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pacside
Nomad
Posts: 316
Registered: 1-16-2006
Location: N. Cal
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3 lads without FMT's...what to do?
Hello fellow nomads,
My brother-in-law and his two amigos drove across Tijuana border without acquiring their FMT's. Yea I know, I told them exactly how to do it and was a
requirement but they said no one was open when they crossed so they just cruised through.
In any event, they are here in Todos Santos area for several weeks and are wondering what to do now. Two will be driving back and one will be flying
back.
Any suggestions on how/where/what to do to get these boys their FMT's now that they are here?
Thanks,
pacside
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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I don't know what they should do but, I'll bet this happens more than one would expect. They're has to be a reasonable fix for their dilemma and I
suspect it will be forthcoming here. In the meantime, ice down another box of Pacifico and don't worry.
[Edited on 3-10-2009 by DENNIS]
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
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Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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They should immediately turn themselves into the nearest military checkpoint and beg forgiveness
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pacside
Nomad
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Location: N. Cal
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
I don't know what they should do but, I'll bet this happens more than one would expect. They're has to be a reasonable fix for their dilemma and I
suspect it will be forthcoming here. In the meantime, ice down another box of Pacifico and don't worry.
[Edited on 3-10-2009 by DENNIS] |
Yea one of them wanted to call a U.S. Consulate today...I said wait a day or two, I'll ask some experts. I also inferred the U.S. Consulate would
probably be a waste of time.
Oh btw they are drinking corona's ($10usd a case at cabo costco) and just learned they can return the bottles at 3 pesos each. Does this 3 peso refund
apply to other beers as well? I'm getting tired of coronas.
tks
pacside
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djh
Senior Nomad
Posts: 936
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Location: Earth mostly. Loreto, N. ID, Big Island
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Mood: Mellow fellow, plays a yellow cello...
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INM Office
I would think the local INM office could help. They will likely charge a penalty and the std. FMT charge.
A couple years ago, the INM worker at the airport KEPT my brother's FMT copy... knowing full well he'd return to fly out and HAVE to pay a penalty for
a "LOST" FMT. I've heard of this often enough to believe that it is a common problem... (cost him $40 to "replace" the "lost" one . . .) I have my
FM3 and went through first.... I'm more of a mother hen on this stuff now !
Anyway, your b.i.l. and his buddies are not the first... An INM (immigration) office can issue the FMTs . . . and they'll need it to fly home for
sure, and if stopped and checked driving North / home, the 2 amigos should have it also.
best,
djh
Its all just stuff and some numbers.
A day spent sailing isn\'t deducted from one\'s life.
Peace, Love, and Music
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pacside
Nomad
Posts: 316
Registered: 1-16-2006
Location: N. Cal
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| Quote: | Originally posted by djh
I would think the local INM office could help. They will likely charge a penalty and the std. FMT charge.
A couple years ago, the INM worker at the airport KEPT my brother's FMT copy... knowing full well he'd return to fly out and HAVE to pay a penalty for
a "LOST" FMT. I've heard of this often enough to believe that it is a common problem... (cost him $40 to "replace" the "lost" one . . .) I have my
FM3 and went through first.... I'm more of a mother hen on this stuff now !
Anyway, your b.i.l. and his buddies are not the first... An INM (immigration) office can issue the FMTs . . . and they'll need it to fly home for
sure, and if stopped and checked driving North / home, the 2 amigos should have it also.
best,
djh |
thanks djh,
is INM the immigration office? if so, I think I know where that is in La Paz. Is it the same place you go to get your FM3?
Can anyone give me directions from Todos Santos to the La Paz INM office?
Reminds me of when I lost my FMT on a trip to Cozumel about 20 years ago...the authorities were very mean and tried to scare me and finally said it
would cost me $50 USD. Wish they would of gone to the $50 USD upfront without all the scare tactics. I do think losing an FMT happens more often than
not.
pacside
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Bajahowodd
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OK. Everyone has given good advice. However, the odds are that FMTs won't matter. Call the airline that the one is flying and ask what they do if one
is seeking to board a flight and has lost their FMT. I can't believe there would be any hassle, as long as the passenger has a passport and a ticket.
The airline counter clerk doesn't work for Mexican immigration. As for the drivers, I've never been asked for FMT by army checkpoints. I've had to
show the car registration a couple of times, but that's it. The only place where I've ever been asked for FMT is at the state line outside GN. And
maybe I'm the exception, but in the dozens of times I passed through there, I have only had to show it once. I also know folks who failed to get FMTs
and were issued them at the state line after a lecture, and with no fine. Depends on whether anyone will lose sleep over this.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13050
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Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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I would go to the immigration office which is located at the beginning of the Malecon..next to Taste restaurant. The one thing I would do is say they
just arrived last night because I think you get fined for each day...you could call our fix it guy in la paz...Alonso, his number is 612-142-9590
maybe he can help.
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roundtuit
Senior Nomad
Posts: 607
Registered: 12-21-2004
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Mood: Wife's Job
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I agree with Shari, play dumb,state line wasn't open when they went through.
