marv sherrill
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border immigration office
Is the immigration still next to the bank near the declare lane or did they move it back behind the building near the walk in border crossing? thanks
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fandango
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it is still the first office on the right as you enter the declare lane. tijuana.
tried to get an fmt on tuesday, 27 january, with a drivers license and birth certificate. no deal. passport only.
looks like they have moved the barricades that are down the way near the restrooms, so you don't have to push the button for the red/green when you
exit.
the "declare" agent was pleasant.
the immigration agent was not.
sbwontoo
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Bajahowodd
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Fandango- So did you proceed without FMT? We had two occurrences at San Ysidro that were problematic. One time, there was no agent in the office. We
waited about 20 minutes, and decided to leave. I guess he was either on lunch break or had to take a dump. Another time, we were also refused with
birth certificates. So we now consider passports the SOP. I must say, however, that in the many years we have traveled, all the way to Cabo, or just
part way down to GN or San Ignacio, we have only been asked for FMTs one time- that at the state line heading North. From another thread, it appears
that one may invalidate their Mexican auto insurance without having an FMT, so in the future, I will err on the side of caution.
[Edited on 2-3-2009 by Bajahowodd]
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woody with a view
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"after hours" whenever that may be, if the office by the declare area is closed you can go behind the row of buildings and proceed towards the
turnstiles that pedestrians use crossing into mexico. when you are at the turnstile the building is on your left up against the fence. even at night
from 50' feet away the windows are so blackened with tint that it looks like the light are out. pull on the door and wake the guy up. then walk to the
bank. then walk back to migra for the final stamp. then go have fun!
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BajaNomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by woody in ob
"after hours" whenever that may be, if the office by the declare area is closed you can go behind the row of buildings and proceed towards the
turnstiles that pedestrians use crossing into mexico. when you are at the turnstile the building is on your left up against the fence.
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That's the same office I believe, with a door on each side of the building. (???)
Just an interesting point of note - we crossed at SY on Dec 27 - and were issued FM-T with Birth Certs - in fact, I couldn't find my original and was
issued an FM-T with a xerox copy of my birth cert.
It is what it is.
-
Doug
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– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
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David K
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Just give the officer a big smile... tell him how sorry you are that you only have the birth certificate and driver's license... and that you really
want to have a good time in Mexico... "P-L-E-A-S-E" 
OR... go to your post office and get the passport or passport card, and not worry anymore!!
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bajaguy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Just give the officer a big smile... tell him how sorry you are that you only have the birth certificate and driver's license... and that you really
want to have a good time in Mexico... "P-L-E-A-S-E"
OR... go to your post office and get the passport or passport card, and not worry anymore!! |
Passport card is only good for re-entry into the US.......it is not a substitute for a passport to obtain a visa to enter other countries
[Edited on 2-3-2009 by bajaguy]
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David K
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So a lot of people who only got the card to travel to Mexico (because it is cheaper than a regular passport) are in for a surprise?!
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bajaguy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
So a lot of people who only got the card to travel to Mexico (because it is cheaper than a regular passport) are in for a surprise?!
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From the US State Dept web site:
The wallet-size passport card is convenient and less expensive than the passport book. However, the U.S. Passport Card cannot be used for
international air travel. ..........This new travel document can be used to enter the United States from........Mexico....... at land border crossings
or sea ports-of-entry.
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fandango
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howodd:
we travelled without the fmt. we didn't go further south than ensenada, gone for 5 days. this is the first time we were refused an fmt for lack of a
passport. i will confirm the requirements from a mexican government website (that hopefully states an fmt is available with ID and birth cert.) and
carry that with me until i get a passport.
i read another post regarding the insurance being invalid without the fmt.
i called discover baja and confirmed that the fmt is not required for the insurance to be in force.
sbwontoo
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Bajahowodd
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I sure wish we could get definitive clarification about this. The jist of another thread was that having an accident and not having FMT constitutes a
crime. A crime gives the insurer an opening to deny coverage under their policy exclusions.
