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Pappy Jon
Nomad
Posts: 494
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Wrong side of the Continental divide.
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Mood: Temp rising.
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Hinky FFM?
When a buddy and I crossed into Baja from Algodones we were instantly detained by two Immigration officers with the assistance of an armed solder.
Bottom line is they wanted us to get an FFM, which was no problem. The issue is they were very threatening, intimidating, and persistent. They even
demanded a printed itinerary for our trip to prove where we were going and for how long. I'm on vacation, and while I have a pretty good idea what I
want to do, I don't print it out.
So we filled out the paperwork and the guy pointed to a sign on the wall with the fees. I asked him where the bank was so we could pay ... and he said
new rules, we pay him. I briefly question this, but since I'm in his country I backed off quickly. He also wanted exact change.
So have the rules changed? My FFM doesn't have a bank stamp and the guy wrote it for 180 days, even though our trip was planned for two weeks. Is this
paper worth anything?
[Edited on 10-28-2014 by Pappy Jon]
"The association of flowers and warm-blooded love is more than a romantic convention; it is based upon one of the great advances in the evolution
of life." Ed Abbey
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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not until the bank gives you a receipt and the same turn then stamps it.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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next time tell them that you'll just go home, save the 100's of dollars you were going to spend in their economy and that they should kindly F off.
san luis is only a few minutes away....
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treuboff
Nomad
Posts: 127
Registered: 8-27-2013
Location: prescott az
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You got ripped off unless your not staying the limited time and you still got ripped off. That's alright because you don't know where to to turn them
in if you come out anywhere else. The NAFTA port there is no access across the lanes and inside a sign says not to leave them in the box at the
window. Even though there were some in it when we got ours. If you were to import goods where would you pay them at Algodones?
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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You can not import anything at Algadones. They turn you around.
I have been stopped there as well. right after you cross there is a guy there asking immigration status. I guess we are lucky, he looks at our
residence card and waves us on disappointed.
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Tioloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2651
Registered: 7-30-2014
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Rts-
I recently took a pool table thru Algodones and was given the go ahead after a brief check. What do you mean when you say you can't import anything
thru Algodones?
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Tioloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2651
Registered: 7-30-2014
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Been thru Los Algodones hundreds of times and never asked anything related to immigration.... Just occasionally asked where to and where from.
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Alan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1626
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Yucaipa, CA/La Paz
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If you paid about $26 USD and they provided you with a INM stamped FMM the only one who potentially could be ripped off would be the Mex Government if
they keep the money themselves. I have never been asked to show a bank receipt just a stamped FMM
In Memory of E-57
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64837
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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After Algodones, did anyone ask to see the FMM during your trip? I suspect not.
The money can be paid to the INM officer... at least since 2012 when I bought FMMs at Tijuana border, and had read earlier that year it was now an
option if the bank nearby was closed. I asked the INM officer and she told me I could pay her or the bank teller a few windows away, it did not
matter.
The 180 days is what the FMM limit is, so for the $26 you can either use it for two week or use it for 180 days. If you broke down and couldn't leave
before the two weeks were up, better to have it for 180 days, yes?
As for the destination in Mexico... I always put Cabo San Lucas, the furthest south point on the peninsula.
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Pappy Jon
Nomad
Posts: 494
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Wrong side of the Continental divide.
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Mood: Temp rising.
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The only stamp was a date stamp. We paid $25. I thought this was a little off, and I would have loved to have handed this over at GN coming back north
just to see how they would have reacted.
We also thought if the process would have been different if we had said we were going to Cabo. I suspect the MX government didn't see our $50.
"The association of flowers and warm-blooded love is more than a romantic convention; it is based upon one of the great advances in the evolution
of life." Ed Abbey
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5900
Registered: 7-18-2011
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I would "X" out your passport #.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64837
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Here was what my FMM looked like in 2012:
The FMM I bought when I flew into Baja last June by helicopter was retrieved when we checked out of Mexico at Ensenada, but it looked different than
the land based one.
[Edited on 10-28-2014 by David K]
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Pappy Jon
Nomad
Posts: 494
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Wrong side of the Continental divide.
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Mood: Temp rising.
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Different form, and I don't see a version date on either. I wonder if this guy was taking advantage of old stock. I did have an agent in San Felipe
years ago using airport forms, and I'm sure he was pocketing the money. When I crossed back north at GN the border folks had a fit with the airport
form.
"The association of flowers and warm-blooded love is more than a romantic convention; it is based upon one of the great advances in the evolution
of life." Ed Abbey
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Tioloco
Rts-
I recently took a pool table thru Algodones and was given the go ahead after a brief check. What do you mean when you say you can't import anything
thru Algodones? |
I believe you just took through...you did not import it in the strict sense.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Pappy Jon...notice you don't have the official green stamp either
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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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new rules to make it easier for tourists...no bank needed...
you probably said you were staying over 7 days and going south
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
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It's interesting how quickly any topic deteriorates at Nomads 
1) OP question has nothing to do with importing.
2) Demanding FMM was the case of abuse of power UNLESS this tourist said that they intended to stay longer than 3 days and/or go beyond the border
zone.
3) FMM without bank stamp is interesting. Maybe "new rules". I don't see bank stamp on David K picture either, only date stamp. Happened in the past
a number of times, I mean - no bank stamp.
If this is new rules, they are making a mistake and soon a number of federal cops will lose their jobs and end up in jail. They are not ready for this
responsibility. Algodones is a strange choice for this kind of "fishing expedition" because very few tourists require FMM there. Majority of gringos
entering Algodones intend to stay there, and they don't stay longer than 3 days, and those agents of course knew this before they stopped this
tourist.
[Edited on 10-28-2014 by Alm]
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Green stamp on the second page where it says "sello de entrada" or entry stamp.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Alm
It's interesting how quickly any topic deteriorates at Nomads
1) OP question has nothing to do with importing.
2) Demanding FMM was the case of abuse of power UNLESS this tourist said that they intended to stay longer than 3 days and/or go beyond the border
zone.
3) FMM without bank stamp is interesting. Maybe "new rules". I don't see bank stamp on David K picture either, only date stamp.
If this is new rules, they are making a mistake and soon a number of federal cops will lose their jobs and end up in jail. They are not ready for this
responsibility. Algodones is a strange choice for this kind of "fishing expedition" because very few tourists require FMM there. Majority of gringos
entering Algodones intend to stay there, and they don't stay longer than 3 days, and those agents of course knew this before they stopped this
tourist.
[Edited on 10-28-2014 by Alm] |
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3071
Registered: 5-21-2013
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Algodones only.
We have paid at the Bank and at the customs office. At the customs office the change was loose in a desk drawer. In any event customs duty are
documented with all the usual paperwork.
On weekends when the walk/drive traffic is heavy we find several Immigration people and several customs inspectors. The main Immigration guy slows
everything up and ask where you are going. If you say anyplace but Algodones for shopping then he asks for cards. If you have either of the residente
cards you are waved thru. If you have nothing he sends you to the other guy to get an FMM and pay at the Immigration office. I do not know what
happens if you show him an FMM that you still have? I suspect he will be unhappy and make you get another FMM.
Yes the military has a presence going N and S at the main border. Lots of crossings and never been inspected so far.
Bottom line its best to avoid Algodones Friday thru Sunday. Other week days expect to find one customs guy and the others are missing. And no delays.
PaulW
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
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The green stamp of the bank says INM on it. So, the INM finally took over what - in their opinion - belongs to them ... Perhaps, after some secret inter-departmental war... Now they "only" need to
train their cops to civilized standards. No small feat.
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