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Desertsurfergal
Junior Nomad
Posts: 46
Registered: 1-30-2008
Location: Lake Havasu City, Az
Member Is Offline
Mood: wishful..for Baja
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citizens of Mexico
I have a question for all Mexican citizens. As you know, we Americans enjoy your wonderful country and find it easy(with a passport) to "just drive,
or walk over" to vacation or visit in Mexico. What type of papers or "visa" do you need, if let's say, your family wants to visit the Grand Canyon or
stay in the U.S. for any other reason? I see alot of vehicles in Arizona and California with Baja plates and wonder what you all have to go through
to visit in the U.S. ? Thanxs, just curious.
\"Life\'s a journey, not a destination...\" Aerosmith
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LOSARIPES
Nomad
Posts: 283
Registered: 8-14-2008
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Jump through hoops, beg, call a number to get an appointment, pay US100.00 for a visa application (just the application) per person; travel to Tijuana
for the interview, carry all kinds of papers like Birth certificate; School diplomas; bank statements; marriage certificate; shower and shaven, well
dressed; smiling, punctual, upbeat, (not too much so as not to raise suspicion) show enough money for the trip and no more... and if you speak good
english, fake a heavy accent as they may think you have and live there and will stay there....
Lots...lots of good Mexicans have given up on tourist visas just to avoid the embarrassing process.
They used to issue visas in La Paz, Mazatlan, Hermosillo, and other more convenient places. Now, because of Osama bin laden, they closed the
consulates....... and charge 100.00 for each visa application.
Illegal immigration also contributes to this problem... granted... but they treat them like........... sheeken
Aripes
God bless America
and Baja tambien
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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yes, all this and more...you also need a bunch of work related stuff...like your last 3 paystubs...a letter from your boss....basically they want to
be sure you will come back to your good job....also names and addresses and phone numbers of who will stay with....etc...etc...ad nauseum. I know
personally heads of companies, vice presidents of corporations etc. who were flatly just turned down....and all they wanted to do was take their kids
to Disneyland. Word in our community is ...don't even bother trying...not worth the huge expense as very very very few people actually walk away from
the terrible experience with the tourist visa.
Most americans have absolutely no idea how impossible and expensive it is to be a tourist from mexico...sigh
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Katiejay99
Nomad
Posts: 429
Registered: 9-3-2008
Location: Todos Santos
Member Is Offline
Mood: it is what it is
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I'm not a Mexican, but I'll add my two centabos worth.
I was trying to help a Mexican man get a tourist visa into the US. We got all the stuff together as mentioned above and then went to the US consulate
in Cabo to see how to proceed. We were told to first go to the bank and pay the fee because we would need the receipt number when we called for an
appointment. He gave us a 900# to call and the info for the fee. We paid the fee, called the number and were put on hold - no music, no nothing just a
dead line feeling - for over 45 minutes. We hung up and tried again the next day. After an hour on hold we went back to the Consulate office and he
asked us when we were planning on traveling. I told him late the following month and he said that month and the next were closed out and no more visas
were being offered until midway through the next month after.
He Did go to the US - and returned - but I can't tell you how.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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oh yeah, I forgot about THAT part of the process...same experience...took over a month to just GET the appointment...and lots of maddening long phone
calls to try to arrange it...they really really make it nearly impossible to do on purpose.
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oxxo
Banned
Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
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Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
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We wanted to bring a friend from a foreign country (not Mexico) for a two week visit to California. I have a very close friend who is a career
diplomat in the US foreign service. I called him to see if he could fast track the application as a personal favor. He said, no way. He said he
couldn't even get his counterpart from a foreign country in for a visit to the US.
He used to work the visa desk in Haiti. He has told me about some of the scams. He had a Haitian come in garbed as a Catholic priest who wanted a
visa to visit a shrine in Florida. He asked the "priest" to recite the Lord's Prayer. The "priest" didn't even know what the Lord's Prayer is!
REJECT
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Eugenio
Nomad
Posts: 206
Registered: 4-23-2008
Location: Navojoa, Son.
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Shari - I hope I'm not opening a hornet's nest here - but I'm curious - is it any easier for a mexican to get a tourist visa to Canada?
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Oh yeah, big time....mexicans dont need anything in advance. The reason we got Juan's american tourist visa was that we were flying out of San
Diego...that's all....
To go to Canada, you just show up at the airport there with your passport and they GIVE you the tourist visa...no $, no appointment, no paperwork
except your passport, no hassle. Very nice experience...Juan was impressed. It's easier for a mexican to fly direct from mexico to canada...but way
more expensive....but cheaper if you figure the costs of the american visa you need to fly out of the states.
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3512
Registered: 8-27-2003
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Eugenio
Shari - I hope I'm not opening a hornet's nest here - but I'm curious - is it any easier for a mexican to get a tourist visa to Canada?
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Are you kidding me???? Hornet's nest??? Last time I was sitting around Shari's dining table she went on and on and on about how the average Canadian
had finally surpassed the average 'merican on many different measurements; especially the 'happiness' scale. We had to start chucking full Tecates at
her to get her to hush up! Only thing I remember from the whole brew-ha-ha was that Canadians drink more and have more sex. Okay, let's review:
1) happier 2) drink more 3) more whoopee 4) kamloops trout.
