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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Ensenada Immigration office scam allert
Today, my friend who came down from the states, went to the Ensenada immigration office to get an FMT. He was told by the officer at the desk that
he would have to return to Tijuana for this document.
My buddy said, he heard he could get it here and was surprised by his stated regulation.
Officer told him that he could avoid the troublesome trip for a fee of fifty pesos paid to an independent agent in a small office on the outside of
the same building.
That office is a recycled broom closet, occupied by Carlos Victoria, who facilitates immigration applications.
My friend went to Carlos...Carlos typed the application and was paid his fee of fifty pesos.
He took his completed application back into the office and payed the real fee for the document.
Now.....Isn't that nice?
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Less Than Five Bucks ?
It sounds reasonable to me.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Bend over MrBill. You seem to have a way of accepting things like this.
From you, I'm surprised.
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The Gull
Super Nomad
Posts: 2223
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Rancho Descanso, BCN
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Next time your friend can bring a pen and save the $4.63.
�I won\'t insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.� William F. Buckley, Jr.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Ya'know Gull........... Sometimes you just make no sense at all.
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bancoduo
Banned
Posts: 1003
Registered: 10-3-2005
Location: el carcel publico mazatlan sin.
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That officer must have been very old. Only 50 pesos, poor guy must have alzheimer's.
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The Gull
Super Nomad
Posts: 2223
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Rancho Descanso, BCN
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I was proud of a perfect record of never making sense. What is the objective anyway? Where did I go wrong?
Old adage: a fool and his money are quickly parted.
The FMT stop at the border at SY takes minutes. There is no practical enforcement of the FMT obligation until the checkpoint at GN, where anyone can
obtain the FMT to go further south.
I'm sure there is some sense to getting an FMT in Ensenada, but being without sense, I've never done it and wouldn't suggest it.
Big plus, your warning adds to the need to stay away from Ensenada. Thank you.
�I won\'t insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.� William F. Buckley, Jr.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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You didn't listen. He sent him to an outside agent who I'm sure was kicking back but, I thought those days of xxxxxxxxxxx low grade rip-offs were
over. Who here pays a bribe for an FMT any more?
[Edited on 7-20-2007 by Hose A]
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
You didn't listen. He sent him to an outside agent who I'm sure was kicking back but, I thought those days of xxxxxxxxxxx low grade rip-offs were
over. Who here pays a bribe for an FMT any more? |
Apparently, your friend does!
Sorry, coudn't resist.
[Edited on 7-20-2007 by Hose A]
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The Gull
Super Nomad
Posts: 2223
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Rancho Descanso, BCN
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Mood: High
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
You didn't listen. He sent him to an outside agent who I'm sure was kicking back but, I thought those days of xxxxxxxxxxx low grade rip-offs were
over. Who here pays a bribe for an FMT any more? |
We must be playing "stump the dummy" RIGHT?
First, I put my ear to the computer and listened very closely. Bummer, nothing. I did listen - heard nothing.
Second, it was clear from your first post that a third party was involved. The idea that a kickback is involved in a $4.63 transaction is an
interesting perspective. A low grade, C/S ripoff is a good term for something so cheap, perhaps you could consult with Carlos Victoria and suggest a
less pedestrian fee. You know something that might secure a better life for him.
Third, did either your buddy or the government guy speak the other's language? Couldn't have been any misunderstanding, right?
Fourth, in answer to your question..."Who here pays a bribe for an FMT any more?" If this isn't a trick question, my first quess would be - your
buddy. Did I get that right?
Fifth, if he really is your buddy why did you allow this to happen to him?
[Edited on 7-20-2007 by Hose A]
�I won\'t insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.� William F. Buckley, Jr.
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flyfishinPam
Super Nomad
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Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Loreto, BCS
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HI there,
Doesn't sound like a rip off to me but maybe I'm not getting the full story. For 50 pesos his forms were filled out and paperwork submitted to
immigration where the fee for the FM was paid and document received? What's wrong with that?
In La Paz at the Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores, there are many little offices like this who will fill out your forms (properly) and make the
extensive photocopies you need to get your Mexican passport or naturalizacion document or your visa. They charge a fee for their service and I am
very thankful they're there and I don't have to fill out forms then later find out they were incorrectly filled in, run all over hell for photocopies
and photos, etc. Five bucks sounds like a deal.
