Bernardo
Junior Nomad
Posts: 44
Registered: 12-3-2007
Location: La Paz
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Tourist permits at Tecate
I read from Vagabundos site that the best way to get your tourist permits at Tecate was to park on the American side and walk through and get your
permit at immigration, pay at local bank a block away and then walk back to your rig on the American side and drive through.
Problem is that on returning to your rig on the American side a US Border Patrol agent will stop you and demand that you walk a block or two east on
the Mexican side and walk back through American Customs, waiting in a long line of locals going to work on the American side. Catch 22. There is
basically no parking on the Mexican side so you can't park in Mexico and walk back to immigration.
Booooo!
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 7-23-2006
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There is lots of parking in tecate! Just turn right on the first street after the border. Park in the neighborhood....anywhere within a couple of
blocks of the border.
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Fred
Senior Nomad
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Location: Las Vegas
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Four small blocks down on the corner there is a bank. I park there because there is a guard. I give him a buck or two and head back up the hill to
get my paperwork done. Then, go into the bank and get some pesos. Also on the way out of town don't forget to go by the Tecate brewery and pick up
some beer for the trip.
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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a related question re: FM-T
How much does an FM-T cost these days?
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oxxo
Banned
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bernardo
I read from Vagabundos site that the best way to get your tourist permits at Tecate was to park on the American side and walk through and get your
permit at immigration, pay at local bank a block away and then walk back to your rig on the American side and drive through. |
Huh? I always park on the Mexican side within a block or two of immigration. No problems.
The cost of an FMT these days is about $23USD. BTW, the bank where you pay for your visa is just across the street from the immigration office - 50
or 60 feet away. If the bank is closed (which it is sometimes) the immigration officer always tells us to pay at a bank at our destination, which we
have done with no problems.
Suerte
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bernardo
waiting in a long line of locals going to work on the American side. |
The only local foot traffic I've seen there going north are there to catch the bus. Couldn't be more than twenty and there's only one bus in the
morning.
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Bernardo
Junior Nomad
Posts: 44
Registered: 12-3-2007
Location: La Paz
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I should have mention this. I have a truck with camper and utility trailer and I need a larger place to park - also I need to know what I am going to
get into (narrow streets, one ways, dead ends, etc.) before I try to find a place to park - thus the idea of parking on the US side is appealing.
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jorgie
Nomad
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Location: on another road,again
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if you are coming from inland via Yuma go to los algodones if from the coast get fmt and pay in GN it's easy...23usd
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Okay, I am trying to understand this logically:
If you get an FM-T at Tijuana where there's a 24/7 bank teller to pay the thing, you take it back to the INM officer for the final stamp which makes
it valid... OR, if you get a pre-paid FM-T at Discover Baja or Vags, you still must stop at the border to have it validated/ activated with the stamp
at the INM office...
SO, how is it you can get an FM-T at the border where there isn't an open bank nearby and take it to a bank days later to pay...? IF it is the final
stamp (after the thing's paid for) that validates it...? You don't get that stamp if you don't return it to the INM... so it is not valid...???
The whole thing is pretty weak... I would only feel comfortable in Baja Sur with a paid for and validated FM-T obtained at the border... Yet, you have
INM officials telling us to go on south and pay for it later...?? It really seems the thing is a joke. The FM-T was FREE until 2001, and then they
decided to get 20 dollars for it... Then tourism dropped so much, last year they said you can have a FREE FM-T good for up to 7 days, only the longer
ones cost 20 dollars now... unless you fly, then there is no free 7 day FM-T.
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oxxo
Banned
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
SO, how is it you can get an FM-T at the border where there isn't an open bank nearby and take it to a bank days later to pay...? IF it is the final
stamp (after the thing's paid for) that validates it...? You don't get that stamp if you don't return it to the INM... so it is not valid...???
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David, the officer did stamp our FMT with a notation that it was not paid. He gave us a second piece of paper to give to the bank at our destination
with something about the local bank was not open. This was in Tecate. We paid at the bank when we arrived in Los Cabos and they gave us a receipt
with a notation that we have now paid. We figure that the stamped FMT with a bank receipt, together, was our "get out of jail" card. We have done
this twice.
I can't explain the logic of it. I don't understand the logic of many things in Mexico. I guess that's why I like Mexico so much. We just attribute
it to the "Red Clown Nose" factor.....RCN for short. We use RCN to explain many of the things in Mexico.
