BajaNomad - Tourist visa Otay or Tecate?

Tourist visa Otay or Tecate?

gnukid - 9-23-2010 at 09:32 PM

I have an elderly friend crossing south (thanks for the dog tips), he needs to get his tourist visa, usually he parks in TJ walks across to get his tourists visa and then drives to Tecate to cross.

He is in La Mesa, CA now, so I am encouraging him to simply go to Tecate or Otay and cross, stop and get his tourist visa and continue? should he park and walk across and then walk back and drive like usual or what? He doesn't like to get out of his car in Mexico to walk to the bank... Can you parl and walk across at Tecate or Otay?

What is it like to park and get a tourist visa at Tecate or Otay, he has a typical camp gear and nothing to declare? I looked for posts describing the INM pull off spot but found none? Any tips are really appreciated since he needs exact directions? Thanks

[Edited on 9-24-2010 by gnukid]

David K - 9-23-2010 at 10:28 PM

It has been posted, but no bank close to Tecate border, any more... now it's a few blocks away. Otay has one I read, and it is like Tijuana, park in secondary and there is a bank teller in the complex (I read, never done at Otay).

If his trip is no more than a week he can get a free one... no bank hassle.

[Edited on 9-24-2010 by David K]

gnukid - 9-23-2010 at 10:40 PM

Do you have a prefered casa de cambio near Otay? Or do you use only ATM withdrawl?

He is leaning to going to otay to park in secondary and get his tourist visa pay and go... I hope they are nice there?

David K - 9-23-2010 at 10:42 PM

I use the currency of the local population... dollars! :light:

When we take a long trip into Baja Sur, I used Costco in Chula Vista to buy pesos.

gnukid - 9-23-2010 at 10:53 PM

I barter shark teeth and arrowheads! Thanks DK it all helps!

tjBill - 9-23-2010 at 11:52 PM

I have been to both the Otay and San Ysidro immigration offices. San Ysidro they have better hours and are a lot more helpfull.

bajaguy - 9-24-2010 at 06:04 AM

First, I use ATM's.....they have worked great for me. Just have him call his bank and tell them that he will be in Mexico and give the dates so they don't block his card (also for any VISA or MAstercards).

Second, Otay for the FMM is easy. Just drive through the declare lane, park in the customs area. Walk back to INM....it's on in the offices on the left. Get paperwork, go to the bank (right there, same area) and you are done.

David K - 9-24-2010 at 07:23 AM

Thanks for confirming BajaGuy... What about tjBill's post regarding hours... San Ysidro is 24/7, I thought Otay was also, now?

bajaguy - 9-24-2010 at 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Thanks for confirming BajaGuy... What about tjBill's post regarding hours... San Ysidro is 24/7, I thought Otay was also, now?

Unknown, sorry....supposed to be 24/7:

http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20030726-9999_6...

Baja&Back - 9-24-2010 at 08:07 AM

Can't believe anybody paying $8 to park at San Ysidro, walking across, COMING BACK, and then driving 70 miles out of their way to Tecate!!!
Parking is free at the Declare lane, the bank is right there, and San Ysidro is at least an hour faster to Ensenada. 24 Hrs too.

What is with this inordinate fear of the TJ crossing???

Someone please explain. Thx.

bajaguy - 9-24-2010 at 08:17 AM

I almost always use Otay and take Blvd (Corridor) 2000 to the free/toll road to and from Ensenada. Quick, easy and no hassle of driving through TJ and avoids 2 of the 3 toll booths.

David K - 9-24-2010 at 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja&Back
Can't believe anybody paying $8 to park at San Ysidro, walking across, COMING BACK, and then driving 70 miles out of their way to Tecate!!!
Parking is free at the Declare lane, the bank is right there, and San Ysidro is at least an hour faster to Ensenada. 24 Hrs too.

What is with this inordinate fear of the TJ crossing???

Someone please explain. Thx.

Southbound, the only issue is the merging traffic just south of the border, when you are driving up the overpass... You need to get into the right lane (for the toll road/ scenic route) and a ton of vehicles are trying to get onto the overpass just before the exit you are heading for.

Otay to Corredor 2000 to Hwy. 1, is a breeze, I posted photos from 7 days ago of the route (well signed) in my Las Pintas Trip Report. Only about 5 miles longer than Tijuana south.

Coming north, the Tecate border is worth a few extra miles (20 more miles using Tecate vs. Otay, to San Diego), via Corredor 2000 and Mex. 2. then Hwy. 94.

Bob and Susan - 9-24-2010 at 10:37 AM

fri the 17th we got the daughters visa at tj

we parked in secondary
front office was closed
walked around back and
as we walked by the front office's rear door
the IMN guy yelled
"hey where are you going?"
"right there..."

$23 at the bank
we had to knock on the window...
the bank guy was in the back ZZZZZZ....
took all of 10 minutes

David K - 9-24-2010 at 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
fri the 17th we got the daughters visa at tj

we parked in secondary
front office was closed
walked around back and
as we walked by the front office's rear door
the IMN guy yelled
"hey where are you going?"
"right there..."

$23 at the bank
we had to knock on the window...
the bank guy was in the back ZZZZZZ....
took all of 10 minutes

Just what time was this Bob?

