psmith
Junior Nomad
Posts: 26
Registered: 7-25-2005
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Tourist Card/Visa for San Felipe
We used to go to San Felipe for the Winter and get our Tourist Card there. Then they stopped offering the card in San Felipe.
We are going to San Felipe for a few days around Thanksgiving and wonder where to get our Tourist Card. (Rice & Beans calls us  )
I don't know if there's a place I can park at the Mexicali crossing driving an RV towing a Honda (since I cannot back up without unhitching).
best, paul
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alafrontera
Nomad
Posts: 143
Registered: 11-4-2009
Location: San Diego
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"We are going to San Felipe for a few days around Thanksgiving and wonder where to get our Tourist Card."
This is getting confusing for me 
My understanding from this forum is that you don't need a tourist card to visit San Felipe for "a few days". Am I wrong? I need to get this
cleared up because I will going there for 5 days very soon.
low lattitude attitude
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grace59
Senior Nomad
Posts: 614
Registered: 9-14-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
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I got the following off of the San Felipe website:
"Immigration
To visit San Felipe for a few days you do not need a visa or a passport. However, you must have documents (preferably a US passport or birth
certificate with picture ID such as a driving license) to return to the USA. Foreign residents of the USA will need their Green Cards and passport
from their country of origin. Note that passports or passport cards will be required of all persons entering the US (both citizens and non-citizens)
starting in June 2009. "
Here is the website link for more info. on SF.
http://www.sanfelipe.com.mx/index.html
Be sure to have some Chiliquiles at Rice and Beans for me.
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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psmith
Junior Nomad
Posts: 26
Registered: 7-25-2005
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Thanks! Our previous experience in San Felipe was to stay for months at a time. It's nice that we don't have to bother to get tourist cards for a
short visit.
What are/is Chiliquiles?
We find it hard to avoid the Shrimp c-cktail at Rice and Beans. We tried them everywhere in San Felipe and the ones at Rice and Beans are the best.
Likewise the Margaritas.
best, paul
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65408
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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"To visit San Felipe for a few days you do not need a visa ..."
Okay, lets look at both sides:
A) How many days is 'a few'? This is from local tourism people desperate to get business and the less hassle, the better to attract tourists. It is
not official federal INM words, correct(?)... Which I would love to see for an update from the original '72 hour limit in the border zone'. What will
they do to you if you are in Mexico without papers? Has any Nomad been arrested for not having an FM-T in Baja? I have read of $30 'fines' paid at
Ensenada or Guerrero Negro to INM officers for not getting an FM-T at the border. Never at San Felipe.
B) State tourism has been saying 7 days for a while now... and seriously, there is no checking for tourist cards anywhere in the state of Baja
California... Also, I have yet to hear a case where an auto. insurance company refused to cover someone because they didn't have an FM-T... ?? Anyone
want to confirm this?
A vs. B... ??
Try and have a GREAT time, no matter what you decide to do at the border!
====================================================
"What are/is Chiliquiles?"
Crispy tortilla strips mixed in scrambled eggs with cheese and cilantro... so very yummy for breakfast!!!
[Edited on 11-21-2009 by David K]
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meme
Senior Nomad
Posts: 756
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: San Felipe,BC
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I have a son that comes to San Felipe from Mission Viejo 3-4 times a year for 5-7 days. He has never been asked for an FMT. Nowdays they do ask him
for his passport but that is all. He always gets Mx Insurance online for his vehicle with no problem.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65408
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by meme
I have a son that comes to San Felipe from Mission Viejo 3-4 times a year for 5-7 days. He has never been asked for an FMT. Nowdays they do ask him
for his passport but that is all. He always gets Mx Insurance online for his vehicle with no problem. |
Hi Meme, WHO asks your son for a passport? I go to San Felipe a few times every year and never have been asked for a passport by any Mexican
officials. When coming back to the USA, I have them in my hand when we drive up to the U.S. border officials for him to see.
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Bajajorge
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2604
Registered: 10-13-2005
Location: Topaz Lake, NV/San Felipe
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To my knowlege no FMT is needed for a short stay in San Felipe. But, you'll definitely need your US Passport to go home.
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grace59
Senior Nomad
Posts: 614
Registered: 9-14-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
"To visit San Felipe for a few days you do not need a visa ..."
Okay, lets look at both sides:
A) How many days is 'a few'? This is from local tourism people desperate to get business and the less hassle, the better to attract tourists. It is
not official federal INM words, correct(?)... Which I would love to see for an update from the original '72 hour limit in the border zone'. What will
they do to you if you are in Mexico without papers? Has any Nomad been arrested for not having an FM-T in Baja? I have read of $30 'fines' paid at
Ensenada or Guerrero Negro to INM officers for not getting an FM-T at the border. Never at San Felipe.
B) State tourism has been saying 7 days for a while now... and seriously, there is no checking for tourist cards anywhere in the state of Baja
California... Also, I have yet to hear a case where an auto. insurance company refused to cover someone because they didn't have an FM-T... ?? Anyone
want to confirm this?
A vs. B... ??
Try and have a GREAT time, no matter what you decide to do at the border!
====================================================
"What are/is Chiliquiles?"
Crispy tortilla strips mixed in scrambled eggs with cheese and cilantro... so very yummy for breakfast!!!
[Edited on 11-21-2009 by David K] |
In the past we made many trips to San Felipe without the FMT and were never asked for one. No one in Baja has asked us for documentation unless we
were flying in.
AND Chiliquiles are my absolute favorite thing to have for breakfast when I am in Baja. I like to sit outside on the deck at Rice and Beans and
enjoy my Chiliquiles while watching the Sea. I'll be having them for breakfast during this next week! YUUUMMMM!
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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The reason I go to the hassle, and at the Downtown
Mexicalli Crossing it is a hassle, of getting a Tourist
Card for SF, is the FACT that one's Mex Ins' could'
be invalidated if not in the country legally.
That is a risk I will not take. Twice this yr. I got
the 7 day free card for SF. This is good for 7 days,
so 6 nts. To make matters worse, they have stamped
my passport with an entry stamp, they said they
wanted me to return the fmt upon exit. Not returning
to get the exit stamp leaves an opening for future
problems if reentering Mex. Returning the fmt is
another headache, as you mentioned parking in downtown
is difficult. I end up parking some 6 blks from the border.
There may be closer parking, I just don't know about it.
I'm one of those that keep all paperwork in order , some
may think this a waste of time, but I won't risk standing
by the side of the road, after a traffic mishap, trying to
convince the Mex Ins Adjuster not to invalidate my Ins
because I don't have an fmt, few gringo tourists
bother with the fmt, I do
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Good point about insurance. There have been other threads on this forum that have discussed the very issue of having your insurance coverage
invalidated because you are illegal for not having the FM-T. Better safe than sorry. That said, however, if one is looking for a three days trip, you
will not need FM-T. As for surrendering the FM-T? Never heard of that. Get one for 180 days and it should be valid for multiple entry.
As for chilaquiles, they are my passion. I've had them all over Baja and the mainland. Rice & Beans are fine. But in my lifelong quest to find the
single best before I die, so far, in Baja, two stand out ahead of the pack. Mi Kaza on Riveroll in Ensenada and Nautilus (at Caracoles) in Guerrero
Negro.
[Edited on 11-21-2009 by Bajahowodd]
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