Islander
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 12-1-2009
Location: Victoria, BC
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Do I need an FMT?
We're Canadians driving as far as La Paz over Christmas. Crossing at San Ysidro. Do we need FMTs? What's the easiest way to get?
Apologies if this questions has already been asked and answered. And thanks for your help!
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fixtrauma
Nomad
Posts: 389
Registered: 11-17-2008
Location: El Centenario & Lebanon,Oregon
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Mood: Monomaniac
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Just curious.......what day are you crossing. We are driving to La Paz as well. Crossing at Tecate on Dec. 19th.
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garynmx
Junior Nomad
Posts: 43
Registered: 9-7-2009
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Yes you need one. Get it at the border. Only takes a few minutes. There are some military checks to La Paz and if you do not have a FMT they can make
you turn around and go back to border to get one. Easy just to get one from the beginning. At San ysidro after crossing just pull over to right side.
The office is right there and bank is there to pay for it.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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you insurance MAY be invalid without it.
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jorgie
Nomad
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Location: on another road,again
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Mood: on the road....again,again
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YES
[Edited on 12-1-2009 by jorgie]
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Alan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1626
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Yucaipa, CA/La Paz
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| Quote: | Originally posted by garynmx
At San ysidro "after crossing" just pull over to right side. |
This could be confusing....
Pull into secondary (declaration area on far right side) at the border. INM is behind the row of offices on your right.
In Memory of E-57
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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well hellllllooo fellow Islanders!!! Welcome to Baja Nomads....which kinda makes you guys "newmads"!! I recommend you spend some time checking out
info on this site for ideas and places to stay on your journey...check you U2U mailbox which is up in the right top corner under the logged in
part...click on U2U...for the secret island handshake.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Way On The Right
| Quote: | Originally posted by Alan
| Quote: | Originally posted by garynmx
At San ysidro "after crossing" just pull over to right side. |
This could be confusing....
Pull into secondary (declaration area on far right side) at the border. INM is behind the row of offices on your right. |
Probably doesn't matter since you'll have FM-Ts, but we've never been requested to show them at army checkpoints. In fact, the most likely spot you'll
be asked will be at the State line when you are headed North. That said, there's never been much consistency over the years we've made trips. Actually
went to Cabo and back without having FM-T one time, before I learned. Personally, I think it's as much of a matter of respecting the laws of a foreign
country than anything else. After all, has anyone with a passport ever been refused an FM-T?
You'll encounter approximately 6 army checkpoints between the border and La Paz. Be interesting to find out who asks for what and if you get searched.
Most of the time, searches are done Northbound. Have a great trip.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64838
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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True, the military does not check for them... the only place it has been checked is the Eagle Monument/ state border near Guerrero Negro.
However, the Federal rules for us gringos (Norteamericanos) are to have an FM-T any time we go south of Maneadero (10 miles south of Ensenada) or
anytime we are anywhere in Mexico longer than 72 hours... (some reports have said 7 days)
WHAT YOU SEE:
The lane to be in (far right, at the end of I-805, just inside Mexico):
The covered parking area:
The row of offices facing the parking area:
The far right office is INM (Immigration/ 'Migra') where you go first... bring passports or photo ID + proof of citizenship.
Fill out the information and include 180 days for the duration of the card and the furthest south you may travel in the next 180 days (ie. Cabo San
Lucas or Cancun)... You may use this for other automobile trips into Mexico during the 180 days.
The bank teller is a few windows down where you pay the fee and RETURN to INM for the final stamp.
IF you have a pre-paid FM-T from Discover Baja or other places, then only go to INM for final authorization stamp.
You are in a Latin American republic, the military will be checking your vehicle for transportation of drugs, guns, ammo... There are several check
points in Baja where you may be stopped and might have an inspection performed on your vehicle.
In Mexico, you are GUILTY until proven innocent... Do not have drugs (incl. pot), guns or ammo... and you will be fine.
