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David K
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Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
There is another thread here started by DENNIS that asked about what could be done to increase tourism to Baja and Mexico.
IMHO, the visa thing is among the least annoying aspects considering what many other countries do, including the US. If a Mexican wishes to get a visa
to enter the US legally, they have to fill out tons of paperwork, and pay literally hundreds of dollars that is non-refundable if the visa is denied.
Given the relatively easy process to obtain legal documents to enter the foreign nation of Mexico, it just seems to me that anyone who figures they
can play games with their system deserves penalties. |
Apples and Oranges...
There are many more people of Mexico who depend on U.S. and Canadian tourist to have living than the other way around.
Getting norte americanos to go to Mexico is harder than ever becuase of the failed U.S. economy and the bad news on violence there... The one thing
Mexico can do to help (if not martial law until the drug cartels are gone) is to simplify the tourist card procedure. Make them free (as they were
before 2000) or allow INM officials to accept the money. The going to a bank to pay part is insane... when there is no bank at the border open.
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mtgoat666
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you say "visa" i say tomatoe
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
It really isn't a 'visa' but actually a "Tourist Card" allowing you to be anywhere in Mexico for a limited period of time for vacation. Just what was
stamped in the passport (if not a visa)?
Technically any stay more than 72 hours or any trip south of the 'Border Zone' requires a Tourist Card (FMM, formery FM-T). |
fmm = forma migratoria múltiple
"visa" comes from latin "charta visa" ("paper that is seen")
i think most people would say that FMM is just a mexican term for "visa"
and some of us think "tourist card" is just another term for "tourist visa"
some say "when in rome do as the romans do" and i think romans say "visto"
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LaPazGringo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
It really isn't a 'visa' but actually a "Tourist Card" allowing you to be anywhere in Mexico for a limited period of time for vacation. Just what was
stamped in the passport (if not a visa)?
Technically any stay more than 72 hours or any trip south of the 'Border Zone' requires a Tourist Card (FMM, formery FM-T). |
By every definition it's a visa and unless the requirements for a visa have changed in Baja, you're incorrect. Don't mean to be terse, but "facts is
facts."
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David K
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Posts: 65307
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So, if not a visa... then what was stamped in the friend's passport??
The 'tourist card' is a seperate paper and not stamped in your passport. Yes, it does what a visa does... but Mexico has never called it a visa
(before), as it is not a passport stamp.
Just wondering what is going on there...
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chuckie
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Visas? seems much ado about nothing..Pretty simple actually, whats the problem with taking a walk to the bank and doing a little planning ahead? OR
You CAN get a prepaid Visa, from Vagabundos, thats what I did in December, it took maybe 3 minutes at the Border...FM3 ing it now..
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wilderone
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Mi dos centavos - I just came back - went past GN. Cross in Tecate before the banks were open. I was issued the "visa" which was stapled to a blank
form. Tecate migra guy told me to go to a bank in GN to pay. When I got to GN border, migra inspection, I was asked for my immigration papers (first
time ever). I showed him what I had, he asked where I got it, and he told me to go to a bank in GN or any bank to pay. I skipped GN because it was
out of my way. Never did go to one. When I passed northbound, was not asked to see visa.
That's my story and I'm stickin to it.
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David K
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Wow Cindi, you are opening up to all sorts of negative replies about you being an illegal alien and abusing the system, etc! LOL
How long were you in Mexico... over the 7 free day period?
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Dave
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
If a Mexican wishes to get a visa to enter the US legally, they have to fill out tons of paperwork, and pay literally hundreds of dollars that is
non-refundable if the visa is denied.
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And yet there are millions of illegal Mexicans in the USA.
Go figure. 
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Ateo
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I rarely get a tourist card. The whole process ticks me off, seems inefficient, and for a family of 4 adds some dinero to the budget trip. Having
said that I do get one if traveling south of G. Negro.
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Marc
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You were not asked for it because you had it!
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watizname
Senior Nomad
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Crossed 3 weeks ago at TJ. Had pre-paid cards for my wife and I from Vagabundos for I think $32 bucks a piece. They were mailed to us. Maybe 3
minutes in the Migra office and we were gone. Easy as pie.
Never got asked for them, cuz I had em. They're good for 6 months so next time down I won't even stop. 
I yam what I yam and that\'s all what I yam.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65307
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Location: San Diego County
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Roberto
This old saw about the Visa fee reducing the "flow" of tourists. I'm not sure the definition of tourist applies to people who can't afford the fee. I
mean, if they can't afford that, how much money are they likely to spend during their visit? |
Not the fee as much as the procedure to get it... and finding a bank open to pay for it. Here are three things that would make it better and allow
more tourists to comply with the 'law'.
1) Have parking for INM (tourist card) at the border that isn't part of Secondary Inspection, or permit parking as it is now, but without a maditory
vehicle search (if you get the green light). A sign should be posted alerting tourists that an FMM is rquired for travel beyond the border zone and
for being in any part of Mexico over 72 hours (or whatever the new rules are).
