BajaNomad - Crossing with no passport

Crossing with no passport

TheBajaKid - 3-15-2011 at 08:44 PM

Has anyone crossed into the US from Mexico without a passport?
Any info would be nice Thanks in advance

DENNIS - 3-15-2011 at 08:52 PM

I'm sure a lot of people do. Just be humble and apologetic and it won't be too painful.
Attitude is everything and goes a long way.

mcfez - 3-15-2011 at 09:10 PM

Done before .....and will be done again with some of my friends/family. Like DENNIS says...be apologetic and they wont fry you in the 'ol smoky' chair. Just have a DL handy.

David K - 3-15-2011 at 09:19 PM

Not a problem recently for our son who returned at Calexico... He (of course) had his birth certificate and photo ID (the 2 items required before the passport order/ request).

TheBajaKid - 3-15-2011 at 10:19 PM

Thank Guys you made my girlfriend feel a lot better about going without.
After six weeks of the Bureau of consular affairs saying it was being processed they posted " Your passport application was not found. It is possible your application has not made it into our system yet."
We are leaving out on the 20th and will be back around the 14th going all the way to the tip, besides the inspection checkpoint at GN (i will drive around) are there any others south of Constistitucion as i have not been any farther by land

burnrope - 3-16-2011 at 06:20 AM

Millions of Mexicans have done it no problemo.

mtgoat666 - 3-16-2011 at 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBajaKid
Thank Guys you made my girlfriend feel a lot better about going without.
After six weeks of the Bureau of consular affairs saying it was being processed they posted " Your passport application was not found. It is possible your application has not made it into our system yet."
We are leaving out on the 20th and will be back around the 14th going all the way to the tip, besides the inspection checkpoint at GN (i will drive around) are there any others south of Constistitucion as i have not been any farther by land

go for it. worst that can happen is they ask you for passports at one of the many military checkpoints on the way down, or you get into an accident without travel visa and your insurance is invalidated, or you get sick and can't fly home due to lack of passport. go for it. don't worry, be happy. what can go wrong?

DENNIS - 3-16-2011 at 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666
what can go wrong?

In Mexico?? :lol:

mcfez - 3-16-2011 at 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

True...you will NOT be able to fly anywhere...or ship.

David K - 3-16-2011 at 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBajaKid
Has anyone crossed into the US from Mexico without a passport?
Any info would be nice Thanks in advance

Just read your reply where you say you are going to Cabo... that does bring up a problem.

Getting back into the U.S. without a passport (your question) is not a problem. BUT, getting to Cabo could be!

The Mexican INM officials will NOT issue a Tourist Card (FMM) unless you have a passport.

The Tourist Card is like a visa... basically makes you legal in Mexico... Issued free for up to a 7 day stay or about $23 US for up to a 6 month stay.

Technically required to travel south of the border zone or any stay in the border zone over 3 days.

The only place now to get a Tourist Card without paying a fine is at the border... Pull into the 'Something to Declare' line (far right lane southbound) and park by the customs offices... Or park beyond the border and walk back to the offices by the border. You want the office called INM.

The 'good news' is that there no longer seems to be an official at the border with Baja California Sur (near Guerrero Negro) to check for your Tourist Card anymore. When there was, some Nomads would simply cross at one of the other roads into Baja California Sur and not on Hwy. 1.

Hopefully, there are no issues that happen where you need to prove you are in Mexico 'legally'. I just think you should know the answer to the question you didn't ask!

[Edited on 3-16-2011 by David K]

vandenberg - 3-16-2011 at 07:36 AM

At the military stop just north of San Ignacio we were asked for our passports. First time. No idea what would happen if you can't produce one.

Bajajorge - 3-16-2011 at 08:26 AM

Illegals cross without passports on a daily basis. So why not you?

TheBajaKid - 3-16-2011 at 09:04 AM

Hey Mtgoat, go f#$%yourself
To all others Thank You

[Edited on 3-16-2011 by TheBajaKid]

mtgoat666 - 3-16-2011 at 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBajaKid
Hey Mtgoat, go f#$%yourself
To all others Thank You

[Edited on 3-16-2011 by TheBajaKid]

your welcome.

same to you!

