sharktooth
Junior Nomad
Posts: 56
Registered: 2-5-2010
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Tourist cards - no need to cancel when leave, right?
Sorry if this is an old topic - I just searched the archive quickly and did not see anyhting specific to this - so here goes.
When driving in Baja - you do NOT need to cancel your tourist card when exiting Mexico, right?
I actually spoke with the Mexican immigration guy at the border, and he said you do NOT need to cancel these on your way out of Mexico - they just
expire on there own when the days run out.
Plus, if you got 180 days - you can re-use the tourist card on your next trip to Mexico if it is within that 180 day window, right?
So don't waste your time stopping at the border on your way out - you do not have to cancel your tourist card with the immigration office.
Please correct me if I am wrong. My friends think I am wrong, so need some clarity on this.
thanks
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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you're correct...
just drive back and throw the visa away when it expires
if you have it later after it expires you'll get a "toung lashing" at the border
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sharktooth
Junior Nomad
Posts: 56
Registered: 2-5-2010
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thank you - my friends said they always stop at the border to cancel their tourist cards - i told them they were crazy.
They are used to flying in Mexico where you always need to turn it in at the airport.
They were also confusing tourist cards with vehicle permits.
thanks!
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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This fmt saga may well become a dead debate come
this May 1, when the new fmm form replaces the fmt,
I don't believe anyone has an exact idea on how
the new fmm will actually be implimented, could be
close to the fmt, or somewhat different
You can get a few different answers to that ?,
even from different Mex Immigration Entry Points,
I do not believe there is one standard evenly applied ,
my opinion is- my passport has been stamped
when issued an fmt, twice at Mexicalli last yr.,
this is the rub, if you have an entry stamp
and do not bother to check out, you're left
with this hanging entry stamp with no exit stamp behind
it, not to mention the Mexicalli IMM asked for me
to return the fmt, on mexconnect a gringo who crosses regurarly at a Texas
crossing had a way out of date entry stamp, mex
Imm questioned him about not checking out, they
showed him a printed chart with a fine structure
for the offense, $5 US a day, in his case close to $500,
he was able to settle on somewhat less, but did pay
substancial fine, 'which is totally legal by Mex IMM regs',
my thaught is IF they stamp your passport upon entry.
you should go out of your way to get an exit stamp,
and it can be a hassle to do so,
that will eliminate any future problems, if they don't
stamp upon entry I see no way they have a record
on you, some say do not bother, me I stay legal in Mex
[Edited on 3-6-2010 by sancho]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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There is no window to drive up to when exsiting Mexico by car to turn in your tourist card... there is an address however, to mail it back in before
it expires. I have posted here on Nomad before...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Here is that info...
(This came from Discover Baja Travel Club):
Return Tourist permits before they expire to any Mexican Immigration office OR send by mail to:
Instituto Nacional de Migracion
Puente Puerta S/N
Colonia Federal
Tijuana, B.C. Mexico C.P. 22310
(postage is 79 cents from U.S.)
If you fail to have you tourist permit validated when you enter Mexico (using a pre-paid FM-T) or fail to return them before they expire you could be
fined up to $220 dollars for each permit.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Well, maybe things are changing as they enter the age of computers. But, I have never had an exit stamp on my passport, leaving Mexico, and have never
returned an expired FM-T. The exit stamp is really quite interesting. It varies from country to country. The US does not exit stamp a foreigner's
passport. Most EU countries don't as well.
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