BajaNomad - When should we get our visas

When should we get our visas

cftlet - 10-22-2010 at 10:01 AM

Hola all

There is a group of us (five vehicles) crossing at Tecate on tuesday the 26th. We are headed for Los Barrilles for the winter. We will have two rigs pulling travel trailers, two pulling cargo trailers and one pulling a vehicle. I have two questions.

1. For the last two years I have always crossed at Tecate and have driven to GN to get my visa (the next day). One of the people going said he heard that people were being stoped and sent back to the boarder to get their visas. I thought we had three days to get our visas.

2. Has there been improvement of hi way 3? Should we plan on taking road 2000 ( none of us have ever gone that way but thanks to the great coverage of that route on this site Im sure we will have no problems).

Gracias for any help :yes:

Pompano - 10-22-2010 at 10:03 AM

cflet..best read the last posts on the Tecate-Ensenada road. With all the recent rains, that route will not be fun!

vandenberg - 10-22-2010 at 10:21 AM

Take the San Ysidro crossing, get your visas there and save yourself a lot of grief.
Also by far the fastest way. Take the toll road and don't drive after dark. :saint:

woody with a view - 10-22-2010 at 10:30 AM

not to mention your insurance "MAY" be void if in an accident and you are illegally in the country (past san flippy or maneadero) without a tourist visa.....

Bajatripper - 10-22-2010 at 10:37 AM

If you want to save the hassle of finding parking, running to the bank to pay, etc. you might consider getting your visa at the offices of Discover Baja in San Diego. They have a special arragement with Mexican immigration that allows them to issue tourist visas. They have relocated to 3264 Governor Drive, which is suppose to be easily accessible to a freeway (I haven't been to the new offices, so I can't verify that). You could also get your Mexican insurance while you are there.
You might consider visiting their website at www.discoverbaja.com to see what they're about, if you don't already know.

Have a safe trip

oxxo - 10-22-2010 at 10:42 AM

With what you all are towing, I would avoid HWY 3.

Why not park on the US side at Tecate, walk across, and get your visas there? I recommend NOT getting your visas at GN, the office there is often unmanned.

woody with a view - 10-22-2010 at 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajatripper
If you want to save the hassle of finding parking, running to the bank to pay, etc. you might consider getting your visa at the offices of Discover Baja in San Diego. They have a special arragement with Mexican immigration that allows them to issue tourist visas. They have relocated to 3264 Governor Drive, which is suppose to be easily accessible to a freeway (I haven't been to the new offices, so I can't verify that). You could also get your Mexican insurance while you are there.
You might consider visiting their website at www.discoverbaja.com to see what they're about, if you don't already know.

Have a safe trip

i did just this last trip and at 5am the guys at migracion were confused either by the new forms or the fact that they were already paid for. they didn't give us any problems, but my wife (Peruvian, who uses her language skills to our advantage at precise moments) said after we left that the guys were confused and didn't know what to make of the paperwork we presented them. they gave us the stamp and we went on our way wondering if Mexico will ever get it's act together......

Bajatripper - 10-22-2010 at 11:52 AM

Quote:

and we went on our way wondering if Mexico will ever get it's act together......

Let's hope not! It would take most of the fun and adventure out of our travels down here.

[Edited on 10-22-2010 by Bajatripper]

sancho - 10-22-2010 at 01:28 PM

I'll never understand the prepaid fmm's,
cost what $8 more?
You still have to stop at Mex Immigration
at the entry point to have them stamp
it with an entry date, you still have to
find parking at Mex IMM. Make sure the
Mex IMM Officer signs your form,
that is if there is a place for his signature
on the fmm as there was on the fmt

BajaBlanca - 10-22-2010 at 01:58 PM

we went to Discover Baja ... easy to get to ... they need a bigger sign in front but other than that - easy as pie !!

Baja&Back - 10-22-2010 at 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sancho
I'll never understand the prepaid fmm's,
cost what $8 more?
You still have to stop at Mex Immigration
at the entry point to have them stamp
it with an entry date,

Don't forget you have to join Discover Baja Club first, at $39, so that's 71 bucks total for a $24 FMM.

Last I heard, the Migracion office at Guerrero Negro won't issue Tourist Cards anymore.

Last winter, one of our caravans got fined $40 each person for not getting Tourist cards at the border. Lot of money out of my pocket for a "new" regulation change.
Good ol' Mexico!

woody with a view - 10-22-2010 at 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sancho
I'll never understand the prepaid fmm's,
cost what $8 more?
You still have to stop at Mex Immigration
at the entry point to have them stamp
it with an entry date, you still have to
find parking at Mex IMM. Make sure the
Mex IMM Officer signs your form,
that is if there is a place for his signature
on the fmm as there was on the fmt

BECAUSE at 3-5am (when we usually cross) it is poorly lit, a fairly stupid process where EVERYONE has to go to the office (they twice have made me go back to get my wife to WATCH her sign the form), walk back to the bank, wake the guy (i've been told by the guy he doesn't open til 8am-he was adamant, wouldn't let me pay-waved me away), walk back to the IMM guy sign the forms, get the stamp (don't let there be 20 people crossing the turnstiles when you get back-been there!), walk back to deal with the marooon inspector who wants me to empty 1/2 my truck and open my trailer even though i show him the FMT's and tell him i'm not declaring ANYTHING!!!!

i'd rather just walk back there once and get on the road. $16 is worth 15 minutes of my time.

understand? :?:

