BajaNomad - Day Trip south from Ensenada without FMT card

Day Trip south from Ensenada without FMT card

4eieio - 12-27-2013 at 01:38 PM

Heading for a three day trip to Ensenada and may want to explore the country to the south as a day trip returning to Ensenada. How far south can we go without an FMT card? Thank you in advance for your help. :?:

woody with a view - 12-27-2013 at 01:40 PM

all the way!

bajagrouper - 12-27-2013 at 02:15 PM

You probably mean an FMM permit since FMT's have not been used in years, the FMM is required but for less than a 7 day stay is free of charge, I was asked to show mine at a military checkpoint north of Sa Ignacio....

4eieio - 12-27-2013 at 02:21 PM

Great and thank you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

David K - 12-27-2013 at 02:28 PM

You do need a passport to get the FMM... not sure if a Passport Card will also work?

DavidE - 12-27-2013 at 02:48 PM

North of San Quintin should be no problemo.

The militar at the puesto de control north of El Rosario asked to see my FMM.

"Soy ciudadano"

"¿Americano?"

"No. Mexicano"

That rocked them back on their heels.

apple - 12-27-2013 at 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajagrouper
You probably mean an FMM permit since FMT's have not been used in years, the FMM is required but for less than a 7 day stay is free of charge, I was asked to show mine at a military checkpoint north of Sa Ignacio....

Are they doing that regularly now? Was it north of San Ignacio in Baja Sur, or the checkpoint that others mentioned north of Las Canadas?

David K - 12-27-2013 at 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidE
North of San Quintin should be no problemo.

The militar at the puesto de control north of El Rosario asked to see my FMM.

"Soy ciudadano"

"¿Americano?"

"No. Mexicano"

That rocked them back on their heels.

That would be a first David... army soldier actually asked for it, or was it an INM officer there? What would they do?

DavidE - 12-27-2013 at 03:51 PM

No, it was a sargento with a clipboard. Driver license (photo ID), and FMM was requested.

David K - 12-27-2013 at 04:00 PM

Well that is sure going to take the wind out of the sails for many who just head south to spend money... and don't read Internet message boards!

sancho - 12-27-2013 at 04:25 PM

Wasn't there a post here a couple weeks back or so,
about some Officers Immigration or? at Meandero 10 mi.
so. of Ensenada asking for fmm's?

David K - 12-27-2013 at 04:54 PM

Yes, but they were INM officers, not army soldiers at a drug/ gun checkpoint. It was between Maneadero and Santo Tomas, I believe (Las Canadas?)...

[Edited on 12-27-2013 by David K]

BajaNomad - 12-27-2013 at 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sancho
Wasn't there a post here a couple weeks back or so,
about some Officers Immigration or? at Meandero 10 mi.
so. of Ensenada asking for fmm's?

Two different people reported that they were checking for FMM at the Las Cañadas campgroud-area checkpoint just south of Ensenada.

In this thread it's mentioned that both the checkpoints just north of El Rosario, as well as the checkpoint just north of San Ignacio, some people have been asked for their FMM credentials.

Here are the earlier reports - in a (now) combined thread:

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=70805

Timo1 - 12-27-2013 at 05:12 PM

We were asked at the military check-point at San Ignacio

This was a week ago

Look out you folks that think you are getting away with it

Bajahowodd - 12-27-2013 at 06:13 PM

On one hand, do think that if Mexico wishes to give any cred to the FMM requirement, they really ought to have more places that actually check it.

That said, the folks in Erendira have posted for many years that no FMM is needed to get there.

The checkpoint near San Ignacio has, for several years, been the most thorough among all the check points we have passed through, including the wait time.

I always thought that this was simply because it represented a point mid-pennisula between the SOC and the Pacific.

David K - 12-27-2013 at 06:50 PM

Feel bad for all the non-Nomads who will get turned back... and the Mexican people who will lose more business from this.

FMM Needed???

bajaguy - 12-27-2013 at 07:08 PM

Regardless of what anybody says here, my suggestion is to stop and get the FMM. Doesn't take that long, doesn't cost that much. better to have it and not need it than to need it (for whatever reason) and not have it.

Quote:

Originally posted by 4eieio
Heading for a three day trip to Ensenada and may want to explore the country to the south as a day trip returning to Ensenada. How far south can we go without an FMT card? Thank you in advance for your help. :?:

woody with a view - 12-27-2013 at 09:03 PM

it IS EASIER to get the frikkin form. dude said he wanted to travel just south of ENS. anyone have a RELIABLE report on what happened at San Ig when no FMM could be produced? is this really the norm or will Mex turn back gringo $$$'s at some puesto's?

