BajaGeoff
Super Nomad
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Registered: 1-11-2006
Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
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Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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FMT
When I went down for the Baja 1000 last month my dad and I stopped in TJ to get our tourist cards. I told the official in Spanish that I had heard of
a free tourist card issued for trips that are a week or less. He chuckled and shook his head to indicate that no such thing existed. He left the
office as we filled out our forms and came back just as were about to walk to the bank to pay. "Espere" he said. He took our forms back, stamped and
signed them and sent us on our way, free of charge.
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noproblemo2
Super Nomad
Posts: 1088
Registered: 4-14-2006
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Great info, Thanks.......
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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and that is how it is done, in old Mexico!
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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keep that one for next time (and the next one for the time after that!). we were held up for 25 minutes (OMG!) one early morning while the guy tried
to make us pay for the 6 month one. we walked to the bank and the guy inside said their computer was down. what to do? we finally waited the guy out
and he produced the proper "free" stamp. VIOLA! it's a miracle! how did that get there?
next time show the guy that yes, there is such a stamp.... and be on your way.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9009
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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here is the INM website in English. I can find no reference to the 7 day exemption of fees on their site. Not saying it doesnt exist, of course, as
many of us have used it, myself included.
It really needs to be stressed that individual INM offices have their own way of enforcing the ley.
http://www.inm.gob.mx/EN/index.php
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
here is the INM website in English. I can find no reference to the 7 day exemption of fees on their site. |
You'll need to research "Free Zone" travel requirments.
How many times have we been through this....No visa is required in the Free Zone for one week.
There is no document which states one doesn't require a document for that period of time in that place.
It seems that the confusion here is with that last point. Some here are trying to say there's a free visa for one week in the free zone when, in
fact, it's not required. There is no such thing.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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There are about as many different versions of the rules as there are posters. If the guy gave Geoff an FM-T good for seven days, it's good throughout
the country.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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Location: Sonora
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I live in a Free Zone. The document IS required. Paying for it is not, for under 7 days.
You're confusing the exempt zone from the border to Ensenada and the border to San Felipe with the term Free Zone which applies to all of Baja and a
portion of Sonora as a trade zone and a permit free zone for vehicles.
How many times have we been through this????????
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda
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In all the time I've been here, I've never heard the term, "Exempt Zone." But, since you say it, it must be true, huh.
Since you think you know ALL about it, read this:
http://www.mexicolaw.com/LawInfo29.htm
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BajaGeoff
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
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Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
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Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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All I know is that every time I head south of Maneadero I am getting an FMT, no matter what. The fact that a 7 day FMT is free makes it all the more
sweeter!
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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If someone makes frequent, short trips South of Maneadero, getting the freebie makes little sense. For give or take $20, you don't have to make the
stop at the border for 180 days at a time. The idea of a free 7 day really shouldn't appeal to that many folks. We travel to Ensenada for long
weekends several times a year. Can do that with no visa. We go to the whales at GN or San Ignacio at least once a year. We drive down to Cabo twice a
year. For us, it's worth paying the $20 bucks each time our FM-Ts expire. I see the freebie appealing only to the infrequent traveler.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64829
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
I live in a Free Zone. The document IS required. Paying for it is not, for under 7 days.
You're confusing the exempt zone from the border to Ensenada and the border to San Felipe with the term Free Zone which applies to all of Baja and a
portion of Sonora as a trade zone and a permit free zone for vehicles.
How many times have we been through this???????? |
Exactly as Hook says, althought the zone has a different name... until I see a federal document that changes it: FM-T is required anytime you go south
of the BORDER ZONE, even for 1 minute.
In Baja, the BORDER ZONE is south to Maneadero or San Felipe. IF you go south of those places you are supposed to have the FM-T (Tourist Card)... IT
ISN'T checked until Guerrero Negro, so the non-Internet savvy gringo will assume that all of Baja California (Norte) is exempt.
Logic: There are other 'legal' roads that cross into Baja Sur than Hwy. 1... so, you really should learn where the FM-T is required... regardless if
it is checked or not by officials.
POINT 2: There is a time limit for tourists in Mexico, in the BORDER ZONE to not need an FM-T. The official documents from INM have stated it is 72
HOURS for all the years I have been traveling to Baja. Dennis was told it is now 7 days... but, where is that written?
SO: GET a Tourist Card (FM-T) anytime you travel south of the BORDER ZONE OR anytime you are in the border zone longer than 3 (or maybe 7) DAYS!
That is IF you want to be 'legal'...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64829
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
If someone makes frequent, short trips South of Maneadero, getting the freebie makes little sense. For give or take $20, you don't have to make the
stop at the border for 180 days at a time. The idea of a free 7 day really shouldn't appeal to that many folks. We travel to Ensenada for long
weekends several times a year. Can do that with no visa. We go to the whales at GN or San Ignacio at least once a year. We drive down to Cabo twice a
year. For us, it's worth paying the $20 bucks each time our FM-Ts expire. I see the freebie appealing only to the infrequent traveler.
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This is a given... Stopping for the tourist card is a small hassel, so if you 'might' make MORE than ONE trip south of the border zone in 180 days or
more than 3 days in duration in a 180 day period, then PAY the $22 dollars and get a 180 DAY FM-T...
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