BajaNomad

FMM-Travellers between a rock and a hard place, maybe

Tony Lee - 12-17-2015 at 11:10 PM

Just a question on behalf of a couple of young travellers.
They are now at Guerrero Negro heading for LaPaz and then to the mInland on the ferry.

They will get a TIP at La Paz and were thinking they could also get their FMM there as well. My impfession was that you can only get FMM at the border

Adding to the complication are stories of people in similar situations managing to talk staff at LaPa, airport into issuing them with a FMM and another stating that the maritime offices at Esenada or Loreto could also issue FMM

Anyone have any good advice for these two please

Thanks

Tony

chuckie - 12-18-2015 at 12:56 AM

Already in Mexico with no FMM?

woody with a view - 12-18-2015 at 06:16 AM

say they misplaced them and pay the piper.

chuckie - 12-18-2015 at 07:02 AM

These days, could be a Big piper, eh?

mtgoat666 - 12-18-2015 at 07:13 AM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view  
say they misplaced them.


That would be a lie.
That would also be breaking a law.

Tony Lee - 12-18-2015 at 07:46 AM

"Anyone have any good advice for these two please"

chuckie - 12-18-2015 at 08:13 AM

I think their only l options are to go back to a port of entry, leave and come back legally OR just tell the Mexican authorities their story..and take the consequences...

dtbushpilot - 12-18-2015 at 08:19 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Tony Lee  
"Anyone have any good advice for these two please"


Expecting that from this group is a stretch, one person's good idea is the object of ridicule and scorn of another. That's just how we roll here on Nomads.

Apparently International trip planning isn't their strong suit. They are 500 miles deep in a foreign country without visas, they should go back to the border and get legal. The options offered by others may work, maybe not. There won't be any definitive answers coming from this group or others to the contrary.

Gulliver - 12-18-2015 at 08:20 AM

What is this business of coming down here without an FMM? It's part of the conditions of being allowed to enter their country. If the cost is a factor, people should just stay home.

It feels like another of these situations where people from the U.S. think that the rules don't apply to them. American Exceptionalism is the term I hear.

The last poster has the right advice. Fix the problem and then obey the rules.

danaeb - 12-18-2015 at 08:33 AM

I fly in and out of La Paz frequently. I don't believe there is an INM office in the airport. They would have to go to the office on 5 de Febrero. I lost my FMM last June and had to replace it there. It was a four day process, and several hours in the waiting room.

[Edited on 12-18-2015 by danaeb]

MICK - 12-18-2015 at 08:39 AM

Tony, sorry for my fellow nomads. If it we're up to them we should take them out back and beat with a stick. As for their problem. I believe that if they go to the immigration office in La Paz and just explain their situation, normally they will take care of them. Usually they would have been stopped in GN. Once I drove to cabo and forgot my visa had expired so I went to the office there and they were very nice. Just bought a new one and was on my way. Also if your paperwork got lost or stolen the same would apply.
Good luck to them
Mick

chuckie - 12-18-2015 at 08:51 AM

What I said...

chuck wagon - 12-18-2015 at 09:27 AM

I did the same thing , drove in and tried to fly out of Loreto . I had to go to several diff. offices and get scolded and pay but it's easy to do , time consuming and expensive , but do-able . It's been a few years so I don't remember the exact process , sorry . I do remember that I started at the airport and ended up at a Gov. office by the school .

Ateo - 12-18-2015 at 09:30 AM

Yeah, I'd go to INM and just admit what I did. Then get a tourist card, or at worst drive back to Guerrero Negro and try and get one there. I got one in GN about 15 years ago. I think I paid a $20 "fine" to the guy.

bajatrailrider - 12-18-2015 at 09:30 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view  
say they misplaced them.


That would be a lie.
That would also be breaking a law.
Tony welcome to Nomads.Please don't listen To 666 he knows nothing,has nothing good to say.Also number one marooon.

Tony Lee - 12-18-2015 at 09:39 AM

I can understand them getting into this situation because the rules here did change quite dramatically a few years ago, and we all tend to remember stuff we researched previously thinking it was still all good.
Thanks everyone for all the good advice and it is all pretty much consistent despite not seeming to be. Sure option is to return to the border, with other options avoiding thd big backtrack, but with decreased chances of success coupled with possible high fines or delays. They can read all of this and decide for themselves

Thanks

Tony

elgatoloco - 12-18-2015 at 09:44 AM

Did they try to get one at GN border? If they are still in GN.
Quote: Originally posted by Tony Lee  
Just a question on behalf of a couple of young travellers.
They are now at Guerrero Negro heading for LaPaz and then to the mInland on the ferry.

