msawin
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FMTs at Guerrero Negro?
We went south in February and the new office at the Ag inspection station wasn't set up to do the FMTs. Has anyone stopped by lately and gotten one?
martin-o
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Diver
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They are no longer available at GN.
You are supposed to have it before you get there.
Either get them at the border or by mail from Discover Baja.
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David K
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Technically, once you are south of Maneadero/ Pta. Banda or San Felipe, you should already have them... or anywhere north of there if over 3 days.
That they could be 'purchased' 400 miles south was perhaps convenient, but didn't help if you got into trouble north of there.
That being said, the Tijuana border has a bank teller open 24/7 along with the INM office so you can get them when you enter Mexico. The other borders
may not have a bank teller either there or open the same hours as the border.
Them not being available at the state border may be part of the change from FM-T to FM-M or whatever they are calling the new 180 day per year tourist
card...?
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htnfool
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We ordered ours through The Vagabundos club, a couple months before we went. Parked just before crossing the border at TECATE. Walked across the
border, got our stamps, walked back into the states, got in the truck and drove back across into Mexico. Took a whopping 15 minutes, max.
We had gotten them in GN, but heard that if you didn't have it they might send you back to the border to get your FMT. If you don't feel like going
all the way back up, just go around town at the airfield to the north of town. and bypass the whole problem.
Look for the 'Orange rocks' along the road for the turn off to circumvent the check station. (I think they are orange)
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by htnfool
We ordered ours through The Vagabundos club, a couple months before we went. Parked just before crossing the border at TECATE. Walked across the
border, got our stamps, walked back into the states, got in the truck and drove back across into Mexico. Took a whopping 15 minutes, max.
We had gotten them in GN, but heard that if you didn't have it they might send you back to the border to get your FMT. If you don't feel like going
all the way back up, just go around town at the airfield to the north of town. and bypass the whole problem.
Look for the 'Orange rocks' along the road for the turn off to circumvent the check station. (I think they are orange) |
They may have stopped asking to see them at the state border from what some have reported... and there are other roads that cross into Baja Sur,
besides Hwy. 1... that doesn't mean you should be an 'illegal alien' in Mexico (without papers)... right?
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Baja&Back
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Now that they have a new supervisor, obtaining an FMT at State Line will incur a penalty of $49 to over $100, in addition to the FMT cost.
The fine is paid at the Bancomer in town & receipted. Doesn't go in someone's pocket.
Of course, rules may change at any time in Mexico.
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Salsa
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We paid a $5 fine in Ensenada in Feb.
It took 90 minutes indealing with the little fat guy. He was really insistent on where we would be staying.
He called Shari and told here all the wrong things so she did not know who we were. Not her fault. Then he let us procede -- we had a laugh when we
told Shari.
We got a receipt.
Don
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Salsa
We paid a $5 fine in Ensenada in Feb.
It took 90 minutes indealing with the little fat guy. He was really insistent on where we would be staying.
He called Shari and told here all the wrong things so she did not know who we were. Not her fault. Then he let us procede -- we had a laugh when we
told Shari.
We got a receipt.
Don |
Why did you bother with the Ensenada idiot? Did you miss all the horror stories posted about him the past 3-4 years? At least you only lost time and
$5... others were returned to Tijuana to get their cards! Thanks for the laugh... I wonder why he wanted to talk to your host in Asuncion?
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Bajahowodd
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja&Back
Now that they have a new supervisor, obtaining an FMT at State Line will incur a penalty of $49 to over $100, in addition to the FMT cost.
The fine is paid at the Bancomer in town & receipted. Doesn't go in someone's pocket.
Of course, rules may change at any time in Mexico. |
That more or less confirms the idea that anyone that travels South of Maneadero must have a valid FM-T with them. I frankly never understood why
anyone would assume they could travel as far as GN before obtaining one. And while our experience is that we have never once been asked for our visas
at the State line in either direction, the fact is that anyone in authority could ask for it anywhere.
