BajaNomad

Marine FMM/Visa Update from Discover Baja

David K - 3-15-2012 at 08:51 AM

Dear Discover Baja Members,

Yesterday we received a Press Release from the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego. Finally an answer to all our questions abou the marine tourist visa. Well......not so much. What the press release said is what all of us already know:

* There is no new immigration requirement for sport fishing purposes

* An FMM (tourist permit) is required for any US citizen wishing to enter Mexico for any reason including sport fishing. This is done at the border if driving a vehicle or in Ensenada at the port if sailing a boat. (The FMMs are 294 pesos at an immigration office or can be purchased--filled out and pre-paid from Discover Baja for $34.00.)

*There may be consignee agencies (like Discover Baja) to gather information, fill out forms and pay fees.

*Any person intending to engage in sport fishing activities must have an individual sport fishing permit.

At the end of the press release it further states: 'Information will be provided in a timely manner about new measures to be taken to facilitate the entrance of foreign tourists to our territory, including those tourist that wish to do sport finshing in Mexican territorial waters.'

Hugh took part in a conference call yesterday staged to clarify the issue. They discussed a few relevant points:

* Commercial boat employees need an FM3.

* Passengers or those fishing from commercial boats need FMMs provided by 3rd party providers----the details have not been worked out.

* A 'maritime stamp' will be used on the fishing FMMs but the specifics for this stamp-- the cost and the number of days involved -- have not been decided.

Sorry we cannot give more definitive information or answer all the questions we still have. We'll tell you more as we know it.

Other Baja information: Gas prices as of Friday, March 9th ---Magna is $2.99, Premium is $3.22 and Diesel is $3.03.

A short-notice invitation : Tomorrow the 1st Baja International Community Mega Mixer is happening in Ensenada from 12 noon to 3:00pm at Riviera Pacifico--Blvd Costero y Riviera. This FREE networking opportunity for international residents of Baja will include information, finger foods and wine tasting.

HAPPY BAJA TRAVELS,
Carol, Hugh, Mathé and Monica

sancho - 3-15-2012 at 10:36 AM

Mex Immigration has never been able to deliever
clear, precise info. re: any Immigration regs they
have, from establishing the boundaries of the so called
Border Zone, among others. Always been irritating. This fishing fmm has been brewing
since Jan 1. I believe the day boats out of San Diego
who fish the Baja coast, Coronado Isles, to so. of
Ensenada, require the 1 day fishing fmm to board, like an extra
$34. 1 curious item I have, is if a private boater launches
out of San Diego, he must get the fishing fmm for the day,
while a boater that has his boat in Marina Coral no. of
Ensenada who fishes right next to the SD boater in Mex,
would technically need need no fmm.
They keep that part in the regs that state "ALL travellers
to Baja need an fmm', available at the border,
confusing, misleading? But not unlike the Homeland
Security Dept., hammering the fact that a US Citizen
needs a Passport to return

[Edited on 3-15-2012 by sancho]

mtgoat666 - 3-15-2012 at 11:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by sancho
Mex Immigration has never been able to deliever
clear, precise info. re: any Immigration regs they
have, from establishing the boundaries of the so called
Border Zone, among others. Always been irritating.


Don't look at it as "irritating." It's just part of the adventure of travel. Don't worry, be happy! Always look on the bright side of life!

sancho - 3-15-2012 at 11:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mtgoat666
[Don't look at it as "irritating." It's just part of the adventure of travel. Don't worry, be happy! Always look on the bright side of life!



Thanks for the Consulation, my blood pressure is back
down. I should know better, it is Mexico

larryC - 3-16-2012 at 08:39 AM

Just out of curiosity, what if the person wanting to go fishing out of San Diego on one of the sport boats already posesses an FM2 or FM3, does that person still need the Maritime FMM?

sancho - 3-16-2012 at 11:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by larryC
Just out of curiosity, what if the person wanting to go fishing out of San Diego on one of the sport boats already posesses an FM2 or FM3, does that person still need the Maritime FMM?




Good ?, From what I understand you can't use the 180 day fmm
for the fishing fmm, so I would DOUBT you could use
the fm2/3 for the temp fishing fmm, no first hand
experience though. Apperas they are just generating
$ from the SD boats

David K - 3-16-2012 at 12:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by sancho
Quote:
Originally posted by larryC
Just out of curiosity, what if the person wanting to go fishing out of San Diego on one of the sport boats already posesses an FM2 or FM3, does that person still need the Maritime FMM?




Good ?, From what I understand you can't use the 180 day fmm
for the fishing fmm, so I would DOUBT you could use
the fm2/3 for the temp fishing fmm, no first hand
experience though. Apperas they are just generating
$ from the SD boats


Did you read the news at the top Sancho?

