BajaNomad

FMM at Mexico airport when returning to US

Baja Oldie - 1-14-2020 at 01:39 PM

I sometimes use Southwest to fly south using points. ($99 one way on sale to PVR) I have to pay the fees. Why do the agents collect the FMM at the gate on return to the US if I have already paid for it? Can I keep it? The agent says no. Thoughts? Clarifications?

AKgringo - 1-14-2020 at 02:08 PM

My guess is that the "multiple" part of FMM means that the same form is used for multiple purposes, and each will have it's own rules.

David K - 1-14-2020 at 02:28 PM

The FMM for flying is NOT the same as for land travel.
One trip use only and they are collected.

I flew in and out of Baja in 2014, (in a private helicopter) clearing through INM at the Ensenada airport, both directions. Not only did I pay for the FMM (for just a 3-day trip) but there was a smaller fee when I turned it back in when we cleared out of Mexico at the airport. Yes, I questioned the INM officer about both the three day part and the return part. Basically, the answer was "Señor, flying is different than driving"!

sancho - 1-14-2020 at 03:44 PM

Clarification is not a word in Mex Imm language. In domestic
travel, within Mex, they 'they traditionally do not collect fmm's',
as in flying out of TJ and back, although logic says Gringos
landing at TJ are headed for the US. DK had a different experience at Ensenada. International flying back
to the US, they always collect fmm's, I imagine there is
an occasional exception. As has been said before 'Mex IMM regs
are what the Mex Imm Officer says they are at the moment'

David K - 1-14-2020 at 04:49 PM

Different experience?
The OP (Baja Oldie) is flying back to the US from Mexico, same as me.
Flights that stay inside of Mexico do not issue or collect FMMs. You are supposed to already have one when you entered Mexico.

thebajarunner - 1-14-2020 at 05:32 PM

About once a year we fly to Mexico... PV, Cabo, DF
And every year I request that the FMM be given back to me so that I can use it on subsequent frequent driving trips down.
Every time the answer is always a smile and a denial of the request.

It has become a sort of ritual, and never changes...

AKgringo - 1-14-2020 at 05:59 PM

I wonder if someone drove south with a 180 day FMM, would it be acceptable for taking a flight back to the US? If so, would they make you turn it in when you boarded the plane?

David K - 1-14-2020 at 06:22 PM

I think yes, once you use a plane then the FMM converts and it is not usable, again. They must collect the FMM from every American. I believe this was reported here on Nomad sometime ago...

Now, you could say you are a Mexican, but then they will probably want to see your Mexican passport and visa for the USA. No airline wants to give you a free ride back because the US won't admit you.

Have you see The Terminal, with Tom Hanks?

Baja Oldie - 1-14-2020 at 06:36 PM

Thanks all. I just looked on the back of the FMM form on-line and it just says you must surrender it on leaving. Nothing else....

sancho - 1-14-2020 at 08:08 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
You are supposed to already have one when you entered Mexico.








Incorrect, you obviously don't or have never flown out of
the TJ airport. Most US travellers park on the US side,
walk across a fairly new ped bridge into Mex (TJ airport).
Where, in the airport, they pay for an fmm, they do not have a valid fmm when entering Mex, the exception being those who have a previous
fmm, which I believe would be accepted for domestic flights

BajaParrothead - 1-14-2020 at 08:54 PM

Yesterday I was waiting for my return flight out of Guadalajara and there was an announcement over the intercom that stated ALL foreign passengers shall provide their immigration form and passport or they would not be boarding an aircraft! That was the first time i ever noticed that announcement.

mtgoat666 - 1-14-2020 at 09:33 PM

Quote: Originally posted by sancho  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
You are supposed to already have one when you entered Mexico.


Incorrect, you obviously don't or have never flown out of
the TJ airport. Most US travellers park on the US side,
walk across a fairly new ped bridge into Mex (TJ airport).
Where, in the airport, they pay for an fmm, they do not have a valid fmm when entering Mex, the exception being those who have a previous
fmm, which I believe would be accepted for domestic flights



Just to add some pedantry for you pedants being pedantic... There are a number of ways for gringos to enter TJ airport. You get your fmm at cbx only if you use cbx to enter Mexico. If you enter Mexico via land border xing other than cbx, then you get fmm at that land border xing.
If you already have a valid fmm and enter Mexico via cbx, you do not get another fmm.



4x4abc - 1-14-2020 at 09:43 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
I wonder if someone drove south with a 180 day FMM, would it be acceptable for taking a flight back to the US? If so, would they make you turn it in when you boarded the plane?


yes, your 180 day FFM is acceptable and will be collected before you board.

