BajaNomad - Need info on visa and ferry in La Paz

Need info on visa and ferry in La Paz

bajajudy - 7-27-2014 at 10:36 AM

A friend of ours arrived yesterday without his visa. He already has his ticket for the ferry Tuesday.
My questions are:
Where does he go for his visa?
Where does he pay the bond for his vehicle?

Thanks in advance for your help

[Edited on 7-27-2014 by bajajudy]

vandenberg - 7-27-2014 at 11:30 AM

Has to go to immigration for a visa and likely pay a hefty fine.

For your car permit for the mainland you have to go to the ferry terminal.

bajajudy - 7-27-2014 at 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg
Has to go to immigration for a visa and likely pay a hefty fine.

For your car permit for the mainland you have to go to the ferry terminal.

Do you know where immigration is?

vandenberg - 7-27-2014 at 02:11 PM

Not sure. Used to be on the malecon, 2 blocks south of the Los Arcos, but they may have moved.
Try the phone book?? :?:

BajaBlanca - 7-27-2014 at 02:19 PM

I think the fine is $100 dollars. Let me see if I can find immigration address for you.

BajaBlanca - 7-27-2014 at 02:25 PM

Here is what I found:

For further information, please contact our offices located at Alvaro Obregón No. 2140, e/ I. Allende and B. Juárez in downtown La Paz, B.C.S. Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Downtown Tel: (612) 125-3493 and (612) 122-0429
La Paz International Airport: Tel: 112. 46349.

Since I think they moved from the malecon, perhaps give them a call first?

The bond for the vehicle is at the ferry offices themselves, Pichilingue.

gnukid - 7-27-2014 at 02:32 PM

INM La Paz moved up to 5th of february on the block just past fojadores. They open at about 9am. Any evidence they just arrived is helpful, for example receipts to show they just drove down. Like toll road fees, and US receipt too. Be honest.

But Judy is in SJ? Not sure about INNi in Cabo.

bajajudy - 7-27-2014 at 03:21 PM

Hey, thanks Nomads!
Gnu..I thought that he should head to La Paz tomorrow morning to get the visa situation taken care of so he would be ready for the ferry on Tuesday.
Vandenburg..back at you :no:

weebray - 7-27-2014 at 03:58 PM

Last Dec. friends were sent back to the border to get their tourist visas. INM is not however consistent and they may be able to pay a fine. There should be a big red flag somewhere in Nomadland warning people to stop at the border and take care of business if they are not planning to leave Baja California by private vehicle directly back into the US. You will find the Baja Ferries office in La Paz on Ignacio Allende at the corner of Marcelo Rubio Ruiz. It's probably 10 or more blocks up from the Malecon. I think you can get a permit for the car their. More than likely it will involve going to a bank to pay the fee.

[Edited on 7-27-2014 by weebray]

gnukid - 7-27-2014 at 04:08 PM

It's very important to tell a true story to INM and never lose your cool. If you can supply some receipts, not to guarantee the visa, but to prove you're being honest, then you would have a better chance to say, you crossed and there was no one at the border and you waited and no one was there, you expected you would get one at the next stop, but that wasn't possible. So you came directly to INM in La Paz within 10 days of arrival to request a visa. Try to have as much evidence as possible to show where you came from, what happened and where you are going. Show your reservation for the boat. Presumably this process will take a awhile and might miss the tuesday trip.

[Edited on 7-27-2014 by gnukid]

Bajahowodd - 7-27-2014 at 05:01 PM

I do have a question. If someone is already in BCS, is anyone going to ask for a visa at the ferry terminal? Just asking.

vandenberg - 7-27-2014 at 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
I do have a question. If someone is already in BCS, is anyone going to ask for a visa at the ferry terminal? Just asking.

Good question. Last time we went across we only had to show valid passport and Ca. driver license to get the car permit.

No one asked for visas.

However, if you get into any trouble (accident or whatever) your insurance may not be valid, especially if lots of dollars involved.
:saint:

pacsur - 7-27-2014 at 05:27 PM

If he's in San Jose, send him to the airport, or immigration in San Lucas.

gnukid - 7-27-2014 at 05:53 PM

I would stop by the airport, the fellow there is very nice and reasonable. If he can help he will, but you really need to show evidence you just arrived.

Airport immigration is open all day

la paz IMN 9-1pm but if they are helping you then you can come back for your visa after 1pm.

bajajudy - 7-28-2014 at 12:37 PM

Thought I would let you know what happened with my friend.
He had a receipt from the car spray in Guerrero Negro where there was no one to issue a visa, he stopped in Santa Rosalia and he headed straight to the office in San Lucas this morning at 9.
After relating these events, they fined him $115 and he was on his way!

dasubergeek - 7-28-2014 at 02:52 PM

He's lucky -- you don't get the permit at Gro. Negro, you get it at Tijuana or Tecate when you cross.

bajajudy - 7-28-2014 at 03:32 PM

You cannot get a Visa in GN anymore?
He will get his permit in La Paz

gnukid - 7-28-2014 at 04:03 PM

Great news! Common scenario!

