BajaNomad

Traveling w/ fm3 visa questions

jeffg - 2-27-2005 at 09:25 AM

Hola Nomads, Buenos Dias!

I hope you can help shed some light on the subject of traveling with an FM3 visa. We recently got our FM3?s issued at the consulate in San Diego. Last week we succeeded in getting them validated at the ?home? immigration office in La Paz. That took two trips from the states and a fair amount of pleading but in any event it?s complete.

Now my question relates to traveling with the FM3. A week ago we flew into SJD on Alaska Air. My wife and I with FM3?s, my daughter with a tourist card. When we went through customs at SJD, we showed the FM3?s and were sent to a much shorter line (Gracias!). The inspector looked at our visas, then wanted to see our ?Red Forms?. What red form? No where along the line did we ever receive a red form. He wasn?t too happy, but gave us 1 form to fill out, it is called an ?FME for Foreigners?. I?m a little confused right now but I believe he kept one copy and we kept a copy.

Next step, we flew back to San Diego from SJD. At the airport the wanted to see the red form, and were not too happy that we only had 1 for the two of us. We were sent to the customs people at the arrival part of the terminal, where we filled out two new FME?s. One copy was attached to our boarding passes and collected by the airline. The other copy we still have, and were told it is very important to save this and have it on our return to Mexico. I think we are finally in sync, and we have them stashed away with our FM3s.

I?ve done some searches online and found very little info about this FME form, except for one page that indicated it was only used when flying. Our next trip down will be in March, but we will be driving. When we cross the border and get our visas validated do we surrender the red form, or just not show it? And regarding driving back and forth, how important is it that the stamps in the FM3 for entradas y salidas stay in sync? Do you worry about getting the book stamped when you drive back into the US? If so, where do you get the stamp, it would seem like Tijuana would be really difficult.

Thanks for your help, we?re slowly figuring this out!

Jeff



[Edited on 2-27-2005 by jeffg]

bajalou - 2-27-2005 at 09:32 AM

If you can get imigration at either of the Mexicali gates or Los Algondones to stamp the FM3 on entry or exit you're doing good. I always want stamped on exit if I might not be back for renewal (this eliminates penalties) and sometimes it takes a lot of talking at the border to get this done.
Driving into mainland Mex, I had to fill out something at the check point east of Sonoyta. As I recal, he gave me a copy but I wasn't asked to surrender it when I returned to the Frontera.

:biggrin:

Dave - 2-27-2005 at 10:18 AM

I have traveled Mexico extensively with an FM3. I never had to fill out forms OR have my FM3 stamped when leaving or entering Mexico.

An FM2 is entirely different. You are required to check in and out and are limited as to time spent out of the country. This is NOT a requirement for an FM3.

Would someone who knows tell me what this BS is in Cabo? Is this just Migra screwing with people? After all, BOTH BC and BCS are legally considered part of the frontera.

fm3 renewal

Juan - 2-27-2005 at 11:08 AM

The P-nche migra did a similar thing with me when I went to them for my fm3 renewal.

My tourist card (obtained on the flight to Loreto by aerocalifornia) was with my passport and fm3. When I took them out of my pocket the agent said "you can't have both of them" and kept my tourist card.

When I arrived at the Loreto airport the same agent was on duty waiting for the incoming flight from Los Angeles. When I told the airline person I didn't have the tourist card she referred me to migra. The agent recognized me, smiled, and stamped my fm3 booklet on that same date. Nothing was said about a red form. This is all new to me but I wonder what to do on subsequent trips when I decide to fly or drive at the last minute. Should I rely on my fm3 or my tourist card to confirm my legal right to be in Mexico?
Oh well, I will find out in a couple of months when I go back to Loreto.

One of the few things I don't like about Mexico is the lack of uniform rules, laws and regulations. It is easy to play the game when you know the rules. When the authority figures are confused about their own system it adds to the costs and difficulities of people who want to visit the country.

Sharksbaja - 2-27-2005 at 01:04 PM

yeah, why cant we just take off our shoes and enter and exit the country normally:lol::lol::lol:

jeffg - 2-27-2005 at 10:19 PM

Dave,

I found a blurb about this form on another website, here is a link to it:

http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/travel/KLM/klmimmig.html

If the article is correct, then it's only something we have to deal with when flying.

When we drive down, is there any reason to stop at immigration?

Thanks.
Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
I have traveled Mexico extensively with an FM3. I never had to fill out forms OR have my FM3 stamped when leaving or entering Mexico.

An FM2 is entirely different. You are required to check in and out and are limited as to time spent out of the country. This is NOT a requirement for an FM3.

Would someone who knows tell me what this BS is in Cabo? Is this just Migra screwing with people? After all, BOTH BC and BCS are legally considered part of the frontera.

jeffg - 2-27-2005 at 10:23 PM

Juan,

This sounds like you have too many visas! If you have an FM3, you shouldn't need a tourist card. When I bought our tickets I showed them the FM3 and had the agent waive the fee that they usually charge for the tourist card. He had to get some help from another ticket agent, but it can be done. Then on the plane we just passed on the tourist cards they distributed.

