FMM reality?

Let us know... maybe you can't go back to Mexico until next May?

I should add that I never turned in my visa when leaving Mexico by car. I just applied for a new one at the border upon re-entry when the current one had expired. Otherwise I just kept using the current one until the 180 days had expired.

I have never been asked for my visa by Immigration at the border. Why should they since no visa is required within XX miles of th border. Once beyond the frontera, Immigration would have no idea that you have been out of the country. And I would never volunteer that information either.

The day that Mexican Immigration has a border station like the ones for re-entry into the US, and every car is stopped, and proof of valid visa is required.......that will be a new ball game..........and the death of American border tourism. That ain't gonna happen soon. The cartels are making too much money from Americans on one day trips to the border towns.

Not true. In Sonora, there are sizeable immigration checkpoints that are near, but not adjacent to the border. They provide easy means for returning the FMM/T, if you choose.

I got a new FMM in late October at K21 south of Nogales, AZ. I had been out of the country for 3 months and did not return my old FMT when I left in July. At the time I received it, I pointedly asked the INM agent if I could receive another one immediately, when this one expired in 180 days. He said, YES. I also asked a person at the INM office in Guaymas while my wife was applying for a new FM-3. He also said, YES.

I suspect that INM is probably going to monitor (via computer) when you actually are issued an FMM. Rather than deal with the logistic headache of processing the returning of them, maybe they will just try and ensure that you dont apply for more than one in 180s, if that is the length you stipulated on your original FMM.

But who really know. This is Mexico.

What we are hearing is that you really must apply for a new FMM at one of these border-adjacent INM stations or risk paying a fine if you try and get one at an office further down in the country. Some have reported the fine as being close to 100.00US. Gnukid's post above doesnt directly address this fine issue.

BTW, the INM office in Guaymas was cleaned out of the agents who were on the take to expedite, much like the Loreto office was. Replacing them are agents who are efficient and who can call someone over who speaks English, if needed. There is actually an assisting agent who greets you in the waiting room, sees what you are there for and then relays this to the agents behind the counter. It is altogether a much better experience.

Well, except for the clusterf#*k parking situation.

[Edited on 11-22-2010 by Hook]

that's all good advice. regarding #1, how early must I wake up?

Yeah....tell him how much you like the beans. If he isn't already sitting down, he'll have to quickly before he blacks out from laughter.

Jes kiddin', Gnu. All of your points are really good, but it just struck me as funny.
I'd better sit down.

Thanks all. I'm still wondering if it's a better idea to try to turn in my original FMM before crossing, or to just apply for a new one before it expires, with all the possible explaining in my feeble spanglish it might entail.

Quote:

Originally posted by jeremias Thanks all. I'm still wondering if it's a better idea to try to turn in my original FMM before crossing, or to just apply for a new one before it expires, with all the possible explaining in my feeble spanglish it might entail.

Ok! I'll be back in a couple days and post my experience, as either a visa holder or a newly illegal alien.

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS Quote: Originally posted by jeremias Thanks all. I'm still wondering if it's a better idea to try to turn in my original FMM before crossing, or to just apply for a new one before it expires, with all the possible explaining in my feeble spanglish it might entail. If you arn't going further south of Sauzal, I don't know why you bother with it anyway.