BajaNomad - FMM stamp La Paz Penalty?

FMM stamp La Paz Penalty?

AAS - 10-8-2012 at 09:07 PM

I can't find the existing thread on this but I'm wondering if there is a current penalty for waiting unit La Paz to get our visas stamped on our drive down?

David K - 10-8-2012 at 09:38 PM

Just yesterday an amount of like $224 dollars per person was posted in the Tecate thread on FMMs, I think...?

One wonders, why risk it, and why risk even going to Guerrero Negro without one... The border zone in Baja California is at a min. Maneadero (10 mi. south of Ensenada) and at a max. the state of Baja California (which ends just north of Guerrero Negro).

The other limit is 72 hours ANYWHERE in Mexico... more than that, you are supposed to have an FMM. Now, who is going round trip to La Paz in 3 days or less, other than a Baja 1000 racer (Baja 2000 if going back)!?

AAS - 10-8-2012 at 09:51 PM

Youch. We would have our visas in hand and paid for through discover baja. Just wanted to skip the trouble of stopping for the stamp until we arrived in La Paz. $225 doesn't sound worth it though.

David K - 10-8-2012 at 10:12 PM

Oh, yah... really, just doesn't take long unless it is on a Saturday mid day. Just pull into secondary parking and walk to the INM office (the one closest to the United States) with your FMMs and Passports and get them stamped... Once across the border, don't be in a hurry!!! It is M-E-X-I-C-O... relax!

sancho - 10-9-2012 at 02:38 PM

Your ? is unusal, these fines are for NOT having
an fmm, in your case you have paid for the fmm
just haven't have it validated, a little different
in my view. It wasn't long ago Mex Imm at TJ
were not familiar with the prepaid fmm's, they
just hadn't seen too many of them, I'd bet
La Paz Imm have possibily never seen a prepaid
fmm. I'm with the rest of posters, takes 5 min
at TJ to get it validated, I don't go past Ensenada
without a valid fmm, but I'm a little uptight about
regs in Mex

Udo - 10-9-2012 at 04:16 PM

Here are my two centavos worth:

In June of this year I bought my two FMM's via DISCOVER BAJA. They were then stamped at TJ's Otay Mesa IMM. Had them in hand when we landed in Cabo airport. Handed Mexican immigration our stamped FMM's.
They then asked what those FMM's were supposed to be. They confiscated my prepaid and stamped FMM's, made me fill out new paperwork for a new FMM, which then was only good for 30 days.
The prepaid FMM's were good for 6 months!

Arguing did no good, and only brought down their security when I demanded they return my prepaid FMM's.

INM at their best!

fmm in LaPaz

mikekary - 10-9-2012 at 04:28 PM

Two years ago I entered at TJ and kept going. Got to LaPaz and took my FMM to immigration-No problem!-the guy asked how long?-I said 180days-he stamped it with no charge. Not a problem!

David K - 10-9-2012 at 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Udo
Here are my two centavos worth:

In June of this year I bought my two FMM's via DISCOVER BAJA. They were then stamped at TJ's Otay Mesa IMM. Had them in hand when we landed in Cabo airport. Handed Mexican immigration our stamped FMM's.
They then asked what those FMM's were supposed to be. They confiscated my prepaid and stamped FMM's, made me fill out new paperwork for a new FMM, which then was only good for 30 days.
The prepaid FMM's were good for 6 months!

Arguing did no good, and only brought down their security when I demanded they return my prepaid FMM's.

INM at their best!

The Discover Baja FMM is typically for land travel... When you get on a plane, that changes the deal (so it seems?)... I would show him you paid for 180 days... Next time use your FJ Cruiser... flying's for the birds!!

David K - 10-9-2012 at 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mikekary
Two years ago I entered at TJ and kept going. Got to LaPaz and took my FMM to immigration-No problem!-the guy asked how long?-I said 180days-he stamped it with no charge. Not a problem!

Welcome to Nomad... where did you get your FMM if you arrived in La Paz with it already?

sancho - 10-10-2012 at 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Udo
They then asked what those FMM's were supposed to be. They confiscated my prepaid and stamped FMM's, made me fill out new paperwork for a new FMM, which then was only good for 30 days.

The Mex IMM has always been arbitrary and inconsistant,
I've stood in the Mexicali IMM Office with these guys
telling me I can go to San Felipe for as long as I want
with out a tourist card, after a few mins of getting
nowwhere with them , I said I changed my mind and
was driving to La Paz, at which point this lazy Officer
rolled over on his chair and stamped my tourist card.
Ticks you off when YOU know more of the IMM regs
than they do. There was a post here about a guy
flying TJ/Cape for a few days, was told by Mex IMM
at the TJ airport he didn't need an fmm for such a short
time in Mex? I used to ride the Bus TJ/La Paz always
had to get the, then fmt, at the Bus Station, not at the
TJ border crossing

Udo - 10-10-2012 at 03:43 PM

Thanks David!

