BajaNomad - TJ crossing/check out

TJ crossing/check out

grizzlyfsh95 - 5-26-2010 at 07:53 AM

I am sure this question has been asked and answered before, but I can't seem to find a solid answer. When leaving Mexico through Tijuana where do you check out with immigration? ie with an FM3,FM2 or Mexican passport. Do you need to cross the bridge and go the the office on the entry side? Is there an office on the departure side? I hear you can no longer do this at Guerreo Negro or Ensenada. :?:

Thank you in advance for any useful information you can provide.

k-rico - 5-26-2010 at 11:10 AM

I've never heard of anyone doing that. It's really not necessary, but if you want to you'd have to park at the border lot on the Mexican side in Col. Federal, and walk to the Mexican immigration offices on the west side of the crossing where they do secondary inspections on southbound cars.

Nobody does it, do they?

grizzlyfsh95 - 5-26-2010 at 06:30 PM

AW C'MON...SOMEBODY HAS CHECKED OUT OF THE COUNTRY IN TJ. IS THERE AN OFFICE THERE OTHER THAN THE ONE AT THE ENTRY(SECONDARY INSPECTION AREA)?
I HAVE A MEXICAN PASSPORT AND THEY ARE STICKY ABOUT CHECKING IN AND OUT. DON'T WANT TO BE ILLEGAL.

toneart - 5-26-2010 at 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by grizzlyfsh95
AW C'MON...SOMEBODY HAS CHECKED OUT OF THE COUNTRY IN TJ. IS THERE AN OFFICE THERE OTHER THAN THE ONE AT THE ENTRY(SECONDARY INSPECTION AREA)?
I HAVE A MEXICAN PASSPORT AND THEY ARE STICKY ABOUT CHECKING IN AND OUT. DON'T WANT TO BE ILLEGAL.

I guess you will find out if anyone here has ever checked out. I suspect that the reason you have not had a response as yet is because nobody has done it, and there has never been any repercussions.

You have only had this question up for 12 hours. You are displaying frustration by using all CAPS. That is considered to be shouting.

Welcome to the BajaNomad. Relax. If an answer is forthcoming, some responsible Nomad who has had the experience will answer. That is what we do best. :light:

zforbes - 5-27-2010 at 06:56 AM

I speak only from my experience with an FM3, but I've never checked in or out of the country with Immigraton. Discussed this with my abogado recently, who suggested that for me, it actually reflects better, since it demonstrates that I truly do live here. I usually go back and forth three or four times a year. :?:

The Gull - 5-27-2010 at 07:00 AM

TONEART - SOME OF US ARE HARD OF HEARING DONCHA KNOW?

Woooosh - 5-27-2010 at 08:31 AM

If Mexico really wanted us to check-out with our FM-3's, they would have some facility for it near on the way to exit. You'd have to pay to park and then walk a mile of pedestrian overpasses to go back and forth to do it the way things are physically laid out.

jeffg - 5-27-2010 at 09:05 AM

Getting stamped out when driving is a major challenge. l've only done it once at Tijuana, and I did that on my way back IN. I've heard some people cross the border, then park on the U.S. side and walk back across for the stamp. Then you have to cross the bridge and walk back across. Not happening for me. What K-Rico describes sounds like the best bet, there are some parking lots there that look pretty close to the immigration area.

If I was driving out and back in I wouldn't mess with it. Sometimes we have to when we start mixing driving and flying trips. I've successfully gotten stamped out at La Paz immigration office once, and turned down once. Guerrero Negro OK on the rare occasion I've been there when they were open. Ensenada they don't do nada.

Maybe TJ Airport would be another possibility to get the stamp out?

Good luck!

Jeff

toneart - 5-27-2010 at 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull
TONEART - SOME OF US ARE HARD OF HEARING DONCHA KNOW?

Eh?

toneart - 5-27-2010 at 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
If Mexico really wanted us to check-out with our FM-3's, they would have some facility for it near on the way to exit. You'd have to pay to park and then walk a mile of pedestrian overpasses to go back and forth to do it the way things are physically laid out.

