BajaNomad - Crossing Tecate without passport

Crossing Tecate without passport

BajaErin - 1-13-2011 at 01:18 AM

Okay, we are leaving Friday very early to drive down to San Felipe and when we head back north, we usually cross at Tecate. The problem discovered tonight is that we are missing one passport. We moved 5-1/2 months ago and I've already spent time tonight digging through boxes all over the place.

Does anybody have knowledge of recent attempts to cross at Tecate without a passport? Is it still possible?

Thank you in advance

[Edited on 1-13-2011 by BajaErin]

David K - 1-13-2011 at 01:36 AM

The former needed Birth Certificate and photo ID combo works. The passport is just prefered and speeds up the process, if there is any question of your citizenship... Just smile and be polite... don't try and bring back any items of the forbidden list (any pork products, eggs, raw chicken, many kinds of fruit, potatoes, wood, plants, etc.).

DENNIS - 1-13-2011 at 08:05 AM

I hope you find that Passport. You will get it replaced although it can be a pain in the butt.

sancho - 1-13-2011 at 09:00 AM

For San Ysidro, and I assume any crossing, the
already mentioned DL will do, if you have a birth
cert bring it, but I would not hesitate to cross back to the US
with just a DL. Tijuana resident Gringos do it
on a regular basis. I don't remember if you said
how long you're staying in SF, or if you're
considering a tourist permit, fmm, but
I don't believe Mex Immigration will issue an
fm without Passport/passcard, 6nt/7 day fmm is free
A month or so ago, at the San Ysidro pedistrian crossing
they instituded 2 different lines, 1 for people with
proper documents, 1 without, Customs says only
60% have proper documents, what is printed on a site,
is not always how it applied, they are currently not
enforceing the passport requirement for crossing by
land, all they may do is ahnd you a flyer stating
you need a passport

[Edited on 1-13-2011 by sancho]

rts551 - 1-13-2011 at 09:09 AM

Copied from the homeland security page.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/getyouhome/

U.S. Border Crossing Requirements Have Changed- Make sure you are compliant today!

Simplify your travel checklist!

Starting June 1, 2009, U.S. citizens returning home from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda, by land or sea, are required to present one of the travel documents listed below.

U.S. Passport – This is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies a person’s identity and nationality. It is accepted for travel by air, land and sea.

U.S. Passport Card – This is a new, limited-use travel document that fits in your wallet and costs less than a
U.S. Passport. It is only valid for travel by land and sea.

Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) – Several states
and Canadian provinces are issuing this driver’s license
or identification document that denotes identity and citizenship. It is specifically designed for cross-border travel into the U.S. by land or sea.

Trusted Traveler Program Cards – NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST enrollment cards can speed your entry into the U.S. and are issued only to pre-approved, low-risk travelers. The cards are valid for use at land or sea; the NEXUS card can be used in airports with a NEXUS kiosk.

Special Groups – Information for Children, Groups of Children, Native Americans, "Closed Loop" Cruises, U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents, U.S. Military, Merchant Mariners, Ferries and Small Boats, and Boaters.

Knowing what documents are required and having them ready when you return home will help streamline the entry process and ensure your return to the U.S. is as smooth
as possible.

durrelllrobert - 1-13-2011 at 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
I hope you find that Passport. You will get it replaced although it can be a pain in the butt.

when I lost mine I got a replacement in 2 days @ US consulate in TJ which was not a pain in the butt :lol:

DENNIS - 1-13-2011 at 10:22 AM

I didn't exactly lose mine. It just never got to me in the mail. I had to sign what sounded like a loyalty oath to get a replacement.

OK...here's a funny story. When I thought I had waited long enough for the mail to deliver my renewal, I went to the Passport office in Chula Vista and asked about it.
Her reply was, "Don't tell me...call this number." It was [perhaps still is] a 900 number, just like the sex phone numbers. That's what Goat says anyway.
The charge to call the office, a US agency, was a couple of dollars per minute. This gets worse.
I had to make the call, so I did, and after completing my business I asked the lady what the sex numbers were all about to talk with the US government. She replied that the Passport Agency was striving to make themselves self-sufficient.

So much for tax dollars at work.

rts551 - 1-13-2011 at 10:28 AM

Dennis you can get a status without a 900 number at. I just did for my renewal (but I did not use a passport service )

https://passportstatus2.state.gov/opss/OPSS_Status_ip.asp

DENNIS - 1-13-2011 at 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551
Dennis you can get a status without a 900 number at. I just did for my renewal (but I did not use a passport service )

https://passportstatus2.state.gov/opss/OPSS_Status_ip.asp

Thanks. I knew the status... knew it had been sent. It was lost in the mail.
Calling the office was the first step in having it replaced.