TheBajaKid - 3-16-2011 at 09:19 AM

Hey mtgoat wanna go fishing? :lol:

DENNIS - 3-16-2011 at 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBajaKid
Hey Mtgoat, go f#$%yourself
To all others Thank You

Forgive Sr. Goat....for he knows not what he doeth....dooth...doos. You know what I mean.

It wouldn't be the same around here without him....that's for sure. :biggrin:

TheBajaKid - 3-16-2011 at 09:22 AM

I got some cool shoes you can put on made of cement :yes:

Ok Dennis i will give him a few more trys

[Edited on 3-16-2011 by TheBajaKid]

burnrope - 3-16-2011 at 10:21 AM

TheBajaKid,
You need another edit. It's they're, a conjunction of they are. There is a location, "The store is over there."

TheBajaKid - 3-16-2011 at 10:27 AM

Im no good with grammar :!:

DENNIS - 3-16-2011 at 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBajaKid
Im no good with grammar :!:

That's why you're going to be a big star here. You'll turn into a hobby for some folks and give them something to do. :lol:

It's all good.

DENNIS - 3-16-2011 at 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by burnrope
TheBajaKid,
You need another edit. It's they're, a conjunction of they are. There is a location, "The store is over there."

Yep....And this comes from someone who intruduced us to the new and improved spelling of "straight" in off-topic.

Quote:

Originally posted by burnrope

That's the one. It was a straiht club when he ran it.

Jes funnin' wicha, amigo. None of this stuff should be taken seriously. :biggrin:

TheBajaKid

mcfez - 3-16-2011 at 10:43 AM

Download this software. It has spell check built into. It's a great browser. Faster too.

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

[Edited on 3-16-2011 by mcfez]

TheBajaKid - 3-16-2011 at 11:01 AM

Thats the one i use i just dont know how to :lol:

all these red squigglie lines are under all the words i thought it was just showing me new words i had used... :lol:

TheBajaKid - 3-16-2011 at 11:04 AM

Now shes worried more about being in Mexico illegally than crossing back with no passport

mcfez - 3-16-2011 at 11:13 AM

seam seem same saam

Note that saam has a red underline
Right click on it, and a short list of correct spellings pop up
Click on the correct spelled word
That's it :-)

TheBajaKid - 3-16-2011 at 11:25 AM

but if i cant spell how do i know what word to click on when they pop up?
answer that smart guy

[Edited on 3-16-2011 by TheBajaKid]

mcfez - 3-16-2011 at 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBajaKid
but if i cant spell how do i know what word to click on when they pop up?
answer that smart guy

[Edited on 3-16-2011 by TheBajaKid]

answer that smart guy??
Wow...just trying to help you out a bit.
I sort of though you be smart to know that much.....

DENNIS - 3-16-2011 at 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBajaKid
but if i cant spell how do i know what word to click on when they pop up?

I haven't seen you misspell a word yet. I thought the issue was grammer and punctuation. :?:

TheBajaKid - 3-16-2011 at 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBajaKid
but if i cant spell how do i know what word to click on when they pop up?
answer that smart guy

[Edited on 3-16-2011 by TheBajaKid]

answer that smart guy??
Wow...just trying to help you out a bit.
I sort of though you be smart to know that much.....

Mcfez...75% of your posts show that you have a sense of humor. I guess this falls under the "OTHER" 25%. :lol:

David K - 3-16-2011 at 01:48 PM

Yah, bad spelled (poorly spelled) English words are tollerated... Typos can happen to us all (I spelled California as Califorina earlier today)... but at least learn the correct spelling of places in Baja... please :biggrin:

I think you have done just fine! :cool:

DENNIS - 3-16-2011 at 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
but at least learn the correct spelling of places in Baja... please :biggrin:

You mean like, Puercosickos??

mcfez - 3-16-2011 at 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBajaKid

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBajaKid
but if i cant spell how do i know what word to click on when they pop up?
answer that smart guy

[Edited on 3-16-2011 by TheBajaKid]

answer that smart guy??
Wow...just trying to help you out a bit.
I sort of though you be smart to know that much.....

