BajaNomad

Mexican Immigration Law

Wilbur4s - 12-9-2013 at 11:23 PM

Mexican Immigration Law changed, went into effect on November 9th, 2012. The Law modifies the visa requirements and its process. All USA Citizens are required to present USA Passport when entering Mexico (traveling by air, land or sea) at the point of entry.

Anybody aware of this? I started a few threads about securing the Mexican Tourist Visa as part of crossing into Mexico and got lots of feedback about how to secure it expeditiously. This seems to make that process unnecessary. :?:

Wilbur4s - 12-9-2013 at 11:32 PM

This from the Mexican Consulate web site, http://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/sanjose/index.php/visas

David K - 12-9-2013 at 11:48 PM

The Mexican INM office only accepts a valid Passport from Americans as I.D. to obtain the Tourist Card (FMM).

This is not new... but recent (2-3 years now), and reported a lot here on Nomad. See the July, 2011 trip report by edm1. His wife's passport was expired, and they (Mexicali INM) would NOT issue her an FMM, only him. At the Guerrero Negro INM checkpoint (that some here seem to have never seen), she was fined $100 US.

Your passport is your ID... and the best ID to return to the US with. It has nothing to do with replacing the need for an FMM issued by Mexico for travel beyond the border region.

Since you don't need an FMM for travel only in the border area (for up to 72 hours), they will not be seeing your passport (or lack thereof) since you only walk into the INM office to get the FMM and are not sent there automatically.

[Edited on 12-10-2013 by David K]

sancho - 12-10-2013 at 12:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur4s
All USA Citizens are required to present USA Passport when entering Mexico (traveling by air, land or sea) at the point of entry






What is printed/written by Mex Imm as their regs is often not
enforced the way they are printed. You can find references
that contradict eachother from legit sources. Yes, traditionally
you have to have a valid passport to get an fmm, not sure
if the Passport card works, it has in the past, I'm
sure you could find info stating you need a Passport to
ENTER Mex, recently read on the San Felipe site Mex Imm
at the Mexicali border says ALL TOURISTS ENTERING Mex
need an fmm, doesn't matter where or how long you are
in Mex, you could probably get conflicting info from
one port of entry to the next. I always have the 180 fmm
or the free 7 day fmm

Wilbur4s - 12-10-2013 at 01:10 PM

thanks.

CortezBlue - 12-10-2013 at 03:36 PM

It has always been that way when flying into Mexico.

dasubergeek - 12-10-2013 at 07:44 PM

When you fly, they always check your passport.

When you boat in, there are new rules (there's another thread floating around here somewhere about that).

But when you drive in or walk in, nobody gives a damn. I've never been asked for my passport in any of my dozens-if-not-hundreds of peregrinations in the free zone, not even when I get a red light.

DENNIS - 12-10-2013 at 08:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dasubergeek
I've never been asked for my passport in any of my dozens-if-not-hundreds of peregrinations in the free zone, not even when I get a red light.



I have, twice, at the newer Chaparral crossing. Perhaps not SOP, but it was those two times for me.
Checked under the hood as well. :?::?:


On the other hand, in fifty plus years, I've never had a "red light."



.

[Edited on 12-11-2013 by DENNIS]

dasubergeek - 12-12-2013 at 10:31 PM

I've gotten the red light twice: once when six of us crossed at 3:13 a.m. in my carefree twenties, and once when I was walking across with an overstuffed suitcase.

viabaja - 12-12-2013 at 11:11 PM

My 2 cents. On that Wed. before Thanksgiving, the Aduana were checking everyone coming in at the east Calexico border. There were 2 groups independent of each other, Customs and Immigration. We were Ok as we had our Imigrante Permanente cards and were waved thru. However our friends only had valid passports. They got pulled into Immigration for an hour along with a host of others - their passports got yanked so they had to go. Here is the short version. All holders of passports as ID's must get an FMM. This for going to San Felipe. 7 days or less is free. Over 7 days costs 250 pesos. Now supposedly on way out of border, they? would be collecting the FMM stub. Didn't happen as no one was checking ID's or asking for the stubs. After having a discussion with one of the Aduana officers, they will conduct these random inspections on entry on a regular basis.

David K - 12-12-2013 at 11:23 PM

Wow, so San Felipe is technically not in the border zone by the sounds of that. Did you know how any of the people just going into Mexicali for the day were treated? Can you imagine the backup if EVERY non-Mexican tourist/vacationer had to get an FMM at the border? !! Bureaucracy will be the death of casual Baja tourism...

Thanks Chris!

DENNIS - 12-13-2013 at 07:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by viabaja
- their passports got yanked so they had to go.


Yanked?? 'Splain, please.

rts551 - 12-13-2013 at 08:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Wow, so San Felipe is technically not in the border zone by the sounds of that. Did you know how any of the people just going into Mexicali for the day were treated? Can you imagine the backup if EVERY non-Mexican tourist/vacationer had to get an FMM at the border? !! Bureaucracy will be the death of casual Baja tourism...

Thanks Chris!


Enforcing immigration laws a bad thing? That's a good one. Could you imagine letting every non-US-citizen tourist/vacationer into the California without a Visa?

If Mexico is serious about San Felipe Immigration document

akshadow - 12-13-2013 at 11:34 AM

seems mexican immigration should set up a checkpoint at the military inspection station on the way to San Felipe.

this would be easy place to do the inspections and not too much extra delay

DianaT - 12-13-2013 at 12:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by akshadow
seems mexican immigration should set up a checkpoint at the military inspection station on the way to San Felipe.

this would be easy place to do the inspections and not too much extra delay


Yes, as they do it that way elsewhere and it would not interrupt the flow of the Mexicali/Calexico people.

