BajaNomad

Get FMM tourist visa stamped 24 hours??

edevart - 10-26-2016 at 03:54 PM

Is the the San Ysidro/El Chaparral immigration office open 24 hours a day? What about holidays? Do you think we'd have trouble getting our FMM or tourist visa stamped after hours on Xmas eve, for example?

David K - 10-26-2016 at 04:39 PM

Technically, any hour the border is open, so is immigration. Finding an officer on duty at extreme hours might be another deal... But, you have no choice... the tourist card MUST BE activated at the border, with his stamp, even if you got a prepaid FMM before your trip.

Gulliver - 10-26-2016 at 07:57 PM

Driving at night? I dunno. Usually a pretty bad idea.

willardguy - 10-26-2016 at 08:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Gulliver  
Driving at night? I dunno. Usually a pretty bad idea.



not alot of cattle on the road up here......I don't see an issue:no:

Gulliver - 10-26-2016 at 09:09 PM

Maybe some cattle driving the pooooolice cars!

bajaguy - 10-26-2016 at 09:35 PM

It's the one you don't see that causes the problem
Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
Quote: Originally posted by Gulliver  
Driving at night? I dunno. Usually a pretty bad idea.



not alot of cattle on the road up here......I don't see an issue:no:

mtgoat666 - 10-26-2016 at 10:12 PM

Quote: Originally posted by edevart  
Is the the San Ysidro/El Chaparral immigration office open 24 hours a day? What about holidays? Do you think we'd have trouble getting our FMM or tourist visa stamped after hours on Xmas eve, for example?


You ask about After hours xmas eve?
Who knows!

gsbotanico - 10-27-2016 at 07:27 AM

Quote: Originally posted by edevart  
Is the the San Ysidro/El Chaparral immigration office open 24 hours a day? What about holidays? Do you think we'd have trouble getting our FMM or tourist visa stamped after hours on Xmas eve, for example?

The crossing is open 24 hours. There should be an agent there. You may have to rustle up an agent to help you or rouse someone. The office will be open.

It's sort of like the toll booths on the toll road -- open 24 hours. Very late at night or very early in the morning there will be someone there. I've been on the toll road at 1 am, and there was always someone to take my money, even if I had to gently wake them. :)

BajaMama - 10-27-2016 at 08:30 AM

I would never drive at night. Although no recent reports, lets just say everything bad with the TJ police happens after dark. I would leave sunrise.

edevart - 10-27-2016 at 09:33 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Gulliver  
Driving at night? I dunno. Usually a pretty bad idea.


Thanks for all the input everyone. Is it worthwhile to get the prepaid FMM? The only times I've gotten the FMM in the past were several years ago when you could get them at the port in Ensenada (with a trip to the bank to pay, of course). I've yet to experience the TJ FMM scene, so not sure what to expect there.

As for driving after dark, we'd just be crossing the border and heading to our place south of Rosarito for the night, before heading further south in the morning. I've done the TJ to Rosarito drive at night many times without incident. But yes, driving at night further south is not a game I like to play if I can avoid it.

Thanks.

David K - 10-27-2016 at 10:37 AM

No advantage of a prepaid one really, because even with the prepaid FMM, you still MUST stop at the border INM office and validate it with their stamp... the moment you enter Mexico.

It used to have some value when you needed an open bank teller to pay for the FMT or FMM... But, since 2012, the INM officials can accept the money or there is a teller in the same building just for FMM payments.

sancho - 10-27-2016 at 11:17 AM

I've never gone thru the online fmm site, not to pinch
pesos, but is there a price difference in the online fmm
as opposed to the Border Imm office cost? Recent post
stated border fmm was $20.50 US, can't remember it
as inexpensive as that recently. I understand
you fill out a date on the online fmm and have to get it
validated to start the 180 day
I'm sure the site is secure, but I avoid using a credit
card in Mex


[Edited on 10-27-2016 by sancho]