BajaNomad

Turning in expired tourist cards

John M - 12-23-2011 at 12:27 PM

Do most folks return the tourist cards when they expire?

We've NEVER returned them, are we alone? Does anyone think we are at risk for anything by not doing so?

John M.

Ateo - 12-23-2011 at 12:34 PM

I returned one back in '95. But never do these days.

DENNIS - 12-23-2011 at 12:52 PM

Don't bother. Perhaps someday Mexico will be explicit about what they want and have facilities in place to surrender them. Til then, forget it.

David K - 12-23-2011 at 01:28 PM

John I have posted an address given out by Discover Baja with an address to mail in cards before they expoire. I am on my phone now otherwise I would search that address for you. i have never sent mine in... never remember in time.

sancho - 12-23-2011 at 01:54 PM

This 1 has been hammered a few times, the jury is
out on whether Mex Immigration uses computers
to track when 1 recieved an fmm, I assume they have
the capability. I have never heard or read of anyone having
trouble for an unreturned fmm. I cross at Mexicali, they for some reason stamp
my passport with an entry, that kinda bugs me to the
point I go out of my way to return the fmm and get an exit stamp.
Although I understand it doesn't matter in the least.
I would like to know the reaction by Mex Immigration
in Mex City when they recieve a mailed in fmm.
But in the future who knows

bajagrouper - 12-23-2011 at 04:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
John I have posted an address given out by Discover Baja with an address to mail in cards before they expoire. I am on my phone now otherwise I would search that address for you. i have never sent mine in... never remember in time.



Gee Da vid I thought you could read, if you were to look at the top of the FMM it states:

This form must be filled out individually by ever foreigner entering Mexico, including diplomatic personal, and will be handed in upon departure from the country.

In black and white on a Mexican Government document, but I guess your above the law of the land!

Bajahowodd - 12-23-2011 at 05:23 PM

I gotta go with DENNIS on this. On a recent entry when we needed to get new FMM papers, I had a discussion with the very genial guy at the office in San Ysidro.

He actually told me that if he was running this, he would station a few agents to walk the Northbound lanes at the border to solicit the papers. But, as we know, the grunts, even with the best ideas, just don't have any influence on the bureaucracy.

DENNIS - 12-23-2011 at 05:41 PM

I can't think of one reason why they would want them back. They're dated, and those who might hand them in at the border are obviously leaving the country.
Maybe they should have a website where card holders could "hand it in" electronically.

David K - 12-23-2011 at 06:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajagrouper
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
John I have posted an address given out by Discover Baja with an address to mail in cards before they expire. I am on my phone now otherwise I would search that address for you. I have never sent mine in... never remember in time.



Gee Da vid I thought you could read, if you were to look at the top of the FMM it states:

This form must be filled out individually by ever foreigner entering Mexico, including diplomatic personal, and will be handed in upon departure from the country.

In black and white on a Mexican Government document, but I guess your above the law of the land!


Maybe you have never driven into Mexico for a vacation?

Being that there is NO PLACE for automotive travelers to hand in the card in the exit lane from Mexico...
OR it is a 180 day card and they wish to utilize their $23 dollar per man/ woman/ child investment into Mexico's government for ANOTHER trip during that period, there is a method to do so... Mulege Jim recently posted that address... Neither Jim nor I made it up... but you would need to be able to READ to see the info shared here to those asking for it, without insults...


Once again, there is an easy way to return FMMs.

Here are two addresses to use for mailing in FMMs.

Instituto Nacional de Migracion
Puente Puerta S/N
Colonia Federal
Tijuana, B.C. Mexico C.P. 22310

or

Secetariat of Tourism
PO BOX 2448
Chula Vista, CA 91912

David K - 12-23-2011 at 06:26 PM

Okay, here is my post from 12-29-09:

posted on 12-29-2009 at 10:53 AM



Yes, the multiple entries part is a 'secret'... as they would like to get the $20+ dollars from each person every trip south!

The other 'secret' is the FREE 7 day FM-T that you have to be firm with requesting... see other posts on Nomad about getting that!

Because the FM-T is supposed to be handed in to INM when you leave Mexico on your last trip before it expires... but there is NO facility along the route to the U.S. border to do so (only on the entry to Mexico lane)... There is a mailing address to send them in BEFORE they expire...

Perhaps we should be doing this now, with the computers and border sophistication taking place?

(This came from Discover Baja Travel Club):

Return Tourist permits before they expire to any Mexican Immigration office OR send by mail to:

Instituto Nacional de Migracion
Puente Puerta S/N
Colonia Federal
Tijuana, B.C. Mexico C.P. 22310

(postage is 79 cents from U.S.)

If you fail to have you tourist permit validated when you enter Mexico (using a pre-paid FM-T) or fail to return them before they expire you could be fined up to $220 dollars for each permit.

card's

captkw - 12-23-2011 at 06:32 PM

HOLA,I only read the first of this post,so with that said,I don't follow direction's and the only time I returned a window decal was in rio linda ,tex. ($800 deposit) but as far As in baja, if you had a centovo for card's returned,,you might have a couple of peso's after a few year's..so far it's not important,,feliz navidad !! K&T :cool:

Marc - 12-23-2011 at 06:44 PM

I use mine on return trips 'til the end and then mail it to the office in TJ.

David K - 12-24-2011 at 11:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Marc
I use mine on return trips 'til the end and then mail it to the office in TJ.


Perfect!!!:light: