Can anyone tell me if the immigration office in La Paz is open over the next two weeks?
Thank you!DENNIS - 12-20-2010 at 04:34 PM
Don't know about La Paz, but I had an appointment in Ensenada last Friday and they were closing that day until the 3rd of January.
Same agency so it's probably the same down there.dtutko1 - 12-22-2010 at 06:57 AM
La Paz immigration office was open yesterday Tue 12/21. Don't know about the rest of the holiday time.Bajatripper - 12-23-2010 at 03:24 PM
Tod
Went by the immigration office to ask them your question just now. They will be observing normal hours of operation from now until Jan 3rd, at which
time, one presumes, they will catch up on missed closures.Tod - 12-23-2010 at 04:24 PM
First, thank you for checking the La Paz immigration in person. I really appreciate that.
Now call me confused. We came to Baja over Thanksgiving for 9 days. During that time we met with Alonso Lopez to help us through the FM3 process since
we had missed our renewal this summer due to job changes. He was very helpful and prompt with his help knowing we would be back December 20th to pick
our FM3's up. We wired money to his bank account in the US but then were informed that the office would be closed from the 20th of December to the 3rd
of January. We have to leave on the 2nd of January so this left us relying on the information provided by Alonso regarding the closure and without our
FM3's.
I copied the messages regarding the offices being open and sent to Alonso. Hopefully he is in town and we can pick them up.
Thank you again and thanks for letting me share. I really hope it is just a misunderstanding and we can leave with our FM3's.
By the way, on a happier note I did catch a 34 inch Sierra on a Mag Darter off the beach at Todos Santos. Good eats!
Todtoneart - 12-23-2010 at 09:49 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Don't know about La Paz, but I had an appointment in Ensenada last Friday and they were closing that day until the 3rd of January.
Same agency so it's probably the same down there.
There ya go again, Dennis, using logic to try to figure out official business in Mexico!
The only thing uniform about how they conduct business is...well...the uniform.DENNIS - 12-23-2010 at 10:11 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by toneart
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Same agency so it's probably the same down there.
There ya go again, Dennis, using logic to try to figure out official business in Mexico!
Nah. Not me, Tony. I included the element of probability. Nothing certain here that I'm aware of.longlegsinlapaz - 12-24-2010 at 08:48 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Tod
Now call me confused. We came to Baja over Thanksgiving for 9 days. During that time we met with Alonso Lopez to help us through the FM3 process since
we had missed our renewal this summer due to job changes. He was very helpful and prompt with his help knowing we would be back December 20th to pick
our FM3's up. We wired money to his bank account in the US but then were informed that the office would be closed from the 20th of December to the 3rd
of January. We have to leave on the 2nd of January so this left us relying on the information provided by Alonso regarding the closure and without our
FM3's.
WHICH office would be closed December 20 - January 2??? Alonzo's or INM?? As a
general rule of thumb, many businesses do close during that date span....Alonzo's might, but INM does not.
Quote:
I copied the messages regarding the offices being open and sent to Alonso. Hopefully he is in town and we can pick them up.
Thank you again and thanks for letting me share. I really hope it is just a misunderstanding and we can leave with our FM3's.
It is my understanding that under the revised process which was implemented in May 2010, that an agent can facilitate the entire process....right up
until the final pick up of the actual documents....the individual is now required to be there to sign, give both thumb prints & physically receive
the FM3 card in person.
If you can't get in touch with Alonzo, I'd go to INM & see if you can get your card yourself. It will be a hassle because they'll want your file
number, but with the new online system, there should be a way for them to go online & back into that number by using your name. I'd try that
route rather than depending on the agent in the 11th hour.
The INM folks do speak English, so don't think that you couldn't make yourself understood. IMO, since you missed your original renewal time-frame,
you're in a "precarious" position on entering & leaving the country legally....i.e., if you have an FM3, you can't enter/leave on an FMM....it's
illegal. So rather than compound your problems, I'd go to INM personally & try to resolve the situation on your own if you can't talk with your
agent. INM is open 9 AM - 1 PM daily. I'm not sure why their website has Todos Santos in the title, but the following URL is for the La Paz INM
office:
What date are you leaving? If you can't get in touch with your agent & would like some "moral support" going into INM with you, send me a U2U.
They're really nice folks! I personally wouldn't leave without getting your documents finalized & in hand.Tod - 12-24-2010 at 11:10 AM
Hello Long Legs,
Thanks for being so helpful. I emailed Alonso last night and again this morning. I know, it is Christmas eve so he may not be checking his messages
frequently. He indicated clearly that the Immigration office was closed during from the 20th of Dec. until the 3rd of January. Not sure why....hope it
was a misunderstanding on his part.
I asked him for the file number. He did indicate that everything was filed and paid for a week ago and I hope that is the case. If so, I am happy to
try getting the FM3's on my own on the 26th or 27th (picking daughters up on Cabo on the 26th so 27th might make more sense). I'm sure willing to give
it a try but it would be excellent if we had the file number from Alonso.
Thanks again for your interest in our plight and for the offer of help. I'll keep you updated.
Todlonglegsinlapaz - 12-24-2010 at 11:37 AM
No problem....I'll be here on the 27th if you want moral support. Check your U2U.Bajatripper - 12-27-2010 at 02:31 AM
I'm up in California for a quick visit with Bajalera, so I can't go down to the immigration office in La Paz to see if they are, indeed, open as they
said they would be. But I did want to include this information about my visit there earlier this week. After I verified that they would be open over
the holiday, as I was leaving, I overheard one of the guys tell the person who assisted me that she should have told me they would be closed over the
holiday.Tod - 12-27-2010 at 11:08 AM
We went to La Paz immigration this morning with file numbers in hand. Immediately upon entering we were told they were closed for the holidays. So you
could walk in and talk to workers but they could not help us. We waited for Alonso and he spoke with them and confirmed they won't be open for
business until January 3rd. Alonso informed us this was the first year he was aware of them doing this. We will have to fly down over President's Day
weekend in Feb to pick them up. Thanks for everyone's input. Obviously it was a confusing situation and Alonso was correct in his information.
Back to enjoying our vacation.
Saludos,
TodBajatripper - 12-28-2010 at 02:31 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Tod
We went to La Paz immigration this morning with file numbers in hand. Immediately upon entering we were told they were closed for the holidays. So you
could walk in and talk to workers but they could not help us. We waited for Alonso and he spoke with them and confirmed they won't be open for
business until January 3rd. Alonso informed us this was the first year he was aware of them doing this. We will have to fly down over President's Day
weekend in Feb to pick them up. Thanks for everyone's input. Obviously it was a confusing situation and Alonso was correct in his information.
Back to enjoying our vacation.
Saludos,
Tod
Man, that blows me away! I only thought to ask if they were going to be open. They must be enjoying the laugh on us with that one. Sorry about the
misinformation.
