BajaNomad

tourist visa

gringorio - 10-30-2013 at 07:09 PM

So, I did a search on Nomads for "tourist visa" and "visa" and didn't come up with what I'm looking for.

Since it's been 5 years since I've traveled to Baja, I'm wondering how I go about getting a tourist visa? I'll be entering at Mexicali.

Sorry if this is a common question.

Thanks for your help!

Greg

Alm - 10-30-2013 at 07:27 PM

Don't know about Mexicali. Otherwise, visa procedure and cost is the same as 5 years ago. The blank form has changed, though.

dasubergeek - 10-30-2013 at 07:38 PM

Cross at the main (west) crossing and the INM office is on your far right as you cross. They're supposedly open 24x7 but the last time I went through there the INM office was open but the Banjército bank was not... they just gave me a list of acceptable banks and I paid later.

Make sure to ask for 180 days, and make sure you turn it back in before you leave to avoid hassles.

Alm - 10-30-2013 at 09:26 PM

While technically possible, I haven't heard of people having trouble for not returning their tourist card. Not yet.

rufflife - 10-31-2013 at 07:05 AM

If you will be staying in Mexico for more than 72 hours, and you will be traveling further than the 'Border Zone' (25 kilometers across the border). You can get your Tourist Visa at the border crossing point, or from most cities close to the Mexico/US border. If you acquire a blank Tourist Visa prior to entering Mexico, you will still need to have the Tourist Card stamped by Mexican Immigration officials upon entering Mexico. As of February 2013, tourist cards cost $295.00 pesos. This is the general procedure for obtaining a tourist card:

1. Fill out an FMM (tourist card) form at the immigration office
2. Walk to the nearby bank and pay for the tourist card (or, go to another approved bank)
3. Return to the immigration office to get your tourist card stamped

Hope this helps. It is kind of generic, but gives the general idea.

Rufflife

David K - 10-31-2013 at 07:18 AM

Ken Cooke posted photos of the Mexicali (west/ downtown) INM office location... it is on the LEFT just after entering Mexico... at least when he made the report. I always got mine at Tijuana (downtown) crossing... INM office.

paranewbi - 10-31-2013 at 08:24 AM

Just did the Mexicali tourist visa thing 2 weeks ago.
DK is spot on! Stay in the left lane when entering. You will come to an orange cone 30 or so feet in front of a booth impeding your progress. Stop and the Mexican agent will come out and ask if you have anything to declare. We said no and she moved the cone for us and told us to park on the left (double park if crowded) and the visa office is there on the left just after the booth you just passed. The visa guy will take your passports and enter information first in the system and then have you fill in the visa itself at the counter.
We were only getting the free up to 7 days version so we didn't have to do the bank thing. I'm sure the agent will direct you to where to go...really nice people all around.
When you get back in your car fade over to the right/center and look for the signs for San Felipe and Puertocitos. Don't go anywhere there is not a sign saying one of these and be ready for lane changes to follow the lane the sign is over...not bad just stay alert. A half hour and you should be out of the city and on your way south on open road. A half dozen dirt side road diversions on your way down for road work...add some time to your arrival estimation.

bkbend - 10-31-2013 at 08:41 AM

At Mexicali East go thru declare lane, politely ask where IMN is (it and the bank are in the cluster of buildings to the right) and where you can park. You will be directed to a small parking lot a short distance ahead. In my case I was not hassled by customs on the way out. In the last three years I've been through every crossing except the new Tijuana and this was the easiest. Getting to Hwy 5 is a little trickier and a good co-pilot helps pointing out turns and hidden stop signs.

dasubergeek - 10-31-2013 at 03:06 PM

The 25-mile thing does not apply to Baja California. Officially, the free zone in B.C. ends south of San Felipe on the eastern side and at Maneadero on the western side, but there are no checks until you cross the state border into Baja California Sur (and not even then).

The new Tijuana is easy, just keep right as you head along the border fence and swing wide as you turn left—you'll see the bollards there and the autodeclaration line.

Clarification on my "hassles" bit—the hassles are only when you haven't been stamped "out" and you need another FMM—as I found out, they do love to take out their frustration at being stuck in a tiny, unhappy-looking office on people, though they're still rather politer than some of the northbound guards I've encountered.

[Edited on 10-31-2013 by dasubergeek]

Alm - 10-31-2013 at 03:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dasubergeek
Clarification on my "hassles" bit—the hassles are only when you haven't been stamped "out" and you need another FMM...

Yes, this is what I meant - did not return or stamp out. I think nobody cares to do this except for when flying out. I also think - correct me if I'm wrong - that tourist visa is not a multiple entry, and you are supposed to get a new one every time, so why keeping and showing at the re-entry the old one that you have not returned or not stamped out?

If you didn't return it and go in again within 180 days - or whatever time they gave you - then you go in without asking for FMM. Later in Baja if anybody checks, old visa still not expired and there is no way to tell whether you left before and came back or are staying from your very first entry.

If you ask for another FMM because the 1st one expired and you didn't return the 1st one - this is different, and I'd like to know how many people had troubles then.

