BAJA.DESERT.RAT
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IMMIGRATION AT GUERRERO NEGRO
Hola, on this and other sites, i've read that the immigration office in guerrero negro was closed, permanently.
just received this item from the bajaponyexpress:
We crossed the border headed south on Tuesday, with the full intention of getting our tourist visas in Ensenada. Unfortunately, with Carnaval going
on Tuesday, the Migracion office was closed (we were told by the Policia), as was the road to the office. So we stopped here in Guerro Negro yesterday
to get our FM-T's and were told we have to pay a $1149 peso fine each for not getting them earlier. No explanation will change that here. What are our
options? Can we try to sway someone further on down the road, or does the damage get worse. Chuck
can anyone validate whether the office is open and functioning ? or not ?
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20372
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Hola, on this and other sites, i've read that the immigration office in guerrero negro was closed, permanently.
just received this item from the bajaponyexpress:
We crossed the border headed south on Tuesday, with the full intention of getting our tourist visas in Ensenada. Unfortunately, with Carnaval going
on Tuesday, the Migracion office was closed (we were told by the Policia), as was the road to the office. So we stopped here in Guerro Negro yesterday
to get our FM-T's and were told we have to pay a $1149 peso fine each for not getting them earlier. No explanation will change that here. What are our
options? Can we try to sway someone further on down the road, or does the damage get worse. Chuck
can anyone validate whether the office is open and functioning ? or not ?
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT |
if someone tells you the GN office is open today, the info will be obsolete tomorrow! you never know what's going on in ensenada or GN,... so get
them at the border -- always open, fast service.
makes no sense to drive past border where the immigration office is open virtually every minute the border is open.
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
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Chuck,
you only have 2 options. You either cough up the fine money ( the same, whether you get the visa in Loreto, La Paz or Cabo) or... you chance it. Very
little chance anyone will ever ask you for them. However... it's like buying insurance. And better drive very carefully if you go the second route.
Likely your insurance is invalid without the proper papers. Again... like buying insurance.
Have fun and don't sweat the small stuff.
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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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| Quote: | Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Hola, on this and other sites, i've read that the immigration office in guerrero negro was closed, permanently.
just received this item from the bajaponyexpress:
We crossed the border headed south on Tuesday, with the full intention of getting our tourist visas in Ensenada. Unfortunately, with Carnaval going
on Tuesday, the Migracion office was closed (we were told by the Policia), as was the road to the office. So we stopped here in Guerro Negro yesterday
to get our FM-T's and were told we have to pay a $1149 peso fine each for not getting them earlier. No explanation will change that here. What are our
options? Can we try to sway someone further on down the road, or does the damage get worse. Chuck
can anyone validate whether the office is open and functioning ? or not ?
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT |
1) If you travel south of the Border Zone OR are staying in the Border Zone over 72 hours, you are to have a tourist card.
2) The only place to get a tourist card for some years now (or have a pre-paid one validated) is at the border.
3) It has been posted a zillion times that the Ensenada INM will not issue tourist cards or will charge you a fine if you can get him to issue you
cards. All others are sent back to the border.
4) The same deal at the Eagle Monumant (near Guerrero Negro)... People are sent 400 miles back to the border or forced to pay the fine.
Since it ALWAYS has been known that to travel south of the Border Zone requires a tourist card, you would be in violation during your time all the way
to Guerrero Negro to get one.
The Mystery: Where is the Border Zone???
Answer(s): It has always been published by Federal INM papers to be to Maneadero on the Pacific side (10 miles souith of Ensenada).
The gulf side it is always reported to be to San Felipe, however the only thing I have seen from INM said Mexicali... some years ago.
State tourism folks have been claiming the entire state of Baja California (Norte) is in the border zone, and a Tourist Card is only needed there if
you stay over 7 days.
The fact that there is no INM checkpoint in Baja Norte makes that seem possible, in a way.??
Now that the one checkpoint entering Baja Sur is closed, who inforces the INM paperwork...?
Perhaps it is on the honor system... ?
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baronvonbob
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Registered: 1-5-2010
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A note on the San ysidro crossing, the immigration office was closed a Monday morning several weeks ago, at 5:30 A.M. drove the extra distance to
this crossing instead of going over another because the Office was supposed to be open 24/7. I talked to the Girl who checked us through at the
Border and she indicated he never showed up. I beat on the door etc, she then indicated that he was not there and the Bank was closed also.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by baronvonbob
A note on the San ysidro crossing, the immigration office was closed a Monday morning several weeks ago, at 5:30 A.M. drove the extra distance to
this crossing instead of going over another because the Office was supposed to be open 24/7. I talked to the Girl who checked us through at the
Border and she indicated he never showed up. I beat on the door etc, she then indicated that he was not there and the Bank was closed also.
