805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
|
|
FMT's
I need some info on FMT's. Can I get them at the Mexican consulate? I want to cross at Mexicali very early so bank would not be open. Can I wait and
get them at the state line? How much do they cost?
[Edited on 7-2-2007 by 805gregg]
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64858
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Also known as 'Tourist Cards'
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64858
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
You can get them at the border, and IF there is no bank teller open to pay... it can be paid for at any bank you get to when it is open... However,
the catch is it won't have the final stamp without going back to the INM office...
Another option is to get a pre-paid FM-T at Discover Baja, but they are in San Diego... Now, if you go to Tijuana or Otay, they are open 24/7 with a
bank teller to pay. Are you sure Mexicali doesn't as well?
Another possibility is using the FREE FM-T (good for trips up to 7 days) and get a 180 day one before it expires...
|
|
|
805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks David, anyone know about Mexicali open 24/7?
|
|
|
BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Anxious to get south
|
|
How early? I believe Mexicali East border is open at 6 a.m.
We got ours last week there at 8 a.m.,,,very easy, in and out in 6 minutes including bank (right there)
Can anyone verify the border being open at 6 a.m.?
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
|
|
|
bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
|
|
Mexicali East - 6am-10pm only. Mexicali West - old downtown crossing open 24/7 and "should" have a bank open. Remember I said "should".
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
|
|
805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks a million guys.
|
|
|
Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bajatastic
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalou
Mexicali East - 6am-10pm only. Mexicali West - old downtown crossing open 24/7 and "should" have a bank open. Remember I said "should".
|
Yep, I'd second that "should" on the West crossing.
Heading south across the border stay to the right in the declare lanes. Park after you cross a crosswalk/speed bump at the border line; but, before
driving through/past the Mexican customs booths.
After parking to the right after crossing the border; look north to the little building near the crosswalk you just drove over. The bank to pay for
your FMT is about the 3rd or 4th door to the left. Almost looks like a mini strip mall. You will need to get your tourist card filled out at the
immigration office.
I "think" there is one near the bank in same building; but, I always seem to arrive by foot and use the one across the crosswalk near the red/green
light no declare lanes, then they send me over to the bank to pay before I need to return to immigration to get my passport.
The west gate is a 24/7 gate. But; I've never tried to get an FMT there at 4am; but, you "should" be able to.
Good luck and have a great trip.
|
|
|
toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
|
|
Not advisable to drive on Mexican highways anyway, until daylight. 
|
|
|
edm1
Senior Nomad
Posts: 568
Registered: 8-23-2006
Location: Oak Hills, Ca
Member Is Offline
|
|
"Another possibility is using the FREE FM-T (good for trips up to 7 days) and get a 180 day one before it expires... "
DK, more newbie questions:
1. Where do you get a free FMT (I assume at the border entry but I'll ask anyway)?
2. If I get the free FMT, what are the places where I can get a 180-day FMT while already in Baja and before the 7-day limit? Any places near San
Felipe, El Rosario, BOLA?
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64858
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by edm1
"Another possibility is using the FREE FM-T (good for trips up to 7 days) and get a 180 day one before it expires... "
DK, more newbie questions:
1. Where do you get a free FMT (I assume at the border entry but I'll ask anyway)?
2. If I get the free FMT, what are the places where I can get a 180-day FMT while already in Baja and before the 7-day limit? Any places near San
Felipe, El Rosario, BOLA? |
The same place... just tell them 7 days or less (siete dias o menos)...
San Felipe has an INM office at the NW corner by the traffic circle (the one with two Pemex stations), if it is open. Not in Bahia de L.A. or El
Rosario.
|
|
|
Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what is next???
|
|
| Quote: | The same place... just tell them 7 days or less (siete dias o menos)...
San Felipe has an INM office at the NW corner by the traffic circle (the one with two Pemex stations), if it is open. Not in Bahia de L.A. or El
Rosario. |
What about Santa Rosalia...Easy to get to there in a 32' MoHo? All that you would need there is a stamp if acquired it the Vags?
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
|
|
|
Bajafun777
Super Nomad
Posts: 1103
Registered: 9-13-2006
Location: Rosarito & California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Enjoying Life with Wife In Mexico, Easy on The Easy
|
|
I had someone ask about returning their FMTs for their vehicles and their tourista cards when they get back from a trip down mainland. I went in and
returned my180 day FMT for my truck and my tourista cards that I had to get when I went to Mazatlan. Now, the vehicle sticker paperwork can not
repeat can not be mailed back in you have to have the vehicle their. They had an electronic devise that they take out to your vehicle zap the code
bar and then scrap it off your windshield with a window scrapper knife. Then they go back inside and hook this divise back into the computer and then
enter the other data. They gave me a reciept to show I brought the paperwork and vehicle back in before the time expired and they had me sign a
receipt they stapled to the returned paperwork and put it into the basket. I then walked over to the Mexican Immigration office (by the area where
the Secondary for vehicles are getting pulled into inspection) and went to the Immigration desk inside the nice air conditioned area. They took my
tourista paper and my wife's paperwork and asked for my passport and then they stamped it inside to show I returned. I asked if I could mail in
tourista paperwork and was told no had to bring them inside to an Immigration office. Now, I did not see any computer use or entry of data and in
fact I did not see an in-basket for the paperwork just tossed into a drawer. I do not believe that anything really gets out of whack if they are not
returned and I do not believe that the tourista cards mean anything except if your down where you are suppose to have them you better have a current
one (sort of like the commerical on American Express do not leave Home without it). The vehicle paperwork is tracked, so make sure you go in with the
vehicle and do it like your suppose to as anytime a computer and effort to enter data is done it will come back to haunt you. Have a good one and I
asked the official doing my returned paperwork on my vehicle what is the best time to return them, as this office is small and had about 20 people in
there getting vehicle paperwork and returning vehicle paperwork for the officials to sign off on, and he said around 4pm. It was also about 10:30 am
and already 105 and climbing quickly. Made the day tough but the return with Sentre just a few minutes, again I love that Sentre card and life is
sweet. Later-----------------------------bajafun777
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