They will get a TIP at La Paz and were thinking they could also get their FMM there as well. My impfession was that you can only get FMM at the border

Adding to the complication are stories of people in similar situations managing to talk staff at LaPa, airport into issuing them with a FMM and another stating that the maritime offices at Esenada or Loreto could also issue FMM

Anyone have any good advice for these two please

Thanks

Tony

BornFisher - 12-18-2015 at 09:48 AM

Got one in Ensenada 6 months ago. A passport or passport card will get it done. The location is the first road north of the harbor that goes East/West. Ask for Capt. of the Port or immigration office.

RnR - 12-18-2015 at 10:17 AM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  


I have witnessed that exact same situation in the La Paz INM office. The violators were bawled out and told they'd have to pay a (nontrivial) fine before being issued the proper papers. They objected. They were presented with the alternative of immediate deportation. They eventually payed up, got legal, and went on their way.




Gee, you must have been in the La Paz office the same morning that I was ....

I can relate a similar story -

I was in the INM office one crowded morning.

A family of five came in, the woman took a look at the crowded waiting room, rolled her eyes, and walked directly up to one of windows and said something to the INM official. She was pointed toward the "take your number" machine.

After a long while, my number was called and I went up to the window. Shortly thereafter, the family's number was called and they appeared at the very next window. The man calmly explained to the INM official that they had crossed the border without getting their FMM forms, they were traveling to the mainland by ferry, they had been turned around at the ferry terminal for lack of documents, and that they were here at the office to buy their FMM's.

The INM official scolded them a bit, told them that they would have to "regularize" their immigration status, brought out some forms for them to complete, helped the man with the first form, and mentioned that the process would take about a week to process and receive their documents. (Pretty much the standard time frame at the La Paz office)

Well, the woman went ballistic....
"We can't wait a week, we are on vacation, what are we supposed to do here while we are waiting, etc, etc."

The INM official turned towards the back office, said something to someone behind the divider wall, and an armed INM official immediately entered the waiting room from the side doorway.

The INM official then said to the woman -

"Listen very carefully. At this moment you are in the country of Mexico illegally. You have two choices. You can "regularize" your immigration status, or, you can be taken into custody and deported. I need your decision immediately."

The woman started in again and was quickly "shushed" by the man. When I left, the family was still processing papers at the window.

So, at least there is an official process to correct the oversight of not getting your FMM at the border.

What would US Border Patrol do to an illegal Mexican if they walked into an ICE office and asked to "correct" their illegal status? My guess would be immediate deportation and their name placed on a future blacklist.

durrelllrobert - 12-18-2015 at 12:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BornFisher  
Got one in Ensenada 6 months ago. A passport or passport card will get it done. The location is the first road north of the harbor that goes East/West. Ask for Capt. of the Port or immigration office.


INM moved months ago. Here's a map showing new location:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/puntabandanewsletter/search/photos?query=immigration#zax/photomatic_139807967

sancho - 12-18-2015 at 02:17 PM

You would think by some of the replys no one has travelled without an fmm, fished without a Mex License. drove with a
beer, exceded the speed limit, quite a noble group. I was
in a similiar situation, 1st time down on a bus, ended up
in Vallarta with a nonvalidated fmt. Don't know if this would
work now, probably not. Went out to the Vallarta airport,
waited for an International flight, just got in line with the
passengers off that plane and got an fmt. Driving back
to at least Ensenada sounds harsh. I might use the 'our vehicle
was broken into and had our fmm's taken along with some $',
to the Imm in La Paz. I walked across at TJ recently, they had
a passport scanner, so I ASSUME all info is available to them,
I can't imagine them looking you up to see if you were
issued an fmm at the border, but...




bkbend - 12-18-2015 at 03:28 PM

Thank you for calling me noble. I am a bit anal about following the rules, the minor hassle of knowing them and following them is preferable to having a trip go down the toilet. Well, maybe I do speed a bit when I have a semi glued to the rear bumper. I'll let him pass when I feel it's safe instead of on that corner coming up.

David K - 12-18-2015 at 03:33 PM

Just wondering: How did they know about the TIP needed for the mainland, but not know they needed an FMM (especially beyond the border region)?

Without question, they need to go fess up and pay the hundred dollar fine (cheaper than the gas and time to drive 2,000 miles). However, now that they saw Baja... they could just drive down Sonora and save the ferry cost?!!