Jeff
Quote:
Originally posted by Juan
The P-nche migra did a similar thing with me when I went to them for my fm3 renewal.

My tourist card (obtained on the flight to Loreto by aerocalifornia) was with my passport and fm3. When I took them out of my pocket the agent said "you can't have both of them" and kept my tourist card.

When I arrived at the Loreto airport the same agent was on duty waiting for the incoming flight from Los Angeles. When I told the airline person I didn't have the tourist card she referred me to migra. The agent recognized me, smiled, and stamped my fm3 booklet on that same date. Nothing was said about a red form. This is all new to me but I wonder what to do on subsequent trips when I decide to fly or drive at the last minute. Should I rely on my fm3 or my tourist card to confirm my legal right to be in Mexico?
Oh well, I will find out in a couple of months when I go back to Loreto.

One of the few things I don't like about Mexico is the lack of uniform rules, laws and regulations. It is easy to play the game when you know the rules. When the authority figures are confused about their own system it adds to the costs and difficulities of people who want to visit the country.

bajajudy - 2-28-2005 at 07:26 AM

A word to the wise...
Do Not ever attempt to come into Mexico on a tourist card if you already have an FM3. Believe it or not they have your passport number in the computer and will not be happy about your trying to enter the country illegally.
I know this is kind of off topic but thought it was important to note.

Bruce R Leech - 2-28-2005 at 07:49 AM






bajajudy is correct it is illegal to get an fmt if you already have a fm3 , fm2 or fm1. don't do it .

Bruce R Leech - 2-28-2005 at 07:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by jeffg
Hola Nomads, Buenos Dias!

I hope you can help shed some light on the subject of traveling with an FM3 visa. We recently got our FM3?s issued at the consulate in San Diego. Last week we succeeded in getting them validated at the ?home? immigration office in La Paz. That took two trips from the states and a fair amount of pleading but in any event it?s complete.

Now my question relates to traveling with the FM3. A week ago we flew into SJD on Alaska Air. My wife and I with FM3?s, my daughter with a tourist card. When we went through customs at SJD, we showed the FM3?s and were sent to a much shorter line (Gracias!). The inspector looked at our visas, then wanted to see our ?Red Forms?. What red form? No where along the line did we ever receive a red form. He wasn?t too happy, but gave us 1 form to fill out, it is called an ?FME for Foreigners?. I?m a little confused right now but I believe he kept one copy and we kept a copy.

Next step, we flew back to San Diego from SJD. At the airport the wanted to see the red form, and were not too happy that we only had 1 for the two of us. We were sent to the customs people at the arrival part of the terminal, where we filled out two new FME?s. One copy was attached to our boarding passes and collected by the airline. The other copy we still have, and were told it is very important to save this and have it on our return to Mexico. I think we are finally in sync, and we have them stashed away with our FM3s.

I?ve done some searches online and found very little info about this FME form, except for one page that indicated it was only used when flying. Our next trip down will be in March, but we will be driving. When we cross the border and get our visas validated do we surrender the red form, or just not show it? And regarding driving back and forth, how important is it that the stamps in the FM3 for entradas y salidas stay in sync? Do you worry about getting the book stamped when you drive back into the US? If so, where do you get the stamp, it would seem like Tijuana would be really difficult.

Thanks for your help, we?re slowly figuring this out!

Jeff



[Edited on 2-27-2005 by jeffg]


this is new to me also . could you post a image of the red forms others could see what it looks like. Thad are always coming up with something new to keep us from getting bored.

bajalou - 2-28-2005 at 08:38 AM
Quote:

I?ve done some searches online and found very little info about this FME form, except for one page that indicated it was only used when flying.


Sounds like it is to keep track of forigners traveling on FM2's and FM3's so they have something for all passengers on the airplane.

:biggrin:

Bruce R Leech - 2-28-2005 at 09:14 AM

When traveling on an FM3, you will have to fill out an FME - Foreigner (Statistic Migratory Form) when traveling by air. This form is not asked for when driving. However, by law you must turn in your vehicle permit. Most people do not, and the customs officials do not seem to enforce it. But remember, if your vehicle is stolen or written off in an accident while you are in the US or Canada, and that permit has not been handed in, you will be responsible for the taxes on that vehicle if you try to import another as Customs will not have proof you drove said vehicle out of Mexico.

lizard lips - 3-2-2005 at 01:01 PM

I have a FM2 and last year I traveled to New York for a meeting. I flew from San Diego to Ney York City. After the meeting I flew to Rio. I then took a flight to Mexico City from Brazil and when I arrived I showed my FM2 and there was no stamp of me leaving the Mexico which I should have done. I was detained at the immigration office in Mexico City and after I explained what had happened they let me pass but my FM2 still does not have the stamp for the exit. I assume this will be an issue when I renew next month here in Ensenada. Im sure there will be some kind of fine. I cant wait for that!:fire: