jeffg
Nomad
Posts: 175
Registered: 11-25-2004
Location: Vista, CA
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Tourist Card validation at Guerrero Negro?
We'll be driving south (finally!) on Sunday, and my preference would be to not stop at the border to take care of customs issues, but to continue on
and get it done at Guerrero Negro. My wife and I will have FM-3's and a pre-paid tourist card for my daughter. All we need is to get things stamped.
Are there any concerns with taking care of this at GN instead of right at the border? I'd hate to get hung up without the proper stamps on our
paperwork.
Thanks for the help.
Jeff
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Sharksbaja
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From my experience it is possible to get your entry visa stamped at the migra office there. Only prob tho is I have found the office to be closed on
occasion. There is also a migra in S. Rosalia. Same with Ensenada. Their office hours are not always the same and they are closed Sunday.
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Joelt
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Location: Tahoe Nv.
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If you go through G.N. during normal working hours you should have no problem. You also may want to miss the lunch hour. I'm sure that there are other
times that you could miss them but they can also stamp it on the return trip.
Joelt
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woody with a view
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Mood: Everchangin'
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went south june 6 and there was no one checking papers. returned th 15th and it was the same. they won'y let you back north (assuming they are there)
without a stamp. get it in g negro.
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Sharksbaja
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I've only been asked once in G.N.
| Quote: | Originally posted by woody in ob
went south june 6 and there was no one checking papers. returned th 15th and it was the same. they won'y let you back north (assuming they are there)
without a stamp. get it in g negro. |
and I don't think they stamped it. You get the official stamp after you pay for it initially, but you can get one when all banks are close south of
the border. You must pay at a bank later however and they will stamp it. Then it's valid to transit north. That's how I interpreted the system. I have
paid at Banamex in Sta. Rosalia.
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
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Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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Do you have your red exit card? It would have been given to you when you left. You have to turn that back in no matter where you do it.
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Don Alley
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Posts: 1997
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Location: Loreto
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With my FM3:
When flying:
First stop is immigration at the airport for a two copy form, red type on white paper. One copy for the airline at check-in, the other copy to give
to immigration when I return. Immigration stamps my FM3 book before I leave, and when I return.
When driving:
Beats me what I'm supposed to do. What I have done, at least three times in the last year or so, is just drive. The only place I'm asked for documents
is at the Guerrero Negro checkpoint going south. I give them my FM3 booklet, they give it back without stamping it, and off we go. Next time, who
knows?
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Don Alley
With my FM3:
When flying:
First stop is immigration at the airport for a two copy form, red type on white paper. One copy for the airline at check-in, the other copy to give
to immigration when I return. Immigration stamps my FM3 book before I leave, and when I return.
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Don, I fly all over Mexico with my FM3/2 and don't have to check in or out or get stamped. Why does Baja Sur immigration require this?
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jeffg
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Registered: 11-25-2004
Location: Vista, CA
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Thanks all for the feedback. We'll try to get the tourist card stamped at G.N., unless I get a red light at the border. In that event might as well
get everything done there if we have to stop anyway.
Jeff
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jeffg
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Posts: 175
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Location: Vista, CA
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Red Form - (FME)
| Quote: | Originally posted by Don Alley
With my FM3:
When flying:
First stop is immigration at the airport for a two copy form, red type on white paper. One copy for the airline at check-in, the other copy to give
to immigration when I return. Immigration stamps my FM3 book before I leave, and when I return.
When driving:
Beats me what I'm supposed to do. What I have done, at least three times in the last year or so, is just drive. The only place I'm asked for documents
is at the Guerrero Negro checkpoint going south. I give them my FM3 booklet, they give it back without stamping it, and off we go. Next time, who
knows? |
Don / Judy
I do essentially the same as Don with regards to the friggin red form. Flying I have it figured out. I do have one copy of the last one I got
flying, but I don't think I want to give it up on a driving trip. I've only ever been asked for the FME when flying.
Actually, on my last driving trip I somehow lost my red form from a previous flying trip. Then the next time I flew down, I was sweating it because I
didn't have my copy of the FME to give to immigration. But on the plane they had blank ones available, so I filled out a new one and used that. The
man at immigration knew something was out of sync, but looking at the various stamps in the FM-3, he mumbled something about driving, and proceeded to
stamp the heck out of everything. So now I'm back on track, as long as I don't lose that red form again before my next flight.