BajaNomad - 12-27-2013 at 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
Regardless of what anybody says here, my suggestion is to stop and get the FMM. Doesn't take that long, doesn't cost that much. better to have it and not need it than to need it (for whatever reason) and not have it.

Quote:

It's not that they won't get an FMM, it's that they don't even have passports - and you can't get an FMM without a passport.

My understanding and observation is that a substantial amount of people crossing back into the USA still don't have passports.

BajaBlanca - 12-28-2013 at 11:59 AM

Yes to bajaguy

Yes to Woody

That's my two centavos

Husband Les says he believes they are just asking for ID at the san ignacio checkpoint, give them a drivers license and they will write that name down.

BajaNomad - 12-28-2013 at 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
it IS EASIER to get the frikkin form. dude said he wanted to travel just south of ENS. anyone have a RELIABLE report on what happened at San Ig when no FMM could be produced? is this really the norm or will Mex turn back gringo $$$'s at some puesto's?

I'm sort of curious what happens at the military checkpoint if you don't produce a driver's license for them, let alone a FMM?

Do they enforce the highway laws, and/or immigration laws... or hold you until someone else that does can get there?

I know, it's Mexico... but, I'm just curious is all.

sancho - 12-28-2013 at 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNomad

My understanding and observation is that a substantial amount of people crossing back into the USA still don't have passports.

A while back, US Customs was reporting 66% or so
of crossers back to the US had the proper doc's. Crossed
back at TJ a month ago in the ped line, a younger
Mex national guy behind us in line, who we were conversing
with, he was crossing with his new Border Crossing card
he just recieved and it was the first time he was to use
it. We enter the US Customs bldg. after 2 hrs. in line, here is a sign stating what doc's one can use in the ped Ready Line, to my surprise the Border crossing card was one
you could use in the Ready Line ,figure that, me the wife
US born w/US Passports it takes longer to get into
the US than a Mex National with his New Border
Crossing card

woody with a view - 12-28-2013 at 02:26 PM

so spring for the dough and get the card(s).

Bajahowodd - 12-28-2013 at 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNomad

Quote:

Yes, it is Mexico. However in all my trips, the only checkpoint that has asked for ID, be it a DL, the FMM, a passport, or vehicle registration has been at the San Ignacio checkpoint.

From all that I have read over the years, the army is charged with intercepting drugs, weapons, and people being smuggled.

I really doubt that the army is going to detain anyone who lacks the FMM.

That said, with one exception in over 25 years of traveling Baja, we always get the FMM at the border.

[Edited on 12-29-2013 by Bajahowodd]

yellowklr - 12-28-2013 at 07:35 PM

Why would anyone skip getting an FMM??? Free for 7 days or less than 30 buck for 180 days its a No Brainer

Don't be cheap or lazy

David K - 12-28-2013 at 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yellowklr
Why would anyone skip getting an FMM??? Free for 7 days or less than 30 buck for 180 days its a No Brainer

Don't be cheap or lazy

BajaNomad already said one reason why: No passport... the Mexican INM will not issue an FMM without an unexpired passport (read edm1's July 2011 trip report for one example of this).

The other is uninformed tourists... there is no sign telling anyone as they enter Mexico or drive south of Ensenada any such documentation is required... so the surprise factor.

Not everyone who goes to Baja reads this web site (or any web site)... and since an FMM is not required to visit Tijuana to Ensenada (for up to 72 hours)... the casual tourist who decides to extend their vacation or drive further south can be in for a big surprise.

Information is king, and a couple of big billboards in English explaining when and where you need an FMM (one at the border and one along the roads south of the border), would be very productive.

BajaNomad - 12-28-2013 at 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

BajaNomad already said one reason why: No passport... the Mexican INM will not issue an FMM without an unexpired passport (read edm1's July 2011 trip report for one example of this).

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/article_91773b49-fad5-...

Bajahowodd - 12-29-2013 at 05:53 PM

Laredo TX vs Detroit. A no-brainer simply because the overwhelming majority of Canadians are white and speak English. In fact the second largest number of illegal aliens in the US are Canadians.

No racism here, huh?

MMc - 12-29-2013 at 06:49 PM

I have to ask, If a Mexican asked if he could go to ??? without papers what would you say?

I would advise 4eieio not to go south and break the law.
Would I do it yep, I would not admit to doing anything like it on this or any other board.