Bob and Susan - 9-24-2010 at 04:46 PM

6:30AM

David K - 9-24-2010 at 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
6:30AM

THOUGHT SO!!! LOL! :lol:

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 9-24-2010 at 05:18 PM

Hola, my son is coming down to and meeting me at san quintin for about three days to fish and i read on this website that the former fmt is not necessary as it's within some type of exclusion zone ? does he have to stop and pay for any documentation ? i don't want his insurance invalidated due to some technicality if the need arises.

also, heard the toll booths do not accept american dollars.

not trying to hijack this thread.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

David K - 9-24-2010 at 05:27 PM

Toll boths have dollars and peso prices posted! We paid the one toll we used a week ago in dollars ($2.30 I think).

Frequently we read that all of Baja Norte is in the 'border zone'... or that the former Maneadero southern limit is extended to San Quintin.

Opinion time...

U.S. People have traveled many times south of San Felipe and south of Maneadero without one. If it was important to have in Baja Norte, they would have a migra checkpoint like they do at the Baja Sur border... wouldn't you think? They used to at Maneadero... and you could 'tip' the officer if you didn't have one already (from the border)... the good 'ol days!

Bob and Susan - 9-24-2010 at 06:35 PM

first 2 are $2.10 usa

the last is $2.30 usa

gnukid - 9-24-2010 at 10:51 PM

fyi My pal went Otay today to the far right lane in order to get a tourist visa, but once in the right lane you cannot turn away and must declare, no backing up or exiting, even though he had nothing to declare, there was no way out.

So after two hours of unloading everything they gave him a nothing to declare form signed and stamped. Not the worst thing, but the correct thing for tourists to do is go to the left lanes, after red or green light and inspection simply pull over to the right and park along the wall and walk back to get the visa and pay.

Never go to the declare line with nothing to declare at Otay Mesa, Otay is a commercial border crossing which is run very professionally and fair if you do want to declare.

Bob and Susan - 9-25-2010 at 04:53 AM

there is a parking lot next to the declare area
don't park with the importers

you do have to drive into the secondary

then you can walk back
the bank is located in the import office

it's not as easy as tj

gnukid - 9-25-2010 at 06:55 AM

At Otay Mesa do not go into the right hand declare lane unless you are going to complete a formal complete inspection which means viewing everything inside the vehicle and completing the form, signed and stamped, you must have a completed declare sticker to hand to two gate keepers as you leave. there is a self declaration office where you can go and explain you have nothing but it must be verified by the inspectors. It's very awkward if you have nothing to declare or worse if you have something you did not declare then it would be an infraction.

The correct lane for tourists who do not declare are the left hand lanes, then you can park along the wall where there are spots and you can walk in and get a visa.

woody with a view - 9-25-2010 at 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gnukid
fyi My pal went Otay today to the far right lane in order to get a tourist visa, but once in the right lane you cannot turn away and must declare, no backing up or exiting, even though he had nothing to declare, there was no way out.

So after two hours of unloading everything they gave him a nothing to declare form signed and stamped. Not the worst thing, but the correct thing for tourists to do is go to the left lanes, after red or green light and inspection simply pull over to the right and park along the wall and walk back to get the visa and pay.

Never go to the declare line with nothing to declare at Otay Mesa, Otay is a commercial border crossing which is run very professionally and fair if you do want to declare.

gnu

why oh why didn't you tell your buddy this beforehand? some friend..... :lol:

gnukid - 9-25-2010 at 08:14 AM

I guess everyone of these seniors has to learn for themselves, which is what baja is about. You can't tell anyone anything. And the fun part about baja is it's always changing. It don't do no good for the younguns to tell these SeniorS Nuthin!

The other great thing about seniors is they don't hear so good so the can always blame someone else for not telling 'em right. And then there's the language issue, who really speaks spanish or english, practically no one, the worse thing you can do is to speak spanish and english and use more than the most rudimentary congegation, you lose most everyone of these sneiors and insult them too with new fangled words.

Like I was telliNg Skeet the other day about weather, Ya'll need to look to Africa to see what's coming with the storms, these darn Rv'ers think they know what's going on by looking out the window! Gosh darn it!

And what the hey, what's with these seniors and their eating habits, don't they know you aRe what you eAt, cut out the nitrates and preservatives! You can't wear a lap band forever! Ya'll need to get out and eat Yur Vegetables, LeArn to GardEn and CoOk. Wheeze Cough, It's the older generation who are causing the problems for us younger fOlks, loose some weight! Arrr, Get some eXcerCise! Slow down! Say hello to someone, ya'll got raised in a BaRn!

And one more thing, Ya don't see Mama Espinosa's complaining when there's no power! Or Bahja Cactus, Antonio's runs no matter what, t'ain't no difference cause these folks rEmemBer what is was like to live, I tell ya Skeet get out more often, unplug from MoDern Conveniences, Live life! Your not a baby! stop being so dependent!

[Edited on 9-25-2010 by gnukid]

woody with a view - 9-25-2010 at 08:26 AM

Skeet

notice the random Capitol letters in Gnukids post above. there is a message in them. you just have to put them in the right order.

i got it already and it only took me 7 minutes and 34 seconds. you're up!

boe4fun - 10-4-2010 at 10:35 AM

Quote:

OK, I don't mean to rehash this whole thing but here's my problem: We are planning on dropping 27 large boxes of Prosthetic/Orthotic parts at a shipping company near Otay Mesa on Monday, Oct. 11th, at 08:00 AM and they will arrange to transport them down to La Paz for the Rotarian clinic. After that, we go to the Otay crossing pulling a 25' Alpenlite 5th wheel. We need to get our tourist visas when we cross there. Is there adequate parking for a trailer on the right hand side along the wall as described above? Or, if I get a red light, can I park in or alongside the inspection area while myself and my wife get our visas? Also, where does one pay? We're looking for anyone who wants to caravan down as well. Thanks for your input. Paul Boe