This is my assumption too, but then, we are using logic which hasn't always served me well in Mexico. :spingrin:

DavidE - 5-27-2010 at 09:31 AM

They are not enforcing the law if they do not require FM-3 checkouts and check ins at the Tijuana border crossing.

I sat in my local INM office and watched a gringa get fined one thousand pesos for not checking out when she departed by automobile through Laredo.

Not only does immigration affix a rubber stamp to "Salidas" in the FM-3, the stamp has an icon of a car, boat, or airplane. An immigration officer has the right to audit entry and exits and determine for themselves if something is amiss.

This means if you enter with a car, exit by plane, then enter by car again, they can call you on it. I have also seen this take place.

But the Tijuana crossing is a nightmare and I suspect they have really cut slack because of access nightmares.

But that does not alter the fact that departing Mexico without getting an FM-3 or FM-2 stamped is illegal.

Just be aware of it.

surebought - 5-27-2010 at 09:40 AM

Servicios Migratorios doesn't care about this at all. It just means more work for them. Migration is a dependencia that has very little budget. Please don't suggest to them that they need to have a check out office at the TJ border crossing. They can barely keep the Airports maned. They're just going through the motions. The Mexicans are not all up in arms about Americans living in Mexico.

Show me

Dave - 5-27-2010 at 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidE
They are not enforcing the law if they do not require FM-3 checkouts and check ins at the Tijuana border crossing.

I'm aware of checkout requirements for holders of FM2's. But non-immigrant status...FM3's?

Where's the law?

toneart - 5-27-2010 at 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidE
They are not enforcing the law if they do not require FM-3 checkouts and check ins at the Tijuana border crossing.

I sat in my local INM office and watched a gringa get fined one thousand pesos for not checking out when she departed by automobile through Laredo.

Not only does immigration affix a rubber stamp to "Salidas" in the FM-3, the stamp has an icon of a car, boat, or airplane. An immigration officer has the right to audit entry and exits and determine for themselves if something is amiss.

This means if you enter with a car, exit by plane, then enter by car again, they can call you on it. I have also seen this take place.

But the Tijuana crossing is a nightmare and I suspect they have really cut slack because of access nightmares.

But that does not alter the fact that departing Mexico without getting an FM-3 or FM-2 stamped is illegal.

Just be aware of it.

Laredo's border crossing is to and from mainland Mexico where vehicle permits are required. You have to stop there and there are facilities that you can easily access. While there, they stamp your FM3 at the same time. Baja doesn't require them and thus, no easy access when exiting.

I am not saying we are not breaking the law. It is just that they really don't care. Neither do the local immigration jurisdictions where you have to go and report your address upon each arrival and also renew your FM3s. They look through the FM3 booklet and never say a word about no entry or exit stamps, year after year. :no:

DavidE - 5-27-2010 at 01:03 PM

Where?

Article 42

Fraccionimiento III

1,2,4,6, et. al.

The FM-3 booklet has places for sellos de entrada and salidas.

I am quite certain of the accuracy of my information, 100% as a matter of fact as Lic. Ismael Abarca and myself went over this point three weeks ago.

He told me in plain spanish that the new FM-3 plastic card with magnetic stripe must be "swiped" dar paso when exiting. If it isn't and the card is used to gain entry at migracion, the computer goes "Beep" and then arrives a costly delay in the day's plans.

Laws that are not enforced does not mean they do not exist. I posted my reply to allow people to be aware of the law. I especially think that this may in time become important as my immigration jefe showed me his new work pad device. It's cute. It's a scanner the reads bar codes and magnetic stripes. It has a cellular communication modem. It's portable. It's going out onto the street apparently when the database is finished. Date unknown.

I inquired about free-flow areas like nothern Baja and he replied that the device records all kinds of data, including ID (driver license) and car license plate numbers which have to be manually entered.

