at the airport. Can't
tell you how many spring breakers would be bumming money because they'd spent everything partying. And this was way before ATMs were everywhere.
The fact is that whether you obtain an FM-T for 30, 60, 180 days, it's the same price. And that fee is built into the fare. I can only assume that
there is some form of treaty between our countries, or a mandate by Mexico to the airlines that they must confiscate the FM-T prior to return
boarding. I know that over the years, in many countries, a pre-requisite for obtaining a visa was to have proof of your return flight. But it just
seems to me that the current system is inconsistent and archaic. That said, someone out there on this board must have flown one-way to Mexico and
returned via land transport. Obviously, you held your FM-T all the way back and across the border. A cynic might speculate that Mexico provides a
discount to the airlines for the FM-T.
[Edited on 11-18-2009 by Bajahowodd]Vanderpooch - 11-18-2009 at 04:50 PM
I spoke to a friend that has flown to cancun the last 6 yrs straight and he said he has never been asked to surrender the FM-T. in fact he didn't even
know it was a visa. he just followed directions, filled it out and stuffed it in his bag.
[Edited on 11-18-2009 by Vanderpooch]Bajahowodd - 11-18-2009 at 04:57 PM
That's certainly news.prt328 - 11-18-2009 at 05:10 PM
Mitch, I got your back. Most all FM-T's that I have seen say up to 180 days on them; the standard scribble at the Cabo airport gives you 30 days. I
know this because I was staying for 3 months and questioned the scribble. After reviewing the ticket the gur dropped a "1" in front of the 30! I
have however seen an FM-T version that stated the maximum it was good for was 90 days. I get bored on the plane so actually read the stuff!Bajahowodd - 11-18-2009 at 05:18 PM
Still have to wonder if there isn't a kickback going to the airlines.David K - 11-18-2009 at 05:39 PM
FM-T for flying is one thing... for driving, a different box is checked... Get a different FM-T at the border... one for travel by auto. when you
return to Mexico. Military checkpoints are not immigration checkpoints, so they don't have anything to do with visas... they are checking for drugs,
guns and ammo... period.
The only immigration check is at the Baja Sur state border (Eagle Monumant, Guerrero Negro)... That doesn't mean you are 'legal' all over Baja Norte
without one... as said earlier.Bajahowodd - 11-18-2009 at 05:50 PM
Of course. But I have shared before that years back, we actually did go to Cabo and back without getting FM-Ts. In retrospect, I imagine that the
greatest threat was that we could have been involved in an accident and had coverage denied.
