BajaNomad - New passport rule for entering Mexico

New passport rule for entering Mexico

arrowhead - 2-12-2010 at 03:29 PM

This article says that commencing March 1 of this year, Americans and Canadians entering Mexico by Air, Sea or LAND must show a passport at the border.

Quote:

http://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/ElFinanciero/Portal/cfpages/c...

México, 11 de febrero.- A partir de marzo, México aplicará nuevos requisitos de ingreso a los ciudadanos de Estados Unidos y Canadá, con el objetivo de mejorar la seguridad, y en reciprocidad con las medidas migratorias que ambos países han adoptado en los últimos meses contra ciudadanos mexicanos a quienes se les exige el pasaporte y la visa.

Según el Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM), perteneciente a la Secretaría de Gobernación, y la cancillería, a partir del 1 de marzo se requerirá a los visitantes de EU y Canadá la presentación de pasaportes vigentes al entrar al país por vía aérea, marítima o terrestre.

La medida, según las dependencias, responde a un principio de reciprocidad en procesos de control migratorio con los socios del Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte (TLCAN), y frente a varias acciones de su lado, como la imposición en 2009 de visas para ingresar a Canadá, que se mantiene a pesar de las gestiones efectuadas ante el gobierno del premier Stephen Harper.

Las nuevas reglas aplicarán para ciudadanos estadounidenses y residentes permanentes, tanto de EU como de Canadá, que de no contar con pasaporte vigente deberán presentar Tarjeta de Pasaporte (US Passport Card). (Con información de El Financiero/MCH)

You should see all the negative comments from the people in the Tourism business.

Bajahowodd - 2-12-2010 at 03:33 PM

Why negative comments? It appears to me that it's just Mexico throwing down the gauntlet. After all, in theory, anyway, hasn't the US required passports for re-entry?

Timo1 - 2-12-2010 at 03:51 PM

Every time we get an FMT we present our passport
I guess we weren't too lazy to get them

k-rico - 2-12-2010 at 04:18 PM

This means everybody will be stopped entering Mexico. Not good for cross border workers. They're the ones who will suffer when returning after a day's work, not tourists or owners of tourist related businesses. There are massive backups every weekday afternoon/evening at SY now, starting at about 2:30 PM. This will make it much worse.

[Edited on 2-12-2010 by k-rico]

Bajahowodd - 2-12-2010 at 05:17 PM

Crocodile tears, my friend. The US started this crap. All because bureaucrats were able to take advantage of 9/11 panic. If you want to blame anyone for this, try the Bush administration. Homeland Security, my culo!

No Problema

MrBillM - 2-12-2010 at 06:00 PM

Who Cares ? Not me ? I've got my Passports and FM-3s sitting on the dash every time I cross and I EXPECT to be stopped. If I'm not, it's just a plus. Mostly Pluses lately.

Somebody doesn't like it ? Don't go.

As said, though, I doubt that this would go on for long. Especially if it dents the Tourism that's already in the tank. They are good at shooting themselves in the foot, though.

k-rico - 2-12-2010 at 06:12 PM

You will care when you have to wait an hour or two to get into Mexico. That's the concern. It's already up to two hours at SY during the week. My neighbor told me he waited 3 hours one day. And this is with letting most cars drive through without stopping.

k-rico - 2-12-2010 at 06:22 PM

Why are people talking about tourism? This will have very little if any impact on tourism.

DENNIS - 2-12-2010 at 06:34 PM

Mexico is truly becoming a foreign country. As much as people like Nomads try to bring it together, it losses it's grasp. Hopefully, the animosity is contained at the border.

wessongroup - 2-12-2010 at 06:37 PM

Hope they put in SENTRI lanes for South bound

The Gull - 2-12-2010 at 06:54 PM

100% reduction from zero is still a small number.

Tourism, ha!

Only the frequent crossers (mostly Mexican citizens) will be adversely affected.

I say close the border in both directions to all crossing, air, land and sea. Build giant ray guns on our side and laser fry everything that moves in no man's land.

I don't know the right answer, but the whole country ran better when Teo was in charge.

[Edited on 2-13-2010 by The Gull]

k-rico - 2-12-2010 at 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull
100% reduction from zero is still a small number.

Tourism, ha!

Only the frequent crossers (mostly Mexican citizens) will be adversely affected.

Yes, and that's where the BIG American dollars are, at least in Tijuana and other border towns, Mexicans working in the states and bringing the money home. Americans eating and drinking on Avenida Revolucion? Good riddance!

