bajapedro
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FFM
Was planning on taking my 8 y/o grandson to Baja (driving to San Felipe area) next week for his spring break. Looking at his passport, it has recently
expired. Was wondering if anyone has an opinion or a recent experience getting a FFM using just his Birth Certificate.
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David K
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Passport or passport card... but, maybe if you smile real big and say you didn't know children also needed them..?
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lencho
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Quote: Originally posted by David K  | | Passport or passport card... but, maybe if you smile real big and say you didn't know children also needed them..? |
Which might have worked a few years ago; I'm wondering if the seemingly hostile politics from the current U.S. administration, is changing attitudes
on that sort of interaction; has anyone noticed less friendly behavior on the part of Mexican officials lately?
"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is, by how stupid he thinks I
am."
"...they were careful of their demeanor that they not be thought to have opinions on what they heard for like most men skilled at their work they
were scornful of any least suggestion of knowing anything not learned at first hand."
Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
"Be kind, be patient, help others." -- Isabel Allende
"My gas stove identifies as electric." Anonymous
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surabi
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If I were an immigration official and some tourist felt they didn't have to follow entry requirements, and offered a big smile and an "I didn't know
children needed them" instead, I would tend to not be at all friendly towards them.
If you wanted to take your grandson to Mexico with you, the time to check whether he had a valid passport was long before a week prior to your planned
trip.
The phrase "A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine."
That said, these things do happen. When my granddaughter, who had just turned 18, was going to come visit, I asked her if her passport was valid. She
said yes, without even checking. Turned out it wasn't, and as her mom had already booked her airline ticket, which was non-refundable, they had to
stand in line at the nearest passport office for hours and pay extra to get an expedited passport.
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: Originally posted by bajapedro | | Was planning on taking my 8 y/o grandson to Baja (driving to San Felipe area) next week for his spring break. Looking at his passport, it has recently
expired. Was wondering if anyone has an opinion or a recent experience getting a FFM using just his Birth Certificate. |
Rules are now much stricter. The staff have all changed. The immigration people are seeing many travelers, they now enforce the rules uniformly.
They wont issue FMM to people w/o valid PP. If someone in your party does not have a valid PP, then leave that person in the car when your party goes
in to get FMM. That person runs the risk of being hassled for lack of travel docs at a checkpoint… they may let kids slide, they may not.
Pretty easy to get an expedited PP in san diego (or other PP ofc) if you schedule 14 days ahead of time. Well, used to be easy to get expedited PP,
but the new admin may have fired everyone…
State dept surge hired after the PP wait times grew a few years ago. The new hires are probably probationary, and so may have been fired by DOGE?
[Edited on 3-10-2025 by mtgoat666]
Woke!
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will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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bajapedro
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Appreciate your advice, not so much the lectures. Was able to secure an appointment at Passport office in San Francisco Tuesday.
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Tioloco
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Haha... understandable for sure!
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cupcake
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| Quote: Originally posted by bajapedro | | Appreciate your advice, not so much the lectures. Was able to secure an appointment at Passport office in San Francisco Tuesday.
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They were probably just alarmed by the prospect of you having serious legal trouble when you have a youngster along for the ride.
It's one thing for just you to spend some days in the slammer, but I wouldn't risk putting the youngster through anything unpleasant.
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cupcake
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| Quote: Originally posted by lencho | | I'm wondering if the seemingly hostile politics from the current U.S. administration, is changing attitudes on that sort of interaction; has anyone
noticed less friendly behavior on the part of Mexican officials lately? |
My recent bad experience with the police in TJ might have something to do with this. Anyway, I was wondering if it did.
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Tioloco
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| Quote: Originally posted by cupcake | | Quote: Originally posted by bajapedro | | Appreciate your advice, not so much the lectures. Was able to secure an appointment at Passport office in San Francisco Tuesday.
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They were probably just alarmed by the prospect of you having serious legal trouble when you have a youngster along for the ride.
It's one thing for just you to spend some days in the slammer, but I wouldn't risk putting the youngster through anything unpleasant.
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Please update us all when an 8 year old gets thrown in Mexican jail for lack of FMM.
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surabi
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He didn't say an 8 year old would get thrown in jail. He said he wouldn't risk putting a youngster through anything unpleasant, which could just mean
being hassled or turned away at the border, or deported.
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David K
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| Quote: Originally posted by surabi | | He didn't say an 8 year old would get thrown in jail. He said he wouldn't risk putting a youngster through anything unpleasant, which could just mean
being hassled or turned away at the border, or deported. |
Don't you think that was a joke, really?
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cupcake
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| Quote: Originally posted by surabi | | He didn't say an 8 year old would get thrown in jail. He said he wouldn't risk putting a youngster through anything unpleasant, which could just mean
being hassled or turned away at the border, or deported. |
If grandpa was being taken to a holding cell, it would mean separation of the two travelers. I don't know how grandson would be accommodated and
processed, but I'm sure even in the best case scenario it would be a traumatic experience for an 8 year old.
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KurtG
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Also my experience is that a notarized letter from the custodial parent(s) may be needed in order for the minor child to travel with you in Mexico.
This is based on my personal experience although some time ago.
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David K
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| Quote: Originally posted by KurtG | | Also my experience is that a notarized letter from the custodial parent(s) may be needed in order for the minor child to travel with you in Mexico.
This is based on my personal experience although some time ago. |
Exactly what I had when I was driving in Baja before I was 18 ('74 & '75).
More recently, in early 2000s, I had one for my children's friends who we took camping. In no case did I ever need to show it (in the 70s or 2000s).
However, on my first trip with a high school friend, at the border, the official asked our ages (both were 16). He said we were too young. My reply
was "We have the necessary papers". He responded, "You have the necessary papers? "Yes ...". He smiled big and said PASA, HAVE A GOOD TIME!
Viva Mexico!!
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surabi
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| Quote: Originally posted by KurtG | | Also my experience is that a notarized letter from the custodial parent(s) may be needed in order for the minor child to travel with you in Mexico.
This is based on my personal experience although some time ago. |
Yes, you should definitely have this if you are not travelling as a family of legal parents and their children. In fact, my daughter had to get such a
notarized letter from the children's father, even though they resided together in Mexico, in order to enter the US or Canada for a visit, when she was
travelling alone with the kids. I also had to have one when taking my grandkids to Canada.
So even if you aren't asked to produce such a document when entering Mexico, you may be asked for it when reentering the US.
[Edited on 3-11-2025 by surabi]
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bajatrailrider
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You should always get fmm as far as checking. From Tecate to TJ to Baja sur all reporting to me no checking. Also as far as Mexicans treating us
differently badly. I can't see anything different all nice as nor watch out TJ or Tecate cops .
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