Hi. I plan to buy a visitors permit on my trip south this week. If I stay in the right lane at the border and park in the area where you declare
stuff, will I have to go through an inspection to get out? Recommendations?Alan - 5-23-2011 at 08:57 AM
Only if you get a red light.TonyC - 5-23-2011 at 09:11 AM
and if you get the right light, tell'em you need to buy a visa. there's a spot just pass the inspection you can park. i did this early this month with
my boat in tow, and i had to park in a funny angle. the visa doesn't take that long, and they were ok with it.Woooosh - 5-23-2011 at 09:20 AM
Different red lights. All cars that enter the "declaration" area to the right need to manually press a button as they leave- if it's red you get the
inspection, if it's green you just drive off. This is different from the general car crossing lanes where each car stops for a red or green light,
is scanned- and the wooden gate goes up to let you pass. They only use the wooden gates when it is slow (yeah- go figure) because it backs up traffic
and discourages tourism.
[Edited on 5-23-2011 by Woooosh]Doug/Vamonos - 5-23-2011 at 11:09 AM
Guess I'll do the regular lane and park after the inspection area. Prefer not to have any extensive snooping unless I have to.
Frank - Leaving early Friday. Should be there late afternoon, which gives me a day to replace everything I stole from your place?!?! Just kidding.
Sounds like camp should be full.Alan - 5-23-2011 at 12:35 PM
I don't believe there is really any place to park beyond the inspection lane unless you plan to just park on city streets and walk back.
One trick that worked for me once was to stay as far as possible to the right so I couldn't reach the stoplight button. They just waved me through
rather than make me get out of my truck Alan - 5-23-2011 at 12:38 PM
Also when you pull into the inspection area someone will usually approach you to see what you want to declare. Just tell them you are going to IMN
and they ignore you after that.mulegejim - 5-23-2011 at 01:01 PM
Just because you get a green light in the regular lanes doesn't mean they won't wave you into secondary anyway. I was just through TJ yesterday
(Sunday) and everybody got a green light but almost all pickup trucks and most SUVs were waved to secondary. Very quick look in the back and I was on
my way. I have a camper shell and was loaded but no problems. JimBajaBlanca - 5-23-2011 at 02:14 PM
we stay in the declaration lane. park right after we go through. deal with immigration for folks that are with us. and then leave. sometimes they
give a quick look (and we too are always wayyyyy full of stuff) and then we are on our way.David K - 5-23-2011 at 05:07 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Alan
Also when you pull into the inspection area someone will usually approach you to see what you want to declare. Just tell them you are going to IMN
and they ignore you after that.
Or, even better: INM
Far right lane, electric gate will open for you:
Here is the secondary parking area "Something to Declare", in front of the offices for INM:
Here is the office you go to first (with passports and pen in hand):
If you are getting one for longer than 7 days, you take the forms down a few windows to the special bank teller for FMM payments:
Then you take the FMM and bank receipt back to INM for the validating stamp... be sure you write in or ask for 180 days and list Los Cabos (or the
furthest place south you muight go in the next 6 months). IF you bought a pre-paid FMM tourist card from Discover Baja or another agency, then you
only need to stop at INM for the validating stamp.
[Edited on 5-24-2011 by David K]Doug/Vamonos - 5-23-2011 at 07:40 PM
Thanks for the details and pics. I've actually done this lots of times, just not within the past two years since they changed the inspection and
parking area.Bob and Susan - 5-24-2011 at 09:13 AM
go into secondary and deal with it...
you'll be screwed if you try to get to the little place just past the regular crossing
also they tend to look into all the trucks and suvs that look full