[Edited on 12-1-2009 by David K]
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
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Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
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DavidK, excellent use of visuals and text to walk all through the process..... thanks for all the work 
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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DK- Great photos. Just wondering what changes have been wrought due to the soon to be installed auto screening. What I can say is that anyone
traveling S/B on I-5 needs to veer over to the right where the on-ramp is for the last entrance. It's the farthest-most lane and there is a gate that
will open upon approach. Just wondering about parking, as there seems to be more and more vehicles pulled into segundo.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64838
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Well... those photos were taken on a Saturday morning... about 11 am, and it was busy! The FM-T part took 5 minutes... Getting out of the secondary
parking area took about 45! Avoid Saturday late mornings... if you can.
The far right lane is best accessed using I-805 southbound. I-5 merges with 805 just above the border... and you would need to cross 4 lanes to get
over to enter the Secondary parking area. There is an electric gate where you enter that open automatically.
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Islander
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 12-1-2009
Location: Victoria, BC
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Thank you everyone for all the detailed information. Special thanks to David K for the photos! This is just what I was hoping for. Not to worry, we
will get the FMT and be legal.
Does anyone know if the immigration office and bank teller open early? We're planning to cross at or even before dawn on a Sunday morning.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
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Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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both open 24 hours. you might have to bang on the bank window to wake the guy up. also, before 6ish a.m. you need to walk to the left and go around
behind and walk against pedestrian traffic towards the north until you come to the gate/border. turn left and right there in front of you will be a
building with DARK tinted windows. it looks closed. pull on the door and go inside to get your fmt. then bang on the bank window, then back where you
just came from to get the final stamp. then back to your car and viola! you're now legit! don't forget car insurance and if the cops pull you over,
insist on paying only at the station.....
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by woody in ob
both open 24 hours. you might have to bang on the bank window to wake the guy up. also, before 6ish a.m. you need to walk to the left and go around
behind and walk against pedestrian traffic towards the north until you come to the gate/border. turn left and right there in front of you will be a
building with DARK tinted windows. it looks closed. pull on the door and go inside to get your fmt. then bang on the bank window, then back where you
just came from to get the final stamp. then back to your car and viola! you're now legit! don't forget car insurance and if the cops pull you over,
insist on paying only at the station..... |
A friend who crossed early in the morning at Christmas time had an "interesting" experience. It was his first visit down to see us and really was not
sure what was happening.
The immigration official told him no one was at the bank so he could save a couple of dollars and pay the immigration official directly---he did and
the official stamped the FMT----it was Christmas time.
Have a great trip.
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fyrfly
Newbie
Posts: 1
Registered: 12-13-2009
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We plan on crossing on December 25th, hopefully REALLY early(at least by 7am). Does anyone know if the bank at the border crossing in TJ will be
open?
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Over here, we are hearing that there is a new tourist permit coming that will be called an FMM and that the days of renewing an FMT without leaving
the country are over.
I realize that most Nomads could care less about renewing FMTs, as they are down here for a limited time.
Computerization of FMT/FMMs are very close...............of course the definition of close in Mexico is not predictable.
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BajaNuts
Super Nomad
Posts: 1085
Registered: 5-11-2008
Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
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Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
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Welcome to Islander and to Fyrfly!
don't worry if the "sandbox" gets a little dusty now and then, lots of good folks who can help.............
.............or at least offer an opinion!
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Jack Swords
Super Nomad
Posts: 1095
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
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As in all things in Mexico, there is no consistency. The Declaration lane was closed when we went through two weeks ago. It was closed by a vehicle
with flashing lights, noone around. This forced us into the regular lane where the military was inspecting. This was on a Monday at 6:30 AM. We
simply told the inspecting military that we needed FMTs and they led us to the Declaration area in reverse (at the exit). Never inspected, everybody
was polite and helpful. Obtained FMT & paid bank, drove out and had an uneventful trip to La Paz. Not checked at any checkpoint. We have,
however, been checked for the FMT at checkpoints in the past and the info recorded by hand. Just outside of San Ignacio is a computerized station run
by the military where ALL info (license of car, driver, FMT, etc.) is put into the computer. This can take some time as they type with two fingers.
Fortunately when we passed at 7 AM it was closed. Cold this time of year in the early morning and nobody wants to move.
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