Woooosh - 2-12-2010 at 07:56 PM

What would Mexicans need to re-enter Mexico and do most crossers have it? Not all Mexicans have passports or US laser visas. Why does Mexico want to track which Mexicans cross back and forth?

k-rico - 2-12-2010 at 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
What would Mexicans need to re-enter Mexico and do most crossers have it? Not all Mexicans have passports or US laser visas. Why does Mexico want to track which Mexicans cross back and forth?

It's not that Mexicans will need additional documents, the point is that this will dramatically decrease the volume of cars that can cross per hour thereby making it all that more difficult to work in the US and live in Mexico, commuting during normal business hours. The southbound commuter traffic is pretty much at its limit now with the current flow rate.

Terry28 - 2-12-2010 at 08:24 PM

Ok boys and girls.....how many of you think this is really going to happen??
Let's get real here......

Terry28 - 2-12-2010 at 08:27 PM

By the way we crossed at 1pm this afternoon...no line at all, an no invitation to Mexican secondary either......do watch out for the potholes between Fox studios and Calafia.....

[Edited on 2-13-2010 by Terry28]

Woooosh - 2-12-2010 at 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico

Quote:

I agree the southbound border can't pull this off- but hasn't Calderon already said "tough cookies" to TJ already and it's gonna fly? Look at the $millions they catch southbound at San Ysidro- but on the US side when a license plate reader triggers a lock-down. They stop all the southbound cars and ICE agents run up and down each row of cars looking for the person in the photo match. It's catches you off-guard the first time.

noproblemo2 - 2-12-2010 at 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Terry28
By the way we crossed at 1pm this afternoon...no line at all, an no invitation to Mexican secondary either......do watch out for the potholes between Fox studios and Calafia.....

[Edited on 2-13-2010 by Terry28]

Potholes? Many of them are more like Sinkholes!!! Plus gets worse the further south you go on the free road to past Cantamar.

k-rico - 2-12-2010 at 10:00 PM

Quote:

Try it between 3 and 7 PM when the workers are going home.

mandreyka - 2-12-2010 at 11:10 PM

Cool! I'm going to start selling churros on the southbound side LOL!

The Gull - 2-13-2010 at 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by noproblemo2

Quote:

Potholes? Many of them are more like Sinkholes!!! Plus gets worse the further south you go on the free road to past Cantamar.

Stop off at Ruben's for cheap margaritas and you won't notice the potholes. Weave your way two blocks south and have fish tacos or Chinese food, both of which have received good reviews. Stop for gas at the Pemex and save money from the other gas stations north to the border.

Potholes? Sinkholes? Who cares? Primo Tapia is the spot.

Coming Soon ? LONG wait time Crossing South ?

MrBillM - 2-13-2010 at 11:07 AM

At the Mexicali East Crossing (usually) once monthly.

ZERO and nobody else (front or behind) in sight.

Once in awhile, there has been some other car nearby, but there
are three lanes.

I don't envision a problem.

wessongroup - 2-13-2010 at 11:14 AM

Gull, like your approach... but, where is Ruben's?.. enquiring minds want to know

Ruben's

bajaguy - 2-13-2010 at 11:18 AM

Wesson....south from you on the free road at Cantimar, just before the PEMEX on your right, and across from the car wash and the southbound toll road entrance.

Bajahowodd - 2-13-2010 at 11:24 AM

Has anyone considered that for Mexico to require passports could actually have been triggered by pressure from Washington? After all, from what I've read and heard, there has been a persistently high percentage of returning US citizens without passports. Let's say one wishes to fly abroad. No airline will allow you to board the flight sans passport because they know you will be denied entrance to the country at the other end of the flight. Therefore, since the US now "requires" a passport for those returning to the States, is it not just about the same thing?

[Edited on 2-13-2010 by Bajahowodd]

DENNIS - 2-13-2010 at 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
What would Mexicans need to re-enter Mexico and do most crossers have it?

They have a national ID card, a voters card I think it is.

The border is getting ridiculous. Anybody wanting to see Baja should do it while they can. The body cavity search can't be too far off.

The Gull - 2-13-2010 at 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Has anyone considered that for Mexico to require passports could actually have been triggered by pressure from Washington? After all, from what I've read and heard, there has been a persistently high percentage of returning US citizens without passports. Let's say one wishes to fly abroad. No airline will allow you to board the flight sans passport because they know you will be denied entrance to the country at the other end of the flight. Therefore, since the US now "requires" a passport for those returning to the States, is it not just about the same thing?