Mcfez...75% of your posts show that you have a sense of humor. I guess this falls under the "OTHER" 25%. :lol:

Did I jump the gun here? Sounds like it. I spoke in a expression of one's regret to follow. I apologize.

bajalou - 3-16-2011 at 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez
Download this software. It has spell check built into. It's a great browser. Faster too.

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

[Edited on 3-16-2011 by mcfez]

I tried the Firefox 4 a couple days ago - it locked up every time I wanted to do a search and if I tried to go to a Google site. I reloaded 3.5 and all is well again.

DENNIS - 3-16-2011 at 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez
Did I jump the gun here? Sounds like it. I spoke in a expression of one's regret to follow. I apologize.

There everybody goes...taking this sht too seriously. :lol:

gnukid - 3-16-2011 at 02:12 PM

Contradicting DK, any Mexican port of entry can provide a tourist visa to passport holders. Cabo is a port of entry. Many people arrive by boat with Cabo as their first port of entry and you can get a visa there if you have a passport, also it's possible you could get a replacement passport there via TJ if yours was stolen or lost.

As far as not having a visa or passport, everyone makes mistakes, it's not the worst offense in the world. You simply need to proceed in a honest and consistent manner, so decide what your story is and stick to it, possible explanations include, ignorance, stupidity, etc...

DENNIS - 3-16-2011 at 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gnukid
ignorance

This is the best defense imaginable. Who knows....it might be true. Anyway, it's supposed to be blissful.

.

[Edited on 3-16-2011 by DENNIS]

David K - 3-16-2011 at 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gnukid
Contradicting DK, any Mexican port of entry can provide a tourist visa to passport holders. Cabo is a port of entry. Many people arrive by boat with Cabo as their first port of entry and you can get a visa there if you have a passport, also it's possible you could get a replacement passport there via TJ if yours was stolen or lost.

As far as not having a visa or passport, everyone makes mistakes, it's not the worst offense in the world. You simply need to proceed in a honest and consistent manner, so decide what your story is and stick to it, possible explanations include, ignorance, stupidity, etc...

If I wasn't clear, I always am answering the question to land travelers crossing from California into Baja California. Please let us know if you are not in a land vehicle entering Mexico. I seriously doubt if a cruise ship would let you go on a Mexican cruise without a passport.

TheBajaKid - 3-16-2011 at 03:17 PM

Thanks Gnukid im good at playing dumb
and David K I took the same girl on a cruise to PV, Mazatlan, and Cabo and she needed no passport. That was through Carnival

[Edited on 3-16-2011 by TheBajaKid]

BajaBlanca - 3-16-2011 at 04:43 PM

Pay for an expedited passport. it comes really fast. also, I heard you can get a FMM online now.

DENNIS - 3-16-2011 at 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBlanca
Pay for an expedited passport. it comes really fast. also, I heard you can get a FMM online now.

Where did you hear this, Blanca? It makes sense, but where?

TheBajaKid - 3-16-2011 at 05:28 PM

Yes we should have expedited it. We did not now they are telling us they dont have the application or birth certificate or photos they were sent. We have called and talked to someone different once a day for the last three days no help.

Bajatripper - 3-17-2011 at 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBajaKid
Hey Mtgoat, go f#$%yourself

[Edited on 3-16-2011 by TheBajaKid]

While goat could have been more tactful in his reply, I think the points he makes are all valid. If you were just going to TJ or Ensenada, I wouldn't worry about the passport issue too much, but when you talk about driving down the peninsula to Los Cabos, that's a whole different story, precisely for the reasons that goat mentions.

Would it help if I restated what goat said in a nice way so you can see the logic of his points? For your insurance to be valid, it is my understanding that you must be legally in the country. If that is true, then, in the event of an accident, your insurance would be invalid, so, unless you carry cash to pay for damages on the spot, you'd most likely end up spending time in a Mexican jail somewhere--especially if the accident should involve injury or death to others.
Food for thought.

