BajaNomad

FMM payment at INM office

IslandAngler - 3-31-2014 at 10:05 AM

I recently read this about the INM office at TJ and FMM payment... "Was pleasantly surprised when she informed us that INM now can accept the fee/tax... No more searching for an open bank. The fee/tax was 290 pesos or $24 US (either currency was acceptable). That exchange rate is 12.08 pesos per dollar. We used our recently purchased pesos." This was posted some time ago. Other than the cost and exchange rate, is it still true? Can you pay for your FMM directly, without using a bank?

[Edited on 3-31-2014 by IslandAngler]

dasubergeek - 3-31-2014 at 10:47 AM

That's good news, though 12.08 is a lousy exchange rate given that the interbank is 13.08 and I got 13.20 from an ATM last week.

David K - 3-31-2014 at 10:49 AM

That sounds like my post from July, 2012...

Yes, everyone reports that either the INM office will take the fee or a teller will be open next door.

IslandAngler - 3-31-2014 at 12:36 PM

Yes, David K., it is from your old post. Now that your here, I have another question. Is it OK to pick up your stamped FMM and bring it out of the country, then re-enter at a later time? I thought this was slightly illegal. But I guess if you don't tell anyone, than it's OK. Right? Because, I plan to do the same if I can to save time and effort.

David K - 3-31-2014 at 12:54 PM

That's what we did in 2012 and the post detailed that. The FMM is good for the time issued. Only flying FMMs are collected when you leave Mexico.

FMM return at Calexico

akshadow - 3-31-2014 at 01:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
That's what we did in 2012 and the post detailed that. The FMM is good for the time issued. Only flying FMMs are collected when you leave Mexico.

akshadow - 3-31-2014 at 01:42 PM

Where do you turn in FMM at East Border Callexico? and are there penalties for not doing so?

I know you say not required but the form does say it is necessary.
Quote:
Originally posted by akshadow
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
That's what we did in 2012 and the post detailed that. The FMM is good for the time issued. Only flying FMMs are collected when you leave Mexico.

MitchMan - 3-31-2014 at 03:11 PM

There is a large disparity between practice and actual formal Mexican rules. One never knows for sure when total compliance to official Mexican rules is going to be enforced. A great example of this is the flip flopping and turn about changes over the last 5 years concerning Mexican visas, banking policies, taxation and to a lesser degree concerning TIPs for boats.

I have come to expect that the above "phenomenon" is always going to be the case. Not absolutely sure of why that is the case, but I have my suspicions.

sancho - 3-31-2014 at 03:15 PM

There was a post here a few weeks ago, a guy WALKING
in at San Ysidro's new ped entrance was issued a stamped
fmm, Mex Imm didn't take the fmm fee, he was told that
vague term, 'pay at a bank in Mex asap', that always seemed
squirrley to me. The fmm and the fmt have ALWAYS been
single entry, this subject has been beaten many times, but in practice many use it for mulitiple entries. The past couple
times I've gotten the free 7 day fmm at the Old Calexico
downtown crossing, they were very firm in stating it
needs to be returned before it expires, so I do. While
waiting in the car line to cross back, I get out and return
it, the Imm office at the Old crossing is handy. What
happens if you don't return an fmm, absoutely nothing
to my knowledge. I'm under the impression they track
fmm's by computer, so who knows in the future what
they may or not do, it's Mex

msteve1014 - 3-31-2014 at 03:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
That sounds like my post from July, 2012...

Yes, everyone reports that either the INM office will take the fee or a teller will be open next door.


Not everyone. I posted when I went down in July 2013 that the bank was not open and the INM officer would not take the payment. This was at the new San Isidro crossing.

Bajahowodd - 3-31-2014 at 05:00 PM

Weird. It was almost a year ago when we crossed at SY and the IMM officer took our money and stamped our visas. This was mid-day in the middle of the week. It almost seems like it depends more on the reliability of the person at the desk, than anything else. In other words, who do the people in charge trust with handling money.

bajagrouper - 3-31-2014 at 05:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
That's what we did in 2012 and the post detailed that. The FMM is good for the time issued. Only flying FMMs are collected when you leave Mexico.




David you are full of crap, giving Nomads
bad advise when you know what is right.
You know it states on the back of the 2014
FMM:

IMPORTANT
During your stay in Mexico,you must retain
this immigration form and surrender it upon
leaving the country........

