BajaNomad

Driving North - FMM needed?

cabo-ash - 4-27-2017 at 06:17 PM

Question - I have Permanent Residency and am driving North for the summer. When I cross the Border (usually use Andrade) do I have to get an FMM to leave?. I have done this several times before and have never got an FMM in the past and have never been asked for one on return to Mexico - the border guard just checks the Permanent Residency card and waves me through (driving Mexican plated truck).

Have I been doing this wrong and should I get an FMM before I leave Mexico?

Bob and Susan - 4-27-2017 at 06:27 PM

you DO NOT show a visa to USA border employees

only passport

David K - 4-27-2017 at 06:56 PM

I think he is concerned about Mexican border when he returns to Baja? All the guff about everyone needing an FMM for any Mexican crossing.
For the record, going to Baja every month this year I have yet to be directed to INM or asked to see my FMM.

BajaBlanca - 4-27-2017 at 07:35 PM

The question specifically says HEADING NORTH

so Bob and Susan are correct. The US has no jurisdiction over whether one is legal (FMM) or not in Mexico. Never a need to show FMM

Simply show your passport to prove that you are American and voila.


mtgoat666 - 4-27-2017 at 07:43 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  
you DO NOT show a visa to USA border employees

only passport


True only for gringos.

David K - 4-27-2017 at 08:05 PM

Hmmm, not sure why I see it differently? He is asking if he needs to get an FMM before leaving Mexico, to get back into Mexico, not for U.S. customs (who obviously don't need to see a tourist card). He said he has never before been asked (by Mexican customs) for it and wants to know if that has changed.

RnR - 4-27-2017 at 08:37 PM

The original poster stated that he had a Permanent Resident card and wondered if he had to check in with Mexican customs before he left Mexico and obtain an FMM 'to leave Mexico'.

I also have a Permanent Resident card and this was the procedure the last time I flew back to the States from the Cabo airport. (But that was about five years ago.)

Before you boarded the plane to leave Mexico, you stopped at Mexican customs and received an FMM to leave the country. As you boarded the plane, the gate attendant took the first part of the FMM and you kept the second part to turn in to Mexican customs when you arrived back in Mexico.

EXACTLY the opposite of what a tourist flying in to Cabo would do. A tourist would give Customs the first part when they arrived in Mexico and would turn in the second part to the gate attendant as they boarded the plane to leave Mexico.

The OP's question was - Is this procedure still occurring and does it apply to land border crossings (or only by air)?

(I haven't left Mexico by air for over five years so can't speak to the current procedure)

You would have to be a Permanent Resident for this procedure to apply. It always appeared to be that Mexico wanted to keep track of your time out of Mexico. As in, maybe you really should not have PR status ......

cabo-ash - 4-28-2017 at 04:01 AM

Sorry if I wasnt clear. When we fly out of Mexico we get an FMM at the airport in Los Cabos and then hand it back in when we return. I have never got an FMM when driving out of Mexico (and never had a problem when returning). Its just that I read an article saying that you should get an FMM even when driving out of the country, so I wondered if the procedure had changed.

http://www.banderasnews.com/1704/vl-expats-risk-losing-resid...