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Don Jorge
Senior Nomad
Posts: 647
Registered: 8-29-2003
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FWIW
In the past 12 months I have been asked for my visa 4 times by Mexican Immigration officials at military checkpoints in San Ignacio, Tomatal, Loreto
and Rumorosa. In the 70s you were checked often too but there was a long period of time I never was asked to produce the tourist visa.
Starting just over a year ago that changed big time.
The movement of non Mexican citizens on their way to the USA border has brought out the INM officials who wait at the Military checkpoints to inspect
the paperwork of the northbound, non Mexican migrants.
To relieve the boredom of waiting for the one bus of migrants they have been informed is heading their way they practice their English on unsuspecting
tourists from north of the US/Mexico border. "Your papers please" is back in vogue.
For many years gringos have been ignoring the visa requirements choosing to ask forgiveness instead of obtaining permission. I was guilty of this
myself, only getting the visa I needed for trips to the mainland and rarely for Baja. I would not recommend that approach nowadays.
The tourist visa is super easy to obtain, inexpensive and well worth the time and effort to get it. Heck I even took to stopping in and getting the
free 7 day visa on my weekly jaunts into Guadalupe and Ensenada.
Gone are the days of exchanging beers and soft porn magazines to the officials in Manadero in exchange for looking the other way. Yes get your visas
as it could save a lot of hassles if you do not have it when needed.
�And it never failed that during the dry years the people forgot about the rich years, and during the wet years they lost all memory of the dry
years. It was always that way.�― John Steinbeck
"All models are wrong, but some are useful." George E.P. Box
"Nature bats last." Doug "Hayduke" Peac-ck
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RFClark
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Mood: Delighted with 2024 and looking forward to 2025
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We just went south with new visas. ($717 pesos) Don’t leave home without them. Since the Mexican election the number of checkpoints run by the
National Guard has about tripled.
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surabi
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4918
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Just a technicality, but the FMM is not actually a visa. Nor are temporary or permanent residency cards visas. The FMM is migratory document that
gives one permission to be in Mexico.
Mexico does require actual visas, which need to be applied for and reviewed and approved, not simply gotten at the border, for people from certain
countries or who are coming for reasons other than tourism or because you live here full or part time as a resident .
[Edited on 11-6-2024 by surabi]
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cupcake
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Last May-June, when I was traveling in mid-Baja via public bus, twice at police/military check points (San Ignacio and El Rosarito areas), where the
entire bus would de-board for passenger and baggage checks, I was asked to show my FMM, which was photographed by an agent.
I don't fancy exposing myself to the possible consequences (time, expense, and grief) of not having my FMM and associated payment receipt in order.
[Edited on 11-6-2024 by cupcake]
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PaulW
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Mexico Now days now and computer system
The random immigration folks at various military check points. It is intended that when they find someone without the FMM they are supposedly entering
passport info into a database for future purposes.
I have not seen reports of any action against these illegal persons.
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4x4abc
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Location: La Paz, BCS
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Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  | Mexico Now days now and computer system
The random immigration folks at various military check points. It is intended that when they find someone without the FMM they are supposedly entering
passport info into a database for future purposes.
I have not seen reports of any action against these illegal persons. |
many reports on youtube
heartbreaking!
Harald Pietschmann
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surabi
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4918
Registered: 5-6-2016
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You are saying you don't believe anyone gets deported for being in Mexico without valid immigration papers? I can assure you they do. I know 2 people
personally it happened to.
[Edited on 11-7-2024 by surabi]
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JDCanuck
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| Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc | | Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck | | Well, that would be true if they didn't wave us through and tell us we didn't need one at the border. Things changed a lot since Covid
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nothing has changed since Covid
customs might wave you through - but the immigration office needs to be visited
and it is the visitor's responsibility to obtain the FMM
always has been
glad to see that they are whacking the big mouth Gringos more often now |
It seems they have, this special condition existed for about 1 year or more 2021-2022 when people found themselves stranded with expired or invalid
FMMs in Mexico and were offered Immigration from within Mexico without having to do the usual consulate route. Was a bonus we were able to take
advantage of after not getting our online paid FMM stamped at the border. Lucky us! I see nothing online about this temporary exemption existing
anymore.
[Edited on 11-7-2024 by JDCanuck]
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surabi
Ultra Nomad
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As I read it, 4x4 was referring to getting a tourist card at the border when entering, or getting one you obtained online stamped at entry, not the
program put in place for those with valid tourist cards who couldn't get home within the 180 days during the height of Covid. That never changed
during Covid.
It was your responsibility to park and walk into the INM office and get your FMM stamped, not assume you were waved through because you didn't need
to.
So yeah, you were lucky to have been able to use that INM temporary program.
[Edited on 11-7-2024 by surabi]
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Lengua
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Just get it
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JDCanuck
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And don't listen to the guy in the government office who tells you: "You don't need on...welcome to Mexico" He might have been the Janitor for all we
know.
