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Baja&Back
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 9-10-2004
Location: Vancouver, Canada / todo de Baja
Member Is Offline
Mood: Rarin' to go South!
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FMTs at the Migracion in Ensenada?
I keep hearing rumors that the short old guy with glasses at the migracion desk in Ensenada is either refusing to issue FMTs to tourists or charging
them $40 as a "fine" for not doing the paperwork in TJ.
Any first-hand info on this, anyone???
Thx. 
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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I suggest that you get your FMT at the Instant Mexican Auto Insurance before you cross, stop at the TJ crossing and have it stamped....took me about
10 minutes. No hassles, no problems.
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bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
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Mood: hubimos llegado
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Sounds like the short old guy has a yacht payment coming due. Bajaguy's right; it took us only a few minutes to get stamped at the TJ crossing. The
majority of that brief time was taken up by the guy having to go down the block to make copies of the form.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64859
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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If you get your FM-T there at INM instead of stopping at someplace else first for a paid but unstamped one, wouldn't it be faster than having to wait
for the guy to make a copy down the block (if that is why he is making a copy)?
In other words why get unstamped ones north of the border only to have to stop inside Mexico anyway to get them stamped/ validated?
It doesn't take anytime at all to just do everything in one stop. The bank teller is open 24/7 and is right there a few steps from the INM office.
I see the advantage of buying FM-Ts before reaching the border only if you are crossing at Tecate or Mexicali afterhours since they don't have 24/7
bank tellers for collecting the fee.
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4332
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
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Takes about 10-15 minutes (depending on how fast you write) to get the whole deal done at TJ crossing.
We always bring our own pen just in case.
I was told that the office in Ensenada is technically only for marine arrivals. Never had the chance to stop and confirm and never will.
Let us know what you find out.
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
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Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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Years ago we would stop in Ensenada
There was never a problem getting the stamps, but we always left with a really bad feeling of being unwelcome in Mexico. I won't call the guy we
always met there a racist, but his attitude was certainly consistent. We do it ALL at San Isidro now. We usually have to "do" customs anyway, and the
parking is not only easier, its manditory.
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
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We used to always stop at Ensenada before we got FM3s.
The first time, we followed the guy's directions to a bank a long walk from the office. But he seemed to mellow some, and on later trips he gave us
directions to a much closer bank.
He did seem a little grumpy, but we'd try to be nice and he'd seem to thaw a bit.
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KurtG
Super Nomad
Posts: 1205
Registered: 1-27-2004
Location: California Central Coast
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Mood: Press On Regardless!!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Don Alley
We used to always stop at Ensenada before we got FM3s.
The first time, we followed the guy's directions to a bank a long walk from the office. But he seemed to mellow some, and on later trips he gave us
directions to a much closer bank.
He did seem a little grumpy, but we'd try to be nice and he'd seem to thaw a bit. |
About three years ago my brother and I stopped to get our FMT's there as I had many times in the past. The official was somewhat antagonistic which I
had not encountered there in the past. We filled out the forms and he directed us to the bank but insisted on holding my passport. When I asked why
he said that the government doesn't trust tourists to pay the fee. I then pointed out that neither did they trust him to collect it and the
conversation went down hill from there.
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
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Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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Kurt
You said what many of us wish we had the time and courage to say. Cracked me up.
Incidentally, in 1958 my Sea Explorers "Ship" was the little bunk house out on the end of the old public pier at Avila Bay.
[Edited on 7-28-2006 by vgabndo]
[Edited on 7-29-2006 by vgabndo]
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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| Quote: | Originally posted by KurtG
| Quote: | Originally posted by Don Alley
We used to always stop at Ensenada before we got FM3s.
The first time, we followed the guy's directions to a bank a long walk from the office. But he seemed to mellow some, and on later trips he gave us
directions to a much closer bank.