BornFisher - 12-18-2015 at 03:37 PM

Quote: Originally posted by durrelllrobert  
Quote: Originally posted by BornFisher  
Got one in Ensenada 6 months ago. A passport or passport card will get it done. The location is the first road north of the harbor that goes East/West. Ask for Capt. of the Port or immigration office.


INM moved months ago. Here's a map showing new location:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/puntabandanewsletter/search/photos?query=immigration#zax/photomatic_139807967


Thanks, but the link for the map doesn`t work for me. Of course my avatar disappeared too so maybe it`s just me. Did they move far? Hope I don`t need them again, but you never know!!

Sweetwater - 12-18-2015 at 04:24 PM

GN has a special place in my memory due to the FMM issue. First trip to Baja was as chase support for the Baja Mil. We were supposed to have an FMM through the race but they didn't issue them on time. As we were sprayed for insects at GN, they called us back to check for FMM's. That resulted in the afternoon in town paying a hefty fine and getting one issued. No point in arguing but SCORE fumbled big on that one in 2010.

My suggestion is that the young folks in question get their butz into the nearest office and accept whatever fine they are subjected to. Better than being pulled over and exposing them to that risk.

sancho - 12-18-2015 at 06:35 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bkbend  
Thank you for calling me noble. I am a bit anal about following the rules, the minor hassle of knowing them and following them








Just a little sarcasim, no offense intended, but you could not be
more uptight/attention to detail than me, when it comes to
have all paperwork when in Baja. I would never knowingly
give Mex Authorities leverage for lack of required doc's

Tony Lee - 12-19-2015 at 07:46 AM

OK, they decided to take the average collective advice of all the experts on this and another forum and head back up into the US and then come back on the mainland side and then down south where they are to meet up with parents. They reckon they just couldn't be bothered going through worst-case scenario with some grumpy official and spending hours hanging around waiting for a decision AND the possibility they might still have to head up north.

They did very much appreciate the warning I gave and all the info you gave because they were just in the process of booking the ferry here and they might have blown the cost of the ferry tickets because of the delay getting paperwork sorted out.
They also found out (from me) about the iOverlander site so they are sitting on a nice beach up near San Quintin at a campsite that was on the ioverlander list.
So all in all, not a dead loss and they did see a bit of the Baja anyway.

Thanks again

Tony

elgatoloco - 12-19-2015 at 09:34 AM

Glad that it will work out for them and they learned a valuable lesson that will assist with their world travels for years to come. :saint: Besides you see a different side of the boojums and cacti when heading back north.

I ALWAYS have paperwork and I have NEVER been passed by a semi in Baja. :lol:

durrelllrobert - 12-19-2015 at 11:30 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BornFisher  
Quote: Originally posted by durrelllrobert  
Quote: Originally posted by BornFisher  
Got one in Ensenada 6 months ago. A passport or passport card will get it done. The location is the first road north of the harbor that goes East/West. Ask for Capt. of the Port or immigration office.


INM moved months ago. Here's a map showing new location:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/puntabandanewsletter/search/photos?query=immigration#zax/photomatic_139807967


Thanks, but the link for the map doesn`t work for me. Of course my avatar disappeared too so maybe it`s just me. Did they move far? Hope I don`t need them again, but you never know!!


When headed north on Reforma you turn left onto Calle Diamonte, go one block and turn right onto Avenida Adolfo Lopes Mateo then about 3 more blocks until you pass Soto and it's on your left.

Tony Lee - 12-21-2015 at 09:37 AM

Big problem with crossing borders is there is the law the lawmakers thought they were passing, the law that did get passed, the law as interpreted by departme t heads a d the law as misremembered by the man at the gate. Plus unpublished chaanges and well meaning but wrong or outdated advice from friends and other travellers. Forums catering for international travellers are full of stories about people having hassles at crossings that a traveller crossing an hour before didnt have. Baja no exception

bajatrailrider - 12-21-2015 at 09:41 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Tony Lee  
Big problem with crossing borders is there is the law the lawmakers thought they were passing, the law that did get passed, the law as interpreted by departme t heads a d the law as misremembered by the man at the gate. Plus unpublished chaanges and well meaning but wrong or outdated advice from friends and other travellers. Forums catering for international travellers are full of stories about people having hassles at crossings that a traveller crossing an hour before didnt have. Baja no exception
I see you know Mexico,your right.:)