I didn't use a service either. It was a US Passport Office. They even had a flag and a foto of George Bush. Very official.

I don't understand why, but they send Passports out with about as much caution as Costco ads. The second issue was sent through protected mail, certified or registered....forget which. I think, in this day and age when keeping riff-raff out of the country is most important, all of them should be sent with extreme caution.

Our government at work to serve and protect blah blah blah.

BajaErin - 1-13-2011 at 02:18 PM

Thank you everybody for the prompt responses and information.

Fortunately the passport was found just as I logged onto here to check. Whew!

San Felipe here we come...

DENNIS - 1-13-2011 at 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaErin
Fortunately the passport was found just as I logged onto here to check. Whew!
San Felipe here we come...

Right on. Have a good trip.

Bajahowodd - 1-13-2011 at 02:27 PM

Anyone else find it ironic that we can all cross back the the States without our passport, yet Mexico requires the passport to issue the FMM? Especially since the Western hemisphere Travel Initiative had, as a primary goal, increasing homeland security!

DENNIS - 1-13-2011 at 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Anyone else find it ironic that we can all cross back the the States without our passport, yet Mexico requires the passport to issue the FMM? Especially since the Western hemisphere Travel Initiative had, as a primary goal, increasing homeland security!

Not everyone down here is required to get an FMM. Last week, there were 14 or 15 tourist daytrippers.

Things is lookin' up.

rts551 - 1-13-2011 at 03:59 PM

Renew by mail. I did my stuff on-line and had it mailed in the US. It comes return mail to an address of your choice in the US. Then have it brought down. I understand The consulate can do it...but did not want the extra traqvel from mid-baja.

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7

Quote:

Good to know. Were you renewing from within Mexico? I have to renew mine this year, which requires two round-trips to Cabo San Lucas. They won't accept the application or deliver the new passport by mail or courier.

Kate

sancho - 1-13-2011 at 04:55 PM

Yes I find it ironic, why Homeland Security backed off
fully requiring passports/passcards to return is
a question I've never read an answer for.
I think the misinfo you need a passport to return
has a negative effect on Mex Border Tourism
don't know how much though

DENNIS - 1-13-2011 at 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sancho
Yes I find it ironic, why Homeland Security backed off
fully requiring passports/passcards to return is
a question I've never read an answer for.
I think the misinfo you need a passport to return
has a negative effect on Mex Border Tourism
don't know how much though

Maybe they figured it's unconstitutional to require a citizen to produce a passport to enter his own country.

Bajahowodd - 1-13-2011 at 05:36 PM

How much? Mucho! Just consider the convention business in San Diego. Always had day trips to TJ. Similarly, there were always buses going to Puerto Nuevo. That stuff is gone. Even though we individual travelers can get away with it, No way a tour company can.

DENNIS - 1-13-2011 at 06:30 PM

I think the snail pace of returning traffic has been just as much a negative. I posted recently of some walkers who spent 3.5 hours in line to return. Who wants to do that?

I wonder what happens to the weekend kids who cross to drink on Revo? The few that still do anyway. Do they make them have Passports?
All it would take is for a few to say it's not necessary and none of them would comply.

roadhog - 1-13-2011 at 08:20 PM

found it !! buy a FOLDER- a red/yellow/orange/bright blue folder. Place insurance, tourist card, passports, med cards ad nauseum into folder. Place folder in un seat back sleeve or....

karmatourer - 1-14-2011 at 01:38 AM

Back in May,I only had 1 visa page empty with 4 years to go on my passport.So I added pages for free before the cost to do so went to USD 84 or some other ridiculous amount

.I had to pay for priority shipping w/signature to them but my passport was returned via Priority Mail for free.The entire process was under 2 weeks.
Adding pages gives the same number of pages originally issued.

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

sancho - 1-14-2011 at 09:27 AM

I've heard the debate about the Constitutionality of
having to prove you are a citizen to enter your own Country.
They obviously won't deny entry. Customs probably
does like the fact that they don't have to deal
with many 18 yr. old kids, throwing up in the Pedestrian line
coming back at 3 am Sun. morning.
I'm sure the reports of violence is the major reason
for Border Tourism decline

DENNIS - 1-14-2011 at 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sancho
I'm sure the reports of violence is the major reason
for Border Tourism decline

It's like the "three strike" rule:

[1] Long wait times

[2] Violence

[3] The economy

You're outta there.