BTW, we have passed through GN probably 20 times in the last two years. Half of those times during normal business hours. We have only seen the
Immigration Office there manned once. Oh, and Ag Inspection did not spray the underside of our vehicle last time (a week ago).....or collect the 20
pesos. I guess the sprayer was broken! RCN! 
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65300
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thank you oxxo!
I have never needed that delayed payment option, so I was curious...
As for the spray deal at the Eagle Monument... they didn't do it to us or collect money last July, either. Only looked at my FM-T (didn't want to see
Baja Angel's) and waved us through with a frown... 'cause no mordida was going his way!
That was just after this photo...
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6700
Registered: 9-5-2003
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Thank you oxxo!
I have never needed that delayed payment option, so I was curious...
As for the spray deal at the Eagle Monument... they didn't do it to us or collect money last July, either. Only looked at my FM-T (didn't want to see
Baja Angel's) and waved us through with a frown... 'cause no mordida was going his way!
That was just after this photo... |
Moridida??? Uncalled for David. What a way to promote Baja. Or aren't you getting enough attention lately?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65300
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Reality... the guy was really disappointed that we had paid, valid FM-Ts... which is what the purpose of this discussion is here: To provide accurate,
current information on Baja travel... not to sugar-coat it! Have you not ever been pulled over or hassled for some cash... If not, then go to Mexico
more times.
The rest of your comments are not useful to any Baja traveler. Can you please not get personal and stick to facts? Thanks.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6700
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Reality is correct..... stick to the facts. How many times have you been hassled for mordida at this spot. In fact How many times have you been
through this check point in the LAST 5 years.
Your comments are not only misleading and nonfactual but border on plain old BS.
How do you know he was disappointed? The "baja traveler" needs to know that the immigration officials at this border are the exact opposite of what
you portray them.
Since I live within a reasonable distance from them, I will give them your message next I see them.
The purpose of this discussion is how to get a FMT not conjuring up some BS on Mordida
"edited for spelling"
[Edited on 2-15-2008 by rts551]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Chill, folks......Chill. It's only a question in need of an answer.
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bajabound2005
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2762
Registered: 10-15-2005
Location: Punta Banda, BCN
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Mood: words cannot describe...
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I think most of the southbound RV caravans run through Tecate to pick up their FM-Ts...don't know their procedure, maybe there is a Nomad out there
with that experience?
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
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Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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Since we'll cross at Tecate this time, it is good to know that we can pay later if the bank is closed. As for the attitude of the two crews at the GN
state line, they have been perfectly professional the last 26 times I've been through there. I'm a newby, and there wasn't an immigration office (that
I knew of) the first few times through, but the only money I've ever been asked for was to a cop between there and town collecting for the widows and
orphans fund. I don't call it mordida if they give you a receipt! I'm glad I kept the receipt, in the morning the same guy was on the south side of
town trying to collect again. No dice.
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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UnoMas
Nomad
Posts: 328
Registered: 2-8-2008
Location: East Cape
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Have crossed at Tacate many times and always park right there at the check point, either off to the right or in front of the guard shack, No Problema
just ask. Bank is right across from immigration as stated......easy
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65300
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rts551
Reality is correct..... stick to the facts. How many times have you been hassled for mordida at this spot. In fact How many times have you been
through this check point in the LAST 5 years.
Your comments are not only misleading and nonfactual but border on plain old BS.
How do you know he was disappointed? The "baja traveler" needs to know that the immigration officials at this border are the exact opposite of what
you portray them.
Since I live within a reasonable distance from them, I will give them your message next I see them.
The purpose of this discussion is how to get a FMT not conjuring up some BS on Mordida
"edited for spelling"
[Edited on 2-15-2008 by rts551] |
Funny how the mordida thing can be mentioned about all sorts of other Mexican officials and places, but it is taboo for me to make a comment of what I
thought the federale at the state border was disappointed about???
Oh my, my... how terrible for me to share what was in MY mind... Heck, I have only been going to Mexico for 44 years... so, I couldn't possibly have
any previous experiences that would give me that thought.
Come on rts551, why is this so upsetting to you this time? Would you like me to delete my thoughts about his expression and attitude that day? It is
what I experienced... and that is all I am saying. I had my papers, so he didn't have any reason to hassle me, so he didn't hassle me... That is good,
isn't it???
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