2) Allow Mexican INM officers to take the fee there... or a dedicated cashier in that office. Finding an open bank is not always possible when the
border is open and getting back to the border so it can be validated is near impossible at some.
3) Clarify if the 180 Day card is good for multiple trips within that period.
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Elizzabizzy
Newbie
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Sounds good... specially if the INM office is unmanned at the border! Seriously, (for the newbies) you are in violation if you travel south of the
'Border Zone' without a tourist card (or in any part of Mexico for over 72 hours).
The problem is knowing exactlty what is the 'Border Zone' now...? The last 'published' mention of the border zone was Maneadero (just south of
Ensenada) and Mexicali on the east side (however almost everyone claims San Felipe as being in the border zone... and it has NEVER been questioned or
checked on the east side of Baja).
It may be true that the 'border zone' is the entire state of Baja California (Norte), being that the first (and only in Baja) INM inspection is at the
state border near Guerrero Negro. In the old days the inspection station was just south of Maneadero...
Still waiting for something 'official' and new from the FEDERAL government on this. |
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Elizzabizzy
Newbie
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Greetings again David-
We intend to cross at Mexicali probably Monday morning, we will be in Baja for approx 3 wks. Is it best to leave our rigs on the Calexico side and
walk across to get our tourist visas and then drive across? Major stops on our route include San Felipe, Puertecitos, Guerrero Negro, San Ignacio,
Bahia Ascencion, Bahia Tortugas, Loreto, San Javier, "The Far Side" of Bahia Concepcion, (taking as many dirt roads as possible), Ensenada, exiting at
Tecate. Any other particular advice? Unfortunately we do not have GPS (stolen by TSA on another trip, I know, stupid to put in checked bags). Where do
you get all of your maps, they are the best I've seen!
Muchas Gracias,
Elizabeth
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65307
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Elizzabizzy
Greetings again David-
We intend to cross at Mexicali probably Monday morning, we will be in Baja for approx 3 wks. Is it best to leave our rigs on the Calexico side and
walk across to get our tourist visas and then drive across? Major stops on our route include San Felipe, Puertecitos, Guerrero Negro, San Ignacio,
Bahia Ascencion, Bahia Tortugas, Loreto, San Javier, "The Far Side" of Bahia Concepcion, (taking as many dirt roads as possible), Ensenada, exiting at
Tecate. Any other particular advice? Unfortunately we do not have GPS (stolen by TSA on another trip, I know, stupid to put in checked bags). Where do
you get all of your maps, they are the best I've seen!
Muchas Gracias,
Elizabeth |
Dirt roads are good! Sounds wonderful... Walking across at Mexicali is what Ken Cooke did, and has the photos of it all to help. That said, others
have reported that parking inside the border to go to INM was not any problem (like at Tijuana if busy).
The maps I show here come from my collection of books and maps, or the Internet. I highly recommend you get the Baja Almanac map book (nearly all
roads in Baja shown), and the Auto Club (AAA) Baja California map (mileages on all roads on the map). Get both either at Discover Baja Travel Club dot
com or Baja Books and Maps dot com
If you need to see a map of an area from the past, let me know... and I will try and provide it here for you!
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sancho
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Parking in Mex at the Old Downtown Mexicali crossing CAN
be hard. Yes you could park on the Calexico side
walk thru the underground walkway into Mex,
you come out right at the Mex Immigration office
which is on street level. I've been to that office
a few times, but have never done it that way,
I drive into Mex and park, parking just before the Mex Customs gate,
but if you miss that parking, you end up in Mexicali,
which at times I've had to park 8 blks into Mexicali
and walk back to Mex Immigration. Might be a good
to park on the Us side. USUALLY the pedestrian line
back to the US is not much
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805gregg
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Just turn right at the airport road on the way south and skip the whole BS.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65307
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Many report being advised to pay later... which means the use of the FMM is 'free' until and if you ever do pay. Nomads have reported coming home
without bothering to stop and pay before they left Mexico.
In the case of many of us going to L.A. Bay or Gonzaga Bay or the Seven Sisters for a week or whatever... there is no bank in those places... and if
you are driving south on the weekend or after banking hours, paying at 'another bank' isn't an option... and a loss of income to the federal
government.
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sunnydaze
Newbie
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Registered: 3-10-2012
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FYI.......your VISA or TOURIST CARD or whatever you want to call it is NOT valid for multiple entries...in theory it must be surrendered to ???????
when you cross back into the USA.......also....there absolutely is a fine if you try to get your visa at GN....you wont know it till you get to the
bank......I am speaking from experience...about two months ago.....my tourist card ended up costing me $100 US at the bank in GN.
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5918
Registered: 7-18-2011
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once again, this issue is clear as mud.
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