We plan on flying to Cabo, (again), on Dec. 8-10. We will be renting a car for that duration. However, this next time, I will ask the INM officer to make my FMM for 6 months, since they don't have to know I will be leaving in a few days.
I need to meet face-to-face with a couple of RV park owners regarding some palapas for sale and space rent.

The 4 days later, we will be driving the FJ for the last two weeks of the year...yes, we will also be shlepping the kayak on the roof again. Same as last year.

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

The Discover Baja FMM is typically for land travel... When you get on a plane, that changes the deal (so it seems?)... I would show him you paid for 180 days... Next time use your FJ Cruiser... flying's for the birds!!

BajaBlanca - 10-10-2012 at 05:35 PM

2 years ago the rules were very different than now - the fine is a new item.

I wonder why the airlines would not accept an FMM. That is pretty odd.

and what a good idea to ask for the 6 months....

Udo - 10-10-2012 at 06:15 PM

Yes, Blanca.

If you don't ask, they will only issue one for 30 days.

Just remember to ASK.

karenintx - 10-10-2012 at 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Udo
Thanks David!

We plan on flying to Cabo, (again), on Dec. 8-10. We will be renting a car for that duration. However, this next time, I will ask the INM officer to make my FMM for 6 months, since they don't have to know I will be leaving in a few days.
I need to meet face-to-face with a couple of RV park owners regarding some palapas for sale and space rent.

The 4 days later, we will be driving the FJ for the last two weeks of the year...yes, we will also be shlepping the kayak on the roof again. Same as last year.

Quote:

Flying into Mexico on a commercial airlines is a different process.

When you purchase your airline ticket your ticket price includes your FMM and the Mexican Airport Taxes. Once you are on the plane the flight attendant will give each passenger a FMM form and each family a customs form that needs to be filled out before you can clear the INM counter. The INM agent will process the FMM form then hand you back your passport and half of the FMM form. This portion of the form will have to be surrendered to the airline the day you depart, if you are flying out of the country. If you lose that portion of the FMM you will get to go to INM office there in the airport. They will issue you an other form however you will have to pay a fee so be sure to keep up with it!

By getting the FMM ahead of time (on your own) your are now paying for the FMM twice. If you are a FM2/3 holder there is a different procedure for filling the FMM out when you are flying. When you leave the country that is the time you fill out the FMM form. INM processes the paperwork then gives you the second half of the form to hand-in the day you return to the country of Mexico.

If you have any questions about the FMM price being included in your ticket price you should contact your airline.

karenintx - 10-10-2012 at 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBlanca
2 years ago the rules were very different than now - the fine is a new item.

I wonder why the airlines would not accept an FMM. That is pretty odd.

and what a good idea to ask for the 6 months....

This is not an airline issue...it is an Immigration issue. Just like when you fly into the USA or any other country and go through Immigration, the airlines have nothing to do with Immigration.

It can be confusing for people that do not fly a lot. We have a friend that will be visiting us next month. We have scanned/emailed him a copy of a correctly filled our FMM form with detailed instruction what to expect when he comes through INM/Customs at the airport.

Just hope things go smooth for him!

mikekary - 10-11-2012 at 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

Welcome to Nomad... where did you get your FMM if you arrived in La Paz with it already?

David K - 10-11-2012 at 04:15 PM

Try again Mike!

oladulce - 10-12-2012 at 01:21 PM

We were in La Paz immigration office yesterday picking up FM2's and it was impossible not to hear the predicament of a very unhappy (and quite vocal) couple who said they had been informed by INM officials at a border office who told them they could get their FMM's completed at either Guerrero Negro or upon arrival in La Paz. Don't know if they only needed the stamps or the entire FMM.

Another lady in the lobby told the couple the same thing happened to her a few years back and La Paz let her go with a warning.

I was trying to tune out the very heated discussion so I didn't catch the details and didn't hear what the fine was going to be, but it didn't seem like the INM folks were going to budge or let them slide for not getting their visas completed at a port of entry.

[Edited on 10-12-2012 by oladulce]

gnukid - 10-12-2012 at 02:03 PM

Apparently, immigration rules are evolving to new immigration policies. There are new formal rules now published http://www.sre.gob.mx/tratados/visas.htm that people are studying. The new laws take affect approximately Nov 12th until then the old laws are the rules. Interpreting the new laws actual meaning will take time.

http://www.sre.gob.mx/tratados/visas.htm

La Paz is a capital city and closely linked to DF, so it's a bit more formal than some other Baja cities.