Reality rears its ugly head. Be thankful that Baja California access at Tijuana is loosely enforced.

I read them...

Dave - 5-27-2010 at 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidE
Where?

Article 42

Fraccionimiento III

1,2,4,6, et. al.

Laws that are not enforced does not mean they do not exist

Again.

I read no specific reference to law regarding any regulation of entry/exit.

I am aware of a logical need for entry/exit requirements regarding those holding immigrant visas because there are specific provisos in the law that limit time spent outside Mexico.

But, again, no such limitations are legally required of non-immigrants.

Perhaps there are coded regulations apart from the population law that govern procedure?

If so, I'd like to see them.

howardf - 5-28-2010 at 12:28 PM

My wife has an FM3 and I have an FM2 immigrante status and we checked out through Tecate. We were given the new FMM forms and need to return the check-in portions when we return through TJ.

For my wife's FM3 it's important since her document will have expired by the time we cross and will need to document that she has the 60 day grace period to renew since she was NOB when it expired. My FM2, as has been stated here, needs to be noted that I have returned to the country within the alloted time. I guess the best way to accomplish this is to pull into the secondary inspection area and look for the INM office.

We're headed to La Paz and the ferry to Mazatlan. Are there any other check-in options further south?

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 5-28-2010 at 08:53 PM

Hola, i checked with my mexican accountant this year prior to the change and she told me that if i was wanting to go for citizenship, i need to have my working fm3 stamped going in and out, otherwise it was not necessary. as the time frames do not meet what i do, i do not want an fm2 and i do not know the benefits of mexican citizenship.

as i do drive both ways, i have no idea of the effect of driving in and not getting stamped and then flying out without proof of entry ?

delimnas ?

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

dtbushpilot - 5-28-2010 at 09:32 PM

grizzlyfsh doesn't have an fm2 or 3, he is a newly minted Mexican citizen with a Mexican passport. I don't know the requirements for checking out of the country if you are a citizen, are there any? I know that Mike worked hard to finally get his MX citizenship and doesn't want to get in trouble.

Certainly there are Nomads who have dual citizenship who know the check out requirements.......how about helping the guy out?....dt

If there are checkout requirements it would be much easier in Tecate. We have stopped there several times to get stamped in and out.

[Edited on 5-29-2010 by dtbushpilot]

classicbajabronco - 5-28-2010 at 10:34 PM

Go to immigration and get an straight answer rather than get a bunch of 2nd hand guesses...if you are really concerned...call the us consolate and ask them, for that matter call a Mexico consulate in the states... :light:

dtbushpilot - 5-28-2010 at 10:45 PM

Excellent advise bronco....dt

paul r - 5-28-2010 at 11:03 PM

... don't do anything accept thank the "booth jockey" with a smile...

DavidE - 5-29-2010 at 07:28 AM

I love it when someone challenges reality :-)

Here is a link to INM regulations.

http://www.gobernacion.gob.mx/archnov/MANUALm.pdf

wessongroup - 5-29-2010 at 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico
I've never heard of anyone doing that. It's really not necessary, but if you want to you'd have to park at the border lot on the Mexican side in Col. Federal, and walk to the Mexican immigration offices on the west side of the crossing where they do secondary inspections on southbound cars.

Nobody does it, do they?

For sure..... and thanks for Second street... still works great

k-rico - 5-29-2010 at 08:09 AM

1000s and 1000s and 1000s of Mexicans drive/walk north across the border every day at SY to shop, visit, work, etc. None of them stop at a Mex immigration office for exit/entrance stamps. Man, would that screw up traffic.

They all have Mex passports because they can't get the US visa that allows them in without one.

[Edited on 5-29-2010 by k-rico]

k-rico - 5-29-2010 at 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wessongroup

Quote:

For sure..... and thanks for Second street... still works great

Second St. has been a pain lately. They are repaving many of the streets (with concrete!) in centro. So there are detours around the work and they change frequently as the work moves from one street to the next. Second St. goes right thru the thick of it.