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awfulart
Nomad
Posts: 260
Registered: 5-10-2003
Location: Rio Rico AZ
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Mood: Wondering what our Nit-Wit elected officials are doing now?
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FMTs & Vagabundos
 Another small blow to tourism has been struck by the Mexican Government. I
was told today that The Vagabundos organization can no longer issue Visitors Permits(FMTs) They apparently were notified yesterday. Not a big deal
but sure would have been convenient to get one from Vagabundos instead of at the border.
Art & Alice - Valley Center CA
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Marie-Rose
Senior Nomad
Posts: 894
Registered: 10-2-2003
Location: Victoria, B.C. and Todos Santos
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Mood: Worried...
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I wonder if you can still get them at Discover Baja???
Remember, when in Mexico, yes may be no and no may be
maybe!
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awfulart
Nomad
Posts: 260
Registered: 5-10-2003
Location: Rio Rico AZ
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Mood: Wondering what our Nit-Wit elected officials are doing now?
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Marie-Rose, Good question. I will check with them.
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bajabound2005
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2760
Registered: 10-15-2005
Location: Punta Banda, BCN
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Mood: words cannot describe...
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Our understanding from our friends and neighbors that lead the Vagabundos -- at least on the Baja trip - they take them to get them! We got our last
FMT through Discover Baja but now have FM3s so hay no problemo.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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This is not the first time that the Mexican Government had decided to disallow organizations like the Vags and DB from issuing them. This also
occurred around 8-10 years ago, as I recall.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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It really isn't a big deal because even with those pre paid FM-Ts obtained north of the border, you STILL have to stop at the INM office to get them
stamped when you enter Mexico... The same place that issues them (for free for up to 7 days) and use the bank teller almost next door for a 180 day
paid one.
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awfulart
Nomad
Posts: 260
Registered: 5-10-2003
Location: Rio Rico AZ
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what our Nit-Wit elected officials are doing now?
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
It really isn't a big deal because even with those pre paid FM-Ts obtained north of the border, you STILL have to stop at the INM office to get them
stamped when you enter Mexico... The same place that issues them (for free for up to 7 days) and use the bank teller almost next door for a 180 day
paid one. |
David, You are right, no big deal. But, does it reflect an attitude on the part of some Govt officials? I don't know but tourism is a big deal in
Mexico and they should do everything possible to encourage same. The perception can become a reality.
Art
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jerry
Super Nomad
Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
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i am a vag and its been on and off again several times in the last 12 yrs usally off for a short time and then back on seems some new guy gets in and
says no then they talk it over and its ok again i dont think its anything permanant??
they allso sell fishing licences and boat permits and insurance for mexico
jerry and judi
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Capt. George
Super Nomad
Posts: 2129
Registered: 8-21-2003
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typical wrong decisions made by politico "burro-holes" wanted to save the site from editing.
\"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men\" Plato
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ElGato
Junior Nomad
Posts: 36
Registered: 12-23-2005
Location: Santa Cruz, Ca.
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Mood: Virile
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 I'm sorry folks but it does matter to me because I avoid T.J. like the plague and
if I can't prepay my FMT it regulates the times I can cross at places like Tecate. The best I can do is cross during business hrs and get a 6mo.
visa that will hopefully get several uses.
Baja Joe  |
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by ElGato
I'm sorry folks but it does matter to me because I avoid T.J. like the plague and
if I can't prepay my FMT it regulates the times I can cross at places like Tecate. The best I can do is cross during business hrs and get a 6mo.
visa that will hopefully get several uses. |
ElGato, pre-paid or not, they still need to get a final stamp to activate them.
It takes a few more minutes to pay the teller after getting one is all you are saving, time-wise.
So, even if you have a paid one from up north, it is worthless untill it is stamped when you enter Mexico. Ensenada used to be a second location, but
too many have reported that office is quite unfriendly.
If you wait until Guerrero Negro, then you will have driven almost 400 miles illegally without a stamped FM-T.
Tijuana has always been very easy and then get on the Scenic Route to avoid downtown traffic.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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I feel for El Gato on this one. I use SY almost exclusively but I can see how it's a hassle for some.
The smartest thing Mexico could do would be to reopen some time of Migra office just below Maneadero. Anyone coming from Otay or Tecate could use it.
