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Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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easiest place for FMM? SI or Otay? Or Ensenada?
I need to refresh my FMM. San Ysidro new crossing seems good but Ive only been thru once, early AM, no traffic.
Otay can be a pain...
3rd option: I think I heard on the forum recently that Ensenada has gotten more user friendly and has a new location downtown.
So, which would folks suggest? at Border, or Ensenada?
Thanks!
[Edited on 6-11-2014 by Whale-ista]
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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BornFisher
Super Nomad
Posts: 2107
Registered: 1-11-2005
Location: K-38 Santa Martha/Encinitas
Member Is Offline
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If you`re driving,TJ is as easy as it can be.
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dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
Member Is Offline
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They won't issue FMMs in Ensenada unless you came in on a boat. Of course, you can always tell them, but... just get it at San Ysidro, it's super easy
and the bank is open 24/7 unlike Otay.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13047
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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I just went throught this rigamaroll in Ensenada to help some Nomads get their FMM's that they didnt get crossing the border. Of course they said NO,
you cant get your FMM in Ensenada unless you came by boat and they would have to go back to TJ...period.
AFter alot of humming and hawing...shifting weight...I said the last time I helped some people, the officer gave them a small fine and gave them the
cards. He asked how many of them there were...there were 10 so I guess it made it worth his while.
So he amiably filled out their cards, they paid for them at the little bank there and then he said he needed to see their car so he went outside and
proceeded to charge them the 56 peso each fine...in cash outside the office...not discreetly either...and with a nod and a grin they were on their
way...so one CAN possibly get the FMM in the Immigration office by the port...on a good day!
So....best to get them at the border.
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BajaGeoff
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 1-11-2006
Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
Member Is Offline
Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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I got a new FMM at the TJ crossing last week. It took less than 10 minutes and was a piece of cake...
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BooJumMan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 891
Registered: 8-11-2007
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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Yep, new TJ crossing is super nice. I just asked the Mexican border officers where to park and they pointed me over to a parking lot. Walked in to the
office, and the bank was right there. Super easy!
For future reference, I tried getting an FMM in Ensenada about 4 years ago and they issued us them, but we had to pay a fine for not getting them in
TJ. The nearest bank was a few blocks away and was a pain.
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bajabuddha
Banned
Posts: 4024
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: Baja New Mexico
Member Is Offline
Mood: Always cranky unless medicated
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I know this thread is about TJ and Otay, but for TKT crossers, it's a snap also. The hardest part is finding parking for a Big Rig if you're towing,
but there is a parking lot half a block east of the border....
The Émigré office is first big building right inside the main walking gate, and right next to it (border side) is a small kiosk that is solely for
paying for your FMM, making it also a very convenient way to get the thing done, and on your way. It opens at 8 a.m.
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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tiotomasbcs
Super Nomad
Posts: 1837
Registered: 7-30-2007
Location: El Pescadero
Member Is Offline
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Discover Baja Travel and Vagabundos also have them in their San Diego offices. Buy car insurance, travel books, and get free advice! Tio
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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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Yeah, But....
Get them at the border, you have to stop there for the stamp anyway, save the extra "handling" fees.
Buy car insurance from Bajabound on line
DK has travel books
Plenty of "free" advice on the Nomads board
| Quote: | Originally posted by tiotomasbcs
Discover Baja Travel and Vagabundos also have them in their San Diego offices. Buy car insurance, travel books, and get free advice! Tio
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Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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Thanks everyone!
I did Tecate FMM in January, agree parking is tough.
Did Otay last year- a bit of a walk to bank, back to office etc.
So I look forward to the new SI process.
As for other recommendations:
Insurance: check
Discover Baja member: check
Travel/reading books/maps/Almanac: check
But getting the truck set up for 3 weeks of Baja summer fun vs. winter w/whales...in process.
This is my first summer trip with the truck, and the seasonal transition has been the slow part of this process. It's been a challenge to imagine what
I will need/want for camping and kayaking on sandy beaches near coral reefs, vs. on cold windy lagoons with whales blowing offshore.
I'm even taking a hammock!
Hopefully all the planning will be worthwhile once I get outta town for the rest of June...
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6343
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
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Don't count on seeing any grey whales. You may get lucky and see some blue whales, really lucky and get to see some orcas.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
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now that the new immigration offices in ensenada are 10 times the size of the old one at the port it wouldn't surprise me to see them start offering
tourist cards. why not?
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Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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Thanks Udo- I did the gray whales/bundle up/cold Pacific in Jan-April. This is a snorkel/coral reef/kayak trip/sunblock to East Cape.
Would love to see a whale shark- that would be a kick!
Anyone see them around yet? Or is it too early in the year for them?
| Quote: | Originally posted by Udo
Don't count on seeing any grey whales. You may get lucky and see some blue whales, really lucky and get to see some orcas. |
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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That's what I thought.
I'll check out the office later this summer. For this trip I'll stick with SI.
| Quote: | Originally posted by willardguy
now that the new immigration offices in ensenada are 10 times the size of the old one at the port it wouldn't surprise me to see them start offering
tourist cards. why not? |
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4332
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
Member Is Offline
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http://www.buysafesea.com/
Wife swims in the ocean most everyday. When there are 'agua malas' we slather on this stuff. Came in handy one October at Agua Verde. 
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13195
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
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years ago I got mine in Ensenada too but the guy was not happy about it....the walk to the bank is not convenient. bad idea all around.
TJ is easy.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13047
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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they now have the bank right in the Immigration Office at the Port.
Have a wonderful summer trip Lori...watch out for stingrays. There were whale sharks at Coyote Bay near Mulege...ask the pangeros...they will know.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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The new facility at San Ysidro is definitely a piece of cake. My only complaint is that you have to park a considerable distance from the building.
That said, the last two times we have obtained our FMM forms there, the IMM officer was able to handle the cash transaction saving us a trip to the
bank. However, the bank is in the same building.
In any event, The SY port of entry is absolutely the way to go if you need to get your FMM.
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mojo_norte
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 2-14-2006
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by willardguy
now that the new immigration offices in ensenada are 10 times the size of the old one at the port it wouldn't surprise me to see them start offering
tourist cards. why not? |
Where is the new office in Ensenada - same place as the old one?
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mojo_norte
| Quote: | Originally posted by willardguy
now that the new immigration offices in ensenada are 10 times the size of the old one at the port it wouldn't surprise me to see them start offering
tourist cards. why not? |
Where is the new office in Ensenada - same place as the old one? |
no, not even close, its on lopez mateos
(think Desert Inn) but a half dozen blocks south, across from a pemex. not close to the ocean.
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