BajaNomad

FMM exit stamp

Frank - 7-28-2010 at 07:45 PM

When we went to get our FMM Tourist Visa the other day, the Immigracion guy told me to be sure to return the FMM and have my Visa exit stamped when leaving the country.

He noticed that last year I didnt do that {last year it was a FMT}, but would let me slide this time.

I asked what the fine would be if I forgot. $55 peso a day for everyday after the Visa has expired.

Has anybody else been told the samething? Looks like one more stop before coming home.

The road is in the best shape Ive seen in 10 years.

rts551 - 7-28-2010 at 08:05 PM

Where was this at?

David K - 7-28-2010 at 08:11 PM

Just where did he expect you to 'drive to' before crossing north?

They would need a booth along the exit lane to do it right.

The FMM is supposed to also be good for multiple entries during the 6 month period if your trip is for less than 180 days... land users only... as was the FM-T.

One thing for sure... NEVER show the customs guy you expired FM-T or FMM when you apply for a new one! Discover Baja Travel Club posted an address in Tijuana where to send in your FM-T before it expires... I posted that address here some time ago.

RnR - 7-28-2010 at 08:12 PM

Had something similiar happen at San Ysidro about ten years when I was using FMT's. I had last year's expired FMT tucked in my passport when I gave it to the agent for the new FMT. The agent held it up, went Tsk, Tsk, Tsk..., and told me to turn it in on leaving the country. I asked how to turn it in at Tijuana? He shrugged his shoulders and said it was required. He then threw it away.

That was the last time that I had the expired FMT with me when I went for a new FMT! Until Mexico can actually start tracking the expired FMM's, (don't think that they can yet...?), just don't have an expired one with you.

Frank - 7-28-2010 at 08:40 PM

Its real easy to track when they stamp your Visa. When you show up for the next FMM, they got ya.

This was at San Ysidro.

RnR - 7-28-2010 at 08:51 PM

Sounds like times are changing.:(

bajalou - 7-28-2010 at 09:03 PM

Stamp what Visa. Isn't the FMM - your permission to be in Mexico - your "Visa"?

bajaguy - 7-28-2010 at 09:07 PM

Just hand the FMM to the nice person in the blue uniform at the little booth as you enter the US.

Frank - 7-28-2010 at 09:33 PM

Who will put the exit stamp on your passport?

If you look at your passport it says Visa on the other blank pages, right where they stamped and dated it, when thay gave you your FMM.

sancho - 7-29-2010 at 02:47 PM

In my opinion, the bit of reasearch I've done
indicates the fmm's will be treated the same
as the fmt's. I will use the 180 day fmm the same
as the 180 fmt. Keep it for mulitiple entries
returning it before it expires. Applying for another
fmm on next entry. From what I've read, Mex IMM
will issue another fmm after the current one expires,
I know there has been other info suggesting one
fmm per calender yr., that hasn't been proven yet.
The fmt's were also never technically meant for
mulitiple entries, it just wasn't enforced. I've heard
of the $5 a day fine for old entry stamps with no
exit stamp

GEMcC5150 - 7-29-2010 at 03:44 PM

I sitting here in Baja with an expired FM3 and am being told that the fine might be as much as 12,000 peso each for mu wife and I. We looking at some way around this any thoughts?

bajaguy - 7-29-2010 at 04:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by GEMcC5150
I sitting here in Baja with an expired FM3 and am being told that the fine might be as much as 12,000 peso each for mu wife and I. We looking at some way around this any thoughts?





Don't think so........bite the bullet, cash in all of your empty Pacifico bottles and throw yourself on the mercy of Immigration.........the bright side is you get one of the spiffy new cards!!!!

Bajahowodd - 7-29-2010 at 04:09 PM

This is probably emblematic of what happens when governments make changes on the fly. My understanding is that the FMM was designed to ferret out people who are living in Mexico illegally. Fundamentally, someone such as a renter in Rosarito or Ensenada, who got a new FM-T every six months. The idea behind the FMM was that while it would be good for multiple entries, it was designed to track the actual time spent in Mexico, so that one could use their 180 days in increments. Then, once it was used up, no more visa for the rest of the year. The clunker here, as David points out, is that they have not implemented any sort of reasonable mechanism for folks exiting Mexico to have the visa registered to stop the time running.

DavidE - 7-29-2010 at 04:26 PM

Flat-out, the migra was mistaken. Who needs to check-out are FM-3 holders who exit Mexico. They must go to immigration, have a stamp put in their FM-3 booklet, and then the Migra writes this up of a Forma Migratoria Multible, stamps it and gives the FM-3 holder his booklet back plus a copy of the FMM. Upon re-entry the FMM must be turned into imiigration, and the FM-3 booklet stamped (or the new magnetic stripe card entered) and the individual enters Mexico.

At this time THERE IS POSITIVELY NO REQUIREMENT to return your FMM upon exiting the country. This is going to change you can bet your boots on it. When you see an immigration station at the north end of the Ensenada toll road being erected then you'll know that they days of departing Mexico without turning in your FMM are numbered.