My feeling is that since US citizens tend to be so huffy about illegal aliens in the States, it is nothing less than hypocrisy to not be legal when in
Mexico.
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woody with a view
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| Quote: |
My feeling is that since US citizens tend to be so huffy about illegal aliens in the States, it is nothing less than hypocrisy to not be legal when in
Mexico.
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yes, but i head into mexico with a pocketful of dollars and by the time they run out i GO BACK HOME. i don't get free education, medical, take up
2/3's of the prison cells, etc......
other than that little difference, i agree.
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KAT54
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Avoid the check point?
Would you allow this in USA or Canada?
Buy the FMT at the border.
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Timo1
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Gee
A somewhat coherent post by Kat
WOW !!!
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htnfool
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When we first came down in oh, 1999. We just got the FMT in GN, no big deal. But since the change, at least to us, we always get our FMT before we
come down.
Now, say this is your first trip and don't get an FMT at the border and travel down to GN and run into a little confusion and they want you to go all
the way back to the border. Are you gonna drive all the way back up? Heck No, amigo. Go around town and continue on with your Baja adventure.
I guess you can get it in town (GN) and pay a fee? No problem.
I wouldn't feel like an illegal alien if I by passed the check station. Like a previous post, We bring money and when we run out. Head back 'HOME'.
We don't stay around and see if some one will pay for us!!!!!!!!
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Bajahowodd
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And just maybe some of those folks NOB rationalize it the same way, not feeling like an illegal alien, because they are working hard and sending money
home to feed their hungry children. Geez.
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k-rico
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| Quote: | Originally posted by woody in ob
| Quote: |
My feeling is that since US citizens tend to be so huffy about illegal aliens in the States, it is nothing less than hypocrisy to not be legal when in
Mexico.
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yes, but i head into mexico with a pocketful of dollars and by the time they run out i GO BACK HOME.
other than that little difference, i agree.
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Yes, to where there is a job and more money.
other than that little difference, i agree. 
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TonyC
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Technically, once you are south of Maneadero/ Pta. Banda or San Felipe, you should already have them... or anywhere north of there if over 3 days.
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David I thought they extended it to San Quintin. The rest is the same...more than 3 days, you need it.
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msawin
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oky dokie
Sali Bali, ok i am wrong in my thoughts.....
As In have posted in the past, if you are not legal. You have no legal auto insurance south of Ensenada area. But we tried it in February as we have
done for a number of years getting it at GN inspection. They have never refused it. ???
They took my money and gave us a legal Mexican Tourist Permit, FMT. It was the way I thought was the way to get it taken care of.
They have never sent me home on a one way plane ride. Sooooo ticate crossing maybe...
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by TonyC
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Technically, once you are south of Maneadero/ Pta. Banda or San Felipe, you should already have them... or anywhere north of there if over 3 days.
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David I thought they extended it to San Quintin. The rest is the same...more than 3 days, you need it. |
Yah, I did hear that... but nothing in print yet. I had also heard things like the entire state of Baja (norte) was in the border zone and also that
the 72 hour limit was now 7 days... but still nothing in print on FEDERAL INM letterhead.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by KAT54
Avoid the check point?
Would you allow this in USA or Canada?
Buy the FMT at the border. |
Not just avoid... but there are no checkpoints on any of the other 'open' roads that go south into Baja Sur. Because there is no checkpoint doesn't
take away the technical need to have your papers as a non-Mexican.
A) So, the Tourist Card is needed as soon as you are out of the 'border zone ' (south of Maneadero/ San Felipe, or maybe south of San Quintin, or
maybe south of the 28º parallel).
B) Also the Tourist Card is needed anywhere in Mexico (including the border zone) if you are there longer than 3 days (or maybe 7 days).
C) A FREE Tourist Card is available for trips lasting up to 7 days anywhere in Mexico. A paid Tourist Card can be valid up to 180 days and is good for
multiple trips in that period for automobile/ land travelers. It is to be returned to INM before it expires... a Tijuana address has been provided by
Discover Baja Travel Club posted in another thread where to send them in.
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