I have once driven into Baja without an FFM (early days) and had to fly out. I could only leave the country by filling out an FFM and turning it in at the same time.

A friends recently had lost hers. same story. Fill out a new one and turn it in. She almost missed her flight because she had to stand in line to do so. And pay, of course.

I have a permanente and mostly drive in and out. No extra paperwork required. I thought. Not so. You should fill out the same form when entering by land.
I learned that the hard way a few years back - flying somewhere. I, in fact, missed my flight. Did not have the immigration paper to turn it in. Had to line up and fill out the form and then turn it in. Free of charge but I had to wait in line long enough to miss my flight. CDMX.

paranewbi - 1-15-2020 at 06:21 AM

Quote: Originally posted by sancho  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
You are supposed to already have one when you entered Mexico.








Incorrect, you obviously don't or have never flown out of
the TJ airport. Most US travellers park on the US side,
walk across a fairly new ped bridge into Mex (TJ airport).
Where, in the airport, they pay for an fmm, they do not have a valid fmm when entering Mex, the exception being those who have a previous
fmm, which I believe would be accepted for domestic flights



So...the question is; Are you OFFICIALLY in Mexico as you walk on their soil to obtain an FMM? To say that you have entered Mexico without an FMM as you walk across a bridge that hovers above the imaginary border line or drive your car over a demarcation line prior to walking into the FMM office is ludicrous.

There even still seems to be some confusion over the re-entering of Mexico with a 180 day (multiple entry?) pass is acceptable. And by my experience that may only apply to the common border with the US. I have had my FMM taken from me when exiting Mexico and entering Guatemala and Belize at all times. The threat was to not relinquish the same would cause a denial of re-entry into Mexico.

David K - 1-15-2020 at 09:45 AM

Quote: Originally posted by sancho  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
You are supposed to already have one when you entered Mexico.


Incorrect, you obviously don't or have never flown out of
the TJ airport. Most US travellers park on the US side,
walk across a fairly new ped bridge into Mex (TJ airport).
Where, in the airport, they pay for an fmm, they do not have a valid fmm when entering Mex, the exception being those who have a previous
fmm, which I believe would be accepted for domestic flights


You are in agreement with what I said, you get an FMM as the first thing, at the border or in this case walking into Mexico, the first INM desk.

When I say entering Mexico, I mean "legally" not physically... As in walking into the INM office to get the FMM and passport stamped. Same thing at the bridge to the airport... walk to the INM desk and get the FMM BEFORE you get on a plane.

The multiple use of an FMM seems to only be for land travel. Once you change to flying, your FMM is surrendered on a flight out of Mexico.

Alm - 1-15-2020 at 01:53 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
My guess is that the "multiple" part of FMM means that the same form is used for multiple purposes

This is correct. Multiple purposes, not multiple entries.

Alm - 1-15-2020 at 01:55 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
The FMM for flying is NOT the same as for land travel.

FMM is the same, and is supposed to work the same as on land crossing, i.e. single entry.

Land crossing officers don't bother enforcing this rule, or even the rule that all foreigners must obtain FMM - the latter fact is well known, and this doesn't make it a law. Neither they worry about returning land FMM (in this instance they do have an excuse, given how their exit points are constructed).

[Edited on 1-15-2020 by Alm]

thebajarunner - 1-15-2020 at 04:54 PM

And, just to further complicate the issue.....wink wink, nudge nudge

My wife, born in Jalisco, US citizen for 40 years....
They refuse to issue her an FMM when we cross on land
They refuse to let her fly from SFO to any place in Mexico without issuance of FMM

Now you have it, and then you don't

You have to love Mexico, always a new spin on any subject....

David K - 1-15-2020 at 06:36 PM

The FMM I got at the airport looked nothing like the FMM I got the same year at the border, driving in. So, they were different forms and they have different rules (one trip vs. multiple trips & turn back in vs. toss in trash).

Alm - 1-15-2020 at 06:50 PM

Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner  

And, just to further complicate the issue.....wink wink, nudge nudge

My wife, born in Jalisco, US citizen for 40 years....
They refuse to issue her an FMM when we cross on land
They refuse to let her fly from SFO to any place in Mexico without issuance of FMM

They "should" issue FMM on land crossing if she is traveling with non-Mexican passport. Their refusal to do so doesn't affect her flying to Mex and back on a separate trip, so - no complications. Plus, she is saving $25 - unless she is a resident, in which case FMM would've been free anyway.

Gotta love this Mex approach to rules and regs :). If only they were consistent...

[Edited on 1-16-2020 by Alm]