[Edited on 10-31-2013 by Alm]

Floatflyer - 10-31-2013 at 07:05 PM

We took another option. After about 15 yrs of having FM3's, we gave them up(did not renew) last year.This fall when we headed south for the winter, we joined Discovery Baja, about $39, and then a couple of weeks before departure we e-mailed scanned passports and paid about $34 ea for our tourist cards. They arrived promptly, all ready to be presented to immigration at your choice of border crossings, ready to be stamped and with the required bank receipts.

Totally hassle free. For us, highly recommended.

Alm - 10-31-2013 at 08:25 PM

Floatflyer, there is no hassle in getting a tourist card at the border, and it costs half of what Discovery Baja charges. The question was whether there is any hassle for not returning it upon exit, as returning it seems to be more hassle than not returning :)

KurtG - 10-31-2013 at 08:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Alm
Floatflyer, there is no hassle in getting a tourist card at the border, and it costs half of what Discovery Baja charges. The question was whether there is any hassle for not returning it upon exit, as returning it seems to be more hassle than not returning :)


I have turned in my last two expired 180 day permits when getting a new one and both times the old one was accepted without comment, last year in Tecate and earlier this month at the new crossing at TJ. While in theory the permit is not multi-entry I suspect many of us use it that way and Mexican Immigration officers have told me not to worry about it.

MICK - 11-1-2013 at 07:05 AM

We go to the East border just because you have a good parking lot and not much traffic. Also the bank and the INM office are on the same side of the street. At the downtown crossing I don't like parking there and you have to cross the incoming traffic to get to the bank. We come and go all the time and never turn in our visas. when they expire we just stop and get new ones.(never been asked about the old ones). At the east border, once you pass thru the border, look for the parking lot on the right. just past secondary. ( I never go there unless I have to, but either way ) pull in and park anywhere.. You will see the bank at the end of the buildings. walk back to the border and go in the office there. the visas are at the counter on the right side. Present your passport and they will fill them out for you, you then walk back to the bank (about 150 ft) pay then go back to the office and they stamp it and you are off. It takes us about 15 mins total time.
Have fun Mick

dasubergeek - 11-1-2013 at 09:01 AM

It would be just my luck to get the cranky INM officer (the short lady with the mole on her upper lip), then... she read me the Riot Act when I stopped to get another FMM, and I just rolled my eyes while she ticked off all the egregious violations of Mexican immigration law I had committed.

Maybe if it weren't such a pain in the arse to find your way through Col. Federal and find the parking and then walk backwards through the gates like salmon swimming upstream...

In any case, Alm is right—it's not worth the fee for Discovery Baja. All you're saving is ten minutes while the INM agent shows you how to fill out the form and then going to the bank next door to pay. You still have to stop, you still have to get it stamped, you still have to go and deal with it.

Floatflyer - 11-1-2013 at 09:11 AM

Ok, about using Discover Baja for a tourist card. First, DB charges $5 per tourist card. Yes, you have to be a member to use this service.

For us, not being restricted by the hours a bank is open, whether it is a holiday or not, whether it is a Sunday or not, is well worth the price for this service, and we use different border crossings depending on our travel plans.

I am as cheap as they come on some things, but for others, a nominal fee is just fine. We used a fixer for years renewing our FM3s. We were just not willing to get run all over the place and wait in lines to save a few dollars. If that is the way you want to enjoy your time, go for it.

Mula - 11-1-2013 at 09:20 AM

We're with Floatflyer on this Discover Baja facilitating for us.

Have been members and used them for 7 years and really happy with their service for a nominal fee.

tourist card

captkw - 11-1-2013 at 09:25 AM

I have never heard of anyone turning the card back in.....myself come down for the winters.... 3 to 5 months. and always get a 180 days on the "card"... Far as anyone knows they don't kept track on the tourist driving down..and there is no need to return the card when heading north.complete waste of your and their time..but,, I could write abook about being stuck at the mex/guatamala border for a few weeks due to a bad mexican im officer.............

bryanmckenzie - 11-1-2013 at 09:59 AM

Since 2009, and multiple crossings, various destinations both BC & BCS, sometimes with tourist card and sometimes without, I have never once been asked to present it by police, military or border crossing.

What happens if you are caught without one ??? :?:

tourest card

captkw - 11-1-2013 at 10:06 AM

I have heard of folks being fined and I always get asked at the Monument G.N. and have been asked over the years for it.. its not a big thing..I used to get thru Vagabundos Del mar no I just grab at the border and be done with it..........

Alm - 11-1-2013 at 11:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bryanmckenzie
Since 2009, and multiple crossings, various destinations both BC & BCS, sometimes with tourist card and sometimes without, I have never once been asked to present it by police, military or border crossing.