He did seem a little grumpy, but we'd try to be nice and he'd seem to thaw a bit. |
About three years ago my brother and I stopped to get our FMT's there as I had many times in the past. The official was somewhat antagonistic which I
had not encountered there in the past. We filled out the forms and he directed us to the bank but insisted on holding my passport. When I asked why
he said that the government doesn't trust tourists to pay the fee. I then pointed out that neither did they trust him to collect it and the
conversation went down hill from there. |
good for you .
uou are a brave man
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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sylens
Senior Nomad
Posts: 584
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Ensenada
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Mood: ando bajando
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i reported this a couple of months ago
when we went to renew my husband's fm3. i posted on this board having seen a sign at the bank that is now adjacent to immigration saying that land
tourists should pay where they cross and ensenada would be charging a penalty for tourists who failed to obtain fmt at the border.
guess it's in effect
lili
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
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Kurt
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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Seems kind of dumb since FM-T's are not required for Ensenada...what if you are planning on just staying there a couple of days and change your mind
and go further south....My first trip to Baja (1997) I had just planned a day trip and ended up going the whole way, stayed 3 1/2 months. We did get
the FM-T's there and had to drudge the several blocks back and forth to the bank with a 4yr. old in tow.....what a pain in the butt! From then on
always take care of it at the border, simple, windows together takes 15mins.
And NO WAY IN HELL would I leave my passport!
Good one Kurt, did he choke on his taco? 
Mean people suck!
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Bajame
Nomad
Posts: 458
Registered: 6-12-2005
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Mood: Baja Dreamin
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Forgot ? Whats an FM-T 
We all want a peaceful world, filled with love and laughter, but we fill ourselves with anger and hate trying to fiqure out how to achive it.
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4332
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
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| Quote: | Originally posted by sylens
when we went to renew my husband's fm3. i posted on this board having seen a sign at the bank that is now adjacent to immigration saying that land
tourists should pay where they cross and ensenada would be charging a penalty for tourists who failed to obtain fmt at the border.
guess it's in effect |
That's where I heard about it. Thanks.
FM-T = tourist
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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Bajame
Nomad
Posts: 458
Registered: 6-12-2005
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Mood: Baja Dreamin
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Is it hard to get a 6 month visa?
We all want a peaceful world, filled with love and laughter, but we fill ourselves with anger and hate trying to fiqure out how to achive it.
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4332
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
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That is the maximum. If asked we had always said that we were going for 6 months. The last 3-4 years they have automatically filled in the 180 days
without prompt.
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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KurtG
Super Nomad
Posts: 1205
Registered: 1-27-2004
Location: California Central Coast
Member Is Offline
Mood: Press On Regardless!!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Debra
Seems kind of dumb since FM-T's are not required for Ensenada...what if you are planning on just staying there a couple of days and change your mind
and go further south....My first trip to Baja (1997) I had just planned a day trip and ended up going the whole way, stayed 3 1/2 months. We did get
the FM-T's there and had to drudge the several blocks back and forth to the bank with a 4yr. old in tow.....what a pain in the butt! From then on
always take care of it at the border, simple, windows together takes 15mins.
And NO WAY IN HELL would I leave my passport!
Good one Kurt, did he choke on his taco? |
He was a little upset but there was a second official there who started laughing. When we returned from the bank it was the second guy who stamped
our permits and returned my passport with a grin. First guy stayed back in the office.
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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I had totally forgotten that guy. He is a grumpy old f-art isnt he. When Jim and I cant get someone to smile there is something wrong. Our
philosophy since moving here has always been leave 'em laughing, which of course is pretty easy to do, as most Mexicans love a good laugh. I am
pretty sure that half the time they dont understand our joke but somewhere deep inside they feel that we are trying to be funny so they laugh with
us, at us, quien sabe?
At any rate, we could not even get a slight upturn of the corners of the mouth with that guy. And there was another guy there who was about to lose
it and had to leave the cubicle so his buddy wouldnt see him laugh. It seems to me that we had some sort of conversation about leaving our passports
and that I took mine back and left my husband's. Anyhoo, guess we wont have to worry about that because I certainly will not see him ever again. 400
pesos is the fine, right? NOT
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
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Me thinks "Senor Grumpy Butt" needs a new job? Si?
Has anyone questioned just why they are charging a fine if you want to obtain your FM-T in Ensenada? Again, seems really dumb to me, it is not
required for a 7day or less stay, so.....what? Blow it off until the first check at the Baja Sur border? (many of us spend months at a time in
Norte.......blow it off all together?) Me thinks that "Senor Grumpy Butt" may have just posted those signs himself so he doesn't have to get off his
tooshie to hand out that HEAVY, HEAVY paper form? I'm kidding of course, but, that would make just about as much sense as any other reason I can
fathom for this silly new "TOPA"
Again, I would not EVER, NEVER leave my passport!
Everyone! Your passpost is the proberty of the United States Goverment! No one! I repeat, No one! has the right to hold your passport except an
authorized representative of the United States Goverment. Hang on to it.
Mean people suck!
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