BajaNomad

Tourist visa at San Felipe

bonanza bucko - 5-22-2010 at 03:32 PM

OK I'm confused. Now that it's May and the rules have changed re "FM" stuff....do we need a tourist visa to go to San Felipe or Gonzaga Bay and back to the USA or not?

If we do where is the best and fastest place to get one.


BB:?:

David K - 5-22-2010 at 07:03 PM

Well, south of San Felipe is outside 'the border zone'... some literature used to say south of Mexicali was.

The ONLY place to get your tourist cards in Baja is at the BORDER. The INM office in San Felipe no longer issues them per what Nomads in San Felipe have reported.

So far, there has never been a check for tourist cards south of San Felipe on Mex. 5. In fact, there is no check for them ANYWHERE in the state of Baja California... The Eagle Monument (Baja Sur border) near Guerrero Negro is the only place we have ever been asked to show ours.

Please post if anyone finds things changed!!!

bonanza bucko - 5-22-2010 at 07:18 PM

David:
Thanks....we always got our FM-T at San Felipe airport when flying because you had to get one with all the other documents you need with an avion going in.

But we have NEVER been asked to show one in 35 years in and outa Alfonsina's ...only at such places as Loreto or LaPaz airports. Never on the road.

But we tend to drive more now that we used to...can stay longer so the airplane isn't a requirement anymore. It sounds like we have to get the FMM at Mexicali...I heard that it's a hassle too...gotta do the paper work in the INM office and then go to the bank to pay for it.

I would love to hear if anyone has been asked for an FMM anywhere north of Gonzaga Bay since all the changes on 1 May.:?:

David K - 5-22-2010 at 07:57 PM

I sure wouldn't worry about this... They will add a checkpoint to Hwy. 1 further north before they do to Hwy. 5 with almost zilch traffic.

Some officials have been heard saying that the entire state of baja California in in the 'border zone' as far as tourist cards are concerned...

You can get a card at the border, and if the bank across the street or next door isn't open, you have until the end of your trip to pay the fee at ANY bank in Baja... OR, request the FREE for up to 7 days card if your trip is a week or less long.

capt. mike - 5-23-2010 at 06:09 AM

Bruce - you have an FM3 , right? why would you ever have to get an FMT at AOE ARR MMSF ??

i fly a lot of people with FM3s and the never have to get an FMT when we land and check in. they show their FM3s and they're in.

wornout - 5-23-2010 at 06:46 AM

I have been in San Felipe for 12 years and went the FM3-FM2-Inmigrado route. In addition to living here, and all my travels around Baja in all those years, the only place I had to show my paperwork was as David said and that was crossing into Baja Sur in GN. Not once at the border have I been asked, although I did show my FM3 years ago when bringing in some household goods. I have never been asked for it at any of the military stops either on the way to Mexicali nor any place on the way to and from San Diego via Tecate or Tijuana. The only story I have heard about producing papers was about 5 years ago the local immigration office was doing door to door for a couple of weeks asking to see papers. That hasn't happened since.

bajalou - 5-23-2010 at 10:12 AM

I was asked for my FM3 twice at Algodones. One time I had it with me and the other it was in for renewal and the IMS officer looked at my passport and saw the stamp that the FM3 was issued and said OK.

sancho - 5-23-2010 at 10:16 AM

There was a post here a few months back
of a Nomad being asked for IMM papers
on the Gonzaga Road somewhere so.
of Puerticitos, at a Checkpoint. I don't imagine that is
too common. You can get several opinions
on the Tourist card regs. One says so. of
Ensenada, so. of San Quintin, so. of San Felipe,
baja sur, etc. The new regs mention over 72 hrs.
the need for a tourist card. This subject is open to
interpertation even among the Mex IMM Officers.
I was thru the downtown Mexicalli crossing last Sun.,
they claimed the free 7 day tourist cards were still
being issued, not sure though
The road to SF has about 12/15 mi. of off
pavement driving due to repaving

Peloncito - 5-26-2010 at 11:04 PM

Good information....

We (my wife and kids) are planning on driving down in June to our house in LB. My wife and I have FM3's which are scheduled for renewal in July. We are planning on going to La Paz to handle the paperwork. I normally stop in Mexicali and have my FM3 signed and stamped in the little immigration office to the right of the west crossing. I was told this office is no longer open? Can anyone confirm this? and if this in fact is true, where do you go to have the FM3 stamped when crossing in through Mexicali?

Part two: Do my kids need tourist cards if we are driving down and back or just their passports?

Thanks for any help. Looking forward to our trip.

preston - 5-27-2010 at 08:04 AM

I would concur with David EXCEPT I would add the Tijuana airport. I fly TIJ-MEX quite frequently and they specifically check for my tourist card when I return from Mexico City (they actually check the date on the card sometimes).