Maybe you never turned the FMM over to
read the rules on this official Mexican INM
Document ....

It is the law of the land written in black and
white, so stop giving Miss Information.........

David K - 3-31-2014 at 06:22 PM

Being rude isn't helping anyone.

I have been going to Mexico since 1965, and have never been 'punished' for not returning a tourist card before leaving Mexico.

I personally asked the federal INM officer if the FMM I was getting that day could be used for when I begin my vacation, 5 days later... and the answer was OF COURSE.

There are multiple lanes of traffic leaving Mexico at most of the crossings and 1-2 at Tecate and Algodones. PLEASE POST A PHOTO OF THE DROP OFF system in these lines so you can surrender your FMM before driving out of Mexico. If that has been added since my last trip, it will be news to a lot of Nomads. I suspect such a thing would be a big post here, yet I haven't seen one.

There must be a reason an address is provided to MAIL the FMM, BACK from your U.S. home BEFORE it expires? :light:

willardguy - 3-31-2014 at 06:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Being rude isn't helping anyone.

I have been going to Mexico since 1965, and have never been 'punished' for not returning a tourist card before leaving Mexico.

I personally asked the federal INM officer if the FMM I was getting that day could be used for when I begin my vacation, 5 days later... and the answer was OF COURSE.

There are multiple lanes of traffic leaving Mexico at most of the crossings and 1-2 at Tecate and Algodones. PLEASE POST A PHOTO OF THE DROP OFF system in these lines so you can surrender your FMM before driving out of Mexico. If that has been added since my last trip, it will be news to a lot of Nomads. I suspect such a thing would be a big post here, yet I haven't seen one.

There must be a reason an address is provided to MAIL the FMM, BACK from your U.S. home BEFORE it expires? :light:
have you always mailed yours back?

akshadow - 3-31-2014 at 07:54 PM

The FMM I was issued in early Feb. 2014 does NOT contain an address to mail the form back to before it expires.

A friend was issued a 7 day free FMM and the official was quite adamant that it be returned BEFORE the seven day period expired. The official did not make a big deal about returning the forms for the people she was traveling with who paid and were staying longer.
Maybe in this officials mind there is a need for different treatment if you got a free one?

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
There must be a reason an address is provided to MAIL the FMM, BACK from your U.S. home BEFORE it expires? :light:

David K - 3-31-2014 at 08:10 PM

The address has been posted here often. It has never been on the card.

From Discover Baja Travel Club... The people who KNOW about travel to Baja:

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

[Edited on 4-1-2014 by David K]

woody with a view - 3-31-2014 at 08:13 PM

the question has been answered.

all ya'all's do whatever it is that keeps your panties on. when the turd tries to squeeze me for not turning mine in i'll ask him to open the return gate and i'll take my happy assss back north, along with my $.....

get the 180 day visa, come and go every day for 180 days and then either return it or throw it in the trash..... YMMV.

IslandAngler - 3-31-2014 at 09:12 PM

Let's not get off point... "Can you pay for your FMM directly, without using a bank?"..... Well OK then... I guess I got my answer... Sort of... I guess it depends on the day and person you see. Kind of like the DMV. Who knows, everyday is different. I will just go down and check it out myself. Thanks Nomads. You guys are awesome!

churro - 3-31-2014 at 09:36 PM

YES... My last two trips down at the end of 2013 and January 2014

Tijauna Border.... cross through and park ASAP. Walk over to the building on the right, go inside and pay in dollars or pesos. they will stamp the card.

Mexicali Border.... cross through and go 1/2 block and park on your left. go inside and pay in dollars or pesos, they will stamp the card.

Both crossings were at about 600 AM and they were open for business. The guy at the desk did not have change for my $25.00 so i told him to keep the change ($24.00 actual cost)

I still have the cards and did not return them.. i was told it is one card per entry. They use the same cards on flights to Mexico (landing card), but the cost of the card is included in the air ticket.

Thats my experience .... but like you said, it may have just been my day of the week, and it may have changed by now.

I did surrender the cards at the US border when crossing back into the USA, I put them in my passport and handed them to the border agent. he just put them back in my passport and handed them back to me after asking the usual questions.

[Edited on 4-1-2014 by churro]

dasubergeek - 4-1-2014 at 07:21 AM

The US doesn't give a rat's about a Mexican visa. You'd have to turn it in to the INM office.

