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AlanDow
Junior Nomad
Posts: 38
Registered: 1-23-2011
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Need Plan B - No FMM At Chaparral Until 11/5/12
Well based on the latest from Baja Bound - that the immigration office at the new El Chaparral north to south crossing will not open until November
5th, I guess it is time to come up with “plan B”, since the old crossing with the immigration office and bank is now closed most of the time, and my
wife and I are planning on crossing for our trip to Asuncion this Sunday November 4th.
We have never crossed at Otay Mesa or Tecate – I have seen some posts about getting the FMM in Tecate, and my main question regarding that option is –
is the bank in Tecate that is nearest the immigration office going to be open on Sunday to allow us to have our FMM validated (we plan to cross about
mid-day Sunday)?
I have seen no prior Baja Nomad posts about getting the FMM at Otay Mesa – is it convenient and straight forward there (do you park in secondary as
with the now closed San Ysidro crossing, is the immigration office close by and easy to find, and again is there a bank open on Sunday nearby, etc)?
Then the other concern with this option is how easy or difficult is it to get from Otay Mesa through Tijuana to the toll road south, etc?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions and help deciding on our “plan B”- it is much appreciated.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Alan......check your u2u message
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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How about posting the Otay details for all to see?
Persoanally, we just walked across at San Ysidro/Tijuana last July a week before our trip and bought the FMMs at the INM office (first door when you
enter Mexico on foot)... and they accept the money there now, no more walking to a bank teller... however, that is only during reasonable hours, not
24/7. See my July trip report for the details!
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
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how about ensenada?
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
How about posting the Otay details for all to see?
Persoanally, we just walked across at San Ysidro/Tijuana last July a week before our trip and bought the FMMs at the INM office (first door when you
enter Mexico on foot)... and they accept the money there now, no more walking to a bank teller... however, that is only during reasonable hours, not
24/7. See my July trip report for the details! |
DK-the pedestrian lane has moved. Not sure it's that easy anymore based on what my friends told me last week when they walked across.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
How about posting the Otay details for all to see? |
DK..........I won't post the info in these forums.......I'm tired of the "legends in their own mind" and the Baja keyboard commandos who have never
obtained an FMM at Otay or who have never crossed at Otay and taken Corridor (Blvd) 2000 to the free/toll road to Ensenada giving me crap.......I'm
sure you can relate.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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BajaGuy, please don't let the Internet idiots stop you from posting good stuff... I can relate, but the countless numbers who thank me off line, in
person, etc. will keep me sharing Baja the way I have been since I got on the Internet 14 years ago!
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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If somebody wants 'em, they can u2u me
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AlanDow
Junior Nomad
Posts: 38
Registered: 1-23-2011
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Thanks for the suggestions so far. Regarding Ensenada, that would only work if that immigration office is open Sunday (when we are passing through)
my assumption is that away from the boarder crossings, the immigration offices are probably not open Sundays - anyone know for sure if Ensenada
immigration is open on Sundays?
I also remember from prior posts that Guerrero Negro has an immigration office (and we would be passing through there on Monday) however I also
remember reading that if you wait until you are that far south without having previously gotten your FMM the fine is about $100 USD per person.
At this point it looks like Otay is my best bet for getting our FMM for a crossing before Nov 5th (when the El Chaparral immigration office is
scheduled to open). Thanks
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Ensenada Immigration
Not a fact, but I have heard that people have been "fined" for getting FMM (FM-T) in Ensenada......"you should have obtained your papers at the
border"....
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cliffh
Nomad
Posts: 325
Registered: 1-23-2010
Location: buena vista, BCS
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Tecate was a chip shot mon, pulled up in 36ft. 5th wheel, couple with us needed tourist cards, let them out at inspection station went around the
block parked next imm office on side street. They went through Vagabondo so all they needed was to be stamped Approx 10min wait never looked inside.
Enjoying Estero Beach RV park for a few days then off to Buena Vista.
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Oggie
Nomad
Posts: 312
Registered: 6-16-2009
Location: Carlsbad, CA/BOLA
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Mood: Missing Baja
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We crossed last friday at San Ysidro at 4:00pm. I stayed to the left to use to old port, so I could get my wife's prepaid FMM stamped. It looked as
though all of the offices by the old secondary were closed. We just headed south.
A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.
Knights of Pythagoras
Funny how falling feels like flying
for a little while - Bad Blake
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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INM Hours
As of July 24, 2012, the Otay Mesa INM (Mexican Immigration) office is open 365 days a year from 6AM to 10PM
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5901
Registered: 7-18-2011
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I got a tourist card in Ensenada in 2007 no problemo. There is a legit office just as you enter Ensenada proper next to the shipyards. Or there was
one in 2007. I believe there is even a nice blue "migratorio" sign or something pointing the way to the office.
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13197
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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Ateo - new law says you must get "legal" at the border and you will get fined in Ensenada.
My suggestion is to prepay at baja bound or at the Mexican consulate. Getting stamped can be done anywhere. Once paid, you are legal, as far as I
know.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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The rules seem to change from office to office or from trip to trip. It is safest to have the tourist card at the start of your trip then to hope to
get one 70 or 450 miles south.
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1655
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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Discover Baja also does FMM's.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mula
Discover Baja also does FMM's. |
But first, you have to join, then you still need to stop and get it stamped. No advantage now that INM accepts payments. Just stop at INM, fill out
paperwork, pay and have it stamped all at one place and one time.....................but people will do what they feel comfortable with.
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5901
Registered: 7-18-2011
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Thanks Blanca. Of course my skeptical thinking cap asks, what if someone came in via sail boat to Ensenada.....would they have to drive to TJ to get
a card if they didn't want a fine?
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
Ateo - new law says you must get "legal" at the border and you will get fined in Ensenada.
My suggestion is to prepay at baja bound or at the Mexican consulate. Getting stamped can be done anywhere. Once paid, you are legal, as far as I
know. |
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5901
Registered: 7-18-2011
Member Is Offline
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Yep. Makes sense. Do you know if INM accepts plastic (credit card/debit card) or is it all pesos? I think last time I got one I remember having to
pay cash pesos. Gracias.
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
| Quote: | Originally posted by Mula
Discover Baja also does FMM's. |
But first, you have to join, then you still need to stop and get it stamped. No advantage now that INM accepts payments. Just stop at INM, fill out
paperwork, pay and have it stamped all at one place and one time.....................but people will do what they feel comfortable with.
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