BajaNomad - Tourist Card in Guerrero Negro

Tourist Card in Guerrero Negro

shitedetector - 11-4-2011 at 09:26 AM

Hello all. New to this site because I have a question.

I have heard that a tourist can get a tourist card in guerrero negro if I didn't get it further north. Some say I can't, some I can and will be fined. Some I don't need it.
I am sure I need it but will be driving on Sunday and am not sure if there will be an agent at the border.

Anyone know the truth ?

I appreciate your responses

SD

[Edited on 11-4-2011 by chitedetector]

shari - 11-4-2011 at 09:29 AM

Nice board name dude or dudette....welcome to the sandbox...(I think)...why dont you tell us a little about yourself?

Yes you do need a tourist card....here is the local number if immigration in GN so you can call and ask them directly about your case....615-157-0303

Ateo - 11-4-2011 at 09:31 AM

I've gone years without getting one and never had a problem. They hardly ever check - anywhere! The time they did check me in GN was about 15 years ago, and I did have to pay a "fine" errr bribe to obtain. Having said that, I'm gonna start getting tourist cards again, just to be on the safe side. You want to be totally legal just in case something goes down. So, it's up to you. The Nomads will give you the whole range of answers that you listed above, and the truth is, all of them are right!

Tourist Cards

bajaguy - 11-4-2011 at 09:32 AM

If you don't have one south of Ensenada, the first military checkpoint you get to will shoot you :lol:

You can get a card on Sunday at the SY or Otay crossing. Better to get one at the border.

shitedetector - 11-4-2011 at 09:32 AM

wow that was quick ! thanks shari !

Coming down in december for a couple of months. fishing poles and surfboards

anyone else know any more ? My spanish is crap so I may have a hard time talking to them by phone. I would imagine they will tell me to get it up North as why else would I be planning ahead to get it there.

thanks again shari !

Where are you crossing???

bajaguy - 11-4-2011 at 09:34 AM

I have directions for obtaining the card at Otay, send me a u2u message

[Edited on 11-4-2011 by bajaguy]

David K - 11-4-2011 at 09:35 AM

The WORST CASE:

Get it at the border or before at Discover Baja Travel Club.
Get it stamped at the border (INM office facing secondary inspection/ something to declare area).

If you drive south of Ensenada without one (Maneadero actually) you are in violation. If you arrive at Guerrero Negro (The State Border actually) without one, fines of $100 dollars per person have been reported. See trip report by edm-1 whose wife had an expired passport that Tijuana wouldn't accept, so they couldn't get one of the FMMs there...

The border at Tijuana is open 24/7. If you arrive early morning and nobody is in either the INM office or the bank teller for payment... a few doors down from INM... then walk through the hallway to the backside, facing the pedestrian entrance to Mexico where they will be.

shitedetector - 11-4-2011 at 09:35 AM

and I realize my auto coverage is inactive until I get the card. that part I understand. just trying to figure out contingencies now in case the border doesn't work out

The process, in photos...

David K - 11-4-2011 at 09:47 AM

Far right lane I-805 south (I-5 works, but you have a lot of lanes to cross to get to the far right one). An electric gate will raise for you at the entrance to the secondary/ covered parking).

INM is the far right (north) office that faces the parking area.

The bank teller is a few windows down from INM. You take your forms there and pay the tax (about $23 US), then with the reciept attached, go back to INM. Make sure you write in 180 days (not 90) as the cost is the same and 180 is the max.

When you drive out of the parking area, you may need to press a button to see if you get a red or green light... Red means inspection. No drugs (except perscription), guns or ammo is allowed into Mexico.

These are what you will be waiting in line for as you drive south... There are about 5-7 between Tijuana and La Paz.

David K - 11-4-2011 at 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chitedetector
and I realize my auto coverage is inactive until I get the card. that part I understand. just trying to figure out contingencies now in case the border doesn't work out

Not necessaily true... we Nomads mostly use www.BajaBound.com or DiscoverBaja.com (both use the same Mexican company).... and there is no clause saying it isn't valid without a tourist card... But, you need to get one anyway, so that is a mute point.

shitedetector - 11-4-2011 at 10:03 AM

Thanks David !

David K - 11-4-2011 at 10:05 AM

De nada... we are here to help (most of us)... Have a great trip and welcome to Nomad!

Your payback is a trip report and photos when you get back!

shari - 11-4-2011 at 01:44 PM

hey...check your U2U mail box which is up in the right corner by the log-in thingy

BajaBlanca - 11-4-2011 at 02:07 PM

we have seen so many people/guests get fined

please please get your FMM at the border and be saved $100

the TJ border is open 24/7 - just go to the office and get the paperwork. go down to the left to the bank window and knock til someone comes. pay. go back to immigration office and get stamped. be on your way and drive safely.

have a wonderful trip !

rts551 - 11-4-2011 at 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBlanca
we have seen so many people/guests get fined

please please get your FMM at the border and be saved $100

the TJ border is open 24/7 - just go to the office and get the paperwork. go down to the left to the bank window and knock til someone comes. pay. go back to immigration office and get stamped. be on your way and drive safely.

have a wonderful trip !

Hey it could be worse. You could be arrested and deported for being in the country illegally. Maybe deport you to Miami so you can't try to re-enter very easily.