In Baja, nobody cares if you leave without turning in your FMM. They used to stamp you out when you turned in your FMM; they don't do that anymore, and so they have absolutely no way to tell whether you actually turned it in. I just flew in to the DF and there was no commentary whatsoever about my "unresolved" last FMM from Baja.

If for whatever reason, someone complained at you, just tell them you mailed it in, and you can't control what those idiots with cushy jobs in Chilangolandia do with it. :lol:

In other states, you would turn it in at the same time you turn in your TIP (temporary vehicle import sticker), which IS a big deal to remember to turn in.:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

David K - 4-1-2014 at 10:02 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dasubergeek
The US doesn't give a rat's about a Mexican visa. You'd have to turn it in to the INM office.

In Baja, nobody cares if you leave without turning in your FMM. They used to stamp you out when you turned in your FMM; they don't do that anymore, and so they have absolutely no way to tell whether you actually turned it in. I just flew in to the DF and there was no commentary whatsoever about my "unresolved" last FMM from Baja.

If for whatever reason, someone complained at you, just tell them you mailed it in, and you can't control what those idiots with cushy jobs in Chilangolandia do with it. :lol:

In other states, you would turn it in at the same time you turn in your TIP (temporary vehicle import sticker), which IS a big deal to remember to turn in.:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:


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

sancho - 4-1-2014 at 11:37 AM

FMM's are issued for a number of days, for the max
of 180 days, this time period is for a CONTINUOUS stay
in Mex, shall be returned when one LEAVES the country.
What is there not to understand about that?
If one chooses not to return it, if another trip SOB is
planned, so be it, most of us keep it, use it again,
or not, mail it back, or not. Mexaicli has a habit of
stamping my passport with an entry stamp, so I turn
in the fmm and get an exit stamp. Not too many of us
want to pay, $24 for another fmm if not necessary,
Mex Imm often does not know their own regs. Read of
a guy not long ago, was going to San Quintin, stopped
at TJ for a free 7 day fmm, was told it was good only to
Rosarito, further so. requires the fee

David K - 4-1-2014 at 11:47 AM

If you walk across the border (or fly) getting the exit stamp or turning in the FMM is a piece of cake.

However, when traveling by car, there is no hand off station along the lanes driving out of Mexico (and you want to have the FMM all the time inside Mexico to prove you are there legally, for more than 72 hours).

Obviously they know it is a near impossible or impractical to turn them in by car (city traffic, location, etc.) so they provided a mailing address to mail it in.

sancho - 4-1-2014 at 12:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
If you walk across the border (or fly) getting the exit stamp or turning in the FMM is a piece of cake







It would require an effort to return an fmm at the New Ped crossing into TJ, if done from the TJ side, not impossible,
but not a piece of cake. No doubt it is close to impossible
to return an fmm at certain crossings. I wouldn't know
where to begin, how to even get close, to the New Vehicle
crossing at TJ to return an fmm, if done from the TJ side

Bajahowodd - 4-1-2014 at 04:58 PM

I just have to wonder, that since Mexico is our friendly neighbor, why there cannot be adopted some programs from the EU. Today, one can travel from London to Athens with only a picture ID. Why do we treat our friends SOB as a hostile nation?

bajagrouper - 4-2-2014 at 06:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajagrouper
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
That's what we did in 2012 and the post detailed that. The FMM is good for the time issued. Only flying FMMs are collected when you leave Mexico.




David you are full of crap, giving Nomads
bad advise when you know what is right.
You know it states on the back of the 2014
FMM:

IMPORTANT
During your stay in Mexico,you must retain
this immigration form and surrender it upon
leaving the country........

Maybe you never turned the FMM over to
read the rules on this official Mexican INM
Document ....

It is the law of the land written in black and
white, so stop giving Miss Information.........




I am not being rude David, after you read that you have to turn in the FMM after 1 use ( maybe you can not comprehend what the FMM states) and must be turned in when leaving the country, so then you change horses in mid stream and start writing about no place to return it to but then you have provided the address of IMN...Just stop giving miss information ....

dasubergeek - 4-2-2014 at 09:13 PM

Yes, it is a single-entry visa (unless marked otherwise—betcha didn't know that could happen). However, I have never, ever, ever been asked why there's no "exit stamp" in my passport. Even when I turned in my FMM at the Alaska Airlines counter at DFAA (the Distrito Federal's Awful Airport), there was no question of stamping my passport—and since I use Global Entry as a SENTRI member, no US entry stamp taking up space in my passport.