And regardless of what the Mexican government website says, one is always subject to the whims of the immigration officer. Besides, in a few months,
U.S. immigration is going to require passports for re-entry. So, the issue will be moot.
And five days, even no farther South than Ensenada, is a breach of the FMT requirements. Interesting, though- if for some reason I was asked for my
FMT in Ensenada after being there five days, I'd probably just say that I arrived yesterday.
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
So a lot of people who only got the card to travel to Mexico (because it is cheaper than a regular passport) are in for a surprise?!
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From the US State Dept web site:
The wallet-size passport card is convenient and less expensive than the passport book. However, the U.S. Passport Card cannot be used for
international air travel. ..........This new travel document can be used to enter the United States from........Mexico....... at land border crossings
or sea ports-of-entry. |
Yes, I knew it was for land crossing... but, isn't it odd for the State Dept. to say that is all you need... if Mexico isn't going to accept the card?
You wouldn't purchase BOTH, since the idea of a card was to give people with budgets a cheaper way to cross the border... If you need a passport book,
then no point on having a passport card, too... if it isn't any good for entering Mexico.
Also, the Mexico FM-T is really not a 'visa' that needs to be stamped into a passport like at other countries... they just need to SEE proof of
citizenship and photo ID.... well at least that is all they used to need!
See why I don't like BIG government!
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bajaguy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Also, the Mexico FM-T is really not a 'visa' that needs to be stamped into a passport like at other countries... they just need to SEE proof of
citizenship and photo ID.... well at least that is all they used to need!
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FMT - The Short-Term Non-Immigrant Visa
Short term visas are intended for visitors to Mexico on short term (6 months or less) visits; usually tourists and short-term business trips. For
trips of longer than 6 months, a non-immigrant or immigrant visa should be considered -- see the sections below for details. FMT visas are issued by
airlines and are also available at ports of entry* Also See: Entry Requirements for Tourists
Hmmmmmmmm, seems like a FMT is visa to me........
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David K
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FM-T/ TOURIST CARD: It is NOT stamped in a passport book as typical visas... it is a seperate form you fill out, and is called a 'Tourist Card' by
Mexican customs... regardless of what that U.S. web site wants to call it.
The bank stamps it when it is paid, and the INM officer stamps it when you bring it back to him... and then you keep one copy.
How come this is not known already to you?
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woody with a view
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| Quote: |
i read another post regarding the insurance being invalid without the fmt. i called discover baja and confirmed that the fmt is not required for the
insurance to be in force.
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other insurers require you to be in the country legally. why would discover baja have a lesser requirement? do you have their reply highlighted with a
signature along with a notary? or do you just accept what someone on the phone (who?) told you????
i'm just saying.....
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fandango
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dang woody!!! you are freakin me out!!
okay!! i will leave monday instead of sunday and swing by discover baja and get a 6 month fmt, with a BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
sbwontoo
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woody with a view
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$20 is a small price to pay. losing a day in baja? jeez, i dunno!
knowing you're legit? epic!!!
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fandango
dang woody!!! you are freakin me out!!
okay!! i will leave monday instead of sunday and swing by discover baja and get a 6 month fmt, with a BIRTH CERTIFICATE. |
Don't forget that with that pre-paid FM-T from Discover Baja, you STILL must stop at the border and take it into INM for the stamp, making it VALID!
Because you have to stop there anyway, no need to take an extra day to go to Discover Baja... the 24-7 bank teller for FM-T payment is in the same
building, about 6 offices to the left from INM... Unless you are concerned about not having a passport yet? Who knows what the INM official will want
to see with your pre-paid FM-T???
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Bajahowodd
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It's all going to be academic in a few months because U.S. immigration is going to require a passport to re-enter the U.S. What I have read very
recently is that the economic downturn has left the passport agency twiddling their thumbs. Now is the time to get a passport. The closer we get to
June, the more likely there will be crowds and a backlog.
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