Hmmmmm, I'm out of here.
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Desertsurfergal
Junior Nomad
Posts: 46
Registered: 1-30-2008
Location: Lake Havasu City, Az
Member Is Offline
Mood: wishful..for Baja
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thanks everyone. I am sorry that it's such a hassle for those who want to visit the U.S.
\"Life\'s a journey, not a destination...\" Aerosmith
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Phil C
Senior Nomad
Posts: 564
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: N. San Diego County/ Loreto Centro/Lopez Mateos
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OK Shari, "Mexicans don't need anything in advance" to travel directly Canada. What DO they need? Just a ticket?
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Yes, you just need a ticket to arrive at the airport in canada and then they give you your visa upon entering.
In case you were wondering about this newsworthy article that Santiago referred to...here is the link...read it and weep!  e had
a pretty good laugh over it.
http://www.macleans.ca/canada/national/article.jsp?content=2...
[Edited on 9-11-2008 by shari]
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Phil C
Senior Nomad
Posts: 564
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: N. San Diego County/ Loreto Centro/Lopez Mateos
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I'm curious that anyone could just land at an airport in Canada and be admitted to the country. Is there something I'm missing here? You must need a
passport, voter I.D. card or something.
[Edited on 9-11-2008 by Phil C]
[Edited on 9-11-2008 by Phil C]
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Eugenio
Nomad
Posts: 206
Registered: 4-23-2008
Location: Navojoa, Son.
Member Is Offline
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Phil - passport.
Shari - come to think of it I have met a few mexicans that have visited Canada - but not the US - I guess that must be the reason. But some of these
aquaintances go back 10 years or so...
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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I guess you missed where I said you just show up at the airport with your passport! that's it amigo...no muss...no fuss
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Phil C
Senior Nomad
Posts: 564
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: N. San Diego County/ Loreto Centro/Lopez Mateos
Member Is Offline
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Shari, My Bad, sorry 'bout that. That perks my curiosity again, what is needed to obtain a Mexican passport?
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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Canada makes it very easy for people from the US or Mexico to visit. However, those from Central and South America and several other areas need visas
obtained before the visit. They also charge a non-refundable application fee.
We know several people who travel from Mexico to the US on a regular basis and many who do so daily. I do think it is a shame that the process is not
streamlined, but I feel that way about the complcated requirements for many countries.
For example, it is VERY difficult for a Guatemalan to obtain a travel visa for Mexico.
Diane
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
Member Is Offline
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OK, Shari, now I am confused totally. Are you saying that the problem with getting a mexican Visa to go to the United States is a problem with the
beauracracy of Mexico or a problem with the US? If it is that difficult to get a visa from the Mexican Government then why is it easier to go
straight to Canada?
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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
Member Is Offline
Mood: wait and see
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No, the problem is with the U.S. bureaucracy. I should be used to it by now, but I'm not. I still remember how the incompetents at the D.F. Embassy
kept me separated from my wife and child for a year and a half, losing documents, making us go through repetitive procedures over and over again,
treating us with haughty contempt. (And that was in the seventies when it was EASIER) Last winter my sister-in-law, two nieces and a grand niece
wanted to visit us when Mexicana had a sale on fares from DF to TJ. (We live a mile or so from the border well within the 25 mile zone). They all
had passports, owned property and worked in the family-owned business, a fonda in the market in Ixmiquilpan, HGO. They thought they could fly to TJ
and get visas at the consulate. Wrong. They were told they would have to go back to the embassy in DF and apply and it might take "some time" for
background checks etc. We ended up visiting at a hotel in SLRC for a couple days but they could not come to our house a couple miles away. A month
and a half ago, we discovered that my wife's green card had expired (She's been here more than 30 years as a "permanent" resident alien.) On the
advice of an ICE agent that it would be faster, we started the renewal process online. It cost me $370. A month later she got an appointment letter
to get her "biometrics" done. The people at the ASC (Application Support Center, under contract to INS) were courteous enough. But instead of a new
card in the mail, last Friday she got another appointment letter. It explained nothing. The guy at ASC was a bit puzzled too, but then figured out
some code letters that meant the fingerprints had not cleared. So, we had to go back and do them again. So now, we're waiting again, no idea for how
long. Meanwhile I'm paying a monthly fee for a dental plan in Algodones we can't use and we can't go to friend's daughters' (twins) quinceañera in
SLRC this weekend because they might not let my wife back in.
I don't know which I love less, INS or IRS.
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3718
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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A truly ugly system
Not that difficult to get into the US by illegal means, happens every minute,
Try to take the "high road" and do it legally, well, as described above it turns into a demeaning and senseless process.
And, they keep asking why the illegal immigration is so rampant??? Because our miserable INS makes it nearly impossible for anyone, scoundrel or
prince, to get past the "process"
Having spent many, many days at the good old TJ consulate, I can only shake my head at the bad memories.
Those visits included visas for foster kids I adopted, for friends and for my wife's family.
(and, just for the record, my brother-in-law recently retired after 25 years of faithful service to our State Department, his entire career was spent
denying visas and demeaning citizens of many countries- I know first hand what a sad lot that so-called "Service" really is....)
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