Pay the fine if any,sometimes si sometimes nada. INM at the airport will charge for lost FMT . Happened to sis-in-law,very expensive.
Also passport for airlines ?
Never learned from a book-Only from mistakes, mine and yours
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slimshady
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Go to the INM office in Cabo and pay the penalty. They are more than willing to take your money. There is a penalty involved and probably a couple of
hundred bucks. At least they will be legal.
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
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Blow it off. Don't worry about it. No problema. Just don't get in a car crash.
I was in Oaxaca a long time ago without an FMT. They gave me a temporary at the Oaxaca office that was good for 48 hours. Then you must be out of
Mexico!!! WTF!! I went to Guatemala for an extra week.
If you ask, it will be a hassel unless you get the right officer to help you.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by slimshady
Go to the INM office in Cabo and pay the penalty. They are more than willing to take your money. |
The only thing that will be cause for concern is How Much?
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
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In Loreto, you cannot board the plane without your FMT, or, for those with FM2/3, a red exit paper. They will not check you in until that's taken care
of.
Lost FMT? $40 (US) fine, then you're on your way.
Question is...are the FMTs entered into a data base? If so, you may not be able to say you "lost" yours if you never really had one. Then maybe the
penalties are higher. No big deal.
There should be an INM office at the airport to handle this.
I forget who once said that there are few problems in life that a suitcase of money won't solve.
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pacside
Nomad
Posts: 316
Registered: 1-16-2006
Location: N. Cal
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by slimshady
Go to the INM office in Cabo and pay the penalty. They are more than willing to take your money. |
The only thing that will be cause for concern is How Much? |
I hear what you all are saying...I'll let the young men decide.
Wondering if anyone knows if the INM office in La Paz or Cabo would be the cheaper option relating to amount charged in fines.
Shari-yes I thought of contacting Alonso tambien.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
pacside
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
OK. Everyone has given good advice. However, the odds are that FMTs won't matter. Call the airline that the one is flying and ask what they do if one
is seeking to board a flight and has lost their FMT. I can't believe there would be any hassle, as long as the passenger has a passport and a ticket.
The airline counter clerk doesn't work for Mexican immigration. As for the drivers, I've never been asked for FMT by army checkpoints. I've had to
show the car registration a couple of times, but that's it. The only place where I've ever been asked for FMT is at the state line outside GN. And
maybe I'm the exception, but in the dozens of times I passed through there, I have only had to show it once. I also know folks who failed to get FMTs
and were issued them at the state line after a lecture, and with no fine. Depends on whether anyone will lose sleep over this.
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Everything at the airport now is on computer and they will know if you ever had one issued.
Do not lie to Immigration or the fines can be huge .
Just go to the Immigration office on the Malacon in La Paz, just one block north of La Arca.
Explain to them what happened and they may or may not ask for a fine and will probably issue their FMTs right there.
They are what I would call a friendly office.
CaboRon
[Edited on 3-10-2009 by CaboRon]
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
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Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
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Mood: Wondering what is next???
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A couple months ago, while I was applying for my FM3 a couple entered and ask me if they could get a FMT here because they didn't stop at the border.
I told them no that they would have to return to Ensanada and pay a penalty.
It serves my right for opening my Baja Nomad misinformed mouth. They got to the counter the same time as I did and ask the agent and the agent pulled
out a form and gave them the FMT. The total was $40 something so don't think there was any penalty.
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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Bajahowodd
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Much of this assumes that they actually have a data base for FMTs. It would shock me if they did. And as for Ron's comments, heading South on a
flight, the airline is acting in stead for immigration. That's why they collect the FMTs when you check in to return North. Ron, do you actually know
of such a data base? I have to admit that my last flight to Mexico was at the Cancun airport, and I only dealt with a counter attendent for Alaska. No
migra.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Don't bet on it... the forms are hand filled out... You think there is someone in back entering all the data into a terminal?
Naw, it's just a way to get some more dinero... They had to come up with the free 7 day one because this tax on tourism was hurting the economy, big
time! Before 2001, they were free folks... even for 180 days.
They still need better PR people in INM to impove the information to travelers, because that really IS where we are supposed to go FIRST for trips
down Baja or the border area longer than 72 hours.
Sounds like they stopped checking for them at the state border? The old folks in the U-Haul got through, too!
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
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Location: The Valley of the Moon
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Mood: Peacefull
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Much of this assumes that they actually have a data base for FMTs. It would shock me if they did. And as for Ron's comments, heading South on a
flight, the airline is acting in stead for immigration. That's why they collect the FMTs when you check in to return North. Ron, do you actually know
of such a data base? I have to admit that my last flight to Mexico was at the Cancun airport, and I only dealt with a counter attendent for Alaska. No
migra. |
Yes the data base does exist and is up and running.
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Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
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Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
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| Quote: | | The old folks in the U-Haul got through, too! |
Maybe nobody can find them because they have been detained in an immigration office somewhere..
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