David K - 4-2-2014 at 10:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajagrouper
Quote:
Originally posted by bajagrouper
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
That's what we did in 2012 and the post detailed that. The FMM is good for the time issued. Only flying FMMs are collected when you leave Mexico.




David you are full of crap, giving Nomads
bad advise when you know what is right.
You know it states on the back of the 2014
FMM:

IMPORTANT
During your stay in Mexico,you must retain
this immigration form and surrender it upon
leaving the country........

Maybe you never turned the FMM over to
read the rules on this official Mexican INM
Document ....

It is the law of the land written in black and
white, so stop giving Miss Information.........




I am not being rude David, after you read that you have to turn in the FMM after 1 use ( maybe you can not comprehend what the FMM states) and must be turned in when leaving the country, so then you change horses in mid stream and start writing about no place to return it to but then you have provided the address of IMN...Just stop giving miss information ....


Let me help: The address is for you to MAIL it back, AFTER your trip, from INSIDE the United States. So, obviously that is because you are NOT able to turn it IN when LEAVING Mexico by automobile. :light:

willardguy - 4-2-2014 at 10:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by bajagrouper
Quote:
Originally posted by bajagrouper
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
That's what we did in 2012 and the post detailed that. The FMM is good for the time issued. Only flying FMMs are collected when you leave Mexico.




David you are full of crap, giving Nomads
bad advise when you know what is right.
You know it states on the back of the 2014
FMM:

IMPORTANT
During your stay in Mexico,you must retain
this immigration form and surrender it upon
leaving the country........

Maybe you never turned the FMM over to
read the rules on this official Mexican INM
Document ....

It is the law of the land written in black and
white, so stop giving Miss Information.........




I am not being rude David, after you read that you have to turn in the FMM after 1 use ( maybe you can not comprehend what the FMM states) and must be turned in when leaving the country, so then you change horses in mid stream and start writing about no place to return it to but then you have provided the address of IMN...Just stop giving miss information ....


Let me help: The address is for you to MAIL it back, AFTER your trip, from INSIDE the United States. So, obviously that is because you are NOT able to turn it IN when LEAVING Mexico by automobile. :light:
turn WHAT back in??? david are you sniffing pvc cement again?:lol:

David K - 4-2-2014 at 11:07 PM

'Turn in' your fish taco:cool:

FMM Cards - driving vs. flying

MariaDeTJN - 4-4-2014 at 01:11 PM

Hi,

Let me first say that I've been reading these posts off and on for a couple of years, and THANK YOU ALL for some great information!

Each time we drive down Baja, we get our FMM cards although we've never been asked for them at any checkpoint. It's very tempting - especially in winter months when daylight hours are fewer, and we're trying to make it all the way to GN before dark - to forget about stopping for the cards... But so far, we've been good little gringos and have purchased the cards. Does anyone else consider just going and forgetting about the cards? Are there other consequences besides the 1000 peso fine? The last time we went, we had a bigger group and ended up renting a van. The rental agency told us we'd be wishing we had those FMM cards if an accident occurred.

Last month, we drove to San Ignacio for the whales and got new cards that day. I'm wondering if we can use the same cards (since they're good for six months) to fly out of TJ this month. We've never flown from there before, need to check on a bunch of things, but thought I'd start with this.

Thanks again for all past help and thanks in advance if anyone knows about this!

MariaDeTJN - 4-4-2014 at 01:24 PM

Addition to the above: I should have mentioned that we spoke to the officer at the FMM Office in Tijuana who told us we could use these cards (180 day cards) to enter and leave Mexico for six months! He told us the same thing last summer when we got our FMMs. He may have been wrong, but that's what he said... I just wasn't sure about using the same cards for flying.

I haven't yet read the info on the back of the card, maybe I should dig that out and see if it says something different. Thanks again!

bajagrouper - 4-4-2014 at 02:17 PM

I picked up my FMM in TJ 2 weeks ago and I asked the officer and he stated it is a 1 entry document to be turned in upon leaving the country, read the back under the word IMPORTANT in red.......

David K - 4-4-2014 at 03:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajagrouper
I picked up my FMM in TJ 2 weeks ago and I asked the officer and he stated it is a 1 entry document to be turned in upon leaving the country, read the back under the word IMPORTANT in red.......


