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Suncoast
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 12-21-2023
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Should we stop for an FMM or just chance it?
Last winter we traveled South through Mexicali East and stopped and purchased a FMM, we noticed that no one else was stopping as we went into the
customs office we purchased our FMM and went on our way, in our 2 months in La Paz we were never asked for our FMM or asked if we even had it. When we
travelled North we didn't have to turn it in or do anything.
This January when we head down South we're thinking of just bypassing getting the FMM and winging it. I've heard that people have been forced to
travel back up the Baja to get an FMM from a border crossing, not sure if that's more urban myth or if people actually do this, not sure how federal
agents can track this either. What are most of you doing?
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twogringos
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Location: Bahia Asuncion/Color-Country
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Mood: I feel more like I do now than I ever have before
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Get it. There is a new immigration check point just north of Santa Rosalia.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
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Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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I always get 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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AKgringo
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Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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I always intend to get an FMM to stay legal and avoid potential problems, but no one has ever asked me if I had one.
Last April I crossed south at San Luis Rio Colorado, and due to construction detours and lack of familiarity with that crossing, I missed the
immigration office. It looked like going back to get one would involve crossing back north into that mess and starting over.
I gambled and won continuing on without it, and did not have any problems, but I will not take that chance again! I don't have personal knowledge of
anyone getting shaken down for a Mordida because they lacked the form, but that could be a possible scenario.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Sandlefoot
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Location: La Paz
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It is necessary to be in Mexico legally. It is better to have it and not need it than it is the need it and not have it!!
" Don't find fault, find a remedy; anyone can complain." Henry Ford
If you are not living on the edge...you are taking up to much space!
Just because it may not be a good idea does not mean it will not be fun!!!
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Cancamo
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Registered: 4-5-2011
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Being in the country illegally, without a tourist visa, your auto insurance is invalid, not to mention your presence in the country.
Any complications, (car accident, trip to the hospital requiring your health insurance coverage, etc...), is complicated to say the least.
The lack of immigration enforcement in recent years is changing and Immigration stops are random and more frequent nowadays. Fines, and potential
deportation are a real possibility.
Vale la pena a conseguirlo.
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surabi
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4939
Registered: 5-6-2016
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It isn't a matter of "chancing it", Suncoast, it's a matter of respecting the laws of a foreign country you are visiting.
Americans rail against illegal immigration, and then many seem to think it's okay to do exactly the same thing themselves.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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It is what travelers are supposed to do.
Stop in the Something to Declare parking (depending on which border).
Walk into the first building inside Mexico, with your passport and wallet.
Go to the INM desk (immigration or 'migra').
If for over 7 days, pay the fee, then get final stamp on FMM paper, with receipt.
Now, you won't get turned back north, a hundred + miles south, if there is an immigration checkpoint.
I have an info and advice page for new and old travelers: https://vivabaja.com/advice-on-driving/
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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4290
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Location: La Paz, BCS
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Mood: happy - always
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Quote: Originally posted by Suncoast  | Last winter we traveled South through Mexicali East and stopped and purchased a FMM, we noticed that no one else was stopping as we went into the
customs office we purchased our FMM and went on our way, in our 2 months in La Paz we were never asked for our FMM or asked if we even had it. When we
travelled North we didn't have to turn it in or do anything.
This January when we head down South we're thinking of just bypassing getting the FMM and winging it. I've heard that people have been forced to
travel back up the Baja to get an FMM from a border crossing, not sure if that's more urban myth or if people actually do this, not sure how federal
agents can track this either. What are most of you doing? |
you should definitely chance it!
Immigration has stepped up check points recently and you will first go to jail for about a week and then be deported.
Your car will be impounded
good luck getting it back
You could become famous by posting it all on facebook
there are already a number of people with jail reports
would love to see one that is of better quality
Harald Pietschmann
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surabi
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 5-6-2016
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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Should we stop for an FMM or just chance it?
''This January when we head down South we're thinking of just bypassing getting the FMM and winging it.''
I say ''wing it'' but be truthful about it if you're stopped. That argument won't help you much but at least you'll be true to yourself.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4290
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
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Mood: happy - always
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| Quote: Originally posted by Suncoast | Last winter we traveled South through Mexicali East and stopped and purchased a FMM, we noticed that no one else was stopping as we went into the
customs office we purchased our FMM and went on our way, in our 2 months in La Paz we were never asked for our FMM or asked if we even had it. When we
travelled North we didn't have to turn it in or do anything.
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like most countries Mexico requires a visa or other legal document to reside or travel on its territory.
like most countries Mexico handles the procedure at the ports of entry
like most countries Mexico generally does not control visitors for their legal status once they are in the country
like some countries (USA comes to mind) Mexico conducts sporadic checks
like in the other countries that double check (USA) the consequences for an illegal status can be harsh
whether spurred by the many Gringos boasting on social media that they "...don't need no effing papers!" or not - fact is that Mexican immigration has
increased the number of controls dramatically
like in the US those immigration agents are as tough as nails - no FMM or expired FMM and you go straight to jail
and unlike the police, no form of bribe offered to INM will get you out of that situation
watching the various videos of illegals arrested on youtube indicate that the procedure is not funny at all
you are stripped of everything you have with you - including your phone
you will have to beg long and hard to get your phone call to the embassy
and you are not a priority for the embassy people
Welcome to Mexico!
  
Harald Pietschmann
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JDCanuck
Super Nomad
Posts: 1669
Registered: 2-22-2020
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Or in the past...drive to La Paz INM, say you neglected to get your online FMM stamped and be offered expedited temporary immigration status at a
minimal cost. They would hand you a card referencing the expeditor. But now...they seem to have taken all the fun out of being an illegal.
[Edited on 11-7-2024 by JDCanuck]
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surabi
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4939
Registered: 5-6-2016
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Visitors should be grateful that Mexico, unlike many other countries, makes it really simple to come here as a tourist. Some countries require visa
applications that can take weeks or months to be approved. A Canadian friend of mine got busted for having a joint 55 years ago, and she has to
reapply for a waiver every 3 years to even take a flight with a change of planes (i.e. just being intransit, never even leaving the airport) in the
US.
Just walking into the INM office at the border and getting your tourist card is an easy no-brainer. I can't understand why anyone would try to
"chance" being here illegally. No one has the "right" to enter Mexico unless they are a Mexican citizen, so stop acting so entitled.
[Edited on 11-6-2024 by surabi]
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JDCanuck
Super Nomad
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Registered: 2-22-2020
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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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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4290
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
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Mood: happy - always
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| 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
Harald Pietschmann
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surabi
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4939
Registered: 5-6-2016
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| Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc |
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
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Exactly. Lots of stuff like that. I've had an upholstery business in Mexico for 18 years. I did it all legally- first got a temporary residency visa
"lucrativa" (permission to work), Mexican tax number, business license.
Had an American client who had opened a café here, business had been open for at least a year. I asked her if she wanted an official factura under
her tax number to use as a deduction for her taxes owed. She said she didn't have a tax number, or a business license, that "No one has come around
checking, I figured I'd just wait til they do".
I told her that's not the way it works- the onus is on her to do whatever needs to be done to operate a business here. She shrugged it off and 6
months later got deported.
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WideAngleWandering
Nomad
Posts: 414
Registered: 3-13-2012
Location: US-Based but traveling
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It's so easy to get and so disrespectful not too. Don't be like that.
Traveling the Americas via my old land cruiser
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Whiskey Witch
Junior Nomad
Posts: 51
Registered: 9-22-2018
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You will see very few people in the immigration office because most of them crossing the border already have a credential.
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