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The Gull
Super Nomad
Posts: 2223
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Rancho Descanso, BCN
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Mood: High
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Pam, It is an FMT. It has maybe five or six elements of information requested on one side of a 5x8 piece of paper. That and a driver's license does
it.
The help you are talking about is for FM-2 and FM-3 and can be quite beneficial for a small fee.
�I won\'t insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.� William F. Buckley, Jr.
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bancoduo
Banned
Posts: 1003
Registered: 10-3-2005
Location: el carcel publico mazatlan sin.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by The Gull
Old adage: a fool and his money are quickly parted.
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Take care amigo.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Yeah Gull..........
Thats the point. He got caught up in an old bribe structure which I thought belonged to the 20th century.
I guess it shows that nothing in this regard has changed. They're still a bunch of thieving, opportunists who work with the approval of the
government.
Oh yeah....They are the government.
Tell you what gull........ Don't ever apologize to me for these xxxxxxx crap. When they do it to your brother, they do it to you, if you can
understand that concept. Pull your head out of your digestive track and join us.
We're the one's with the SELF-RESPECT look on our faces.
[Edited on 7-20-2007 by Hose A]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by flyfishinPam
For 50 pesos his forms were filled out and paperwork submitted to immigration where the fee for the FM was paid and document received? What's wrong
with that?
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It's an FMT. The paperwork, all thirty words of it, is filled in by the applicant.
The point is, he was sent to an outside agent to accomplish this.
You people who justify this are as much of the problem as the thieiving IMN agents. You've been kissing butt here so long that you've lost sight of
wrong or right. It tells me you've been paying way too much for your Baja independence.
Is self respect the trade-off for dealing with the government?
Or, do you model citizens have any of that left?
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bahiamia
Nomad
Posts: 143
Registered: 12-16-2004
Location: Bahia de los Angeles
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Actually an FMT/Tourist Visa is now supposed to be obtained at a point of entry. Ensenada is a port, and point of entry for boats. For the rest of
us we're supposed to get it at the border crossings (Tijuana, Tectate, etc...).
Was with a friend about a year ago at the Migracion office in Ensenada where they pointed out that the FMT should have been taken care of in Tijuana
where we crossed. There was an additional fee charged because of that and for another form and processing. There was a small office set up next to
Migracion and they had the forms and such.
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danaeb
Senior Nomad
Posts: 991
Registered: 11-13-2006
Location: San Diego; El Centenario
Member Is Offline
Mood: groovy
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bahiamia - you must be one of those 'model citizens'. 
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bahiamia
Actually an FMT/Tourist Visa is now supposed to be obtained at a point of entry. Ensenada is a port, and point of entry for boats. For the rest of
us we're supposed to get it at the border crossings (Tijuana, Tectate, etc...).
Was with a friend about a year ago at the Migracion office in Ensenada where they pointed out that the FMT should have been taken care of in Tijuana
where we crossed. There was an additional fee charged because of that and for another form and processing. There was a small office set up next to
Migracion and they had the forms and such. |
Ensenada is in the free zone. No FMT required. They issue FMTs in Ensenada, most often with some snarly crap but without financial coercion.
This time, there was. No pay - no FMT.
So, keep supporting this practice. It will make you more welcome in Mexico, your gracious host.
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bahiamia
Nomad
Posts: 143
Registered: 12-16-2004
Location: Bahia de los Angeles
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If your friend was only going to Ensenada and for less than 72 hours, then why did he want to apply for an FMT?
They issue FMT's in Ensenada, they need to because it is a port of entry for boats. Yes, you used to be able to go there and get them if traveling by
car too but they made changes to that policy. They say you're now supposed to get them at a border crossing.
[Edited on 7-20-2007 by bahiamia]
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Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
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Mood: Bajatastic
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I still don't see whats so hard about getting the FMT at the point of entry, i.e. the border.
While Ensenada is in the Free Zone, it's not where I'd recommend getting the FMT. There are a lot of towns and cities in the "Free Zone", but you
can't just get an FMT anywhere.
I once worked with a guy that would make the most confusing and demanding orders when we would go out to eat for lunch. Toasted bun, no mayo, extra
pickles, two slices of cheese, fruit instead of fries... etc.. etc..
He would then always complain that he got his food last and that they screwed up his order because they got 1 detail out of 50 wrong.
You can have it your way.. but don't expect things to go as smoothly, quickly, and cheaply. If your friend wants to be treated like everyone else,
I'd advise him to get his FMT at the border like everyone else, otherwise if he wants his FMT with extra cheese... it just might cost $.30 more.
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