Lee - 11-4-2011 at 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Not necessaily true... we Nomads mostly use www.BajaBound.com or DiscoverBaja.com (both use the same Mexican company).... and there is no clause saying it isn't valid without a tourist card... But, you need to get one anyway, so that is a mute point.

''Not necessarily true?'' Interesting choice of words, David. How about it's true or NOT true?

A MX insurance policy from BajaBound or DiscoverBaja that has no clause stating insurance is valid only with a current FMM means insurance is valid even if the holder is in MX illegally.

Right?

UnoMas - 11-4-2011 at 05:30 PM

I have to agree with Blanca, seen many sad and angry people in La Paz INM for not obtaining a fmm before going South. Believe me it is much easier to get one at the border with the bank right there etc. than taking the other route not to mention the fine you will pay as well. Your choice

Udo - 11-4-2011 at 05:41 PM

NICE photos, David!
Highly descriptive and to the point. Any easier than this, and one would have to join DISCOVER BAJA :lol:

BajaRat - 11-4-2011 at 06:44 PM

Don't forget your passport

David K - 11-4-2011 at 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lee

Quote:

That is what I remember reading... search posts by BajaGeoff (of BajaBound.com)

Bajahowodd - 11-7-2011 at 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaRat
Don't forget your passport

Seems like this topic comes up every other week. The legal line is you need to get your FMM at the border. The extra-legal line is that many folks travel Baja without the FMM and have no consequences.

The passport advice is primarily because you cannot obtain the FMM without your passport. You really don't need a passport to get back to the US.

Editorial: The passport requirement has had a huge negative effect on tourism to Baja. Yet, no one has ever been denied return to the US without a passport. It's the worst of all worlds.

rts551 - 11-7-2011 at 05:20 PM

A lot of people ignore the immigration requirements while living or traveling in Mexico. Doesn't make it right though. DO what is required and you will be happy.

Ateo - 11-7-2011 at 05:33 PM

Last time I pulled in to get my TC stamped at TJ, the secondary inspector wanted me to unload everything in my truck. I told him I just pulled in to get my card stamped and he said, "no you didn't, you are in the secondary area, so you will now let me go thru your stuff". I tried the old "ignore him and maybe he'll go away trick" but that didn't work. I had to pull out all my camping gear, food, beer, surfboards, clothes - everything! That packing took me 3 hours the night before! Of course I repacked it in like 20 minutes cuz I wanted to get the hell outta there, but it really screwed up my organization. I didn't know where anything was until i got to scorpion bay and unpacked. So from now on I'm stamping in Ensenada.

David K - 11-7-2011 at 05:42 PM

Good luck with that, and let us know how Ensenada works for you! (Horror stories a couple years ago, but a different agent perhaps now?) There is NO bank teller near the Ensenada customs, so you will need to drive into town, find an open bank, wait in the insane long bank lines, then go BACK to the INM to get the validating stamp. I would just tough it out at TJ, or maybe park a block away, trust your truck to be left untouched, and walk back to the INM...

The whole thing is so stupid, and you know there are plenty of gringos who don't read the Internet or books... who just drive south... as there are NO SIGNS at the border or south of Ensenada/ San Felipe saying anything special is needed.

In the old days (pre 1995?), there was a booth south of Maneadero JUST for tourists to get their cards or have them validated... even then, with less traffic, some gringos just sailed right by... but that was an easy solution.

The stupid part now is that fees must be paid at a bank, as they can't have a teller or bonded person take the payment at the INM office.

Ateo - 11-7-2011 at 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Good luck with that, and let us know how Ensenada works for you! (Horror stories a couple years ago, but a different agent perhaps now?) There is NO bank teller near the Ensenada customs, so you will need to drive into town, find an open bank, wait in the insane long bank lines, then go BACK to the INM to get the validating stamp. I would just tough it out at TJ, or maybe park a block away, trust your truck to be left untouched, and walk back to the INM...

The whole thing is so stupid, and you know there are plenty of gringos who don't read the Internet or books... who just drive south... as there are NO SIGNS at the border or south of Ensenada/ San Felipe saying anything special is needed.

In the old days (pre 1995?), there was a booth south of Maneadero JUST for tourists to get their cards or have them validated... even then, with less traffic, some gringos just sailed right by... but that was an easy solution.

The stupid part now is that fees must be paid at a bank, as they can't have a teller or bonded person take the payment at the INM office.

Yeah, you're right - the whole thing is so stupid! Why not just have a simple building on the side of the road at Maneadero? Have the cards and make a payment. 10 minute process. Could they make it any harder than it is now? I

've done the stamping at Ensenada twice and it was a hassle there too. I don't remember having to go in to town for a bank. I believe there was a small bank booth onsite.

rts551 - 11-7-2011 at 06:11 PM

Stupid? Poor choice of words if you ask me. how many signs for people going north? and maybe (for reciprocity sake) we aught to adopt the good old USA procedures for allowing tourists in our country. Todays Mexico toursit procedures are not that big a deal.

Even in the old days the check point was just that, a check point. Early they issued a permit if you didn't have on but Later they would send you back to Ensenada (or take mordida) if you did not have your permit.

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