I used the Ped West crossing at El Chaparral for the first time yesterday. We met as a group of 14 at San Ysidro to go eat at Telefónica Gastro Park
in Tijuana for lunch. We used the pedestrian crossing at San Ysidro. I used the "Mexicanos" line with my permanent residency card and crossed in 30
second. The Mexican customs agent said, "Thank you, sir" in English. The rest used the FMM line and took almost an hour while I waited. I was the
leader, so I couldn't abandon "mis pollitos." Telefónica has a new location at 8924 Blvd. Agua Caliente. We used taxis to get there.
The food is great. I had the pulled pork sandwich. We walked back north on Avenida Revolución, stopping at Mamut for craft beers and nachos. The
place is newly expanded and upgraded. It's one of my favorites in Tijuana with a good selection of craft beers and newly installed stainless steel
fermentation vessels.
Our group split and eight of us decided to use the new Ped West to return to the US. It was remarkably easy. It's all well signed, and best of all
we all crossed into the US in 1-2 minutes, including the non-Sentri/Global Entry folks. Then it's an easy 10-minute stroll back to the trolley stop.
The total walking distance probably isn't much different from walking to the San Ysidro pedestrian crossing. Taxis can drop you at the Ped West
plaza.
Next time we walk into Tijuana we are going to use Ped West to enter Mexico.SFandH - 9-10-2017 at 04:34 PM
Thanks. I haven't used pedwest yet but have been to the Telefónica Gastro Park and liked it a lot, unique, fun place with all sorts of good food.
[Edited on 9-10-2017 by SFandH]sancho - 9-11-2017 at 08:20 AM
The rest used the FMM line and took almost an hour while I waited.
That fmm thing seems to be applied differently at the POE's,
I understand you can walk into Mexicali without an fmm.
A driver recently entering Mexicali West was asked by Imm how long
he was going to be in Mex, 5 days he replied, at which the
Imm officer said he doesn't need an fmm, continued
confusion David K - 9-11-2017 at 08:25 AM
It is paperwork to do and if no money is collected (7 days or less FMM), why take the man-hour time? At least I think that is the thought process at
Mexicali?
We got the free FMM at Mexicali (west/ downtown) and the only thing the officer stressed was it HAD TO BE returned when we left Mexico... and we did,
at Tecate.
At Tijuana, it was reported by Nomads that the FREE FMM could be thrown away after your trip, like the 6 month one at 6 months. ???SFandH - 9-11-2017 at 08:29 AM
It's been reported before that San Ysidro and Mexicali follow different federal rules.
It's been reported before that San Ysidro and Mexicali follow different federal rules.
Those are two different countries, so they would. However (and I think you meant), Mexicali and Tijuana do, and they are in the SAME country... that
is what is hilarious... they are even in the same state!sancho - 9-11-2017 at 11:52 AM
Como? A crosser entering at Tecate, was given a
lecture by Imm for not turning in a 7 day fmm. Really,
there are different Federal Imm regs at different POE's?SFandH - 9-11-2017 at 12:02 PM
You guys (DK, sancho) gotta be kidding me. David K - 9-11-2017 at 01:40 PM
Yes, I was in a way...but Sancho missed it.
The two points named by SFand H were Mexicali and San Ysidro.
San Ysidro is in the United States.
Tijuana is what was implied... nobody said Tecate, that is a whole different planet, right? lolsancho - 9-11-2017 at 01:57 PM
The point being made here is, TJ, Tecate, Mexicali West, can/may have slightly different interpretation of the
Imm regs. Personally I don't think an fmm matters one
way or another. One exception that was recently posted, although
a bit out of the ordinary, was a Tourist planning to spend
a bit of time at the Cape, who ended up in La Paz without
an fmm. Went to Telnor, I presume for phone
service, was asked for Imm papers, went to La Paz Imm
to attempt to get an fmm,
they told him there was nothing they could do for him.
Sounds a bit extreme, but he flew back to TJ, walked
over and back to get an fmm. DK, can I get a mulligan
on that? Yes indeed, San Ysidro is not a POE, at least not
INTO Mex
[Edited on 9-11-2017 by sancho]BajaBlanca - 9-11-2017 at 04:42 PM
Ped West? El Chapparal? I don't know what u guys are talking about? Jeez, what have I missed?David K - 9-11-2017 at 04:48 PM
Yes, Sancho, Mulligans are freely handed out by us friendly Nomads!
Blanca, now that you don't have to dodge a bunch of pot holes anymore, you will have more Nomad reading time!
SFandH - 9-11-2017 at 04:53 PM
Blanca,
PedWest is the new pedestrian crossing at San Ysidro on the west side. Now both north and south.
El Chapparal is the name for the new San Ysidro crossing facilities built by the Mexicans on the TJ side of the border. It includes PedWest.
Something like that.
Almost everything at the San Ysidro crossing is new and there's more to be done.