At least, I think I am, I think.
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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Just a quick tip
If you are flying and you have an FM3 and dont have your FME(red form) do not fill out a tourist visa and think that you can waltz in on that. They
have your passport in the system. You will get fined and a very good talking to. Its calling entering the country illegally.
Driving is a totally different story. This forum has taught me that if you are on FM3 you can come and go as you please. FM2 you have to check in
and out.
Right, Dave. Flying within Mexico, I have never been asked for any thing either.
[Edited on 7-6-2005 by bajajudy]
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Anonymous
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When leaving Mexico you are required to have your FM3 or FM2 stamped and take the red form. If you return to Mexico without having properly checked
out you can be in for a world of grief.
We left our place in Rosarito, crossed the border by car (without stopping to pick up our form), took a plane from San Diego to Cancun and were
detained at Customs for not properly checking out of the country at San Ysidro. We were pulled from the customs line and escorted to a back room
,lectured and yelled at for about 45 minutes and threatened with deportation back to the states. When the Jefe finally took out his hand tooled
leather stamp holder we knew we were in. We have never neglected to check out properly since.
Also, GN is open from 8am-4pm only. You can check in and pay at the Loreto office from 9am-4pm.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Anonymous
When leaving Mexico you are required to have your FM3 or FM2 stamped and take the red form. If you return to Mexico without having properly
checked out you can be in for a world of grief.
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Incorrect. Checking in/out is only a requirement for holders of an FM2 .
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mrchuck
Junior Nomad
Posts: 82
Registered: 11-6-2002
Location: Gun Barrel City, TX
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Present Immigration rules(right or wrong), for flying out of the Los Cabos airport to anywhere is:
1) You must go to the MIGRA dept office and get your FM-2 and FM-3 stamped out of the Republic of Mexico.
This is "technically incorrect for FM-3 holders", as there is NO requirement or time limit for being out of the Republic.
The FM-3 document is valid for only a 1 year with "entradas multiples".
But the Mexican officials like to stamp!!
Only FM-2 holders have that requirement, that you can only "be absent" from Mexico soil for 18 months out of the continous 5 years, is what the FM-2
document dictates.
BUT, you do in Mexico what the local immigration office official wants you to do.
The 1 thing nice about returning back into Mexico at the Los Cabos airport,,, is that holders of both FM-3 and FM-2 booklets get to "bypass" the long
line of arriving tourists, and go directly to the separate waiting booth for Mexican Nationals and citizens. Here, you are stamped back into Mexico
very, very quickly, by the Mexican Migra who is awaiting returning Mexicans.
You actually get out of the airport much earlier if you don't have any checked in baggage that comes out on the "banda".
Saludos,,,,,,mc
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mrchuck
Present Immigration rules(right or wrong), for flying out of the Los Cabos airport to anywhere is:
1) You must go to the MIGRA dept office and get your FM-2 and FM-3 stamped out of the Republic of Mexico.
This is "technically incorrect for FM-3 holders |
OK, say I drive down to Cabo then take a plane back to TJ. I would have my FM2 "stamped out" of Mexico. Now, whenever I decide to fly out of Mexico
I'm gonna get hassled because according to my FM document, I haven't checked back in.
Or:
I first fly in to Cabo and I present an FM that has not been previously "stamped out". Am I gonna get hassled there?
Idiots!
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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Dave...I have never done it but I doubt that they would even look at your FM3 if you are traveling from SJD to Tijuana as it is not an international
flight. I have flown from here to Guadalajara and no one asked for anything except a picture ID.
And, yes, if you fly into SJD and dont have the correct form, you will get hassled.
I guess that we are supposed to know how we will be coming back every time that we leave.
I would love to hear some more actual stories on this.
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
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We have flown
From TJ to La Paz on a number of occasions. They have asked for our identification and when we show them the FM3's, everything goes a lot quicker.
Same at GN which is open a lot more than posted by Anonymous. 8 to 4?
No wonder nobody intelligent listens to anonymous posters!
You can also get your paperwork there for about $18.00 and a pack of cigarrettes I think it was.
PS, I didn't think there were any flights from San Jose to TJ and vice versa. Am I wrong I hope!
[Edited on 7/6/2005 by jrbaja]
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