BajaBlanca - 12-13-2013 at 01:05 PM

I agree with Ralph!

David K - 12-13-2013 at 03:52 PM

In an economic crisis, where the people of Baja have been shortchanged by the drop in tourism, anything that reduces the cost or procedures will ENHANCE business and RAISE the economy.

Baja is a great place, but nobody has to go there for a vacation. Each time you add a barrier to families on a budget from going to Mexico, it hurts Mexico.

1) The free tourist card ended in mid-2000... $23 per person before you were officially inside Mexico hurt. Big families stopped going. A few years later, the free 7 day tourist card was initiated because of the DAMAGE done by the tourist tax.

2) 9-11 happened (2001) and increased waiting at the border has been getting worse beginning then.

3) Drug Cartel Violence 2006+/- (in the news, and to our Mexican friends) has a huge affect on feeling safe about going to Mexico.

4) Economic disaster after the political change in the U.S. senate beginning in 2007. Vacation funds disappeared as we had to keep a roof over our heads.

The above 4 items has hurt Baja tourism... It is only because it is such a special place, with great things to do, and has off road racing, that anyone goes at all.

Reducing the impact of the above items will help the people of Baja. All the dollars the Mexican government has taken for tourist cards has not ended up in the pockets of anybody in Baja who made money from people on vacation... It has actually kept money out of their pockets. I do not understand the love some people have for government bureaucracy???

dasubergeek - 12-13-2013 at 04:59 PM

Interesting. I wonder what they do if you just cross on your SENTRI card.

Bajahowodd - 12-13-2013 at 06:03 PM

What is everyone's problem? If the EU can allow unfettered passage among 28 different nations as far flung as UK and Romania, with nothing more than a photo ID such as a drivers license, what in the Hades are we doing?? It's a phobia.

David K - 12-13-2013 at 06:11 PM

Seriously! I thought most who have issues with my ideology were all for Open Borders and Immigration Reform (ie. amnesty)???

viabaja - 12-15-2013 at 07:13 AM

Yanked as in, I have your passports in my hands, follow me, stand in line, passports in back room. FMM's required no matter where, Mexicali or San Felipe. We'll see where this goes.

geno51 - 12-15-2013 at 07:49 AM

Can you tell me where do you return the tourist visa when traveling back to the states, I will be using the mexicali east crossing?

ncampion - 12-15-2013 at 11:00 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by geno51
Can you tell me where do you return the tourist visa when traveling back to the states, I will be using the mexicali east crossing?


In my experience it's near impossible to return a tourist visa at any border crossing in Baja. From the mainland, it's easy and required.

David K - 12-15-2013 at 11:16 AM

An address has been provided to mail back the unexpired tourist cards, as there is no system to collect them from you in the line out of Mexico... anywhere in Baja.

From Discover Baja Travel Club:

Before your Tourist Visa expires, return it in person to any Mexican Immigration Office OR mail to: INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE MIGRACION
PUENTE PUERTA S/N
COLONIA FEDERAL
TIJUANA, B.C. MEXICO C.P. 22310

Mailing

bajaguy - 12-15-2013 at 11:20 AM

Wonder if they have a San Diego address???

Also where do the fishermen turn in the (fishing version) FMM when they go out of San Diego???


Quote:
Originally posted by David K
An address has been provided to mail back the unexpired tourist cards, as there is no system to collect them from you in the line out of Mexico... anywhere in Baja.

From Discover Baja Travel Club:

Before your Tourist Visa expires, return it in person to any Mexican Immigration Office OR mail to: INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE MIGRACION
PUENTE PUERTA S/N
COLONIA FEDERAL
TIJUANA, B.C. MEXICO C.P. 22310

David K - 12-15-2013 at 11:24 AM

A stamp for Mexico mail is a few cents more... call or email Discover Baja and they will know answers for both your questions.

http://discoverbaja.com

rts551 - 12-15-2013 at 11:26 AM

Our son turns in his at the immigration office. Easily done

MitchMan - 12-15-2013 at 11:27 AM

I would think if the Mexican government truly and genuinely cared about collecting FMMs from those exiting the country by foot or by vehicle that they would make a really easy provision for doing so.

sancho - 12-15-2013 at 02:45 PM

It sure depends on where you are crossing back to the
US, as to the ease of turning an fmm in. Some are just
impossible. The TJ/San Ysidro crossing back, I wouldn't
know where to begin. The ped Mex Imm Office coming
into Mex is inaccessable from the TJ side.
The newer crossing into Mex by vehicle at
TJ, I'm not sure you can drive there from the TJ
side. Mexicali is a bit easier. There was a post here a
while back, that Mex Imm uses the fmm's just for statisical
purposes, they obviously do not place importance
on getting fmm's returned from tourists leaving by
vehicle or by foot, International flights are another matter

Bajahowodd - 12-15-2013 at 06:04 PM

Maybe if and when they maintain a believable data base on these, it might behoove many to actually turn the FMM back before crossing the border.

But, please indulge me again on the idea that if Europe, with dozens of nations and dozens of languages can allow unfettered passage, why the heck cannot the three nations of North America? I really do believe that most of the NSA's border patrol division is a make work project.

Any idea how much productive time and how much gasoline is just plain wasted because of the border situation?