No it is not the same thing. Recall that the checking for passports is done by the airlines when you are taking US domestic flights? They enter your passport into a HLS system before giving you a boarding pass.

So if the US was hot to trot to check Gringos going to Mx w/o passports, let the US bubbas do the checking.

It is true that you get checked by the immigration people of the country of arrival.

The NAFTA deal needs to be revisited in my humble opinion if stuff like this grows to be what is being contemplated.

[Edited on 2-13-2010 by The Gull]

The Gull - 2-13-2010 at 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
The body cavity search can't be too far off.

I hope you are right. Some of the young, pretty guardettes I see at the checkpoint would be welcomed to probe my parts.

Que Sera Sera

MrBillM - 2-13-2010 at 12:20 PM

As Doris says.

Bajahowodd could be right, but so what ?

Over the years, we've seen Mexico indulge in Tit-For-Tat on more than one occasion using the Border Crossing experience. It's like a little kid throwing a tantrum. A lot of noise that plays itself out. People coming South are to THEIR benefit.

Another case of bringing a knife to a Gunfight.

The U.S. government could care less if anybody is dissuaded from going TO Mexico. Well, I suppose the Unions that represent the agents might care since it affects their numbers.

David K - 2-13-2010 at 12:23 PM

Just bad news for the people of Mexico who live off of tourist business... The harder it is for people to just cross the border for some fun, the fewer who will bother to go.

Good news for those of us who like the idea of Baja being our private/ secret playground... the fewer tourists the better!

Personally, I like as many Baja Nomads to enjoy Baja as possible! :cool:

Bajahowodd - 2-13-2010 at 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull

Quote:

Maybe I had too much tequila last night. But are you saying that I cannot fly from Burbank to Phoenix without a passport?

DENNIS - 2-13-2010 at 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Just bad news for the people of Mexico who live off of tourist business... The harder it is for people to just cross the border for some fun, the fewer who will bother to go.

Maybe they should move Revo Avenue up to the Gaslamp in San Diego. They could bring Adelita's along for the ride.

bajaguy - 2-13-2010 at 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull

No it is not the same thing. Recall that the checking for passports is done by the airlines when you are taking US domestic flights? They enter your passport into a HLS system before giving you a boarding pass.

[Edited on 2-13-2010 by The Gull]

Since when?????...I have never had any documents scanned or entered before receiving a boarding pass on a domestic (Southwest) airline.

The Gull - 2-13-2010 at 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy

Quote:

Since when?????...I have never had any documents scanned or entered before receiving a boarding pass on a domestic (Southwest) airline.

When did Southwest begin international routes? How many country borders have you crossed with them?

[Edited on 2-13-2010 by The Gull]

wessongroup - 2-13-2010 at 01:16 PM

don't think Southwest intentionally flies international routes.. they just get a little lost, just as your baggage does.. Ahhhaaaa.. Roger, understand pickup heading

[Edited on 2-13-2010 by wessongroup]

bajaguy - 2-13-2010 at 01:27 PM

Gull.......juswt trying to get clarification on your post....
**********************************
Originally posted by The Gull

No it is not the same thing.

Recall that the checking for passports is done by the airlines when you are taking....... US domestic flights? ..........
They enter your passport into a HLS system before giving you a boarding pass.

[Edited on 2-13-2010 by The Gull]

???????

Depends

Dave - 2-13-2010 at 01:47 PM

Quote:

Mexico needs to revise its tourist model. Dollar tacos, drugs, cheap Viagra, hookers and 'drink til you pass out' spring breakers are hard sells for those who can afford passports. :rolleyes:

The Gull - 2-13-2010 at 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
Gull.......juswt trying to get clarification on your post....
**********************************
Originally posted by The Gull

No it is not the same thing.

Recall that the checking for passports is done by the airlines when you are taking....... US domestic flights? ..........
They enter your passport into a HLS system before giving you a boarding pass.

[Edited on 2-13-2010 by The Gull]

???????

Still want to drag it out? The topic is crossing a border. When you take a US domestic flight, to cross a border (get it now? like the subject of the thread?), the airline runs your passport through the checks. Got it or would a picture help?