SO... did you, and in 2 weeks you're going to get another one?:?::rolleyes:

sancho - 4-4-2014 at 03:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajagrouper
I picked up my FMM in TJ 2 weeks ago and I asked the officer and he stated it is a 1 entry document to be turned in upon leaving the country







Since Mex Immigration never has had a consistant policy
is where confusion comes in. One can get different info
from the different Immigration Officers at different crossings,
I would bet you could conflicting info from the same office. Have heard of visitors returning fmm's and the Imm Officers
saying we don't need those. It has never mattered, in
relation to furture trips, if you turn them in, never heard
of one being denied an fmm because of a previous one
not bing turned in, but I assume
they are on a computer, so I'm a courtious tourist and
turn it in before it expires. It is, as
posted a single entry, many including me, keep it for use on another crossing if it is within the time granted on the fmm

Bajahowodd - 4-4-2014 at 05:02 PM

People. When you get a 180 day visa and do not turn it in, you have to realize that if and when you cross back into Mexico the next time, no one is going to ask you to see it.

The fundamental thing is that the visa is good for 180 days. My understanding of the so-called program involving returning your visas is to stop the clock, so that you might have the balance of your 180 days when you re-enter Mexico. However, I've seen absolutely no evidence of accurate record keeping by IMM.

So, my advice is, especially for frequent travelers, hold on to it, because it is stamped for 180 days.

bajagrouper - 4-5-2014 at 08:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by bajagrouper
I picked up my FMM in TJ 2 weeks ago and I asked the officer and he stated it is a 1 entry document to be turned in upon leaving the country, read the back under the word IMPORTANT in red.......


SO... did you, and in 2 weeks you're going to get another one?:?::rolleyes:



See what I mean David, you read but do not comprehend.
When I entered 2 weeks ago I got the FMM, so when I leave Mexico on May 1st. I will turn it in.....got it?

bajagrouper - 4-5-2014 at 08:35 AM

Sancho and Bajahowodd, What an immigration officer does or does not do is not the point, the point is that on the back of the FMM which is an official Mexican document it states:

IMPORTANT
During your stay in Mexico,you must retain
this immigration form and surrender it upon
leaving the country........

It is right there in Black and White, the Mexican Government rule no matter what some illiterate border guard says.........

David K - 4-5-2014 at 11:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajagrouper
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by bajagrouper
I picked up my FMM in TJ 2 weeks ago and I asked the officer and he stated it is a 1 entry document to be turned in upon leaving the country, read the back under the word IMPORTANT in red.......


SO... did you, and in 2 weeks you're going to get another one?:?::rolleyes:



See what I mean David, you read but do not comprehend.
When I entered 2 weeks ago I got the FMM, so when I leave Mexico on May 1st. I will turn it in.....got it?


Ummm... so you're going into Mexico a second time with it. :light:

Instead of entering Mexico, getting the FMM, traveling for up to 6 months, and leaving Mexico (returning the FMM to someplace before you leave the country), you got the FMM, left Mexico (without turning in the FMM) for a couple weeks, then using that same FMM are returning to Mexico and not getting a new one. Yah, I get it alright.

Same thing I did in 2012, only I returned with the same FMM just 5 days after I got it.

You and I agree, if you pay for something that is valid for 180 days, we should be able to use it for up to 180 days.

The address has been provided to mail it back to them from the USA BECAUSE there is no drop off along the border wait line for cars leaving Mexico.

The people in D.F. who write the instructions for the FMM obviously have never been to the border to witness the lack of any way to turn the thing in before you leave the country. The address was provided knowing this.

That you and many others cross into Mexico to get an FMM, and then leave Mexico to come back later or even that day KNOW we are doing this to avoid a parking or hassle with our campers on the first day of our trip. We knowingly are leaving Mexico with the FMM and not turning it in so we can use it later that day or some other day withing the period it is valid.

sancho - 4-5-2014 at 12:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K




You and I agree, if you pay for something that is valid for 180 days, we should be able to use it for up to 180 days









