BajaNomad

Declaring Imports at Tecate

RnR - 10-25-2011 at 08:13 AM

Thinking about heading southbound thru Tecate in a week or so to take advantage of the new pavement and the staging/camping at Potrero. Problem is, we are two vehicles, both pulling trailers, with items to declare in each vehicle.

Have done this before at both TJ and Otay but parking two trailers at TJ is interesting and I am beginning to dislike the Blvd 2000 route from Otay. (The concrete pavement is getting rougher and both trailers tend to porpoise above about 35 mph).

So, a couple of questions:

Is there a convenient place to park both trailers while processing the paperwork?

Where is the closest bank to pay? Know about the ones down by the square but hoping for something closer.

Anybody been turned around at Tecate and sent elsewhere?

And finally, is this a good or bad idea???

(Can't seem to find any posts on this subject by using the search feature ??????)

Thanks for any insights or info. :light:

DENNIS - 10-25-2011 at 08:18 AM

If the value of the imported items exceeds 1000 dollars, they will send you to Otay.

Could you be a bit more specific about your items? That would help. There are variables in the regulations.

RnR - 10-25-2011 at 09:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
If the value of the imported items exceeds 1000 dollars, they will send you to Otay.

Could you be a bit more specific about your items? That would help. There are variables in the regulations.


Building materials: fixtures, lights, tools, not lumber. Household furnishings, kitchenware, etc.

Have imported many times at the two other locations. Simplified import limits are currently $1,500 per person after a $75 exemption. Go over the $1,500 limit ($3,000/vehicle) and you WILL be sent to Otay and have to use an official import services broker. (Been there, done that, too)

Just looking for comments on the actual logistics and whether this is a good or bad idea to cross/import at Tecate.

Thnx

DENNIS - 10-25-2011 at 10:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RnR
Simplified import limits are currently $1,500 per person


I didn't know that changed from the 1000 limit it was set at for years.

BajaRat - 10-25-2011 at 11:03 AM

Bank at the bottom of the hill across from the park still the closest.
Parking a rig on the side street next to immigration can be done but difficult, Tip the parking guy he's a big help.

LaTijereta - 10-25-2011 at 11:57 AM

Cross early in the morning at Tecate.. You will pull over the rightside as you cross the border..
Have your itemized manifest printed out (with aprox $ of items) for declaration.. Adunda officer will ask you to come into the office, and you will pay any duty collected there. They will provide you a recept, and your off on your way:cool:

BajaWarrior - 10-25-2011 at 06:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by LaTijereta
Cross early in the morning at Tecate.. You will pull over the rightside as you cross the border..
Have your itemized manifest printed out (with aprox $ of items) for declaration.. Adunda officer will ask you to come into the office, and you will pay any duty collected there. They will provide you a recept, and your off on your way:cool:


So you are saying that Adunda collects fees now? Do they have a bank teller? The last few times I crossed at Mexicali East while Declaring I could only pay in Pesos at the Bank that caters to Declaration.

Pescador - 10-26-2011 at 06:10 AM

No, Tecate has finally gotten all of the construction done and they now have parking right in front of the Aduana office. You will probably have to pull slightly to the side with trailers because they are slanted parking spots for a single vehicle. You will declare and be checked now by the aduana officer and he or she will issue you a declaration, which you will take two windows up and pay at the bank, get stamped, and then come back to Aduana office. It is very much like Tijuana or Otay now in terms of how it is run, but you do not, of course, have the terrible wait.
Because I cross there a lot, it used to be that you parked just before the declare lane, went in to the office and declared, and paid there, but the bank is now up and running.

RnR - 10-26-2011 at 07:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador
No, Tecate has finally gotten all of the construction done and they now have parking right in front of the Aduana office. You will probably have to pull slightly to the side with trailers because they are slanted parking spots for a single vehicle. You will declare and be checked now by the aduana officer and he or she will issue you a declaration, which you will take two windows up and pay at the bank, get stamped, and then come back to Aduana office. It is very much like Tijuana or Otay now in terms of how it is run, but you do not, of course, have the terrible wait.
Because I cross there a lot, it used to be that you parked just before the declare lane, went in to the office and declared, and paid there, but the bank is now up and running.