Bajahowodd - 2-13-2010 at 04:07 PM

Sorry, but, there is no such thing as a US domestic flight to cross the border. It's called an international flight. :tumble:

wessongroup - 2-13-2010 at 04:10 PM

Or flying Soutwest :biggrin:

bajaguy - 2-13-2010 at 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Sorry, but, there is no such thing as a US domestic flight to cross the border. It's called an international flight. :tumble:

Gee, that's what I thought, but maybe a picture WOULD help

David K - 2-13-2010 at 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Sorry, but, there is no such thing as a US domestic flight to cross the border. It's called an international flight. :tumble:

Gee, that's what I thought, but maybe a picture WOULD help

A GPS waypoint would even be better!
:lol:

OK, Guys. Since everything of real substance on this board is either a photo of a sunset or a dog picture, I chose this for you - hope it gives you what you want

The Gull - 2-14-2010 at 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Sorry, but, there is no such thing as a US domestic flight to cross the border. It's called an international flight. :tumble:

Gee, that's what I thought, but maybe a picture WOULD help

mtgoat666 - 2-14-2010 at 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
The body cavity search can't be too far off.

I hope you are right. Some of the young, pretty guardettes I see at the checkpoint would be welcomed to probe my parts.

gull,
that may be closest you will get to a "relationship" w/o paying.

The Gull - 2-14-2010 at 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
The body cavity search can't be too far off.

I hope you are right. Some of the young, pretty guardettes I see at the checkpoint would be welcomed to probe my parts.

gull,
that may be closest you will get to a "relationship" w/o paying.

How considerate and ignorant of you to express yourself so eloquently!! Always look forward to your stalking of my posts. You still lack a life, don't you?

SDRonni - 2-14-2010 at 11:30 AM

[Edited on 2-14-2010 by SDRonni]

Woooosh - 2-14-2010 at 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Mexico needs to revise its tourist model. Dollar tacos, drugs, cheap Viagra, hookers and 'drink til you pass out' spring breakers are hard sells for those who can afford passports. :rolleyes:

The have legal casinos and legal city-licensed sex workers. You'd think those two together would give someone ideas... "Catch something closer to home next vacation... visit TJ?" "Lose you cherry and hit the jackpot in TJ"... Lot's of potential. If they lower the age of consent they will capture the we-used-to-go-to-Thailand crowd- they have passports.

:saint:

Woooosh - 2-14-2010 at 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDRonni
[Edited on 2-14-2010 by SDRonni]

Hey Ronni- just check the "delete this post" in edit options next time. No trail...

The Gull - 2-14-2010 at 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
The have legal casinos and legal city-licensed sex workers. You'd think those two together would give someone ideas... "Catch something closer to home next vacation... visit TJ?" "Lose you cherry and hit the jackpot in TJ"... Lot's of potential. If they lower the age of consent they will capture the we-used-to-go-to-Thailand crowd- they have passports.

Does stimulating tourists mean the same as stimulating tourism?

Woooosh - 2-14-2010 at 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull

Quote:

Does stimulating tourists mean the same as stimulating tourism?

maybe they are just simulating tourism?

SDRonni - 2-14-2010 at 01:30 PM

Thanks, Woooosh...............I just asked a question, then answered it myself! :lol:

wessongroup - 2-14-2010 at 02:28 PM

Boy I'm at a real disadvantage not being able to spell.. some here even see mistakes with apostrophes ... now that really scared me back to 8th grade English and my Mrs Martin ... was up to 25,000 times apiece on my spelling words.. she was a really nice lady.. she did her best to help me, but I was and still am a lost cause when it comes to the English... no any language.. if it were not for the built in spell check.... well.. it would be brutal ... just gawd awful..

I guess I could take into Word for grammar and spelling, but what the hell.. I'm to old and Mrs. Martin is not around ...

wessongroup - 2-14-2010 at 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Mexico needs to revise its tourist model. Dollar tacos, drugs, cheap Viagra, hookers and 'drink til you pass out' spring breakers are hard sells for those who can afford passports. :rolleyes:

Woooosh, you have outdone yourself with this one... what a great idea.. the cost of the flight, time in the air... it could all be spent in TJ, one could fly into TJ and take a taxi..

You should bring it up at the next City Consuls Meeting in Rosarito :lol:

But, you have got to give me a heads up so I can set up... I will split the money I win from the Worlds Funniest Video's..

Woooosh - 2-15-2010 at 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wessongroup

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Mexico needs to revise its tourist model. Dollar tacos, drugs, cheap Viagra, hookers and 'drink til you pass out' spring breakers are hard sells for those who can afford passports. :rolleyes:

But, you have got to give me a heads up so I can set up... I will split the money I win from the Worlds Funniest Video's..

Hey- it worked for Vegas! There's already a "Jackpot" casino in the Home Depot Walmart shopping center. The hookers will find you at your machine- don't worry about that. Torres built that long pier hoping casino ships would dock there for day gambling-boat trips. The will and pieces are there already. I do think Hank Rhon would have a serious problem with any major Rosarito competition to his Agua Caliente TJ casino and private zoo. No one wants to go up against him (or his TJ Mayor-candidate wife).

