BajaNomad

24/7, Eh?

Bajahowodd - 10-7-2010 at 12:46 PM

Went through at San Ysidro at 7:30 pm last Friday. Really nice young guy at IMM. Went next door to the bank and the guy told me to scram. Said he only processes the FMMs between 7am and 7pm. Went back to the IMM guy. He stamped the cards and said to just pay at any bank. Just wondering if the guy in the bank was screwing with me, or if they only now process during the day?

DENNIS - 10-7-2010 at 12:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
scram



Spanish or English? :lol:

Mexicorn - 10-7-2010 at 12:58 PM

Dirty Harry used to say the word "Scram" alot in the movies.

vandy - 10-7-2010 at 01:34 PM

No Prob....just pay at any banco before you return. It happens all the time to me at Tecate on Saturdays. I think they insisted on BANCOMER to pay. I seem to remember paying near Ensenada or someplace before returning.
I actually DIDN'T pay one time, a couple of years ago, but again, no probs.

Bob and Susan - 10-7-2010 at 01:50 PM

im looking at my daughters receipt
from the bank for her fmm...

Sept 10th 6:05am

David K - 10-7-2010 at 02:50 PM

There are TWO 'banks' (walk up windows) at San Ysidro/Tijuana border, Mexico... one is a regular bank, money exchange, etc. and the other is ONLY for paying the tourist card tax.

Next time, say please and look like you are a helpless tourist with a problem that only he (in his official position) can solve. If they in control are made to feel superior or heroic, then the world is yours!

woody with a view - 10-7-2010 at 02:50 PM

i let you know when i get back. crossing around 5ish in the manana.

sancho - 10-7-2010 at 04:04 PM

I always wondered how the pay at a Bank
later worked, they obviously stamp your
fmm at Immigration with a date of
entry, then somewhere on the fmm or other place
it must make reference
to being valid only if you have a Bank Reciept.
So logic tells me the fmm is not technically
valid until you have a reciept with it.
Although I'm probably a little more uptight than
most on being legal when it comes to
Mex Immigration

David K - 10-7-2010 at 05:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by sancho
I always wondered how the pay at a Bank
later worked, they obviously stamp your
fmm at Immigration with a date of
entry, then somewhere on the fmm or other place
it must make reference
to being valid only if you have a Bank Reciept.
So logic tells me the fmm is not technically
valid until you have a reciept with it.
Although I'm probably a little more uptight than
most on being legal when it comes to
Mex Immigration


It's a joke... drive all around Mexico 'legally' and just pop in a bank to pay before you cross back???

What if on the last day of your trip or when you finally come out of the wilderness of Baja to a city, with a bank... the bank is closed for some unknown holiday... WHAT do you do??? Not go home on the day you planned to return and stay an extra day in Tijuana or ? waiting for a bank to open and pay them, then drive across the border?

Yet, you were 'legal' up until then (unpaid) per the instructions of some officer.

Money making scheme that doesn't help any businesses or families in Baja... It hurts actually because the nonsense of having to pay at a bank instead of the INM office itself deters many from the hassle of Mexico travel.

Sure, sure we do it... good neighbors and all, don't want to be hyprocates...But, we are bringing money INTO Mexico, not going there to become a drain on their public services or take jobs from them.

Tourist Cards were FREE until mid 2000... and tourism was not taxed upon entry...

They either need to go back to a free Tourist Card (so we are documented) or enable the federal officers to collect the fee in their offices. Don't they have a bonding agency in Mexico or cannot the federal government have agents that can be trusted with accepting money... a cashier, like at the DMV???

movinguy - 10-7-2010 at 08:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Don't they have a bonding agency in Mexico or cannot the federal government have agents that can be trusted with accepting money... a cashier, like at the DMV???


In a word, no . . . Same reason they don't have a functioning postal system or similar services - no one can be trusted with anything. :rolleyes:

Curt63 - 10-7-2010 at 09:01 PM

Woody,

I'll be right behind you crossing at daybreak. Hope you get the tuna or waves or whatever you want.

I only get a 3 day quickie, but I'm still super Baja stoked!!!!!