Thanks for the firsthand report. Looks like we'll go for Tecate.

Confirms what I found on Google Earth"s streetview photos last night. A couple of new southbound "Declare" lanes on the left side with diagonal parking and an HSBC bank sign.

(Actually, the "Declare" lanes are in the old northbound lanes to the US crossing, - Note the faded arrows pointing the wrong way underneath the southbound traffic!)

Tecate Crossing

(Click in the photo that opens from the link for a very detailed zoom/closeup)

[Edited on 10-26-2011 by RnR]

[Edited on 10-26-2011 by RnR]

Loretana - 10-26-2011 at 12:23 PM

You can park conveniently and safely on the US side at Tecate, walk across (a mere 200 feet) and check to see how much you can import, and what the fees will be.

It's all right there. The visa office, customs and the bank.
Simple, but have some good looking paperwork in hand.

I can't say enough good things about bringing in household goods there. :dudette:

Santiago - 10-26-2011 at 04:09 PM

In late June we crossed there, declared a few hundred dollars worth of building supplies and paid the $200 peso or so fee to the Aduana officer directly, not to the bank. Did get a receipt. Maybe such a small fee they collect directly?

edit fer spelling

[Edited on 10-26-2011 by Santiago]

RnR - 11-14-2011 at 08:17 AM

Update on Taking Imports Through Tecate -

In a word - Easy. (With an interesting twist at the end!)

As stated in my original question, I was more concerned about the parking for two full sized pickups, both with trailers, rather than the importation process itself.

We arrived at the border at about 7:30 am and were the only ones in the DECLARE area. Plenty of room to park the two trailers. One parked in the actual lane under the roof structure. The other one farther back in the lane leaving a gap for the semi truck traffic crossing right to left on their way to the US crossing.

I had two lists/manifests/receipts prepared, one for each vehicle. One list had six items for about $700 USD. The other list had about 25 items for about $1,500 USD.

When I entered the Aduana office, there were three officials standing there having coffee around a plate of donuts/pastries on the counter. They all kinda glanced at each other trying to decide who was going to have their breakfast interrupted. They looked at the stacks of papers I put on the counter and finally one put down his cup and said "let's go look". He took a quick look in the truck parked at the office, (with the short list), looked up the road at the other truck and must have decided that the 150 ft was too far to walk and that his coffee was getting cold.

We returned to the office, they nodded to me and toward the platter, the officer filled out the declaration form, and I had a piece of pastry. Walked next door to the bank, HSBC, paid with pesos, No Dollars Accepted, and returned to Aduana.

The fee was about 1/3 of what I expected and on the way back into the office realized that the declaration/payment was only for the first vehicle with the $700 value. I pointed this out and distinctly said that I wanted to process both without moving the two trailers.

The officer just shrugged his shoulders, and said in english, "Oh, just go. You'll probably get the green light anyway." And continued breakfast discussions with the other guys!

[Edited on 11-14-2011 by RnR]
To ElCap - Sorry, just noticed your U2U from about two weeks ago. Hope everything went well.

[Edited on 11-14-2011 by RnR]

DENNIS - 11-14-2011 at 08:23 AM

Good one. Mexico is consistantly inconsistant. Doncha just luvit.

DianaT - 11-14-2011 at 08:39 AM

For the first time we may be taking down a new machine that is still packaged. It is worth about $400.00. What percentage is the duty?

Sorry, I know it has been discussed over and over, but since we always just crossed with old things (including us and out dogs) or new things that looked used, we never bothered with customs.

DENNIS - 11-14-2011 at 08:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DianaT
Sorry, I know it has been discussed over and over,



It has?? Jeeeezo, Diane, we're old and don't remember things past last week, so it's all new.
Askaway.............:biggrin:

DianaT - 11-14-2011 at 08:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by DianaT
Sorry, I know it has been discussed over and over,



It has?? Jeeeezo, Diane, we're old and don't remember things past last week, so it's all new.
Askaway.............:biggrin:


You remember as far back as last week? Boy, you are doing well. I know I went somewhere yesterday.........just not sure where. :biggrin:

Pescador - 11-14-2011 at 09:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DianaT
For the first time we may be taking down a new machine that is still packaged. It is worth about $400.00. What percentage is the duty?