Dave - 2-15-2010 at 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
Torres built that long pier hoping casino ships would dock there for day gambling-boat trips.

Could have worked had he built a breakwater. Like most Mexican projects....Bathrooms without plumbing, second stories without stairs, roads without shoulders....the list is endless.

It's OK, they called it off.

arrowhead - 2-15-2010 at 04:54 PM

This article says that Mexico will NOT be requiring Americans entering Baja to show their passports. The reasons are exactly as we already figured out: (1) They don't have the infrastructure to accommodate checking everybody for passports at the border, and (2) they acknowledge that the US travel rules require Americans to show their passports when reentering the US, so they should be carrying them on the way in to Mexico.

Quote:

http://afntijuana.info/blog/?p=27485

Marcha atrás: No pedirán pasaportes en BC

Escrito por AFN el Febrero 15, 2010 en Internacional
13:30 horas.-TIJUANA BC 15 de febrero de 2010 (AFN).- Baja California quedó totalmente excluida de la medida que obliga a solicitar pasaportes a extranjeros que ingresan a México, informó el Delegado del Instituto Nacional de Migración en la entidad, Francisco Javier Reynoso Nuño.

Explicó que la infraestructura no es la adecuada para instrumentar una medida de esta naturaleza, por lo que la situación seguirá exactamente igual a como se está aplicando hasta ahora. Sólo tendrá vigencia en aquellos puntos como el de San Emeterio, por el que los extranjeros ingresan para internarse más allá de la zona fronteriza.
En el caso de los estadounidenses no se considera pedir pasaportes porque se entiende que llevan consigo esos documentos que su propio país les exige para retornar a su territorio.

Recientemente el gobernador José Guadalupe Osuna Millán se manifestó totalmente de acuerdo con esta medida federal, argumentando que cuando viaja a él le piden su pasaporte en todos los países.

Reynoso Nuño encabezó una conferencia de prensa esta tarde en el Centro de Gobierno de la ciudad, junto con el Secretario de Turismo Óscar Escobedo Carignan.

DENNIS - 2-15-2010 at 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by arrowhead

It's OK, they called it off.

Does anybody know what's happening down here? I mean, anybody?
Pure chaos.

Bajahowodd - 2-15-2010 at 05:32 PM

Bat guano, arrowhead. Really.

Cart before horse

Dave - 2-16-2010 at 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Does anybody know what's happening down here? I mean, anybody?
Pure chaos.

I'm watching Puerto Nuevo update their facilities. Burying elecrical and telephone lines, adding street lamps and paving streets. Of course, the streets were done first so now they're cutting up the pavement to bury the electric. :rolleyes:

Terry28 - 2-16-2010 at 09:44 AM

In reference to the original post, please see my original answer..it falls into the cataogory of " I told ya so"

Returned yesterday from Rosarito, perfect weather, nice surf, no crowds, 40 minute border wait, Only complaint was the terrible roadwork in Primo Tapia...I know it will be nice when it's done but it sure sucks now...It must have been a real bear when it rained...

SDRonni - 2-16-2010 at 11:16 AM

Whew! That's a relief!

Bajahowodd - 2-16-2010 at 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Mexico needs to revise its tourist model. Dollar tacos, drugs, cheap Viagra, hookers and 'drink til you pass out' spring breakers are hard sells for those who can afford passports. :rolleyes:

As far as I know, the legal casinos are limited to slots and sportsbook. It would really take the whole enchilada of casino games to really make a difference. It has been rumored for years that the folks in Mexico City were planning on establishing gambling zones in several places around the country. I've heard Cabo and Cancun mentioned. If that was to come to pass, I doubt a place like TJ would qualify.

woody with a view - 2-16-2010 at 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Why negative comments? It appears to me that it's just Mexico throwing down the gauntlet. After all, in theory, anyway, hasn't the US required passports for re-entry?

last night i handed the agent my wifes and my passports then birth certs and driver licenses for my son and his girl. he handed me back the birth certs and ran our passports and told us to have a good night. we expected at least a tongue lashing but this guy was ultra cool!!!!

and the trip was EPIC!!!!! fotos coming in the weeks ahead......

Today's San Diego U-T

MrBillM - 2-16-2010 at 04:25 PM

No Passports to be required to enter Baja.

A Bad idea that didn't even get started.

But, the argument was interesting.

