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thebajarunner
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Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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FMM Couple of thoughts
First off...
Went into the border office at TJ/SY crossing to get a new FMM
Totally different process, I was really surprised
Yeah, you have to go through the line with all the new (and mostly Mexican) arrivals.
But when you get to the desk you hand over you passport or card and it gets
scanned
Two questions asked verbally,
How long are you staying and where are you headed?
Then the rather clunky looking printer under the counter (with a few knuckle raps from the officer) and bang!!! You get handed a fresh FMM
Next customer!!
No more standing at the counter in the back and trying to fit your answers into the lines, no more to do, just gracias and out the door.
Milagro!!
Second....
How many Gringos really do take the time and effort?
I was there about 10 minutes and was the only applicant in sight.
Lots of US cars were pushing across, no one else ws stopping to make the effort.
Final comment...
They still refuse to give my little bride a card.
Born in Jalisco?
Next customer please
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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Interesting!
I got my last FMM, also at Tijuana... the area south of office (buildiing near the giant flagpole) was under construction. We parked on the south
side, after passing the red/green light/ gate, and turning off to the right. This was two months ago (May 10, 2025). Still had to fill out the lines
(brought my readers as the text is tiny for old eyes). Just got the free 6 day/ 7 nights one, so no money needed. Used my passport card, so no
stamping of a book.
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surabi
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Why would you think they would give your wife an FMM? Of course they won't. If she was born in Mexico, she's a Mexican citizen. Tourist cards are for
foreign tourists, not Mexican citizens or residents. Your wife can stay in Mexico as long as she wants, she doesn't need any sort of permission to
enter or stay.
[Edited on 7-23-2025 by surabi]
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Tioloco
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Quote: Originally posted by surabi  | Why would you think they would give your wife an FMM? Of course they won't. If she was born in Mexico, she's a Mexican citizen. Tourist cards are for
foreign tourists, not Mexican citizens or residents. Your wife can stay in Mexico as long as she wants, she doesn't need any sort of permission to
enter or stay.
[Edited on 7-23-2025 by surabi] |
Maybe she was born in Mexico but lives in USA and has no Mexican ID cards?? Countless Mexican citizens have no documentation to prove their
citizenship.
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BajaBlanca
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No payment or is it right there too?
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thebajarunner
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Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Try to buy property using that argument
| Quote: Originally posted by surabi | Why would you think they would give your wife an FMM? Of course they won't. If she was born in Mexico, she's a Mexican citizen. Tourist cards are for
foreign tourists, not Mexican citizens or residents. Your wife can stay in Mexico as long as she wants, she doesn't need any sort of permission to
enter or stay.
[Edited on 7-23-2025 by surabi] |
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thebajarunner
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Posts: 3754
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Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | Interesting!
I got my last FMM, also at Tijuana... the area south of office (buildiing near the giant flagpole) was under construction. We parked on the south
side, after passing the red/green light/ gate, and turning off to the right. This was two months ago (May 10, 2025). Still had to fill out the lines
(brought my readers as the text is tiny for old eyes). Just got the free 6 day/ 7 nights one, so no money needed. Used my passport card, so no
stamping of a book. |
David
The office is in the same location as always, just a little more complicated to access. Stay as far right as usual and duck in when you see the
building,
parking is the same
Do not go through the gates and the lights, it is probably 100 yards before that official entry into TJ
Inside the building is the same as always, last office on the left just past the banco.
Only real change is the scanner and the quick completion
And my basic question sitll is...... are we the only ones who bother to get an FMM?
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surabi
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| Quote: Originally posted by Tioloco |
Maybe she was born in Mexico but lives in USA and has no Mexican ID cards?? Countless Mexican citizens have no documentation to prove their
citizenship. |
Place of birth is on passports. So if she has a US passport, that info is readily visible. And if she has a US passport or green card, she would have
had to submit her birth certificate or other Mexican ID to obtain those.
People who have no documents to prove their citizenship can't legally cross international borders, and I doubt the OP's wife is going back and forth
across the US/Mexico border illegally and without proper ID.
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David K
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Posts: 65322
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner | | Quote: Originally posted by David K | Interesting!
I got my last FMM, also at Tijuana... the area south of office (buildiing near the giant flagpole) was under construction. We parked on the south
side, after passing the red/green light/ gate, and turning off to the right. This was two months ago (May 10, 2025). Still had to fill out the lines
(brought my readers as the text is tiny for old eyes). Just got the free 6 day/ 7 nights one, so no money needed. Used my passport card, so no
stamping of a book. |
David
The office is in the same location as always, just a little more complicated to access. Stay as far right as usual and duck in when you see the
building,
parking is the same
Do not go through the gates and the lights, it is probably 100 yards before that official entry into TJ
Inside the building is the same as always, last office on the left just past the banco.
Only real change is the scanner and the quick completion
And my basic question sitll is...... are we the only ones who bother to get an FMM? |
Those of us who support
the rule of law over the "if they don't then I don't " group.
In May, I was a passenger and my friend wanted to park after the gates, which meant turning right after the secondary inspection area onto a future
set of lanes that come from the building.which we walked to the INM desk outside of that building. The area was in mid-construction.
