| Pages:
1
2 |
absinvestor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 11-28-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
Recent experience passport/fmm
There has been much discusssion on this board about the necessity of a passport and tourist card when traveling Baja. Two days ago we had an
interesting experience. At a military checkpoint( going North on Mx 1) north of San Ignacio there was one car immediately ahead of us. The soldiers
asked us to get out of our car for a typical inspection. The driver from the car ahead of us was being led away from his car by a couple of soldiers.
As I got out of the car the female passenger in the car ahead of us was obviously upset. She yelled at "I hope you have a passport and a tourist
visa." She said "my boyfriend said we didn't need either and now we're in trouble." The soldier inspecting our vehicle did ask us for our passports.
(This is the first time in dozens of trips that we have been asked for passports.) Our FMM's were in the passports and I really didn't look to notice
if they looked at the FMM's or only the passports. After a short inspection we were told to have a safe trip. As we drove away the female passenger in
the car ahead was still behind her car and the male driver was on the side of the road talking to the soldiers. I didn't notice the plates on the car
ahead but the gal that yelled we needed a passport etc was definitely not a Mexican- either US or Canadian. I have no idea if this was an isolated
experience but this is the first time we have been asked by a soldier for our passports.
|
|
|
Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5898
Registered: 7-18-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
Hmmmmm. Maybe I'll get a tourist card on my way down after reading this.
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
It seems the country, from top to bottom, is taking a harder stance toward foreigners, even to the point of giving up their cordiality and replacing
it with displays of power.
Matter of fact is....they're only following orders.
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18145
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
It seems the country, from top to bottom, is taking a harder stance toward foreigners, even to the point of giving up their cordiality and replacing
it with displays of power.
Matter of fact is....they're only following orders. |
the law is the law, says you should have a passport and visa, so you should have a passport and visa 
don't worry, be happy
|
|
|
sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
Member Is Offline
|
|
A few here have for yrs., voiced the opinion that
no Military, Mex Cop, Ins Adjuster can ask one for
Immigration papers, only Mex Immigration officials can,
out of their jurisdiction of the former.They are probably
correct technically, but I would like
to see these people argue the point to a Mex soldier
at a checkpoint, not gonna happen. I also hang
on to the idea, although both the San Diego Mex Ins
brokers state their Mex Ins Co's will not use this
as a reason, that for a Mex Ins policy to be valid,
one has to be in the Country legally, like with
the permissiom of Mex Immigration. I have read
on a policy stating as much, again not that a Mex
Ins Co would use that as an excuse to deny a claim
but I would not give them that opening
|
|
|
Gypsy Jan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4275
Registered: 1-27-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
|
|
Never Argue With the Guys With Guns
They might shoot you just to shut you up.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
the law is the law, says you should have a passport and visa, so you should have a passport and visa
don't worry, be happy |
Ohh...I do agree. I was just mentioning what I see as a national personality shift. Mexico Homeland Security in action....so to speak.
When they start being as offensive as our airports, I'll have had enough.
|
|
|
mulegemichael
Super Nomad
Posts: 2310
Registered: 12-24-2007
Location: sequim,wa. and mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: up on step
|
|
we just experienced these san ignacio military guys the last coupla days headed both directions...yes indeed, i was asked for my passport i think, for
the first time in almost 30 years...i simply told him it was at my casa and "here's my drivers license"...he did not give a s**t...just glanced at it
and waved us on our way....there's a lot of drama queens/kings out there folks...just "kiss" it and drive on...life is so much simpler that way.
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
|
|
|
chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
|
|
I was asked for my passport, I had it but it was in my bag, so I showed him my FM3. He took down some data, and sent me on my way...
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by chuckie
I was asked for my passport, I had it but it was in my bag, so I showed him my FM3. He took down some data, and sent me on my way...
|
It shouldn't be any more complicated than that.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64759
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Then can ask all they want... but as in the above replies, not having one or either is of any concern or grounds for shooting you... lol.
Should you have both?: Sure you should.
If you have neither, will the military arrest you? That would be a first!
The drama queen at the San Ignacio checkpoint didn't help her or her man-friend by screaming that out... I bet it made the soldiers day as an excuse
to 'play' with them for awhile... It has got to be boring out there 24/7, after all!
|
|
|
Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5898
Registered: 7-18-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
Will be at border in 1 hour getting my tourist card!
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64759
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Ateo
Will be at border in 1 hour getting my tourist card! |
It worked! Have fun Ateo... and there are some good tacos after you leave the INM building... at least tere was a place after walking out near the
bridge over the northbound lanes at the original entrance (pedestrian)...
|
|
|
tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Are children req to have tourist visas also?
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by tripledigitken
Are children req to have tourist visas also? |
Well....David says he never gets one. 
Awww Jeeeezo....I just couldn't resist that.
