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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by ddawson
| Quote: | Originally posted by ddawson
Follow David's instructions above. I used the declaration parking routine over my last two trips (Dec 2010, and Jan 2011) in order to get my gf and
brother their FMM. We had no issues with the FMM process. |
To further my post above, and as an FYI, I did have issues with the Aduana when leaving the lot. I had to wait to get an all clear from the Aduana
guys. I was going on a surfing and fishing vacation and had all of my camping gear, fishing stuff, boards, and food. They took one look at my truck
and told me I had to get an official to search my vehicle to see if I had anything to pay duties on before I could leave. I told them I was on
vacation and that I was there to get a FMM and they said it didn't matter. I've never had this happen before.
I stood in the long line (it was right before Christmas, and a lot of people were crossing with gifts). I lucked out and got the pretty girl to
search my car. I smiled and lightly flirted with her (we seemed to be the same age, and I'm a handsome young guy) the whole time and she basically
waved me through. The whole process took an hour.
Last week I was headed down for more surfing and fishing, and again I was hassled by an Aduana official. I told him I'm on vacation and that I was
surfing and camping. He kept quizzing me about food, and I told him that I was going to purchase food in Ensenada and showed him my empty cooler (I
had another box of food packed deep in my truck) and he let me go.
I've been going to Baja for 15 years and have never had issues with this. I am not going to be using the declaration lot anymore. Has anyone else
had issues with this? |
It happens... and did you still have to push the button for the red/ green light when you drove out?
Avoid busy times, because even though you are in 'secondary'... you are there for the FMM and not to declare something. An option is to find a parking
place beyond the border, and walk back to the INM/border. Not an easy choice if you are in a pickup with all your gear just waiting to be grabbed.
That July when I took the photos, you can see how many cars were parked... There was a line of cars to get out... The new young inspector not only
searched my truck (after I stood in the human line for my turn), but told me to push the button as I drove out. Like if I got red, would they need to
search the truck again? It was green. That day, it took an hour instead of the normal 10 minutes or less.
It was late Saturday morning... so if you can avoid that time/ day for getting FMMs.
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ddawson
Nomad
Posts: 103
Registered: 9-6-2010
Location: Hilo
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by ddawson
| Quote: | Originally posted by ddawson
Follow David's instructions above. I used the declaration parking routine over my last two trips (Dec 2010, and Jan 2011) in order to get my gf and
brother their FMM. We had no issues with the FMM process. |
To further my post above, and as an FYI, I did have issues with the Aduana when leaving the lot. I had to wait to get an all clear from the Aduana
guys. I was going on a surfing and fishing vacation and had all of my camping gear, fishing stuff, boards, and food. They took one look at my truck
and told me I had to get an official to search my vehicle to see if I had anything to pay duties on before I could leave. I told them I was on
vacation and that I was there to get a FMM and they said it didn't matter. I've never had this happen before.
I stood in the long line (it was right before Christmas, and a lot of people were crossing with gifts). I lucked out and got the pretty girl to
search my car. I smiled and lightly flirted with her (we seemed to be the same age, and I'm a handsome young guy) the whole time and she basically
waved me through. The whole process took an hour.
Last week I was headed down for more surfing and fishing, and again I was hassled by an Aduana official. I told him I'm on vacation and that I was
surfing and camping. He kept quizzing me about food, and I told him that I was going to purchase food in Ensenada and showed him my empty cooler (I
had another box of food packed deep in my truck) and he let me go.
I've been going to Baja for 15 years and have never had issues with this. I am not going to be using the declaration lot anymore. Has anyone else
had issues with this? |
It happens... and did you still have to push the button for the red/ green light when you drove out?
... An option is to find a parking place beyond the border, and walk back to the INM/border. Not an easy choice if you are in a pickup with all your
gear just waiting to be grabbed.. |
\
No, they did not make me push a button. They waved me through. I guess it's just part of the trip.
I have parked after the military/aduana checkpoint at the border in the past and I think I'm going to stick with that route for now.
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fatoldcapt
Junior Nomad
Posts: 28
Registered: 8-6-2010
Location: Desert Hot Springs, CA
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Can you get a Tourist Permit at the Tecate Boarder Crossing?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Yes, every open border has an INM office (immigration)... The problem at Tecate is if you want a 180 day one (or anything over the free 7 day one),
you need to go to a bank and pay the fee, then return to INM for the final authorizing stamp.
Tijuana has a 24/7 bank teller just for theses payments... Tecate does not. You will need to walk a couple blocks down the hill to a bank (and hope
they are open) if you cross during banking hours. Then take it back to the border for the stamp.
OPTION: Members of Discover Baja Travel Club ($39/ yr.) can purchase pre-paid tourist cards that only need the final authorization stamp where you
enter Mexico.
[Edited on 1-31-2011 by David K]
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bajafam
Senior Nomad
Posts: 654
Registered: 9-6-2009
Location: Northeast AZ, Bahia Asuncion, BCS :)
Member Is Offline
Mood: DLTBGYD
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David, do you know if it would be possible to get the FMM at Tecate, pay along the way (can't you pay at any bank??) and then get it stamped in
Ensenada? I only ask because we are going to be crossing rather late through Tecate and probably will miss the bank being open. I know that Ensenada
is a hit or miss, but we also are going to get Mister's CURP, so I'm hoping we can do a two in one stop at INM in Ensenada. Do you think that's a
possiblity?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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With so many terrible reports about Ensenada, I would avoid that guy like the plague.
I am sure others will come forward with their thoughts.
In the past, it has been okay to get the card and if no bank was open to pay there, just pay when you do find an open bank during your trip. Telling
the INM guy this when you enter Mexico... maybe he will stamp it... and just the bank stamp/ receipt will be missing...?
I don't know the big plus of going INTO Mexico at Tecate... It is a long ways in the mountains to get there from San Diego, and then you have the Hwy.
3 construction mess... Comong home for the shorter wait, sure... but going south Tijuana (or Otay) is the only way for us... Either way, there is not
a lot of city traffic once you are a few blocks from the border... and signs to Rosarito/ Ensenada/ etc. are at every option.
The only other option is to get the prepaid FMM at Discover Baja Travel Club...
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bajafam
Senior Nomad
Posts: 654
Registered: 9-6-2009
Location: Northeast AZ, Bahia Asuncion, BCS :)
Member Is Offline
Mood: DLTBGYD
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Well, Tecate is an advantage for us because we are coming from Arizona, and going that way gets us into Baja a lot quicker  this is especially important when one is craving Lechon!! I would love to say that
Discover Baja would be a great option for us in the future, but as we are leaving soon, I don't want to chance it not arriving in time, KWIM? We also
do not travel along 3, but take 2 into Poplota to stay at La Fonda our first night. Hmmm...what to do, what to do?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajafam
Well, Tecate is an advantage for us because we are coming from Arizona, and going that way gets us into Baja a lot quicker this is especially important when one is craving Lechon!! I would love to say that
Discover Baja would be a great option for us in the future, but as we are leaving soon, I don't want to chance it not arriving in time, KWIM? We also
do not travel along 3, but take 2 into Poplota to stay at La Fonda our first night. Hmmm...what to do, what to do? |
Okay, right you are... Well, cross even sooner at Mexicali if you are there during 'bank hours' because while I think there is a bank by that border,
it may not be 24/7 like Tijuana's border bank.
Otherwise, get the FMMs at Tecate or Mexicali... and just pay when you find an open bank... I mean what else can you do...? It is Mexico's crazy rule
to charge for them (since 2000) but not collect the money where you get them!!??
Have a fun trip... and the Corredor 2000 to Popotla is the bomb! 
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