What happens if you are caught without one ??? :?:

Going in without tourist card is the risk that I would not take, this card is easy to get and costs very little. Will they run you out of country, or put in some cell for a day or two, or just make you lose half a day at some check-point - I am not looking forward to find out. What I was wondering about is the issue with "stamping out the exit" or returning the card - other than in the airport, obviously. I guess, the answer is what I already knew - it doesn't matter whether you return it or not.

sancho - 11-1-2013 at 11:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Alm
Going in without tourist card is the risk that I would not take






With you on that, the actual RISK seems to be non existant, the
part about not being checked for an fmm is not the right
tack to take, I haven't been checked for a Mex Fishing
License while panga fishing either, but I get one. the Mex Govt
asked/requests tourists comply with thier regs, I think
that is the least we can do, be a responsible visitor

bryanmckenzie - 11-1-2013 at 02:35 PM

Sancho,

Thanks for that reply. It is my sentiment also. Including fising license, USA or Canda or Mexico. It's the right thing to do. I feel the same way about insurance.

And yet, on several crossings, insurance places were closed in Calexico when I crossed and I drove bare.

And a few times, I could not get into the correct lane for the FM document as car raced by me and the next thing you know you are in Tijuana or Mexicali and lost or speeding along and ... ugh, oh, now what?

My question is from a practicality standpoint. I'd like to comply, and yet it is not always easy. As I am now in Rosarito and headed south in a few minutes ... post about Tourist Card in Ensenada? FMM? FMT?

-Bryan
Quote:
With you on that, the actual RISK seems to be non existant, the
part about not being checked for an fmm is not the right
tack to take, I haven't been checked for a Mex Fishing
License while panga fishing either, but I get one. the Mex Govt
asked/requests tourists comply with thier regs, I think
that is the least we can do, be a responsible visitor


[Edited on 2013-11-1 by bryanmckenzie]

[Edited on 2013-11-1 by bryanmckenzie]

David K - 11-1-2013 at 04:03 PM

See where you asked in another thread, Bryan.

Alm - 11-1-2013 at 04:44 PM

There is not much speeding or problems with changing lanes at new El Chap crossing to Tijuana. Though, the OP is going to cross at Mexicali. Last time I checked - earlier this year - Ensenada INM office was still issuing tourist cards, so this is can be an option if you couldn't stop at the border for some reason.

Pacifico - 11-1-2013 at 05:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by captkw
I have heard of folks being fined and I always get asked at the Monument G.N. and have been asked over the years for it.. its not a big thing..I used to get thru Vagabundos Del mar no I just grab at the border and be done with it..........


Captkw,

Just curious when was the last time you were checked at Guerrero Negro (monument)? I'm wondering if I have just been lucky because I haven't been checked there for years. Thanks!

David K - 11-1-2013 at 05:49 PM

I don't go into Sur very much... and not always on Hwy. 1.

Last Year (2012) there is a ALTO (STOP) sign right in front of the INM office and the guy was in there, looked at us... and waved us on. This is just south of the Eagle Monument.

In 2011, Nomad edm1 was inspected and FINED $100 dollars for his wife not having a tourist card (they wouldn't issue one to her in Mexicali because her passport had recently expired... so they chanced it).

In 2009, he came up to my window and inspected the FM-T.

In 2007, he came up to my window and inspected the FM-T.

In 2001, he came up to my window and inspected the FM-T.



[Edited on 11-2-2013 by David K]

Pacifico - 11-1-2013 at 07:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
I don't go into Sur very much... and not always on Hwy. 1.

Last Year (2012) there is a ALTO (STOP) sign right in front of the INM office and the guy was in there, looked at us... and waved us on. This is just south of the Eagle Monument.

In 2011, Nomad edm1 was inspected and FINED $100 dollars for his wife not having a tourist card (they wouldn't issue one to her in Mexicali because her passport had recently expired... so they chanced it).

In 2009, he came up to my window and inspected the FM-T.

In 2007, he came up to my window and inspected the FM-T.

In 2001, he came up to my window and inspected the FM-T.



[Edited on 11-2-2013 by David K]


Good to know! Thanks!

dasubergeek - 11-3-2013 at 09:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Alm
There is not much speeding or problems with changing lanes at new El Chap crossing to Tijuana. Though, the OP is going to cross at Mexicali. Last time I checked - earlier this year - Ensenada INM office was still issuing tourist cards, so this is can be an option if you couldn't stop at the border for some reason.


Scuttlebutt—and I haven't done this myself—is that they only issue for people actually arriving in Ensenada, so just tell them you came in on a yacht.

Ateo - 11-3-2013 at 09:52 PM

Been asked one time for my tourist card since 1990. It was at Guerrero Negro and I just paid the guy some cash and he let us go. I have gotten tourist cards many times. I used to pull them out at military checkpoints, trying to look like the good American with all the right paperwork only to have them immediately tossed back (politely) at me.

For U nomads

captkw - 11-3-2013 at 10:04 PM

Consistantly inconsistent!! that's what I bank On...LOL:lol:...Ps...Pacifico...now thinking about it..your right..They have not asked Me there in a few years..my Spanish is good and I can wiggle out of problems rather good!! but a tourist card for Me is a no brainer..just get it..funny thing the new head of ca. UC system just made public 5 million for illlegals in the system for personal help...WTF...get the card..:cool:

[Edited on 11-4-2013 by captkw]