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Perhaps this was the reason:
February 5: Día de la Constitución, an official holiday that commemorates Mexico's Constitution. Observed Monday, February 7, 2011
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Oggie
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If you make it past GN or points south without a current valid tourist visa and you are caught the fine more than doubles over 3000 pesos. Get it at
the border. Some mexican auto insurance policies are not valid without a visa.
A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.
Knights of Pythagoras
Funny how falling feels like flying
for a little while - Bad Blake
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maspacifico
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The San Ysidro main office is always open. Walking across takes you right by it. It is behind the convenient little office out front where the
inspections take place. If I remember correctly you might have to go to a bank to pay and get it finalized though?
A guy on a motorcycle got down to Cabo and needed a visa to take the ferry across. He asked around the marina and found some guy that got it for him.
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LaTijereta
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Location: Loreto
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GN immigration has honored requests for tourist cards, if you can prove you have been in the country less than 72hrs..
We have been able to show our stamped Toll Road recipts to show we traveled down that same day..
With the immigration rules changing all the time (it's Mexico), I agree that the Loreto office would also want to charge an extra fee...
Democracy is like two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin (1759)
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Arturo
Junior Nomad
Posts: 51
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Location: So. California
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Wouldnt 1,149 Pesos be pretty close to $11.50 U.S dollars ? "Pay the Fine"
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mulegejim
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Location: San Clemente, CA/Mulege, BCS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Arturo
Wouldnt 1,149 Pesos be pretty close to $11.50 U.S dollars ? "Pay the Fine" |
Most likely closer to $100 USD. Jim
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BajaRat
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Posts: 1304
Registered: 3-2-2010
Location: SW Four Corners / Bahia Asuncion BCS
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Mood: Ready for some salt water with my Tecate
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By the way, it's open.
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BajaRat
Super Nomad
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Mood: Ready for some salt water with my Tecate
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Arturo,
If your willing to exchange some dollars for pesos PLEASE I'm ready!!!!!!!!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaRat
Arturo,
If your willing to exchange some dollars for pesos PLEASE I'm ready!!!!!!!! |
I'll take what's left.
Oh....there won't be anything left? 
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20372
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Arturo
Wouldnt 1,149 Pesos be pretty close to $11.50 U.S dollars ? "Pay the Fine" |
arturo:
if you have extra pesos, i have dollars to trade.
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baronvonbob
Nomad
Posts: 196
Registered: 1-5-2010
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by baronvonbob
A note on the San ysidro crossing, the immigration office was closed a Monday morning several weeks ago, at 5:30 A.M. drove the extra distance to
this crossing instead of going over another because the Office was supposed to be open 24/7. I talked to the Girl who checked us through at the
Border and she indicated he never showed up. I beat on the door etc, she then indicated that he was not there and the Bank was closed also.
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Perhaps this was the reason:
February 5: Día de la Constitución, an official holiday that commemorates Mexico's Constitution. Observed Monday, February 7, 2011
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The day was Feb 14th,
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Jack Swords
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Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
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At 5:30 AM, the San Ysidro satellite office of immigration may or may not be open. We always cross at that time, more often than not we must walk on
the walkway BEHIND the bank and immigration satellite offices (next to the inspection/declare area) and down to the main immigration office at the end
of the walkway next to the pedestrian turnstile. They are always open, usually drinking their morning coffee. This year, the bank guy was asleep on
the floor of the bank in a sleeping bag. After getting our FMTs at the main immigration office, we walked back to the little bank office and banged
on the window and woke him up. After paying, getting stamped, we then had to walk back to the main immigration office for the final stamping of the
FMT. As we returned to our car, the guy at the satellite office was just showing up to work, apologizing for being late. Nice time of day to cross,
nothing wrong with a brisk walk to wake you up before hitting Tijuana and Ensenada. The whole process still took around 20 minutes.
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BajaRat
Super Nomad
Posts: 1304
Registered: 3-2-2010
Location: SW Four Corners / Bahia Asuncion BCS
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Mood: Ready for some salt water with my Tecate
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Tecate.
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