TecateRay
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Location: La Mesa, CA
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Where in SD can I get AND pay for my tourist permit?
It's a real pain at the border to go to the bank and then back to immigration to pay for visas. Is it possible to get the visa and the "paid" stamp
here in San Diego before hitting the border?
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woody with a view
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discover baja. $39/year for the family and $32/each fmt.
PAID and STAMPED.....
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sancho
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Woody, Would'nt you have to stop at Mex Immigration
to have an entry date stamped on a pre paid
fmm? Otherwise how would they know when your 180
days starts? Maybe I misread the question.
I suppose a pre paid card would eliminate going
to the Bank Teller, but I assume you still have to
go to Mex IMM
[Edited on 9-26-2010 by sancho]
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David K
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Yes! It is stamped PAID, but NOT stamped by INM which Discover Baja spells out IS required when you enter Mexico!
So, you still need to stop at the border to have it validated... just no need to pay for it, and that is handy if you cross at Tecate.
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Casey67
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Yes! x2 "Discover Baja Travel Club" in San Diego (look it up). Got Insurance, fishing license, and 'pre-paid' FMT/'FMM' all in one stop. Worth the
annual membership to skip the bank dance step in Mexico etc. They also have great books and maps for sale 
BUT... (to re-iterate David K) You MUST still get it (FMT/FMM) stamped at the border office before it is valid. Show/give them the receipt you'll get
from 'DBTC'. Park in secondary and walk over. Immigration agents will generally accommodate your short-term parking needs for this if you just (try
to) talk to them.
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wilderone
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I agree that stopping at the border when you're first crossing to begin a trip is a nuisance. I avoid that by getting the visa a few days in advance,
and on the same trip, get pesos. Park at the Chula Vista trolley station, take the trolley to the border, walk across to the migra office. The bank
is a couple doors down from migra. Not a problem.
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woody with a view
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whoooops.....
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TecateRay
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| Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
discover baja. $39/year for the family and $32/each fmt.
PAID and STAMPED..... |
At $39 / year and $32 for a $22 permit fee I was hoping to find someone other than DB. I quit DB after a very unsatisfactory experience with their
insurance carrier and a more unsatisfactory level of support from DB when I asked for help. It was years ago and maybe I carry a "bad experience"
memory too long, but I was hoping there might be another source.
As to the stop at Mexican Migracion for a stamp - that is mandatory and has never seemed to be a problem for me, it's the trip to the bank and the
lengthy waits there that are the problem.
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Terry28
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I am confused...why make two trips?? One to D.B. for the permit and one to Immigration at the border. The bank at the border is just 4 doors down
from immigration and you just use the window teller. I have never even experienced a line at the window....seems kinda strange discussion to me...
But I have been wrong once or twice before.....
Mexico!! Where two can live as cheaply as one.....but it costs twice as much.....
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TecateRay
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Terry28
I am confused...why make two trips?? One to D.B. for the permit and one to Immigration at the border. The bank at the border is just 4 doors down
from immigration and you just use the window teller. I have never even experienced a line at the window....seems kinda strange discussion to me...
But I have been wrong once or twice before..... |
In Tecate it's a matter of extreme inconvenience if the main town bank is busy. The walk to the bank is only a few blocks, but last Monday the line
was out the door at the bank. The migracion wouldn't give me a form(permit) and let me pay later, further down the peninsula. In San Ysidro there is
a bank office co-located with migracion and aduana. If that bank is open you are okay, if you are crossing other than bank hours you can't pay.
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woody with a view
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i didn't realize you were crossing at tecate. i'm slow sometimes. but DB lets you email your FMT forms/passport and they email you back the completed
form. the only reason i pay $10 extra/each is because at 4am the walk around behind at SY to IMM and then walk back and TRY to wake up the sleeping
bank guy and then back to IMM for the stamp and then back to the truck and then wait for the stupid green light, whew!
$20 is worth it.
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Terry28
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How do you email your passport??? They accept a scanned copy????
Mexico!! Where two can live as cheaply as one.....but it costs twice as much.....
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woody with a view
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yes.
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desertcpl
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I know this is not SD
but it was really easy for us to get ours here in Yuma,
well not in Yuma,, but in Algodonas which is just next to Yuma.
we just crossed the border walking, parked our car on this side, a very short walk to INM maybe 100' filled out the form then another really short
walk to the bank which is just behind INM maybe another 100' paid, then back to INM with the receipt , got the Visa stamped, maybe took us 15 mins,
just in time for Lunch at Pueblo Viejo Restaurant
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krafty
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Is the mex. consulate in SD an option?
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sancho
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I'm 99% sure, that Mex Consulates
in the US no longer handle fmm's, I believe
that is about 2 yrs. old, The only benefit
to a pre paid card, is if there is an inconvienent
bank at your border crossing, or perhaps
your crossing time is unusual
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toneart
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Another source for prepaid FMM is Club Vagabundos. You still have to stop at border and get your entry stamped. This can be done as you cross at
Tecate. No need to find parking.
Question:
If you get your FMM at any border crossing and the bank is closed, what is the time and distance limit for paying at a bank? I seem to remember that
there is some leeway. Can you just proceed on your trip and stop at a bank at a time and place at your convenience?
I have an FM3, so have not done the FMM procedure in years. I am just trying to clear this up for others.
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woody with a view
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the theory is that if you need the FMT you stop and get it. that's why the banks are now 24 hours right at the border kiosk (at least at SY).
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Bajahowodd
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Seems to me that at least for those crossing from San Diego, one should weigh the costs and hassle factor. Even though I usually return through Tecate
or Otay, I always enter at SY. It is the least hassle. Only once did we encounter a problem. We entered secondary right behind a tourist bus heading
for Guerrero Negro.
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