motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gettin' Better
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Tourist Visas
Nomads,
I have always obtained my tourist visa at the customs office in Tecate when I cross. Someone told me that I could obtain one prior to that and maybe
could through Bajabound insurance brokers.
True?
If so, do I still need a passport stamp upon entering if I pay for the visa outside (before or after) Tecate???
Gracias
Don't believe everything you think....
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
Member Is Offline
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The prepaid fmm never made sense to me, you have
member of one of Baja Travle Clubs to get one, $40?,
you then pay approx $38 dlls for a $24 dll fmm
to what purpose? You still have to stop at Mex Immigration
to get the fmm validated and time stamped, and sometimes
a Passport stamp, time saved?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65100
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Yes Ged. It needs to get validated/ activated at the border INM office.
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Jack Swords
Super Nomad
Posts: 1095
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
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Fact check: Vagabundos membership: $35 a year. Prepaid FMMs $26 plus $6 handling is $32. All forms are typed up by the club. Passing through
Tijuana at 5:30 AM means a very short stop at immigration, no forms to be filled out, just sign. FMM stamped, no need to go to the bank. On your way
in less than 10 minutes, no concern if bank is open or not. Worth it to me as my next stop is Guerrero Negro. The Vagabundos also carry our annual
automobile insurance and our annual boat (in the water) insurance so the membership fee is a given.
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DaGreen
Junior Nomad
Posts: 29
Registered: 9-25-2003
Location: La Ventana
Member Is Offline
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Excellent information. A question on the offices in Tecate, what's the protocol here?? Do you park before you cross?? Where are the offices
located??
Safe Travels.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Jack Swords
Fact check: Vagabundos membership: $35 a year. Prepaid FMMs $26 plus $6 handling is $32. All forms are typed up by the club. Passing through
Tijuana at 5:30 AM means a very short stop at immigration, no forms to be filled out, just sign. FMM stamped, no need to go to the bank. On your way
in less than 10 minutes, no concern if bank is open or not. Worth it to me as my next stop is Guerrero Negro. The Vagabundos also carry our annual
automobile insurance and our annual boat (in the water) insurance so the membership fee is a given. |
Except that the last time we went through San Ysidro at 10am, we stopped and got our whole business done in 15 minutes. So, I really do not see the
benefit in paying an additional fee.
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dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
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If it makes you feel more comfortable, pay the convenience fee. I wouldn't—it only ever takes me 10-15 minutes at the SY border.
To get your FMM at Tecate, just drive through, then park (there's spots on both sides) in the first block. INM is on the right as you drive south
through the gate, bank is across the street. The bank isn't always open but if it isn't the INM people will tell you where you can pay, and it doesn't
have to be in Tecate.
Everything's about fifty feet from each other and it's no big deal unless you're pulling a trailer because it's angle parking.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Tecate INM
From another post
"Drive over (the border), after customs take the first right, then the first right, then the first right..you will be in the alley at the Aduanas
office.There are some red cones...the nice man will move them for you. Park, go in and do your thing. When you come out, shake the nice mans hand,
slip him 50 pesoss, and go on your way..."
The bank is on the same side of the street as the INM office.
Takes about 15 minutes...........
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Jack Swords
Super Nomad
Posts: 1095
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
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Certainly to each his own with regard to Mexican insurance, health certificates for dogs, prepaid FMMs, etc. Having experienced an accident, request
for dog's health certificate, and over an hour wait for the "bank" to be operational, I have come to try to reduce inevitable hassles on our many
trips down the peninsula. With over 200 trips down to our home in Todos Santos, then a sailboat in La Paz we do what works for us. We always cross at
5:30 AM, and the bank, especially, has been a question whether it is open or not. Several times there is no one there, then there were the times we
had to bang on the window because the person is asleep in a sleeping bag on the floor. At the old crossing usually we had to walk back to the
turnstile office to get tourist cards since the immigration office was not manned. But the bank guys seemingly don't like to get up early (partying?)
Too many times we have experienced problems with the bank (in fact, last year there were questions if the bank was even open so early at the new
crossing-it was) that the $6 fee to be prepaid and NOT need the bank was well worth it. Like all things Baja, we all have different experiences,
various scenarios, and different paths.
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windgrrl
Super Nomad
Posts: 1336
Registered: 9-2-2006
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Pre-paid through Discover Baja via e-mail. Extremely fast mail delivery to Canada. Works to save paperwork and payment time for us last 4 trips
through Tecate. You have to specify which border you will cross at in advance. Yup, gotta flash the passport and get stamped. You also provide the
original bank payment receipt that you get in your package from DB.
Yes it costs more. Why would we do this? So we can spend less time in bureaucracy and more time in Jardine's. 
[Edited on 11-24-2013 by windgrrl]
When the way comes to an end, then change. Having changed, you pass through.
~ I-Ching
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by windgrrl
Pre-paid through Discover Baja via e-mail. Extremely fast mail delivery to Canada. Works to save paperwork and payment time for us last 4 trips
through Tecate. You have to specify which border you will cross at in advance. Yup, gotta flash the passport and get stamped. You also provide the
original bank payment receipt that you get in your package from DB.
Yes it costs more. Why would we do this? So we can spend less time in bureaucracy and more time in Jardine's.
[Edited on 11-24-2013 by windgrrl] |
I'll buy the Jardines part of it. I would love to hear from other Nomads about their recent experience at the SY border. Because last time went went
through there, no bank was involved. The IMM officer gladly took our money, gave change in US dollars, and we were on our way.
I'm thinking that the idea of having to go to the bank was because the government in DF did not trust their own employees with money.
[Edited on 11-25-2013 by Bajahowodd]
[Edited on 11-25-2013 by Bajahowodd]
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dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
Member Is Offline
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Really? I've always had to go down to the Banjército office at SY. It's right next door so no big deal, but still had to go pay elsewhere. Then again,
I often get my FMMs at the airport because there's only one stop.
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