Other than that I have never been checked in Baja Norte.

sancho - 5-27-2010 at 05:21 PM

The Mex IMM Office I go to in Mexicalli
at the Old downtown crossing is 100'
to the LEFT as you enter Mexicalli
from Calexico. It is open 24/7. don't
know what hrs. the Bank/Teller are
open though. I don't know what IMM
office you are refering to as being to
the RIGHT as enter at the downtown
crossing. Printed info says children require
a tourist card, read of some folks flying
out of Cabo whose children did not have
a tourist card to turn in, IMM made them
pay for one. My experience is only with
fmt's

David K - 5-27-2010 at 10:43 PM

I am talking exclusivly about driving tourists... always.

wornout - 5-29-2010 at 06:57 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Peloncito
Good information....

We (my wife and kids) are planning on driving down in June to our house in LB. My wife and I have FM3's which are scheduled for renewal in July. We are planning on going to La Paz to handle the paperwork. I normally stop in Mexicali and have my FM3 signed and stamped in the little immigration office to the right of the west crossing. I was told this office is no longer open? Can anyone confirm this? and if this in fact is true, where do you go to have the FM3 stamped when crossing in through Mexicali?

Part two: Do my kids need tourist cards if we are driving down and back or just their passports?

Thanks for any help. Looking forward to our trip.


The office was open the last Friday in February. I had stopped there to have my imigrado book signed as I heard we must now sign in every February and I wouldn't make the San Felipe Office before closing.

They were open and told me to go to the Mexico side office for what I needed.

Don't know about the requirements for the kids.

Fergie - 6-4-2010 at 08:20 AM

I'll be heading to Gonzaga this weekend. I had planned to cross in Algadones on Sunday, and then get my tourist visa in San Felipe later on in the day.

Do you think it would be wiser to cross at Mexicali East and get my paperwork there, or even Mexicali west?

Thanks
Gavin

PS- First solo family trip to MX, so I'm excited!

David K - 6-4-2010 at 08:55 AM

Every border has at INM office, and it is at the border where you should get the tourist card, as the San Felipe and Ensenada INM offices don't anymore (or will fine you)... reported over and over here.

sancho - 6-4-2010 at 12:24 PM

As DK points out, get an fmm at the border,

the San Felipe office no longer handles/processes
tourist cards. You cannot get one there.
Hasn't done so for 3 yrs.
Either Mexicalli East/West has Mex IMM,
not sure though of the banking procedures,
as to hours the bank/teller are
open, as you say you plan to cross on
a weekend. You could get an fmm, and
pay at a bank later, but don't know how
you would do that going to Gonzaga

BajaKeela - 6-4-2010 at 01:34 PM

We have always gotten our tourist cards in Algodonnes.. It's about the third building on the right...just across the border... and the bank is another few buildings further south in a small alcove...This has got to be the easiest place to get the card....He usually holds passports till you return from bank. A nice friendly agent with no attitude.
We park on U.S side...go across..get the FMT's then...
come back to the U.S. ...then cross the border for trip..At 9:00 AM it's a piece of cake ..Works for us .Never had a long wait yet. Have a great trip!!!

Fergie - 6-4-2010 at 04:14 PM

Thank you all for the replies.

My only concern with crossing at Algodones is that we will be traveling on a Sunday; would this affect wether or not the offices/bank is open?

Do you think Mexicali would be a better bet?

Thank you again.

Gavin

Lista - 6-4-2010 at 04:37 PM

I have had to show my papers at the military check point that is just north of Rancho Grande, the 20 year old with a gun wouldn't let me head south without showing him. I was only going to Alfonsinas for lunch....

BajaWarrior - 6-4-2010 at 06:28 PM

I have always wondered how far south you need to be to be required to have an FMT below San Felipe.

I have an FM-3 but because the house I have below San Felipe is only in my name and not in my wife's name of 5 years I'm wondering if she needs an FM-T for some of our trips that may be over 3 days and or the imaginary line drawn through Baja Norte wherever that may lie.

David K - 6-5-2010 at 06:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Lista
I have had to show my papers at the military check point that is just north of Rancho Grande, the 20 year old with a gun wouldn't let me head south without showing him. I was only going to Alfonsinas for lunch....


Would like to hear more about this from Lista or anyone else to see how exact was the request and if others were specifically asked for tourist cards and not an ID.

I have been through Gonzaga a 'few' times over the years, and while the troops at Gonzaga are pretty bored and take more time to search and have asked for ID and written things down on a pad... THEY ARE NOT IMMIGRATION (Migra) and only are searching for drugs, guns and ammo. Has anyone been turned around there, because I can bet many go south of San Felipe without tourist cards. The businesses at Gonzaga Bay would not be happy.

If they ask for identification, that means a passport or driver's license, NOT and FM-T (or FM-M)... That would be a first in my 45 years of Baja travel.

Lista - 6-5-2010 at 07:36 AM

I have been driving down that road twice a year for 15 years, and it was the first and only time that has happened.It was about 5 or 6 years ago. I showed him my ID, he kept asking for my papers, so I showed him my passport, he kept asking for my papers. I did have an FMT, but it was back at the campo. I also had a local with me that kept telling him it was alright. After about 10 minutes, he let me go. I have never had another incident, actually in the last couple of years, I haven't even seen the military in that spot while I was there. I do always have my FMT with me now though!

David K - 6-5-2010 at 08:16 AM

Thank you Lista... too bad he exceded his authority and hassled you like that... Being that it was 5 or 6 years ago, and nothing since reported I guess he learned something.