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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13238
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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so what is the truth on tourist visas in BCS
we went to immigration in santa rosalia today and there was a guy who arrived on a motorcycle, came straight from the states. he was under the
impression that he could get his tourist visa in santa rosalia. he had been in exico 48 hours.
they wanted to charge him 500 pesos as a fine. he walked out, saying he would either go to la paz (immigration told him he would be immed. deported)
and get one or return to ensenada.
is this the way it is ?????? can someone please clarify.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3598
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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I don't speak from experience. I think the La Paz office might also ''fine'' him, maybe less pesos, maybe more, maybe nothing. If he cops an
attiude at the LP office, they'll probably cop one too. Don't think deportation is in the picture. No harm in trying the LP office if he's
going that way. But he should pay the ''fine'' whatever it is -- in LP -- and be legal.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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The guy is a mo-ron for doing this to himself. He should be deported just for being stupid.
[Edited on 11-6-2010 by DENNIS]
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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The rule is that when you enter the country you need a visa. They use to give you a lot of slack but no more. You are officially fined the same 500
pesos if you wait until Ensenada. I have had friends who paid this same thing. So, no, the people in Santa Rosalia were spot on that he would have a
fine. Problem is that he may make it all the way to La Paz without having his visa checked. That is just one of the inconsistensies in the program.
If Santa Rosalia had been a little more forceful, they could have arrested him on the spot since he was actually in the country illegally.
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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I concur.....a friend & fellow Nomad forgot to get a visa when he flew out of TJ to La Paz.....fine in La Paz was ballpark $500 pesos.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65311
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
The guy is a mo-ron for doing this to himself. He should be deported just for being stupid.
[Edited on 11-6-2010 by DENNIS] |
Excellent answer Dennis! 
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BajaBlanca
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Posts: 13238
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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oh my gosh Dennis - that is hysterical !! mo-ron !! too funny.
just for the record, he was not beliigerant at all, just confused and perhaps short of cash ??? not expecting the fine and it took him by surprise.
i am so glad i asked this question and go these answers. thanks all. i really thought it was OK to go as far as G Negro or S Rosalia before getting
the visa. Altho' we now have FM2s, before we did, I always insisted on getting my tourist visa at the border. hassle or no hassle, I like being in
the right.
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BajaBlanca
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Posts: 13238
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Location: La Bocana, BCS
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nahhhhhhhhhhhh they were really busy with all the paperwork we had them preparing for us and did not get a name or anything from the kid, but since TJ
had informed him it was OK to go to santa rosalia, he was really convinced they wanted to fleece him. and to be honest, I thought the same, I had no
idea at all that it was the law to get a visa the minute you step over the border ( I have always done that, but just thought I was stubborn that
way).
sure hope it isn't your brother, tho   About an hour later, we saw him chomping away at a street vendor's burrito.
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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Met a guy from Belgium on the ferry
Cabo/Vallarta back in the day, he had
been going around the World for 7 yrs.,
said the Border at TJ was the only crossing
he had been to that one could walk
across and not be asked for a Passport/Visa,
such lack of, and implementation of Immigration
Laws leads to confusion and people skirting
the Regs, but heck, it is Mexico
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65311
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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You know it is sort of a trap... I mean there are NO SIGNS at the Mexican border, or south of Ensenada, or before Guerrero Negro that tell tourists
one is 'required' to proceed south or stay longer than 3 days (or 7?).
How did that guy get past the Eagle Monument inspector?
Not everyone reads the Internet or guidebooks before heading south, afterall.
Why not set up a booth at the south end of the 'border zone' and use it to make money... sell the tourist cards there... They used to, at Maneadero a
few years ago. Just one migra guy and one bank teller on duty...