The idea of the FMM being implemented to limit a stay in Mexico to 180 days per annum as of this writing are urban legend. I spent too many hours with a senior INM officer, with him on the telephone to Morelia and D.F. to be mistaken about what I learned. Official may implement such a time limitation in the future but the word from Mexico is that "We Never Heard Of That".

Forma Migrotoria Multible was instituted exactly like its name implies. It replaces five different forms that all the immigration offices were constantly running out of. Sorry to burst bubbles but that is accurate and verified info.

Bajahowodd - 7-29-2010 at 04:32 PM

"At this time THERE IS POSITIVELY NO REQUIREMENT to return your FMM upon exiting the country. This is going to change you can bet your boots on it. When you see an immigration station at the north end of the Ensenada toll road being erected then you'll know that they days of departing Mexico without turning in your FMM are numbered."

And when that booth is erected, they will be monitoring tourists and business people. That's the primary intent.

MitchMan - 7-29-2010 at 06:36 PM

I don't know the law on this, but, it is hard for me to believe that Mexico is deliberately trying to limit the stay of us rich Americans to a maximum of 180 days per year.

Marc - 7-29-2010 at 07:12 PM

I had been throwing them away the last few years I've just mailed the expired visa to the TJ emigration office.

I was not paying attention a few years ago at the Hermosillo airport returning. The emigration guy keeps my visa which still had five months on it.

akshadow - 7-30-2010 at 09:34 AM

Many FM-3 holders (exit) travel across the border daily. They cannot check out and in every day. The backups would overwelm the entire roadway.
Not sure what they are really aiming for but when I leave for the summer I check out with my FM-3 but not when gone for a shorter period. The official at the border seems ok with this idea.
Quote:
Originally posted by DavidE
Flat-out, the migra was mistaken. Who needs to check-out are FM-3 holders who exit Mexico. They must go to immigration, have a stamp put in their FM-3 booklet, and then the Migra writes this up of a Forma Migratoria Multible, stamps it and gives the FM-3 holder his booklet back plus a copy of the FMM. Upon re-entry the FMM must be turned into imiigration, and the FM-3 booklet stamped (or the new magnetic stripe card entered) and the individual enters Mexico.

At this time THERE IS POSITIVELY NO REQUIREMENT to return your FMM upon exiting the country. This is going to change you can bet your boots on it. When you see an immigration station at the north end of the Ensenada toll road being erected then you'll know that they days of departing Mexico without turning in your FMM are numbered.

The idea of the FMM being implemented to limit a stay in Mexico to 180 days per annum as of this writing are urban legend. I spent too many hours with a senior INM officer, with him on the telephone to Morelia and D.F. to be mistaken about what I learned. Official may implement such a time limitation in the future but the word from Mexico is that "We Never Heard Of That".

Forma Migrotoria Multible was instituted exactly like its name implies. It replaces five different forms that all the immigration offices were constantly running out of. Sorry to burst bubbles but that is accurate and verified info.

DavidE - 7-30-2010 at 11:49 AM

The Baja peninsula is a heck of a lot looser than the mainland. There is no way possible to check bearers of FM-3 documents out or in unless they do some serious revamping of the inspection and permit processes at Tijuana San Ysidro.

On the mainland is how the system is supposed to work.

Every last car is reviewed at a combination checkpoint. If the car has a valid, unexpired car permit it is allowed to pass. Since car permits are based on the length of a 180-day FMT(M) permit it is -assumed- that if the car is legal then the driver bears a valid tourist card.

As long as an FM-3 bearer's permit is valid, the car permit does not expire. The paperwork says it has expired, the hologram on the windshield may be from a year or more earlier, but if the FM-3 remains current and valid, then the car prmit remains valid.

Until...

The car leaves Mexican territory that requires car bonding. The permit must be surrendered at that time, period. Not later or somewhere else, right at that checkpoint.

I walk into the Migracion oficina and get my FM-3 exit stamp (and now a FMM exit document). "You are traveling how?" the migra asks. "Car" you reply. "I need to see your car permit". You hand over the permit. "This is expired" declares the migra. He walks me over to the Banjercito window and turns in the car permit. I am issued a RETORNO DIFINITIVO document.

If I exit the mainland, even past the 21 km checkpoint, or Ciudad Allende or other checkpoint and do not get my FM-3 exit stamp, there's going to be a problem upon my return.

"Why did not not stop and get an exit stamp on your FM-3?"

One does not bypass or "miss" immigration checkpoints on the mainland when entering. First of all the car doesn't get through without a sticker and document and that doesn't happen until you show Banjercito your valid stamped out and in FM-3.

Someone on high in migracion decided going in that such airtight control is not possible on the Baja California peninsula. It is not because the rules are different, it's not because it is a "free zone" or anything else. Underenforcement of the FM-3 process is a deliberate decision based on a pure and simple fact that it is not enforceable.

But, throw up a few buildings, staff them with khaki uniforms and "poof" things change. You know and I know that if Mexico gets a burr in their saddle to tighten things up, suddenly there will be a "special lane" exiting Mexico, with huge overhead signs saying, Foreigners With FM-3 This Lane Only".

woody with a view - 7-30-2010 at 05:05 PM

i need a beer..... my FMT is still valid for a month. too bad the next trip is october.....