We plan to cross into Baja late October on a Sunday. Are the banking facilities open to pay for tourist cards. We usually cross on a regular
banking day and in Tecate, we are sent down to the bank to pay the $26 or whatever it is and then come back to the immigration office to get final
stamp on things and go on our way, but is it the same on Sundays?
Sure would be nice to know for sure....thanks, WaltBajahowodd - 8-26-2010 at 11:21 AM
The bank adjacent to immigration at San Ysidro is open 24/7.David K - 8-26-2010 at 11:32 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
The bank adjacent to immigration at San Ysidro is open 24/7.
Tijuana main border, correct... Your other options are to go to Tijuana and get your cards before your trip OR to get a pre-paid tourist card before
your trip, at one of the Baja travel clubs... it only needs to be stamped at any open border INM office. Make sure you ask or fill in for 180 days.wandamott - 8-26-2010 at 12:23 PM
to Fishabductor.... I think that would be best, but I heard last year that if you wait until Guerro Negro, they add on a fine for not getting it at
the border. What can I say. You can't seem to win no matter what way you do it. Also would much rather go through Tecate if we can. Maybe we
will just have to go on a different day, but it sure fouls up our driving plans because we wanted to go through southern California on Saturday to
avoid the heavy traffic. Thanks anyway for your help.....Bob and Susan - 8-26-2010 at 01:02 PM
fmm is $22.50 each
just cross at tj
it's only 20 minutes from tecate
easy drive
the IMN office and bank are open 24-7
the toll road is the easiest way down too
tolls are $2.10 $2.10 $2.30
the tecate road is "under construction" right now
avoid it if possibleDavid K - 8-26-2010 at 03:03 PM
It probably really is BS... but technically, any non-Mexican is required to have documents (tourist card for us) south of the Ensenada area
(Maneadero) or in Mexico for over 72 hours. If you drove the 400 miles to Guerrero Negro before getting a tourist card, then you have gone over 300
miles beyond the border zone. What if you had to deal with police (an accident)... at least you can be assured of compliance with their law... even if
it is 'grey' on really being needed or not.
I am not sure if you can even get one there, anymore... 400 miles is a long ways to drive back for one.
Or..............
mcfez - 8-26-2010 at 03:24 PM
If you prefer internet transaction....takes a few weeks to get the tourist card for a fee....but no hassles:
I've done this many times:
When the bank is closed, they just give you your fmm and tell you to pay it before you leave the countryDavid K - 8-26-2010 at 07:39 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by vandy
I've done this many times:
When the bank is closed, they just give you your fmm and tell you to pay it before you leave the country
So, is it stamped (INM stamps it after you go to the bank teller first) even though unpaid?
I have heard since the beginning of this 'tax on tourism' (which began in mid-2000), that it could be paid later since Mexico has no mechanism for
bonding government workers (so they can accept the fee instead of a bank).wandamott - 8-27-2010 at 05:25 PM
Sure appreciate all the information. We are not strangers to Baja. We have been going down for near on 20 years now, but each time there seems to be
something different. I think we will take Bob and Susan's advise and cross at T.J. this time. Had a bad experience coming north a couple years back,
so have been avoiding T.J. We were heading for the border in the city and changed lanes to the curb lane because we were about 1/2 mile from the
border and wanted to be ready, when a cop pulled us over for doing 60 Kilometres per hour in the curb lane, which he informed us was a 40 Kilometres.
Cost me $140 US. Don't really like T.J.vandy - 8-28-2010 at 03:31 AM
Hey David, yes the form is fully filled out and stamped, and included with it is a paper for the bank.
I was told last time to use a Bancomer, and did so in Ensenada. The teller had never seen such a thing, but plodded through it with minimal fuss. I
was given a receipt which I kept with the FMM.
