BajaNomad

fly out/bus or drive back FM3/2 process?

rhintransit - 3-16-2011 at 10:00 AM

how's it going with the new FM2/3 cards at the airports and getting back into the country?
I am flying to the USA in a week with an FM2 card. I assume that will be fairly easy though am not sure what the actual process is at the airport. do we still go to the immigration office? swipe the card? would assume it's easy flying back, process through immigration with the card. are they still making everyone get the FMM even with FM2/3? what's with that?
kicker is that I am planning to either drive or bus back. with my past experience of the difficulty/near impossibility of getting stamped in at various crossings, I'm wondering how this will go. with needing to document 'in country' time, one would have to report to immigration somewhere, maybe in one's own city if one couldn't (that's couldn't, not doesn't. I've had the immigration office in Tecate refuse to stamp my FM3 in the past) do it at the border. I am envisioning another catch 22...you didn't get swiped in senora? the fine is XXX.
anyone have recent experiences to share?

maspacifico - 3-16-2011 at 11:02 AM

You shouldn't have a problem flying out. You get the other half of the form they have you fill out with immigration. Don't lose that. When you cross back to Mexico you turn that other half into immigration. Hopefully that other half gets turned into where it's supposed to go. I always drive back through San Ysidro and get checked back in there. The main office, behind inspection station, is always open.
Driving out and flying back is where it gets sticky....pretty tough getting checked out in San Ysidro.

mulegejim - 3-16-2011 at 11:09 AM

I believe the airlines only issue and charge for an FMM if you are flying into Mexico - not out. Also, when I have flown on Alaska Airlines out of LAX to Loreto they would add the cost of an FMM into the ticket, however, when checking in at the airport I would indicate to the agent that I had an FM-3 and then be directed to customer service desk to fill out a form so as to have the cost of the FMM reimbursed. Not so sure about your other issues, however, I am confident several other Nomads will have an opinion. Jim

rhintransit - 3-16-2011 at 11:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mulegejim
I believe the airlines only issue and charge for an FMM if you are flying into Mexico - not out. Also, when I have flown on Alaska Airlines out of LAX to Loreto they would add the cost of an FMM into the ticket, however, when checking in at the airport I would indicate to the agent that I had an FM-3 and then be directed to customer service desk to fill out a form so as to have the cost of the FMM reimbursed. Not so sure about your other issues, however, I am confident several other Nomads will have an opinion. Jim


I know they charge for the FMM but you can get that refunded (apply at Alaska service desk in gate area LAX) no problem.
everyone get the FMM form to fill out. question 10, resident foreigners are asked to write in their FM2/3 numbers. immigration at the entry airport told me to keep mine. I kept it and assume I will need it to leave.
exit/entry questions remain as originally posted.

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

On my recent flight out of La Paz, I checked in at the ticket counter, they gave me a form to fill out & told me to take it to the Immigration office over in the arrival area. They created my boarding pass, but held it hostage at the ticketing counter until I went over to Immigration, where the agent stamped my passport & the FMM form, then returned to the ticket counter & upon showing them the FMM, they handed over my boarding pass. Upon my return to La Paz, I handed over my passport, FM2 card & the FMM, they stamped my passport, the FMM card & gave me back passport & FM2 card & kept the FMM form. La Paz does not yet have a swipe machine.

This is the first time I've gone through the new process, but after going through it once, I'd personally lean strongly towards going to your original departure airport upon your return & turning the FMM paperwork back in at your original point of departure. I sincerely doubt that the system is automated to the point yet that I'd trust the border agent to complete the process online....yet.

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

I didn't know you flew down. Return the exit half that you have. Get a new entry form when you return. I got scolded for trying to check back in at the Cabo airport years ago. Do it at the border. Same form, half gets turned in at that point and you keep the other half til you leave.