Bajahowodd - 10-22-2010 at 05:29 PM

Not sure what politics are involved here, but the whole tourist visa thing seems to be a joke. I posted here a couple of weeks ago about how the bank guy wouldn't accept my money at San Ysidro. In fact, my party managed to spend two weeks in Baja, traveling to Cabo and back, without ever having been asked for those visas. I am not advocating anyone flaunting Mexican law. But, I just get a gut feeling that the present system is under some form of political controversy. It wasn't too many years ago that there was no cost. Given the major tourism problem, one has to wonder if there are certain factions that would like to go back to the days of old. After all, why would anyone support a program that limits visitors in Mexico?

sancho - 10-22-2010 at 05:52 PM

There was a recent post, hypothetical I'm sure,
that questioned needing Mex Ins or an
fmm at all. I find driving in Mex risky enough,
to knowingly ignore their Laws or Regs
is beyond me. We go to enjoy, what I consider
a unique place, so I for one, will go out of my
way to abide by their Laws. I wasn't always
like this, driving with open container,
no Insurance, fishing license,etc. I find it, if nothing
else, just courteous. Sometimes it's a hassle,
sometimes makes little sense trying to decipher
their Regs or get a clear answer. As mentioned,
you have to be in the country of Mexico
legally for your Ins to be valid. Why would
ANYONE risk that?

irenemm - 10-22-2010 at 06:28 PM

Lots of road work south of Ensenada From La Canada swimming pools to a little north of the check point. Lots of mud from this rains.
Expect to take at least 3 hours to Vicente Guerrero,
Drive careful and don't be in a hurry.
Take it really slow with the construction area.
Enjoy your adventure.

Bajatripper - 10-22-2010 at 07:17 PM

Quote:

I wasn't always
like this, driving with open container,
no Insurance, fishing license,etc. I find it, if nothing
else, just courteous. Sometimes it's a hassle,
sometimes makes little sense trying to decipher
their Regs or get a clear answer. As mentioned,
you have to be in the country of Mexico
legally for your Ins to be valid. Why would
ANYONE risk that?

Ahh, yes, a sure sign that one is getting older and, presumably, wiser.

wilderone - 10-23-2010 at 09:05 AM

the problem in Tecate is finding parking so you can go to the migra office. Would be much worse with the trailers and such. The last time I crossed in Tecate will intention to get a visa there, I went around the block, up and down a couple streets, and ended up taking a chance that it would work out at GN if need be. I practiced my espanol for an explanation - "no estacionarse in Tecate, si yo quiero venir a Guerrero Negro . . ." (my Spanish is so mal). But I was not asked to show my visa at the Baja Sur border - they only wanted a dollar for the insect spraying. If I were you with that big crowd, I'd park at a trolley station the day before, take the trolley and do visas on foot in TJ - might as well get pesos too.

unbob - 10-24-2010 at 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wilderone
I'd park at a trolley station the day before, take the trolley and do visas on foot in TJ - might as well get pesos too.

The only problem with that plan is worrying about my rig being stolen or vandalized. Is there any sort of security at the trolley station parking lot? Any "live" patrolling guards and/or surveillance cameras?

I always hate to park and leave my rig unattended. Had my rig and everything I owned stolen back in '95 (in Oregon) and so yes I am paranoid!

Brian L - 10-24-2010 at 12:08 PM

Most stations now have guards posted as well as live cameras monitored by staff. Call 619-595-4960 for updated information on guard duties.

My car was broken into a year ago at a station that didn't have a guard for a two-week period. The thieves know where to go and when! I feel safe now that it is manned during the day.

Feel free to ask questions about the trolley, I work for a local public agency that works with the Trolley.

Quote:

Originally posted by unbob

Quote:

Originally posted by wilderone
I'd park at a trolley station the day before, take the trolley and do visas on foot in TJ - might as well get pesos too.

sancho - 10-24-2010 at 12:44 PM

I'm not sure, but you may still be able to
get an fmm at the Eneenada Immigration,
I believe you pay a $5 $10 dollar penalty

Pompano - 10-24-2010 at 04:17 PM

Last week, I drove a visiting friend to Discover Baja for her necessary tourist stuff.

180-day FMT, 1 year fishing license, auto insurance, travel guide,
etc. It was all simple and easy as compared to doing this at the border.

Getting the FMTstamped after entering the country is a quick and easy
task...as opposed to getting everything mentioned there. No comparison.

see the posts above as examples.

fishingmako - 10-24-2010 at 07:09 PM

I would not use Tecate with that many vehicles, and type of vehicles, you are looking for confusion and a mess, I came into Tecate Friday and the Mexican immigration was using Dogs to check Vehicles entering into Mexico.

ArvadaGeorge - 10-24-2010 at 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano
Last week, I drove a visiting friend to Discover Baja for her necessary tourist stuff.

180-day FMT, 1 year fishing license, auto insurance, travel guide,
etc. It was all simple and easy as compared to doing this at the border.

Getting the FMTstamped after entering the country is a quick and easy
task...as opposed to getting everything mentioned there. No comparison.

see the posts above as examples.

Did your friend have to join Discover Baja club?

[Edited on 10-25-2010 by ArvadaGeorge]

David K - 10-24-2010 at 07:33 PM

These are all 'club services'... as well as discounts all over Baja and on the huge Baja book and map store at Discover Baja... well worth the $39 membership, IMO.

ArvadaGeorge - 10-25-2010 at 08:43 AM

I joined to day