BajaNomad

can you get a Tourist visa in San Felipe

Carol - 1-18-2023 at 11:18 PM

my friends were waved through the border at San Lucas and so didn’t get a tourist Visa. Is there somewhere in San Felipe or south that they can get one?

David K - 1-19-2023 at 08:40 AM

Everyone gets waved through. It was up to them to park and walk into that first building inside Mexico, where the INM desk is, and get their tourist permits.

The San Felipe INM is at the traffic circle, next to the gas station, on the left, as you drive into San Felipe.

It has been reported that they are there for foreign residents' needs, not to issue FMMs to tourists. They are already in violation of the law for the last 125 miles from Mexicali.

All that being said, so many tourists don't bother to learn or follow the Mexican rules, they shouldn't be too worried. The worst that might happen is that they will be turned back north if they come up on the rare immigration checkpoint.

4x4abc - 1-19-2023 at 06:04 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Everyone gets waved through. It was up to them to park and walk into that first building inside Mexico, where the INM desk is, and get their tourist permits.

The San Felipe INM is at the traffic circle, next to the gas station, on the left, as you drive into San Felipe.

It has been reported that they are there for foreign residents' needs, not to issue FMMs to tourists. They are already in violation of the law for the last 125 miles from Mexicali.

All that being said, so many tourists don't bother to learn or follow the Mexican rules, they shouldn't be too worried. The worst that might happen is that they will be turned back north if they come up on the rare immigration checkpoint.


it might say something about Gringos
but I won't open that can of worms

AKgringo - 1-19-2023 at 06:44 PM

My first time entering through Mexicali East I was waved off when I tried to get an FMM. I figured out later that I was at the right place, but by the time I figured it out there was no place to park and walk back.

Carol - 1-19-2023 at 06:48 PM

if you put yourselves in their shoes for a first drive down, worried about even doing the drive, you can see how it can happen and these are good peeps. I did tell them about the stop but confusing chit happens fast at the border and it’s tough to go back.

One year at the old Tijuana border the border guys refused to let us pull over to go in and told us to go to Ensenada. Ensenada then said they weren’t doing TCards for cars/bank was closed, blah blah so we ended up in Guerrero, who kindly just did it.

I haven’t heard from them today, so not sure what they decided to do.

sancho - 1-19-2023 at 08:24 PM

In the distant past, there have been a few fmm's
issued at the San Felipe airport, not suggesting that
would be successful. Also Guerro Negro and Santa
Rosalia, again iffy.
Numerous tourists enter
Baja either not knowing the regs or ignoring them.
Everyone gets a mulligan. The rumor Mex auto ins.
is invalid without proper Immigration doc's, to my
knowledge has never been proven

4x4abc - 1-20-2023 at 12:41 AM

Quote: Originally posted by sancho  
In the distant past, there have been a few fmm's
issued at the San Felipe airport, not suggesting that
would be successful. Also Guerro Negro and Santa
Rosalia, again iffy.
Numerous tourists enter
Baja either not knowing the regs or ignoring them.
Everyone gets a mulligan. The rumor Mex auto ins.
is invalid without proper Immigration doc's, to my
knowledge has never been proven


I have been guiding tours in Baja since 1986
seen a lot of changes with the tourist card, FM, FM2, FFM since

Ensenada was a safe bet if you drove down the west side
but they were always very unfriendly and at times would send you away with nothing
my all time favorite has been San Felipe airport when driving the east side
very friendly guys
in and out of the door in a few minutes
later the INM office at the traffic circle was good too

I have done a few tourist cards at the 28th parallel as well as the Guerrero Negro airport
you always had to talk them into it though

the border crossings were painful - especially with a group of vehicles

PaulW - 1-20-2023 at 09:17 AM

can you get a Tourist visa in San Felipe?
Answer
NO
Go to Mexicali and get the FMM

Bajazly - 1-20-2023 at 09:33 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Carol  
if you put yourselves in their shoes for a first drive down, worried about even doing the drive, you can see how it can happen and these are good peeps. I did tell them about the stop but confusing chit happens fast at the border and it’s tough to go back.



There is NO excuse for not knowing what you need to do to travel internationally and being a hassle is not an argument. Go back to the border and do it right. And whining and being scared of the drive, maybe they should not go to a scary country in the first place.

sancho - 1-21-2023 at 10:29 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Bajazly  

There is NO excuse for not knowing what you need to do to travel internationally and being a hassle is not an argument. Go back to the border and do it right. And whining and being scared of the place.









Many of these crossings into Mex, Mex customs will wave
one thru. The newbies are given a false since they are doing
the correct thing by obeying Mex Officials, not knowing these
are not Mex Immigration officials. Give them a break, we all
started as newbies. No one said it was a hassle nor scary

boatworksjon - 1-21-2023 at 10:53 AM

Bajazly

Your mood states that your more relaxed everyday.

I hope one day you can find inner peace with yourself and find out what it's like to be truly relaxed.

To Carol

Just enjoy the trip who cares about the FMM that ship has sailed.....


Marc - 1-23-2023 at 08:14 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Bajazly  
Quote: Originally posted by Carol  
if you put yourselves in their shoes for a first drive down, worried about even doing the drive, you can see how it can happen and these are good peeps. I did tell them about the stop but confusing chit happens fast at the border and it’s tough to go back.



There is NO excuse for not knowing what you need to do to travel internationally and being a hassle is not an argument. Go back to the border and do it right. And whining and being scared of the drive, maybe they should not go to a scary country in the first place.


Si.

Don Jorge - 1-24-2023 at 08:47 AM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
I have been guiding tours in Baja since 1986
seen a lot of changes with the tourist card, FM, FM2, FFM since

Ensenada was a safe bet if you drove down the west side
but they were always very unfriendly and at times would send you away with nothing


Ah yes. That fellow was infamous back in the 80s to early 90s during the good old days of carbon paper, typewriters, stamps and more stamps and stamping.

Many a time we were doing immigration paperwork there for boater friends and had the pleasure of watching that guy work the semi terrified and sometimes obnoxious tourist walk ins attempting to get their paperwork in order.

If He did not like you or anyone with you for whatever reason, he would merely say, tomorrow. :lol:

David K - 1-24-2023 at 02:43 PM

"If He did not like you or anyone with you for whatever reason, he would merely say, tomorrow. :lol: "

Reminds me of the managemnt at Alfonsina's! I was lucky in that Antonio was always very friendly... but I only ate there, never overnighted.