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surabi
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Even if someone is an "I don't like following rules" type, it is foolish not to bother to get proper paperwork, as it can be a big hassle if one is
asked for their INM document and can't produce it.
Mexico does in fact deport people for that reason.
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thebajarunner
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Responses, in no particular order.
David, I have never come across without getting an up to date FMM, dating back to about 1972 when I first learned that they were required
Blanca, no charge for the FMM if less than a week. 180 days is about $40 US
Lencho..... I ma not saying she can never buy property, just has to go through a very lengthy process to gain her "Credencial para Votar"
The checklist I have has 15 items to gather up and then submit and wait'?hope for issuance
Yes, we have an old expired Mexican pasaporte, as well as birth certificates, but gathering and submitting and waiting is frustrating.
Most of my US career was real estate development
Wanna buy some property here?
Bring cash to the title company and you are on your way!
Not so simple in Mexico.
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surabi
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Mexican bureaucrats seem to be in love with paperwork, the more the better. I used to find it funny when I had to go into the office to pay my
property taxes (now I can do it online), that even though they were computerized, they still seemed to have huge stacks of paperwork on all their
desks.
And everyone, no matter how lowly their office job, takes every opportunity to wield their little bit of power.
I had a friend years ago who went to get a Mexican driver's license. The employee kept sending her away for yet another piece of paper. On her third
office visit, she asked him why he couldn't have just given her a list of everything she needed to bring in the first time.
He said, gesturing around his little windowless office, "Look at this office. I've been working here for 30 years. Asking you for more documents is
the only fun I get."
At least he was honest.
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thebajarunner
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Surabi great story
My brother in law (not a favorite) was a US State Dept officer for years
He ended up in London in the Visa department of the US embassy
I asked him why, since we do not require visas from the Brits
"I am keeping the Nigerians out of your back yard" he said
But, when people asked me what he did I said
He denies visas (and loves it)
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SFandH
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| Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner |
just has to go through a very lengthy process to gain her "Credencial para Votar"
The checklist I have has 15 items to gather up and then submit and wait'?hope for issuance
Yes, we have an old expired Mexican pasaporte, as well as birth certificates, but gathering and submitting and waiting is frustrating.
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I know a lawyer in Tijuana who formerly worked for the INM. He can get it done for you with minimum hassle. $$$$
U2U me if you want more info.
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AKgringo
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In 2012, after a lengthy period of no visits to Mexico, I stopped at the border to get a tourist permit. I was told by Mexican immigration that no
permit was necessary for Baja.
It was in late 2014 after several Baja trips that I discovered this forum and learned that an FMM was required! Ignorance of the law is not OK, but
if you just show up and drive across the border there is nothing visible to advise anyone that one is needed.
I have never been asked for one entering Baja, or anywhere along the road for that matter.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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David K
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2007, state border (BC & BCS): INM officer asked for our FMMs and examined them... then the spray strip was next, as I recall.
2009, the state border INM officer looked at mine and as I was trying the get Baja Angel's out of the glove box, he said we could go.
In 2010, the state border INM officer would not allow 'EDM-1' Art's wife into Baja Sur without one, cost Art a US$100 'fine'.
2012, the state border INM officer never got out of the booth and just waved to us to move along.
2015, the state border INM officer was no where to be seen.
The same was true on my three trips into Baja Sur in 2017 and my trip in 2019... abandoned INM booth.
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AKgringo
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In 2019 at Mexicali East I pulled into What I believe is the correct place to get an FMM, and the agent inspecting a vehicle vigorously waved me off
and pointed to the lane heading south.
I tried pulling into the next driveway but it was a one-way exit and I was again waved off. I decided to find a place to park and walk back to get my
paperwork, but security fences prevented that.
At that point it appeared that my only option was to leave my dog and car somewhere close to the border and use the pedestrian crossing back to
Calexico, or spend a couple of hours in border traffic and circle back through the same gate again.
I confess to becoming a scofflaw at that point and continued my journey without an FMM with no negative consequences. I don't recommend that anyone
else take that course of action, but I tried and failed to do the right thing.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Ateo
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Just throwing it out there for the few that might like this option:
Do your FMM online. Pay it online.
Only problem is you still have to stop and get it stamped somewhere.
OT: I was flying over Sea of Cortez and could see BOLA today and it looked beautiful.
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Alm
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| Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner |
How many Gringos really do take the time and effort?
I was there about 10 minutes and was the only applicant in sight.
Lots of US cars were pushing across, no one else ws stopping to make the effort.
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Has been like this for as long as I remember ... This is why they do those FMM checks on the highways, though very occasionally. I think last time it
was on at San Felipe-ish a year ago? Some already have 180 days FMM that hasn't expired. Imagine the lines at the counter if all gringos were
following the rules 
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Alm
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| Quote: Originally posted by Ateo | Just throwing it out there for the few that might like this option:
Do your FMM online. Pay it online.
Only problem is you still have to stop and get it stamped somewhere.
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Yes. Takes a bit of time with pages loading slowly, and every year they change something, making it less user-friendly, don't remember what it was
the last time. Though it helps doing it in comfort of your home.
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