In each case of people arriving somewhere in Baja below the border without a entry permit (FMM) they ask questions of the applicant and are evaluating you to determine if you are telling the truth and are not a criminal.

FMMs are provided to people who arrive by plane or boat with La Paz as the first closest port of entry, therefore there are only few FMMs given in the office which are issued without a penalty since few foreign people arrive at La Paz by boat as the their first port of entry, though some do make the first stop at La Paz or land nearby and come to the office.

All permits and visa must be approved by the senior agent and reviewed by department managers.

The person at the counter has no authority to make any decision for you, they only gather the info.

If you simply communicate the truthful situation and let them know you tried to do the right thing yet you accept the responsibility for being ignorant and misinformed, or however you want to phrase it you will be treated more kindly, depending on the agent in charge and the timing. However, you should expect to pay a fine. The amount isn't clear to me and may vary between now and Nov 12th when the process should become normalized.

If you don't want to go to the office and explain your case you can ask an expiditer to help.

If you really just arrived in La Paz after crossing the border in the night, bring proof of that by showing a US receipt and toll receipts that show you just arrived and came straight to the office to resolve the entry permit issue.

[Edited on 10-13-2012 by gnukid]

David K - 10-12-2012 at 05:35 PM

I guess what I don't get is WHY is anyone walking into the La Paz INM office in the first place? If it wasn't checked for at Guerrero Negro, then that would be the end of it. We had them on our trip last July and nobody asked to look at them. A family member just spent two months in Baja Sur and was never asked by anyone to see one...

I guess it was to make right a wrong, but when getting one is so easy at the border (when they are open to take money), why the stress of dealing with getting one 800 miles beyond the point where you are supposed to have it? Baja should be a place without drama! :yes:

BajaRae - 10-12-2012 at 06:12 PM

you guys should check but what I understand if you don't have a fmm or fm3 or fm2 your insurance isn't any good.....I wouldn't go passed TJ without one....
I have a Fm3 but my friend that goes with me needs a fmm...and we get one on our way in.....because he uaually drives my car....

gnukid - 10-12-2012 at 07:44 PM

Speaking of insurance, I read in the DMV code that CA accepts Mexican full time insurance as proof of insurance for CA registered cars used by part time residents in (Baja) Mexico. So you are not required to have two polices mex and usa to maintain valid CA reg anymore.

[Edited on 10-13-2012 by gnukid]

David K - 10-12-2012 at 08:04 PM

BajaBound's Geoff has posted here that there is no such requirement for a tourist card.

BajaRae - 10-14-2012 at 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gnukid
Speaking of insurance, I read in the DMV code that CA accepts Mexican full time insurance as proof of insurance for CA registered cars used by part time residents in (Baja) Mexico. So you are not required to have two polices mex and usa to maintain valid CA reg anymore.

[Edited on 10-13-2012 by gnukid]

Are you talking about a car you leave in Baja or one you go back and forth with. My car in Baja that never comes home just has Mx. insurance but has CA tags. It is exempt from smog because it is more than 250 miles from the border...you know now Mx citizens have to have their cars smoged if they live in TJ Tecate or Ensenada.

Marla Daily - 10-14-2012 at 07:35 AM

And to add more info into the mix of this thread:

Every airline ticket sold for flights to Mexico from the US automatically includes a UK tax. This is the tax that pays for the tourist visa. If you have an FM2 or FM3 you are exempt from this tax—about $22. BUT YOU MUST REQUEST A REFUND—EITHER AT THE AIRPORT OR FROM THE AIRLINE CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICE. It is a big hassle and a waste of time, but there is no other way to avoid this tax when you fly. Millions of dollars are collected each year (and go where????) which should be returned as refunds. But the majority of folks either do not know this, or do not bother to request their refund be processed. If you buy your airline tickets with a credit card, the credit is put back on your card. [Maybe this should be a new thread.]

gnukid - 10-14-2012 at 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaRae

Quote:

Speaking specifically about a CA registered vehicle that is in Baja and will remain in Baja Sur, the CA DMV states that full year Mexican insurance is acceptable proof of liability for the vehicle registration so you do not have to have two policies has as been interpreted in the past, one for USA CA Reg and one for actual liability in Mexico. I can post the DMV code but it's the same we keep posting on this matter here on BN.

And yes you are excluded from CA Smog check for those vehicles located south of TJ, Tecate as well, for those vehicles that stay south, when you drive north you must comply with CA Smog and Ins and inform the DMV.