Timo1 - 2-16-2010 at 04:42 PM

I have a real stupid question
I must have missed something
If technicaly US citezens are required to have a passport when
returning to the US....Why don't you get them??
What would happen if one day they (CBP) decided to enforce this
and you were SOB
Why not just have one...Its pretty easy to do
Some posts seem to suggest there are americans traveling without a PP

[Edited on 2-16-2010 by Timo1]

Bajahowodd - 2-16-2010 at 04:54 PM

Timo- The sad answer to your question is that Americans are among the most insular of societies. The US has an abysmal record as far as citizens holding passports. I'm not sure if it's a matter of people who feel that they live in the greatest country in the world, so there's no reason to go anywhere else, or whether it's just a matter of being incurious. You can look it up. Among the world's industrialized countries, we lag way behind in passport ownership. I suppose that it doesn't hurt to know that our country has the incredibly greatest amount of armaments in the world. So, who's to argue?

Timo1 - 2-16-2010 at 05:01 PM

but but but....an example
If I were a US citizen and decided to head for La Paz for 6 months.
I don't keep up with the news....meanwhile unbeknownst to me
CBP decided NO one returning to the US without a PP would be admitted.
Scramble time...right??
Why not just get one before you go without the panic ??

Bajahowodd - 2-16-2010 at 05:11 PM

People were given a huge lead time. Perhaps the biggest loser in this was the nightly fiesta on Revolucion in TJ. As I mentioned in my previous post, it just may be a matter of Americans simply not being interested in the rest of the world. Which would ultimately be a big mistake. As for your first premise, the apparent fact of the day is that many Americans continue to cross the border S/B w?o passports, and the US immigration folks are apparently under some sort of order to do very little than to tsk tsk them upon return.

Timo1 - 2-16-2010 at 05:15 PM

I guess Barb and I just think differently...we wouldn't travel anywhere without one
Thanks for the reply
Is it the money ??
Is it being lazy??
Or is it just seeing what one can get away with ??
Or.........

SDRonni - 2-16-2010 at 05:21 PM

Oh, we have them. That's not the point. The objection I had was to the length of time it would take to pass southbound if they checked everyone's passport. I think everyone should have them and, you're right, if they're checked going north, one would think they needn't be checked going south.

Bajahowodd - 2-16-2010 at 05:21 PM

Being incurious, I'm afraid. My wife and I have traveled the world. I've held a passport for decades. Once, when I lost mine, I was frantic to get it replaced. It represents to me, a lifeline to other cultures. Sadly, too many Americans don't feel the same.

bacquito - 2-16-2010 at 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Crocodile tears, my friend. The US started this crap. All because bureaucrats were able to take advantage of 9/11 panic. If you want to blame anyone for this, try the Bush administration. Homeland Security, my culo!

Acuerdo!!

I HAVE MINE AND MY PASSPORT CARD!

ELINVESTIG8R - 2-16-2010 at 05:36 PM

Bajahowodd - 2-16-2010 at 05:38 PM

And?

ELINVESTIG8R - 2-16-2010 at 05:43 PM

Howard, wait a minute let me find your Taser GIF. Don't go away. :lol:

Thanks for waiting!

[Edited on 2-17-2010 by ELINVESTIG8R]

Bajahowodd - 2-16-2010 at 05:51 PM

I feel all tingly. Is that good? :?:

ELINVESTIG8R - 2-16-2010 at 06:05 PM

It will go away in a bit! :lol:

woody with a view - 2-16-2010 at 06:11 PM

we felt like the kids didn't "NEED" passports for a one-time trip. cost is a factor, for sure. maybe it's the scofflaw in me trying to get away with something?

all i know is the guy was COOL!!!! and the trip was EPIC!!!!

you guys do what you want.

oh, and i was the only one who got a 180 day fmt. the corksucker Mexican border b-tch said there are no free fmt's if we go past ensenada..... i wish i woulda kept the one i had previously to stuff in his eye hole!!!

marv sherrill - 2-16-2010 at 06:22 PM

To quote Antonio Rezendez from LA bay about the Escalera Nautica -" In typical Mexican fashion "the first thing that goes up are the signs!"