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surabi
Ultra Nomad
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| Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck | | And don't listen to the guy in the government office who tells you: "You don't need on...welcome to Mexico" He might have been the Janitor for all we
know. |
Years ago, when I segued from temporary to permanent residency, I had to get my foreign plated car out of Mexico. I took the ferry from the mainland
to Baja, and drove up Baja. When I got to the border at Tecate, it took awhile to find the Aduana office, as tere was construction and detours around
there, and when I had driven to the border, they just kept trying to wave me through to the US side.
When I finally found the Aduana office, I explained that I needed to get a receipt for taking the car out of the country and cancelling the TIP
because I was a permanent resident and couldn't have a foreign plated car here. The head Aduana guy said no, I could just drive out, which wasn't
true- I needed proof that the vehicle had been removed from Mexico and the TIP cancelled. He said he had never even heard of that, that a permanent
resident couldn't drive a foreign plated car, even though that Aduana law had been in place for a year and a half.
So not necessarily the janitor ;-) Even the guys who are supposed to be informed sometimes aren't.
[Edited on 11-7-2024 by surabi]
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digcolnagos
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 9-4-2023
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Just got my temporary residency card and not much keen on taking it everywhere. Wallets and other things get lost or stolen. Thoughts on keeping a
photocopy of the card in my glovebox and an image on my phone and keeping the real thing hidden under my mattress?
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surabi
Ultra Nomad
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Yes, you could do that, but if your mattress is not close by, could be a problem if you are ever required to produce the original.
Other alternative is to keep the original in your wallet and copies at home, in case you lose it, to show INM for a new one.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
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Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Couple comments
First, if you decide to skip the FMM I strongly recommend that you do not get into a traffic accident. On the other hand, a close friend spent 8 days
in jail in Culiacan after an accident (not his fault) and he said his Spanish was remarkably improved after the time in jail.
And, my wife was born in Jalisco, came across when she was 20, eventually became a US citizen, carries a US passport and they refuse to issue her an
FMM when she shows her US document with the Jalisco birthplace.
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surabi
Ultra Nomad
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If your wife is a Mexican citizen, holding dual citizenship, of course they won't give her an FMM. Those are only for non-citizens.
She is supposed to enter Mexico as a Mexican, with a Mexican passport.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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| Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner | Couple comments
First, if you decide to skip the FMM I strongly recommend that you do not get into a traffic accident. On the other hand, a close friend spent 8 days
in jail in Culiacan after an accident (not his fault) and he said his Spanish was remarkably improved after the time in jail.
And, my wife was born in Jalisco, came across when she was 20, eventually became a US citizen, carries a US passport and they refuse to issue her an
FMM when she shows her US document with the Jalisco birthplace. |
It has been made clear that insurance (Baja Bound & others) do not decline coverage based on immigration status.
[Edited on 11-10-2024 by David K]
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
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| Quote: Originally posted by surabi | If your wife is a Mexican citizen, holding dual citizenship, of course they won't give her an FMM. Those are only for non-citizens.
She is supposed to enter Mexico as a Mexican, with a Mexican passport. |
My wife never renounced her Mexican citizenship
But she has never tried to validate it.
She only has a US passport
So, is she is isn't she???
I looked into buying property in her name as a Mexican citizen and they gave us a lengthy list of things she needed to accomplish to re-validate her
Mexican status, which she declined to do. So, not possible to buy property. Is she or isn't she? Ah, that is the question.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
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Location: San Diego
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | | Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner | Couple comments
First, if you decide to skip the FMM I strongly recommend that you do not get into a traffic accident. On the other hand, a close friend spent 8 days
in jail in Culiacan after an accident (not his fault) and he said his Spanish was remarkably improved after the time in jail.
And, my wife was born in Jalisco, came across when she was 20, eventually became a US citizen, carries a US passport and they refuse to issue her an
FMM when she shows her US document with the Jalisco birthplace. |
It has been made clear that insurance (Baja Bound & others) do not decline coverage based on immigration status.
[Edited on 11-10-2024 by David K] |
I have never seen an insurer say the FMM is not required for coverage. Bajabound may say this, but they are only a broker.
If you get involved in legal process in Mexico, probably best to have legal immigration status.
If you are sufficiently risk-averse to obtain insurance, wouldn't you also minimize your risk of immigration enforcement by getting an fmm?
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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lencho
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Is that even possible for a native-born Mexican? Since 1998, Mexico has permitted multiple nationalities, why would one want to renounce it
even if it were possible?
To the contrary, it seems like an advantage for her to formalize it, if you have any long-term interest in Mexico.
"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is, by how stupid he thinks I
am."
"...they were careful of their demeanor that they not be thought to have opinions on what they heard for like most men skilled at their work they
were scornful of any least suggestion of knowing anything not learned at first hand."
Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
"Be kind, be patient, help others." -- Isabel Allende
"My gas stove identifies as electric." Anonymous
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