Jes Kiddin, DK.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64759
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Where did I EVER say that... In fact, I posted complete details on getting them last July, for our last big trip.
Children have been added to parents tourist cars by kind officers, as taxing the kids along with the parents has really wrecked family vacation
budgets... makes Baja not as popular as it once was.
On my July, 2012 trip report top of report:
A week before our trip began, we did a run to Tijuana to get our tourist cards (also called an ‘FMM’, it is like a visa needed for trips beyond the
border towns or stays over 3 days). The fee for an FMM (valid for 180 days) was 290 pesos or US$24, each The INM office at the Tijuana border is open
7 days a week from 6 am to 10 pm. The INM official can now receive the payment, so no need to have an open bank nearby, as in the past. We also
purchased pesos at the Chula Vista Costco money exchange (Palomar exit, I-5 to Broadway, north) for some of our trip purchases (mostly gasoline) and
the exchange rate was 12.905 pesos per dollar. Except for the border region gas stations, the cost of gasoline was $2.95/ gallon (10.05 pesos/ liter).
If I post a price in pesos, the equivalent dollar value will be shown.
[Edited on 3-1-2013 by David K]
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Where did I EVER say that... |
Not that it matters, but you used to say it all the time.
"Shell Beach without a visa" was your road motto. [actually, I made that up]
How soon you forget.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64759
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Dennis, you do crack me up sometimes! Have a good day! 
Posted 7-8-2012:
Well amigos, today we began preparing for our big Baja vacation, beginning in a few days!
1) Got Pesos at Costco, Chula Vista at 1:45 pm Sunday (exit I-5 at Palomar, go east to Broadway, go north to entrance just past Costco gasoline
station (just one signal north on Broadway). No commission money exchange for members located inside store. Today the rate was 12.905 to the dollar.
That teller window closed for 30 min. at 2 pm.
2) Drive to last U.S. exit in San Ysidro, and go left over bridge to $6 parking at motel, next to Jack in the Box, just north of border, northbound.
3) Walk over bridge to southbound pedestrian entrance for Mexico. Just inside Mexico is an INM building, not yet open... continue just ahead to
elevated offices on the left, up a couple stair steps. The first office is the INM office, open door walk in.
4) With happy smiles and practicing Spanish, greet the nice (lady) official. Presented our passports, told her we were going as far south as Cabo San
Lucas and going by automobile. Also asked if she would make the FMM valid for 180 days (just in case we are really enjoying ourselves). She filled out
the FMMs and stamped them.
5) Was pleasantly surprised when she informed us that INM now can accept the fee/tax... No more searching for an open bank. The fee/tax was 290 pesos
or $24 US (either currency was acceptable). That exchange rate is 12.08 pesos per dollar. We used our recently purchased pesos.
6) The whole experience was nice, quick and friendly. She even asked me the correct way to say 'Have a good trip' after we exchanged some weather
terminology.
THE NEW INM HOURS (Tijuana/San Ysidro): OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 6 am to 10 pm.
We walked on and the first taco stand we came to had us enjoying a wonderful taste treat and Mexican Coca Cola!
From the taco cafe we walked over the bridge to the northbound pedestrian walk, and there was some kind of LONG line... However, it moved fairly fast
and we were back in the USA and to our nearby parked car in a reasonable while.
The Costco stop, walk into Mexico, FMM tourist cards (which are much smaller than the FM-Ts they replaced, just a 1/4" taller than a passport and the
same width), some tacos for lunch, border wait walking north... all took 2 hours.
Here is what the FMM looks like, front and back:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Until today, I wasn't positive that we could do this trip... Now we are sure, and only need to pack the Tacoma and head south. My wonderful wife
really deserves a nice time off from work, so I am going to do my best to show here a good time and relax the way only a Baja vacation can. We look
forward to seeing some of our Nomad friends on our trip and we will share it with you when we return.
|
|
|
Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9009
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
|
|
The last time I drove south in Baja, as far as the Mulege area, I was asked to produce a passport AT THE CHECKPOINT NEAR SAN IGNACIO.
This was in about 2005, folks. They recorded our passport numbers and our license plate numbers. There were pretty substantial lines at it, in BOTH
directions.
That checkpoint has always been the most anal one on the peninsula, in my experience.
[Edited on 3-1-2013 by Hook]
|
|
|
mulegemichael
Super Nomad
Posts: 2310
Registered: 12-24-2007
Location: sequim,wa. and mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: up on step
|
|
uhhhhh, the "forget" word has now taken on new dimensions....lemme tell ya; i forget......and now it's became a game...ok, ...no googling...."gimme
the guy's name that married his 13 yr. old niece and played the best honkytonk you've ever heard????...in yer
life??!!.....liberace??...nahhhh....uhhhh...
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