[Edited on 2-18-2010 by marv sherrill]

mtgoat666 - 2-16-2010 at 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody in ob
oh, and i was the only one who got a 180 day fmt. the corksucker Mexican border b-tch said there are no free fmt's if we go past ensenada..... i wish i woulda kept the one i had previously to stuff in his eye hole!!!

the mexican immigration agents interpret the fmt rules as creatively as the us immigration agents enforce US law requiring passports :lol:

roadhog - 2-16-2010 at 08:24 PM

At San Ysidro/Tijuana, Mexico's entryman asked " Passport" ? when I walked in. I had it in hand to my photo. He nodded.
After paying for the Tourist Card a few feet away, without trauma, comedy, or persecution, I walked back to the entryman and he quietly said "PASSPORT." I stood there while he counted to 15, uno dos... the he stamped my PASSPORT as entered Mexico.
He did not ask to search my laptop.
UPS sez UPS delivers into Baja.

UPDATE

CaboRon - 2-17-2010 at 07:43 AM

Mexico's passport mandate to be eased
Enforcement lifted for visitors to Baja
By Sandra Dibble, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 12:04 a.m.

A new Mexican government rule that U.S. visitors present passports when entering Mexico by land, sea and air will not be enforced at Baja California's border crossings, authorities said Monday in Tijuana.

Francisco Javier Reynoso Nuño, the top federal immigration official in Baja California, said Mexico lacks the infrastructure to enforce the regulations at busy ports such as San Ysidro and Otay Mesa.

"We're going to stay the same," Reynoso said following a meeting with state officials worried about how the regulations could affect travel to Baja California.

The rules, set to go into effect March 1 in other parts of Mexico, will not be applied to short-term visitors along the northern border, Reynoso said. Likewise, cruise ship passengers who briefly disembark at Ensenada won't be required to present a passport, he said.

The announcement of the new rules has come as Mexico has worked to increase security at its ports of entry. The federal government is in the process of installing a new electronic inspection system, known as SIAVE, at its land border crossings as a means of detecting illegal weapons and other contraband.

Southbound border waits have been growing longer in recent months as a result of SIAVE. Business groups in both Baja California and San Diego complained that the additional immigration inspection would create even longer delays, and further stifle commerce and tourism on both sides.

"We were very concerned," said Oscar Escobedo Carignan, Baja California's tourism secretary. "Things are going to continue the same. It's good news for us."

The regulations, announced this month by Mexico's National Migration Institute, state that U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico "by air, land or sea" must present either a valid U.S. passport or passport card. U.S. permanent residents must also present documents proving their status.

Because of U.S. travel document requirements, most U.S. visitors to Mexico already carry passports or passport cards or trusted traveler documents such as SENTRI passes when crossing at the border.

"We recognize Mexico's right to secure its borders, but they should be secured with the minimum interruption of commerce in both directions," said James Clark, director of the Mexico Business Center of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

Woooosh - 2-17-2010 at 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Mexico needs to revise its tourist model. Dollar tacos, drugs, cheap Viagra, hookers and 'drink til you pass out' spring breakers are hard sells for those who can afford passports. :rolleyes:

As far as I know, the legal casinos are limited to slots and sports-book. It would really take the whole enchilada of casino games to really make a difference. It has been rumored for years that the folks in Mexico City were planning on establishing gambling zones in several places around the country. I've heard Cabo and Cancun mentioned. If that was to come to pass, I doubt a place like TJ would qualify.

I disagree- and so does Hank Rhon. TJ got on the map because it flew in the face of the USA prohibition on alcohol. Right now all options are on the table to boost the flailing Mexican economy. As a former casino executive- your comments about slots and sports-book being trivial is incorrect. They are the #1 draw and are the cash cows of the casino, not the table games. JMPO though.

Woooosh - 2-17-2010 at 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody in ob

Quote:

I was very late for a San Diego appointment last week and left the house without my passport. I got to the San Ysidro crossing with only my CA driver's license and a CostCo card. I apologized and he laughed. He told me he did not believe a passport was legally necessary for a US citizen to enter their own country and said he disagreed with the current policy. He wished me a good day and waved me right through- and not to secondary either...

Passports - Who CARES ?

MrBillM - 2-17-2010 at 10:12 AM

I've been carrying one for Decades, too. My wife for Twenty years. FM-3s for about 15 now. Ready to show them to anybody interested.

As otherwise stated, I don't care what ANYONE else does as long as it doesn't affect my wait-time.

Drag them out of their cares, impound the vehicle, throw them in a cell, put them on a bus to the nearest Federal lockup.

Waterboard them.

OK by me. Just keep the line flowing.

AND, Once Again to anyone who pops up and talks about them turning you back from entry to the USA without one.

WRONG. You're already IN the USA when you speak to the agent. IF you claim U.S. Citizenship, they can't send you back. They can lock you up, however, until they get it straightened out.