You pride yourself on correct spelling of Baja place names,
calling people out for mispelled names, wanting only FACTS,
etc., the fact is fmm's are for a single entry, yet you continually massage the facts to suit you. You need to
acknowledge the fact that using an fmm for another
crossing is technically against regs. No body wants
to pay the extra $24 for a new fmm when time is left on
your current one. Many visitors use for future trips until
it expires, including me. It appears, by all accounts, Mex Imm does not care
if you ever turn it in, however there was a post on another
board of a guy crossing into Mex in Texas, his long expired
fmm fell out of his passport onto the Imm counter, at which
time the Officer looked at it, 4 mo. or so after expiration,
he claims the Officer was quoting $5 a day, $600 or so,
claimed he actually paid a fine of $50. I wonder if those
mailed one's back to Mex City actually end up being
processed

bajagrouper - 4-5-2014 at 12:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by bajagrouper
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by bajagrouper
I picked up my FMM in TJ 2 weeks ago and I asked the officer and he stated it is a 1 entry document to be turned in upon leaving the country, read the back under the word IMPORTANT in red.......


SO... did you, and in 2 weeks you're going to get another one?:?::rolleyes:



See what I mean David, you read but do not comprehend.
When I entered 2 weeks ago I got the FMM, so when I leave Mexico on May 1st. I will turn it in.....got it?


Ummm... so you're going into Mexico a second time with it. :light:

Instead of entering Mexico, getting the FMM, traveling for up to 6 months, and leaving Mexico (returning the FMM to someplace before you leave the country), you got the FMM, left Mexico (without turning in the FMM) for a couple weeks, then using that same FMM are returning to Mexico and not getting a new one. Yah, I get it alright.

Same thing I did in 2012, only I returned with the same FMM just 5 days after I got it.

You and I agree, if you pay for something that is valid for 180 days, we should be able to use it for up to 180 days.

The address has been provided to mail it back to them from the USA BECAUSE there is no drop off along the border wait line for cars leaving Mexico.

The people in D.F. who write the instructions for the FMM obviously have never been to the border to witness the lack of any way to turn the thing in before you leave the country. The address was provided knowing this.

That you and many others cross into Mexico to get an FMM, and then leave Mexico to come back later or even that day KNOW we are doing this to avoid a parking or hassle with our campers on the first day of our trip. We knowingly are leaving Mexico with the FMM and not turning it in so we can use it later that day or some other day withing the period it is valid.



David, you must a blond? I entered Mexico on Oct 27th 2013 at Nogales Mexico where I got an FMM and TIP, stayed until February 23rd. and exited Mexico at Lukeville AZ turning in my FMM....Took care of taxes and business at my home in the USA and entered TJ on March 22nd. and received an FMM which I will relinquish when I exit the country on May 1st...Now you understand bobo?
P.S. I also have my passport stamped when entering and exiting Mexico..

[Edited on 4-5-2014 by bajagrouper]

MariaDeTJN - 4-5-2014 at 05:49 PM

So has anyone driven into Mexico and then taken a flight (originating and landing in Mexico) using that same FMM?

And does anyone just say forget it and skip the FMM purchase altogether?

willardguy - 4-5-2014 at 06:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MariaDeTJN
So has anyone driven into Mexico and then taken a flight (originating and landing in Mexico) using that same FMM?

And does anyone just say forget it and skip the FMM purchase altogether?
absolutely;D but you would get skewered by the nomads if you said yes!:lol:

Sandlefoot - 4-5-2014 at 07:53 PM

Flying "in country" does not require an FMM. It would be to your benefit to have one if asked by IMN at either end of the flight, but there are not requirements getting on or off the plane.

Happy trails

MariaDeTJN - 4-6-2014 at 12:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sandlefoot
Flying "in country" does not require an FMM. It would be to your benefit to have one if asked by IMN at either end of the flight, but there are not requirements getting on or off the plane.

Happy trails


Good to know, thanks!

David K - 4-6-2014 at 01:33 PM

Lets face it, everyone here knows that Mexico has rules too, there are enforced or not at the discretion of the officer you may or may not ever see.

A vacationing/ traveling non-Mexican citizen, from the US (or Canada) is 'required' to have an FMM if he/she is in Mexico for more than 72 hours OR any time at all south of the 'Border Zone'.

The 'Border Zone' has been flexible over the years from being a point to 20 kms. south of the border... to Maneadero and San Felipe... to San Quintin, even the entire state of Baja California (Norte).

If you hop on a plane in Mexico to go to somewhere else in Mexico, it is a sure bet you will be leaving Baja Norte...

The FMM is free for up to a 7 day stay and about US$26 for up to 180 days.

The FMM must be validated at the border if you bought it in the USA (at a travel club for example).