Sorry, I know it has been discussed over and over, but since we always just crossed with old things (including us and out dogs) or new things that looked used, we never bothered with customs.


Diane, it is 16% but you should get $75 exemption.

[Edited on 11-14-2011 by Pescador]

DianaT - 11-14-2011 at 09:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador
Quote:
Originally posted by DianaT
For the first time we may be taking down a new machine that is still packaged. It is worth about $400.00. What percentage is the duty?

Sorry, I know it has been discussed over and over, but since we always just crossed with old things (including us and out dogs) or new things that looked used, we never bothered with customs.


Diane, it is 16% but you should get $75 exemption.

[Edited on 11-14-2011 by Pescador]


Gracias----I will try to remember that. :biggrin:

RnR - 11-14-2011 at 01:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador

Diane, it is 16% but you should get $75 exemption.

[Edited on 11-14-2011 by Pescador]


X2, Pescador is exactly right. $75 exemption then 16% of the remaining declared or receipted value.

DENNIS - 11-14-2011 at 01:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RnR
X2, Pescador is exactly right. $75 exemption then 16% of the remaining declared or receipted value.



Believe me....depending on the time, day, the location and countless unseen or unknown factors, this could be interpreted differently.
Looking for absolutes in Mexico is a Snipe Hunt.

Por exemplo....I was once, not too long ago, told that only Nationals get the exemption.
Soooo....waddya gonna do?



.





[Edited on 11-14-2011 by DENNIS]

mulegejim - 11-14-2011 at 02:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by RnR
X2, Pescador is exactly right. $75 exemption then 16% of the remaining declared or receipted value.



Believe me....depending on the time, day, the location and countless unseen or unknown factors, this could be interpreted differently.
Looking for absolutes in Mexico is a Snipe Hunt.

Por exemplo....I was once, not too long ago, told that only Nationals get the exemption.
Soooo....waddya gonna do?



.





[Edited on 11-14-2011 by DENNIS]


I got the $75 exemption crossing at TJ in mid October - don't know if it mattered but I did show my FM-3. Jim

[Edited on 11-14-2011 by mulegejim]

Petey - 11-21-2011 at 11:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador
No, Tecate has finally gotten all of the construction done and they now have parking right in front of the Aduana office. You will probably have to pull slightly to the side with trailers because they are slanted parking spots for a single vehicle. You will declare and be checked now by the aduana officer and he or she will issue you a declaration, which you will take two windows up and pay at the bank, get stamped, and then come back to Aduana office. It is very much like Tijuana or Otay now in terms of how it is run, but you do not, of course, have the terrible wait.
Because I cross there a lot, it used to be that you parked just before the declare lane, went in to the office and declared, and paid there, but the bank is now up and running.


Does that setup also apply to getting FMM visas? I'm crossing at Tecate tomorrow morning, so I'm trying to decide what time to be there. If its as in the past one crosses, goes to immigration, goes a couple blocks downhill to Bancomer, then returns to immigration to get stamped, then crossing time would be a bit before 9, b/c Bancomer opens at 9.

If the new setup applies to immigration as well as customs, does anyone know what time the bank unit opens? If I can cross earlier, I'd prefer to do so!

Thanks!!

BajaRat - 11-21-2011 at 02:06 PM

I sure hope so. The run down the hill and back is getting older than I am.:lol:

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 11-21-2011 at 05:16 PM

hola,

how extensive is the look into your trailers ?

in 2007, i had a small utility trailer 3/4 full of bags of used clothes to give away. the agent rejected me and made me go through the gates to the U.S. side where the U.S. customs went through my trailer even though i was in mexico all of about ten minutes.

i went to the tijuana declaration entry and they let me go through even after looking at all the used clothes.

the used clothes were in 30 gallon plastic bags.

are they still not allowing us to bring in used clothing to give away ?

i thank you in advance.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

DENNIS - 11-21-2011 at 06:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT

are they still not allowing us to bring in used clothing to give away ?



Yeah....nothing new on that issue. Round up some old suitcases and your chances will be better.