[Edited on 2-17-2010 by MrBillM]

josie - 2-17-2010 at 10:23 AM

Coming back to California from my last trip I was worried because I didn't notice until I was in the border line that my passport had expired a few months before. I am Hispanic and was worried that I was going to have some problems but the officer at the border was very nice and explained to me that even an expired passport serves as a legal proof of place of birth.

I Stand Corrected

Bajahowodd - 2-17-2010 at 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Mexico needs to revise its tourist model. Dollar tacos, drugs, cheap Viagra, hookers and 'drink til you pass out' spring breakers are hard sells for those who can afford passports. :rolleyes:

But for the fact that the high rollers don't do slots. I've spent a bit of time in Hank's place at the Hotel San Nicolas. (newly remodeled, I might add.) Seemed to me that it was all locals playing slots there. I would guess similarly, for San Diego County folks, what with all the Indian Casinos, why would they cross the border to play slots? My mention of the resort areas was because if and when they have full throttle casino gambling, it will be a major boost to revenue. It's about the full-blown Vegas-style experience.

[Edited on 2-17-2010 by Bajahowodd]

Woooosh - 2-17-2010 at 04:41 PM

We don't disagree really. You are talking about creating a tourist "casino experience" to compete with US casinos and I am talking about the casino's bottom line. Slots and table game performance are mathematics-driven to create a small "house advantage". Repeated millions of times per day- this small house advantage builds to become big numbers. The games are generally not tinkered with. Casinos that do tinker with the math/games to attract new customers also attract the roving professional gamers who will methodically wipe them out. Sports Book is a different animal.

The "whales" (high-rollers) will never come to TJ and few even travel from Asia to Vegas anymore. Not many casino can- and some just don't want to attract them. They need private jets, on-site mansions with private chefs and butlers, and private gaming parlors. Maccau China totally rocks, and all the major US casino operators are already there with amazing facilities.

Vegas ain't coming to TJ or Rosarito. Gambling will be in converted race tracks, shopping center locations or maybe revive the gambling cruises from San Diego to Ensenada.

Table games will require the trust of the people playing that the house isn't outright cheating them. That trust won't ever exist in Mexico. Slots use a random number generator system to perform over a cycle (usually 200,000 pulls) to the programmed results (payout percentage) of the micro-chip.

The casino game that is most addicting is video poker. People get in a bubble and play for hours on end- trying to beat a computer that doesn't care about anything but the math of the outcome.

Bajahowodd - 2-17-2010 at 04:57 PM

Got it. There's no doubt that the slots are the mother's milk of the industry. In fact, over the last several decades, casinos in places like Vegas have dedicated more and more floor space for them. Obviously, each "pull" (it used to be an actual mechanical thing) may have generated a small amount of change, when one considers the 24/7 situation where there are folks lined up to play.... Enormous revenue. But back to my original hypothesis. If resorts such as Cancun and Cabo, maybe PV had full blown casino gambling, would you not think that given the pre-existing exotic beach locale, that many folks would say aloha to their Hawaii vacation, for example, and head to Mexico?

You mention the trust problem. But, just perhaps, in resort settings, the fact that the casino is on the property run by Sheraton, or Hilton, Westin, or even RIU, for that matter, would ameliorate the fear?

The Gull - 2-17-2010 at 04:59 PM

Why does anyone think that going to TJ is NOT gambling. :lol:

k-rico - 2-17-2010 at 05:15 PM

The argument for a full blown casino in TJ includes the idea that currently many TJ residents cross the border to gamble at the close by San Diego area Indian casinos and a local casino would keep the money in town and provide jobs, in addition to attracting Americans to gamble on a trip to TJ.

I don't know, but the idea seems to have merit.

I'd love to have one in playas, then I could walk to the casino for exercise.

[Edited on 2-18-2010 by k-rico]

Bajahowodd - 2-17-2010 at 05:18 PM

Rico- I gotta go with The Gull on this one!

k-rico - 2-17-2010 at 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Rico- I gotta go with The Gull on this one!

wuss

Bajahowodd - 2-17-2010 at 05:32 PM

Gracias, amigo! :spingrin:

Woooosh - 2-18-2010 at 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull
Why does anyone think that going to TJ is NOT gambling. :lol:

Winning the money would be easier than making it home alive with it in your pocket. Yet another problem...

DENNIS - 2-18-2010 at 12:00 PM

Caliente, Hank Rhon, his wife and whoever else are building a big casino across the street from Home Dpo in Ensenada. The large building went up fast and I hear it will have 300 slots. **** count will be determined later as the need arises. [there's a straight line free for the taking]