[Edited on 11-6-2010 by David K]
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13238
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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well, in europe they do not stamp anything when you drive. so last year, Les and I took an extended trip to 12 different countires BUT we started the
trip in Poland, where Les is from.
then we drove for a couple weeks. then we stayed in northern poland with family. as i was at the airport, ready to leave, the lady looks at my
passport and says, you overstayed your time here in poland.
i panicked. (visions of prison, huge fines, black lists, deportation). WELL,the truth was that we had NOT spent the whole time there but all the
stuff/receipts for stuff we had bought had already gone with our luggage onto the plane. all i had were currencies from the non union countries which
she deemed was not acceptable. i really was quite upset and all the people around us were staring at the ILLEGAL ALIENS. In the end, I said that I
had dated photos on my laptop. And trust me, I had thousand of photos. she asked me to find one where I was in the picture - not too common since I
take the pics - but as the good Lord loves me dearly - the first one I opened was me in front of the Eiffel tower, properly dated. she said "OK. you
can go."
after profusely thanking her, I asked what the punishment would have been. and she calmly said, you would have been fined 200 zloty (about $15).
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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its not a "trap"
it's a rule
it's been in place for a couple of years
visitor visas need to be procured at the border
the fine is not a mordida it's a fine
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
You know it is sort of a trap... I mean there are NO SIGNS at the Mexican border, or south of Ensenada, or before Guerrero Negro that tell tourists
one is 'required' to proceed south or stay longer than 3 days (or 7?).
How did that guy get past the Eagle Monument inspector?
Not everyone reads the Internet or guidebooks before heading south, afterall.
Why not set up a booth at the south end of the 'border zone' and use it to make money... sell the tourist cards there... They used to, at Maneadero a
few years ago. Just one migra guy and one bank teller on duty...
[Edited on 11-6-2010 by David K] |
DK, the last 4 times I have gone through GN there have been no immigration
people there.
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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The guy should just enjoy his vacation and not worry about it, his odds of being asked for immigration documents are close to zero. If he is asked he
can just play stupid and pay the fine then. I know two people who flew out of Cabo last week that had no visas, INM provided them the documents for
250 pesos each.
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mulegemichael
Super Nomad
Posts: 2310
Registered: 12-24-2007
Location: sequim,wa. and mulege
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Mood: up on step
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i haven't seen any immigration folk at GN for a long, long, long time now.
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13050
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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Last week some german tourists showed up here and asked about a tourist visa. I told them they should have got their tourist visa at the border as YES
they need them...particulary if they want their vehicle insurance to be valid.
They said that immigration people at the border told them they didnt need a visa if they were only going to be in the country a week. Well, with a bit
more prodding, turns out it wasnt an immigration official...it was the border crossing guy...so something got lost in the translation I imagine....
point is that at the border the guys tell people they dont need em...maybe they think everyone just kicks around TJ for awhile...or maybe it is a
trap.
Immigration at GN doesnt aways check you coming in...but they love to when you are going north...hmmmm. Yes, the fine is 500 pesos and change and
whichever immigration person is obligated to charge them the fine if they want to issue a FMT.
It is really hard to explain to people that the border guards dont know much about immigration....our best bet is to spread this info on the mexican
message boards so peope dont get caught unawares.
BTW...the german couple made a B-line for immigration in Santa Rosalia to get their visas...although they were sad as they were cash strapped.
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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There are many reasonable explanations for why you would need to get your tourist visa south of GN, you just have to have a reasonable explanation and
be polite and patient. Many tourist visas are processed in La Paz and Cabo. The guys in SR may like to make trouble. But if the cost is $22/visa and
there is a fee for being late past 7 days, if in fact you are, then $500 pesos total is not unreasonable.
When someone tells you there is a fine in Mexico it doesn't mean that you will be fined, only that you could be fined under certain circumstances.
You would benefit from some proof of your timing, for example a receipt from a calle cuota in the north which was less than 7 days prior.
[Edited on 11-6-2010 by gnukid]
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TMW
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Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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I just returned from La Paz and I was not asked for my visa anywhere going or coming. They only wanted the 20 pesos to spray my truck at GN.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3881
Registered: 2-9-2004
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"I had no idea at all that it was the law to get a visa the minute you step over the border"
Still depends on where you're going and for how long.
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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At the border the majority of people you meet will tell you you do not need a visa, because in most cases you don't need a visa, unless you are going
south and will spend more than 7 days, which apparently very few do. It is totally reasonable to explain that you crossed the border and planned a
short trip which you extended later on when you discovered you love Mexico, the people and the country, because it's better than the USA-you'll get
your visa.
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