The best place otherwise to get the FMM is at the border... other INM offices further south may not be as easy to find open, get to a bank from, etc.

If you drive south of the 'Border Zone' without an FMM or a stamped FMM, you are in 'violation'. A Baja Nomad has reported being fined US$100 at the Guerrero Negro INM office (at the stop sign, just south of the Eagle Monument), for not having one.

[Edited on 4-6-2014 by David K]

Bajahowodd - 4-7-2014 at 05:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajagrouper
Sancho and Bajahowodd, What an immigration officer does or does not do is not the point, the point is that on the back of the FMM which is an official Mexican document it states:

IMPORTANT
During your stay in Mexico,you must retain
this immigration form and surrender it upon
leaving the country........

It is right there in Black and White, the Mexican Government rule no matter what some illiterate border guard says.........


Except for the fact that absolutely no one asks for the FMM at the border. So, for so many on this forum, who make frequent short trips into Mexico, it just seems like totally ridiculous to return your FMM, say after a week's stay.

I would really love to hear from anyone on this forum who has had an experience of purchasing the FMM, and spending a week or two, returning the FMM to the Mexican authorities, and then going back down a month later and telling the IMM guy at the border that they already purchased one.

If, and when, the Mexican IMM has a really good data base and can follow everyone who crosses the border and returns, I really feel that holding on to your FMM and using it multiple times is the right way to go.

I am not a scofflaw. And if the proper thing to do is purchase the FMM every time I enter Mexico, even if has been just a couple of weeks since I was last there, so be it.

However, I just want to state that in over 25 years of traveling in Baja, including multiple trips to Cabo, I have NEVER been asked to show the document to anyone.

Bob53 - 4-7-2014 at 06:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by msteve1014
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
That sounds like my post from July, 2012...

Yes, everyone reports that either the INM office will take the fee or a teller will be open next door.


Not everyone. I posted when I went down in July 2013 that the bank was not open and the INM officer would not take the payment. This was at the new San Isidro crossing.

I just got my FMM at Tijuana a couple weeks ago and the officer said that he could not take payment and that I had to walk over and pay at the bank. He also said that the bank will be open 24 hours every day.

MariaDeTJN - 4-7-2014 at 07:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by willardguy
Quote:
Originally posted by MariaDeTJN
So has anyone driven into Mexico and then taken a flight (originating and landing in Mexico) using that same FMM?

And does anyone just say forget it and skip the FMM purchase altogether?
absolutely;D but you would get skewered by the nomads if you said yes!:lol:


Well, we absolutely wouldn't want to be blamed for any sort of skewering, would we?! Thank you for your reply, the knowledge is good to have. And we will continue to be good little gringos and get our FMMs unless we really, really have to make time. Kidding, I'm kidding! We'll get the dang cards.

It seems we now have bigger concerns anyway as Aeromexico changed our outbound flight from TIJ to a midnight departure going through Mexico City. Then they tried to shorten our vacation by a day by putting us on a returning flight the day before our original one. After an hour on the phone, they finally gave us a returning flight on the original day, but I suppose there's nothing stopping them from booting us off this flight if they get the urge...

Our tickets and seats were confirmed, but they're saying both of our original flights were canceled and that's why they moved us. I don't believe the flights were canceled, I believe they resold our seats (purchased last November) at a higher price. Oh well, lesson learned. Will not be flying Aeromexico again. Have heard good things about Volaris, will try them next.

Again, thanks for the info!

flyguy - 4-7-2014 at 09:05 PM

Flying out of Cabo i completely lost my visa and was suprised when they made a HUGE deal about it, made me follow an officer a long way down a dark hallway to an office where a grumpy fella took my passport and wrote a big 'W' for 'warning' over my stamp and told me next time "big fines" ... I had to chuckle a bit :/

Bajahowodd - 4-8-2014 at 04:57 PM

Right now, it is really only the airlines on international trips that enforce the rule of one entry and one exit.

As I stated in a previous post, if Mexico ever gets their computer system into the 21st century and has a means of determining whether this is your first or forty first trip during the 180 days, I just don't see the need to surrender the FMM after a 2 week stay when I plan to return the next month.

If and when they finally get their act together, then so be it.

IslandAngler - 4-10-2014 at 06:29 PM

Thanks Nomads for once again staying on point and giving honest and direct answers to a basic question. I will go to San Ysidro and find out myself if I can pay for a FMM in office. Thanks again, and stay positive.