[Edited on 3-17-2011 by Bajatripper]

Bajatripper - 3-17-2011 at 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
)... but at least learn the correct spelling of places in Baja... please :biggrin:

Kid--consider yourself warned!!!! :lol:

TheBajaKid - 3-17-2011 at 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajatripper

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBajaKid
Hey Mtgoat, go f#$%yourself

[Edited on 3-16-2011 by TheBajaKid]

I myself who will be driving have my passport and will get my FMM so my Vagabondos del mar insurance will be valid. I am asking the passport question for my girlfriend who will be my passenger not driving not having to do with my auto insurance.
Thanks bajatripper even if it wasnt useful for me maybe the info will help someone.

[Edited on 3-17-2011 by TheBajaKid]

DENNIS - 3-17-2011 at 01:23 PM

The fact remains...your GF will need a Passport to get an FMM which is a requirement for traveling south.

TheBajaKid - 3-17-2011 at 02:07 PM

I guess its only required if someone ask for it. We are going without. Ok everyone thanks for your help i got it from here

turtleandtoad - 3-17-2011 at 02:19 PM

Someone WILL ask for it! The migracion people won't issue her a FMM without it.

So she would have to go without a passport or FMM. Which she can probably get away with, but make sure she has her birth certificate (or a certified copy of it, I wouldn't carry the original) and another form of photo ID so she can get back into the US!

David K - 3-17-2011 at 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBajaKid
I guess its only required if someone ask for it. We are going without. Ok everyone thanks for your help i got it from here

Have a great trip!

Remember that some government officials collect photos of American presidents, so be prepared to support their hobby! :lol:

Bajatripper - 3-18-2011 at 01:27 PM

Quote:

Ok everyone thanks for your help i got it from here

Hey, hey, hey, not so fast...we aren't done with you yet! :lol:

Bajatripper - 3-18-2011 at 01:30 PM

In all seriousness, Baja Kid, I think you've got most situations covered and should be set for a good trip.

Enjoy yourself, and drop me a U2U if you're interested in a guided tour in the vicinity of La Paz, I'd be happy to show you around.

TheBajaKid - 3-19-2011 at 06:37 PM

Thanks we were planning on leaving in the morning but something came up and hopefully we will be headed down Wednesday afternoon.

wilderone - 3-20-2011 at 09:46 AM

Crossed from TJ the other day. There is now a separate walk-across line for people without the required documents. I assume will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis - wasn't moving very fast.

turtleandtoad - 3-20-2011 at 10:09 AM

They do that at the Progreso crossing here in the RGV. One line (outside) for people with passports and another (inside) for those without. I've never had to use the inside line but in the time they processed about 20 of us outside, they only processed two in the inside line.

You can get back into the US without a passport, but even with a birth cert and drivers license, don't make any other plans for the rest of the day!!

The FMM

Margaret&Maggie - 3-21-2011 at 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg
At the military stop just north of San Ignacio we were asked for our passports. First time. No idea what would happen if you can't produce one.

Finally! I've been looking all over for what to get to be legal in Rosarito for a season! Okay, I go to the Mexico office at the border with my US Passport and $23.00 and I get a 6 month FMM... right?

Oops.

Margaret&Maggie - 3-21-2011 at 08:37 PM

I suppose everyone knows I didn't get the quote right, but its obvious that I'm asking if I understand that I can get the FMM at the border, right?

David K - 3-21-2011 at 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Margaret&Maggie
I suppose everyone knows I didn't get the quote right, but its obvious that I'm asking if I understand that I can get the FMM at the border, right?

Right... a tourist card (FMM) for your Mexican vaction if longer than 3 days in Rosarito... up to 180 days. When you leave Mexico after the vacation... you cannot leave any property behind while you are back home with an FMM and have legal status or protection.

If you decide to lease a home or lot in Mexico, or want to leave a car there, or any personal property, you are no longer a 'tourist', but instead a 'part-time' resident (going back again and again to the same place you are leasing or buying in Mexico). See info. on FM-3 or FM-2 visas for part or full time Mexico living.

Passports

Marinero - 3-21-2011 at 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg
At the military stop just north of San Ignacio we were asked for our passports. First time. No idea what would happen if you can't produce one.

Traveling North or South?