BajaNomad - Passport card vs book? Any difference to MX authorities?

Passport card vs book? Any difference to MX authorities?

Whale-ista - 2-22-2013 at 08:23 AM

I've renewed both passport card and traditional book for trip tp San Ignacio Lagoon. Does it matter to MX authorities which I present for my visitors paperwork or other purposes?

I realize the card is useful for one day crossing purposes, but is There any requirement for the full book vs card once across the border? Are both recognized as valid by MX authorities?

Terry28 - 2-22-2013 at 09:58 AM

No, No and yes.

gnukid - 2-22-2013 at 10:00 AM

Both are equal for CAN-US-MX car/bus/boat travel, the card is not good for intercontinenetal air travel-so basically worthless.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

mtgoat666 - 2-22-2013 at 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gnukid
Both are equal for CAN-US-MX car/bus/boat travel, the card is not good for intercontinenetal air travel-so basically worthless.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

perhaps one "worth" is it has rfid chip that allows use of "ready lane."

but agree it is not very useful to carry alone w/o book. if you need to fly home and you only have card and left book at home, you are SOL

gnukid - 2-22-2013 at 10:20 AM

FYI correction I meant - passport card not good for international air travel

you no can not fly out from cabo in case of emergencies with the card, I would not suggest it for anyone, it saves about $100 I recall hardly worth it.

Alan - 2-22-2013 at 10:27 AM

I believe that technically one is supposed to keep their passport with them at all times which I am reluctant to do. Easier for me to just keep the card in my wallet

gnukid - 2-22-2013 at 11:29 AM

Alan, You are not required to keep the passport on you in either Mexico or USA. If you have evidence of such a demand or requirement for driving or walking show it.

You may at some point be required to show a passport as part of immigration at a port of entry and be given the opportunity to go and get it or have someone bring but in either case you may not be deprived of your freedom to return whre you came from to do so. Carry a copy.

In the USA when you travel at the airport after you check in once, you are actually allowed to show any form of ID to the TSA within th airport but few people understand this, you can show cc with photo, library card etc... that is the law.

Never are you 'required' to show the passport to random people, only at ports of entry. In Mexico you may be asked as part of another criminal or accident process to show that have a valid visa to an immigration authority and you may be given the opportunity to go and get it and show any valid id, dl etc...

Most people do not have passports and few carry them, ever.

mtgoat666 - 2-22-2013 at 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gnukid
Alan, You are not required to keep the passport on you in either Mexico or USA. If you have evidence of such a demand or requirement for driving or walking show it.

You may at some point be required to show a passport as part of immigration at a port of entry and be given the opportunity to go and get it or have someone bring but in either case you may not be deprived of your freedom to return whre you came from to do so. Carry a copy.

In the USA when you travel at the airport after you check in once, you are actually allowed to show any form of ID to the TSA within th airport but few people understand this, you can show cc with photo, library card etc... that is the law.

Never are you 'required' to show the passport to random people, only at ports of entry. In Mexico you may be asked as part of another criminal or accident process to show that have a valid visa to an immigration authority and you may be given the opportunity to go and get it and show any valid id, dl etc...

Most people do not have passports and few carry them, ever.

in arizona they throw you in the clink if you are latino caught on street without papers!

daveB - 2-22-2013 at 11:49 AM

I know this is the Baja Forum, but as a Canadian national, we are expected to carry passports in USA. That is to say, when stopped by Border Patrol officials, they will ask for a Passport. If not forthcoming, they can search into your background and, if not satified, they can fingerprint, strip-search, etcetera, until they know exactly who you are.

I am sure this is seldom done, but when asked they will tell you what powers they have, and having a passport will virtually eliminatee the possibility of that happening. I would be surprised if Mexico does not follow the same example.

Mexican officals now like to stamp your passport. Not having one limits their control over their border. If they will take exception to the card, I do not know.

sancho - 2-22-2013 at 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Whale-ista
Are both recognized as valid by MX authorities?

Logic tells you to carry the Passport, I don't have
a Passport Card so I've never attempted to get
an fmm with one. I understand you can. Discover
Baja club on their site states you can get an fmm
with the Passport Card, I believe the TJ Airport
will issue an fmm with a Passport Card

gnukid - 2-22-2013 at 11:58 AM

They might put them in jail but they get let out fast because there is no place to go and no charges or prosecution. The mexicans told me about it, they say you are in jail, dehydrated, it sucks and then you are free with about 4-8 hours. Very stupid process.

I've done some experiments walking down the el camino in California with a bandana and sombrero and sort of walking casually without purpose, the cops do arrive quickly and demand to know what I am doing walking there, but they can't put you in jail, they do like to threaten and intimidate. Of course I do have my id which says I live there and I can show it even though i am not required to do so since I am not under suspicion in a criminal investigation.

There were three constitutional cases for this in my city and the cops paid big time but they still do it. I also had a few high school friends who ran tow services and they had a contract with the city and they would pull over mexicans and tow their car without any charges since they had no id. The constitutional cases put a stop the towing scheme, and now mexicans are allowed to park the car legally or call a friend with dl to come and get it and they walk home with no charges for no id and no ins or reg. The tow companies went out of business.

I also have done experiments going to the hospital for regular care, there is a door for mexicans and special office in the basement, no id and no payment is required, paper records are kept but no computer record and first names only along with your phone number for id and they offer free prescriptions, they offer to pay your overdue utility bills if you need help and offer bags of groceries to go too. Upstairs the same visit would cost $1000s and no free food or pleasant hospitality.

Very strange orchestrated division of culture which weakens our community and makes people suspicious of each other.

ElCap - 2-22-2013 at 12:05 PM

The card works fine for driving, but not valid for international air travel. We learned the hard way last Fall when my wife had the opportunity to fly from San Ignacio on one of the SCORE helicopters after the finish of the Baja 1000. The pilot couldn't take her across the border, so she had to get dropped off in San Felipe. I was driving north anyhow, but I had to cut through Coco's Corner and go pick her up. Lesson learned: the card is nice, but bring the passport book too. Not likely you will be offered a helicopter ride (trip of a lifetime!), but if you had some type of medical or other emergency, you want to be able to fly home, and the passport card is not valid for that.

CarlVon - 2-22-2013 at 12:06 PM

Where is this hospital????

gnukid - 2-22-2013 at 12:12 PM

Passport at port of entries only may request you consent to search to cross, interior border inspections sites may request you consent to show your id or passport and may request to search you but you not required to consent and are 'free to travel'. Interior inspection sites have no jursidcition to restrict your right to continue to travel freely, any consent you provide is purely voluntary unless you are in the midst of criminal activity which must be identified and communicated and at that time you would/should be under arrest with miranda rights communicated and if that were the case you may remain silent and consent to nothing and likely you should.

sancho - 2-22-2013 at 12:18 PM

I've heard the position that Militery checkpoints,
Mex Cops, etc. can't legally ask for your IMM
papers, only Mex IMM Officials can. I for one,
and don't think there are few who wouldn't
hand over their Passport to the Mex Army
at a checkpoint if requested

gnukid - 2-22-2013 at 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CarlVon
Where is this hospital????

El Camino Hospital Mountain View CA

Enter behind the YMCA and go downstairs but you have be in need, they do have appointments too, these are known as rotary clinics for those in need.