One more time:

Yesterday we received a Press Release from the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego. Finally an answer to all our questions abou the marine tourist visa. Well......not so much. What the press release said is what all of us already know:

* There is no new immigration requirement for sport fishing purposes

* An FMM (tourist permit) is required for any US citizen wishing to enter Mexico for any reason including sport fishing.

sancho - 3-16-2012 at 01:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
* An FMM (tourist permit) is required for any US citizen wishing to enter Mexico for any reason including sport fishing.
* Passengers or those fishing from commercial boats need FMMs provided by 3rd party providers----the details have not been worked out.

* A 'maritime stamp' will be used on the fishing FMMs but the specifics for this stamp-- the cost and the number of days involved -- have not been decided.






One more time for you DK, this is not NEW NEWS, as it states, the
Maritime stamp will be used on the needed fishing fmm's,
this has been enforce since Jan.1, the day boats out of
Fishermans Landing in SD have been requireing them
since Jan.1, it also states "ALL
travellers to Baja need an fmm, available at the border',
so you believe if one walks into the TJ Mex Immigration
office and says they are going to have lunch in TJ or
go to Rosarito Beach for the nite, Mex Imm is going to tell them they need an fmm? Really you believe that?
Wake up, don't believe everything you read

David K - 3-16-2012 at 03:04 PM

I was responding to your line:

"From what I understand you can't use the 180 day fmm for the fishing fmm,"

With what was said by by the Mexican consulate general:

* There is no new immigration requirement for sport fishing purposes

* An FMM (tourist permit) is required for any US citizen wishing to enter Mexico for any reason including sport fishing.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You said :"From what I understand you can't use the 180 day fmm for the fishing fmm,"

The Mexican Government official said: "An FMM (tourist permit) is required for any US citizen wishing to enter Mexico for any reason including sport fishing"

Okay?

sancho - 3-16-2012 at 03:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Mexican Government official said: "An FMM (tourist permit) is required for any US citizen wishing to enter Mexico for any reason including sport fishing"

Okay?




I thaught I was stubborn,
this is boring, but an fmm is NOT REQUIRED FOR ANY US CITIZEN TO ENTER MEXICO, PERIOD. Regardless what
the Mex Consulate prints out. That may be their OFFICIAL position, but on the ground that is not the case.
Going across the border and fishing a Ensenada 1/2 day boat
does not require an fmm, or to spend 72 hrs in Baja
does not require an fmm
okay?

David K - 3-16-2012 at 07:26 PM

okay boss, you know better than the consulate general for the Mexican republic... :rolleyes:

(seriously, I realize he didn't include the part when you don't need an FMM, like staying near the border or staying less than 3 days... apparently, a boat on the water is not the same as traveling by land, maybe?:light: )

Phil C - 3-17-2012 at 05:41 AM

I wonder......If you hold a fm-3 or fm-2, is it legal to obtain another visa, the fmm? I know it's a technecality, but ,I'm just saying............................... I haven't gotten a deffinitve answer wheather or not my fm-3 will be reconized by the San Diego landings.

mulegejim - 3-17-2012 at 08:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Phil C
I wonder......If you hold a fm-3 or fm-2, is it legal to obtain another visa, the fmm? I know it's a technecality, but ,I'm just saying............................... I haven't gotten a deffinitve answer wheather or not my fm-3 will be reconized by the San Diego landings.


These are very good questions. About three years ago I went on a sport fishing boat out of San Diego and was required to pay for what was then an FM-T even though I had my FM-3 in my possession. It was either pay for the FM-T or not board. Really didn't like it as I was legal to enter Mexico and fish in Mexican waters with my FM-3. Possibly no one thought of folks like me or others who already have immigration status in Mexico. To go to the extreme - would a Mexican national be required to purchase an FMM to board a boat in the US and fish Mexican waters? Jim

sancho - 3-17-2012 at 11:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Phil C
I wonder......If you hold a fm-3 or fm-2, is it legal to obtain another visa, the fmm? I know it's a technecality, but ,I'm just saying............................... I haven't gotten a deffinitve answer wheather or not my fm-3 will be reconized by the San Diego landings.



I don't believe you can board the SD Baja coastal boats
with anything other than the fishing fmm, the long range
boats have a different classification. I don't think
it matters whether you have an fmm 2/3. When this
first came up Jan.1, I figured to bypass it, one could go the border and get the 180 fmm and this would be sufficient,
That is incorrect. A definative answer would be
to call Fishermans Landing SD where the majority
of the Baja boats offices are. About a yr. ago, the
San Felipe boats that fish the Midriff, the passengers
were required to get the free 7 day fmm at Mexicali,
I suppose that is beacuse they go 200 mi. + down,
before that no fmm was required

[Edited on 3-17-2012 by sancho]

Phil C - 3-17-2012 at 06:23 PM

Lots of different info floating around out there,.....We'll see what happens this season.....

elskel - 3-20-2012 at 07:12 PM

A FM2 or FM3 is good to go on the boats out of San Diego. I used me FM2 about a month ago and did not need the new fmm. My son did try and use a current fmm with a 180 day stamp, it did not work. He had to purchase a new fmm.