Bajahowodd - 7-28-2014 at 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajajudy
Thought I would let you know what happened with my friend.
He had a receipt from the car spray in Guerrero Negro where there was no one to issue a visa, he stopped in Santa Rosalia and he headed straight to the office in San Lucas this morning at 9.
After relating these events, they fined him $115 and he was on his way!

Just perhaps if he had not gone to the office in Santa Rosalia, all would be good.

This actually brings up another issue. If he paid to get the useless bug spray at GN, it just serves to show that IMM is no longer checking and stopping folks there.

And remember, all you have to do is refuse that ridiculous bug spray, and you are on your way. It is NOT mandatory. In fact, I'm coming to believe that after the immigration people left there, this nothing more than a local shakedown.

bajajudy - 7-28-2014 at 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Just perhaps if he had not gone to the office in Santa Rosalia, all would be good.

I don't understand what you mean!

dasubergeek - 7-28-2014 at 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajajudy
You cannot get a Visa in GN anymore?
He will get his permit in La Paz

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think so. The only place is at a port of entry, which in Baja means Tijuana, Tecate, Mexicali, Algodones, Ensenada and the Cabo airport.

[Edited on 7-29-2014 by dasubergeek]

Gulliver - 7-28-2014 at 09:30 PM

I was on my boat in LaPaz in 91 and my 180 day card timed out. I went out to the airport when a plane was due and wandered in into the arrival line after customs and got a new one.

I suspect things have tightened up since then.

Bajahowodd - 7-29-2014 at 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajajudy

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Just perhaps if he had not gone to the office in Santa Rosalia, all would be good.

I don't understand what you mean!

Because a trip within Mexico should not require checking of documents.

bajajudy - 7-30-2014 at 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Quote:

Originally posted by bajajudy

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Just perhaps if he had not gone to the office in Santa Rosalia, all would be good.

I don't understand what you mean!

Because a trip within Mexico should not require checking of documents.

He went to the office in Santa Rosalia to try to get a visa.
BTW. He did have to show the visa that he got in San Lucas when he applied for his car permit in La Paz to enter the mainland.

dasubergeek - 7-30-2014 at 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Quote:

Originally posted by bajajudy

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Just perhaps if he had not gone to the office in Santa Rosalia, all would be good.

I don't understand what you mean!

Because a trip within Mexico should not require checking of documents.

Their country, their rules. They have a tourist zone where they don't require as much documentation, and when you leave that zone to go to the rest of Mexico, you have to buy your visa. It's not any different than dozen of other countries who don't waive visa requirements for U.S. citizens.

Bajahowodd - 7-30-2014 at 04:51 PM

Still have to point to the EU. One may cross a dozen nations from Britain to Greece with only a drivers license.

Gulliver - 7-30-2014 at 05:53 PM

You should see what I have to go through when I travel by personal boat! In every port, customs, immigration and port captain. And then the reverse when I leave.

What's more, when a person from any other country, including Canada, enters and leaves a U.S. port, it is even worse.

Ham licenses too. It blows a big hunk out of $200usd to get a 6 month reciprocal license in Mexico. When a Mexican ham wants to operate in the U.S. there is no paperwork and no fee. Just use his Mexican call sign and identify where he is. So much for treaties. This has not changed in 30 years. "We are implementing the reciprocal treaty." Right.

gnukid - 7-31-2014 at 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dasubergeek

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Quote:

Originally posted by bajajudy

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Just perhaps if he had not gone to the office in Santa Rosalia, all would be good.

I don't understand what you mean!

Because a trip within Mexico should not require checking of documents.

You miss the point that the process although stated is not clearly followed. It's not obvious how to get tourist permit when crossing, and if you ask, they often reply you don't need one, because most don't. The guy can be asleep or closed when you pass. If you do pass TJ then what, no problem if you arrive by boat even though there is no proof, but if arrive by car then its a fine at best or refusal if yo go to any other port of entry. Then they don't even ask for the tourist permit when the traveller goes to t the ferry, but they may sometime later.

So, don't make excuses like their country their rules. Anyone with their heart in mexico is part of the process, they deserve to be treated fairly and honestly, that is their right. And don't make comparison to the USA when if you don't have a visa and you enter, then you could be arrested then immediately released and given benefits and a ride t your friends and relatives. There is no comparison required.

At least in this case the traveller was able to resolve the issues, oftentimes they can't and are told the only option is to return to the border and come back which is not the truth.