BajaNomad - Any visa needed north of G. Negro?

Any visa needed north of G. Negro?

brewer - 6-26-2011 at 09:00 PM

Do I need any kind of permit or visa. I'm just staying for 3 days. Someone said I needed one. I've never heard of this.

DENNIS - 6-26-2011 at 09:02 PM

Yeah....you do if you go south of Maneadero for any length of time.

Marc - 6-26-2011 at 09:15 PM

The one and only place I have ever had to show my visa was at G Negro, the BCS border. However, I would be prepared to show a visa anywhere south of Ensenada

David K - 6-27-2011 at 07:49 AM

They do issue FREE FMM Tourist Cards for 7 days max. if you are concerned. There is no inspection for them in Baja California. Obtained at the border, only... INM Office at Secondary Inspection... Must have a passport now to get.

Alm - 6-27-2011 at 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marc
The one and only place I have ever had to show my visa was at G Negro, the BCS border.

... and probably at Maneadero as well. Somebody told me there is no more immigration inspection at G Negro checkpoint - only customs inspection by federal troops (or whatever those guys with rifles are).

David K - 6-28-2011 at 08:02 AM

Nope, troops do NOT inspect for tourist cards... only drugs/guns/ammo.

sancho - 6-28-2011 at 10:50 AM

I like the agreement on the need for an fmm so.
Ensenada. The 2 major Mex Ins Brokers also
suggest tourist cards for any trip. As DK points out
6 nt 7 day tourist cards are free. I get the 7 day
or the 180 day on any crossing. There appears
to be no negative outcome if you don't have one.
I still go along with the theory that your Mex Ins
can be invalid if you are in Mex Illegally, at least one
of the San Diego Ins brokers have said that is not true,
but I still would get an fmm

Alm - 6-28-2011 at 01:59 PM

Quote:

There appears
to be no negative outcome if you don't have one.

Except that you won't be allowed to cross Maneadero going South.

huh????

bajaguy - 6-28-2011 at 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alm
Except that you won't be allowed to cross Maneadero going South.

Since when?????........when was the last time you drove south on Hwy 1??????........there is no immigration checkpoint in Maneadero.

toneart - 6-28-2011 at 02:53 PM

There hasn't been one for years. But maybe that is what that new, under construction check point is going to be for. There was a string here about it a few weeks ago. It looks like a multi-lane toll booth that stretches across HWY 1 just beyond Santo Tomas. (?)

Not likely, but...

Dave - 6-28-2011 at 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Nope, troops do NOT inspect for tourist cards... only drugs/guns/ammo.

I've had it done. Over the years have been asked for a visa, DL, registration, even a passport. Don't know whether they're supposed to but in Mexico, supposed has nothing to do with it.

David K - 6-28-2011 at 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Nope, troops do NOT inspect for tourist cards... only drugs/guns/ammo.

I've had it done. Over the years have been asked for a visa, DL, registration, even a passport. Don't know whether they're supposed to but in Mexico, supposed has nothing to do with it.

They have asked me for ID... and that takes many forms (passport, tourist card, drivers license)... My point is they are not preventing you from traveling beyond their checkpoint because you don't have a tourist card. They will only ruin your trip if you are so stupid to have pot or bullets on board! Yes?

David K - 6-28-2011 at 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by toneart
There hasn't been one for years. But maybe that is what that new, under construction check point is going to be for. There was a string here about it a few weeks ago. It looks like a multi-lane toll booth that stretches across HWY 1 just beyond Santo Tomas. (?)

That will be the new military checkpoint, it is the same design as the new one north of San Felipe.

David K - 6-28-2011 at 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy

Quote:

Originally posted by Alm
Except that you won't be allowed to cross Maneadero going South.

Since when?????........when was the last time you drove south on Hwy 1??????........there is no immigration checkpoint in Maneadero.

x2 LOL

The Maneadero migra check was easy enough to drive right past... I always stopped, but heard from others who just zoomed on by, like the locals did. I mean is the one guy in the booth going to chase you? Anyway, it has been closed since the 1980's!

Alm - 6-28-2011 at 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Over the years have been asked for a visa, DL, registration, even a passport. Don't know whether they're supposed to but in Mexico, supposed has nothing to do with it.

David; I understand that you always had a visa on such occasions even if they didn't ask. So it is not clear whether they would prevent you from travel if you hadn't have a visa. Who can tell what they can do? I too believe that they are not even supposed to ask, but - this is Mexico... Besides, we ARE supposed to have that visa in their country, so I don't feel like questioning their actions.

I was asked for ID by federal troops too, and also was asked by immigration (and in totally unexpected places), and always showed passport and visa in it, and they were satisfied, which is all I need.

[Edited on 6-29-2011 by Alm]

David K - 6-28-2011 at 08:38 PM

Hmmm... well a tourist card is not a visa stamped in a passport. Visas are not required for us to visit Mexico, and tourist cards are only required if we travel south of the 'border zone' or stay anywhere in Mexico more than 72 hours.

Now the big ? is what is the 'border zone' in Baja California for those staying no more than 3 days in Baja.

Originally (in print) it was Maneadero on the Pacific side and Mexicali on the gulf side... but everyone who wrote books and worked for tourism claimed it was San Felipe on the gulf side.

There was a checkpoint for tourist cards southside of Maneadero but NEVER one south of San Felipe. The Maneadero checkpoint was closed over 20 years ago and one was set up at the Baja Sur border near Guerrero Negro... but it was recently reported closed. Now, a tourist card is only 'needed' to board an airplane or a ferry ship, out of Baja.

Is all of Baja inside the 'border zone', or just Baja Norte? How far can you drive and get back in 72 hours anyway?

Seems like San Quintin on the Pacific and Puertecitos on the gulf would be about at max. distance for a 3 day trip?

I wonder how many in Rosarito, Ensenada or San Felipe stay more than 3 days without a tourist card?

Immigration Office N. of G. Negro open?

elskel - 6-30-2011 at 08:50 PM

Need a report from anyone driving the highway the past few weeks. Was the immigration office North of G. Negro, open?
thanks Brian