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ElGato
Junior Nomad
Posts: 36
Registered: 12-23-2005
Location: Santa Cruz, Ca.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Virile
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:cool avid K, Getting it stamped is not a problem. Paying at the bank can only be
done during business hrs. Surely you must realize that!
Baja Joe |
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ElGato
Junior Nomad
Posts: 36
Registered: 12-23-2005
Location: Santa Cruz, Ca.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Virile
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 Yes, I
know I could go thru TJ but since I had a knife stuck in my stomach in my younger,wilder,drinking days I haven't haf cause to return!
Baja Joe |
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by ElGato
:coolavid K, Getting it stamped is not a problem. Paying at the bank can only be
done during business hrs. Surely you must realize that! |
The bank teller is open 24/7 at Tijuana border and it is facing the border secondary parking, just a few doors from the INM office... and the border
is not on 'Revolucion' or where ever you got stabbed. You are surrounded by federal and local police at the border... Then just drive out and onto the
Scenic Road out of town... You really never go 'into' the city of Tijuana...
Unfortunately, Tecate doesn't have a 24 hr. bank teller. That is probably the one legitimate reason for going to the trouble of buying a pre-paid
card. Perhaps try Discover Baja Travel Club? Only they aren't open 24/7 either... If your trip is not over 7 days, then you don't need to pay... A 7
day FM-T is FREE.
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awfulart
Nomad
Posts: 260
Registered: 5-10-2003
Location: Rio Rico AZ
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what our Nit-Wit elected officials are doing now?
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FMT
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by ElGato
:coolavid K, Getting it stamped is not a problem. Paying at the bank can only be
done during business hrs. Surely you must realize that! |
The bank teller is open 24/7 at Tijuana border and it is facing the border secondary parking, just a few doors from the INM office... and the border
is not on 'Revolucion' or where ever you got stabbed. You are surrounded by federal and local police at the border... Then just drive out and onto the
Scenic Road out of town... You really never go 'into' the city of Tijuana...
Unfortunately, Tecate doesn't have a 24 hr. bank teller. That is probably the one legitimate reason for going to the trouble of buying a pre-paid
card. Perhaps try Discover Baja Travel Club? Only they aren't open 24/7 either... If your trip is not over 7 days, then you don't need to pay... A 7
day FM-T is FREE. |
I tried Discover Baja and they no longer can issue FMT s.
In addition, I thought if you went south of Ensenada and FMT would be required no matter how long you are down there, one day or 6 months.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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That's correct Art!
South of Maneadero/ Punta Banda OR San Felipe, you need one no matter for how much time you are south of those points.
In the border zone, you need one for more than 72 hours in Mexico.
They are FREE now if your stay is no more than 7 days... so no bank hassles.
The only place (so far) where they actually check it is at the Baja Sur border on Hwy. 1, near Guerrero Negro.
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Alan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1626
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Yucaipa, CA/La Paz
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| Quote: |
If you wait until Guerrero Negro, then you will have driven almost 400 miles illegally without a stamped FM-T.
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Is this really considered illegal? Personally, I really don't know, hence my question and a similar post. I don't care much for stopping in TJ
either so I have always just picked one up at the Insurance office before the border. If they're not allowing Vagbundos or Discover to issue them they
probably won't be available at my insurance office anymore either.
Everything I have read just says it needs to be stamped in Mexico and it is supposed to be turned in before you leave. (I still have no idea where
you are supposed to turn it in at).
I have never been asked for it except at GN and by the time I really started venturing south of San Felipe (on the pavement) the check point at
Maneadero had closed so I'm afraid I may have been a little casual about Tourist cards over the years when just going to BoLA and before they put the
checkpoint in GN. Things have changed for me and I anticipate more driving trips to Sur so I'm trying to learn the process. Is there a hassle at GN
if you haven't had it stamped yet?
I know it is Baja so sometimes one can never get a definitive answer but through this board hopefully we can get the most "current" practices
[Edited on 2-27-2007 by Alan]
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awfulart
Nomad
Posts: 260
Registered: 5-10-2003
Location: Rio Rico AZ
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what our Nit-Wit elected officials are doing now?
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FMT
Since we were unable to get our FMT from Vagabundos we stopped at immigration at the border, got our FMT and paid for it next to immigration. It
took about 20 minutes, very easy. Of course we were there during the week and the crossing into TJ was not too busy.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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is it possible to go to the mexican consulate on india street in downtown san diego and get the fmt and pay for it there. i can't find their phone #
to call them and ask....
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