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cioppa
Newbie
Posts: 7
Registered: 3-15-2015
Location: Fallbrook
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FM3 Checkpoints
This is my first time posting on this board, but I was hoping someone could answer a question for me.
I'm planning on retiring soon, and plan on spending more time traveling the Baja. My only real experiences in Baja have been fishing trips to La Paz
with business associates where everything was taken care of via the travel company.
I wanted to begin my Baja travels with e pre-retirement fishing trip San Quintin next week, and a neighbor of mine said that I would need to get an
FM3 because they are now checking for them on the way down.
Can anyone confirm this?
Can you give me any information I would need to follow these new regulations?
Thank you.
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bajagrouper
Senior Nomad
Posts: 964
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Rincon de Guayabitos, Nayarit, Mexico
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy and retired
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There has not been an FM3 for many years, he may have meant an FMT
which is also a term not used any more.
You will not need to get an FMM (tourist permit) if staying in Baja less than 72 hours...a free FMM if staying in Baja for less than 7 days or a
paid FMM ( 306pesos)if staying more than 7 days or traveling south into BCS....No auto permit needed unless planning to ferry to the mainland from La
Paz. If driving get auto insurance and a fishing license........
[Edited on 3-16-2015 by bajagrouper]
I hear the whales song
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Actually, you won't need one for a limited period of time if you stay within the "Free Zone" which on the west coast ends below Maneadero.
San Quintin is south of Maneadero, so you need one.
Get it at the border....right at the gate in Tijuana. They require a passport.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2725
Registered: 5-10-2011
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This is not a "new". As a tourist, you need a tourist card - FMM. This regulation has been in place for many, many years, only the card name changed
from time to time. Cost $US 25, issued at the INM office at any border crossing, simple. They will ask you for how long you are going to stay there,
though lately they tend to just stamp 6 months stay to everybody, without you asking. You will also need to enter some "address" when filling the
blank, - just put something like "Campo San Quntin", they don't care.
They "might" ask you to show this card at some military post on the road. How likely - hard to tell, but they do check these cards occasionally. I
don't know why taking chances to be turned back or fined (or both), when you can get this card at the border in a matter of minutes.
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Alan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1626
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Yucaipa, CA/La Paz
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Alm is correct. Nothing is new other than changing the name a few years ago. It has always been required for travel south of Maneadero and for many,
many years they had a rigid checkpoint at the south end of town. Like most all regulations it has been a matter of enforcement and for many recent
years no one was really checking until you crossed into Baja Sur at Guerrero Negro. From posts on other boards it appears they have been checking
again, albeit sporadically at Maneadero. It is such and easy process I can't understand why so many continue to "play the odds" of getting checked.
They are available 24/7 at the San Ysidro crossing. Stay in the far right lane as you approach the border and pull into the Declaracion area, park
you car and walk into the large blue bldg. There is an INM office just as you enter. Sometimes the officer will accept your money other times he may
send you next door to the bank. Regardless, pay your money, get your passport and visa stamped and be on your way in about 5 minutes.
In Memory of E-57
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Gulliver
Senior Nomad
Posts: 651
Registered: 11-18-2013
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Has anyone heard of being checked for a tourist card recently when driving North?
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
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Mood: Waiting
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They will only check if you don't have one. I can't remember a visa check point
north of G Negro, and that was off and on.
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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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Checkpoint
If you have your proper documents you don't need to worry about the checkpoints
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Gulliver
Senior Nomad
Posts: 651
Registered: 11-18-2013
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If I had my card I wouldn't be asking. Duh!
I lost it and to replace it requires a trip from Mulege to either Cabo or The border. I'm headed that way at the end of April. and I have my receipt
(fortunately) so I suspect there won't be a giant hassle.
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TedZark
Nomad
Posts: 171
Registered: 10-31-2014
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Drove to GN from Ensenada last week. A couple police check points on the way down and a couple military checkpoints. Was never asked for anything.
Coming back up, no police checkpoints and two military check points. Someone looked in the trunk for a few seconds and that was it. No problems
either direction. No papers asked for, though we had everything we needed.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6004
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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In my last five trips, no one has ever asked for a tourist card. Not on the way down, or coming back north!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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toronja
Nomad
Posts: 134
Registered: 2-1-2015
Location: Eugene, OR
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Just a quick heads up - we have never been checked, but a thread came up recently saying that people had been hitting random checks at GN and
Maneadero.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=77935
The FMM is not difficult to get and worth the peace of mind.
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Gulliver
Senior Nomad
Posts: 651
Registered: 11-18-2013
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As per my previous post, I DID get a tourist card. I ALWAYS do. I lost my wallet and am not at all happy about having to drive to Cabo or Tecate to
get a new one as it was due to expire in early May and I am headed North in Late April.
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toronja
Nomad
Posts: 134
Registered: 2-1-2015
Location: Eugene, OR
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Jeebus, take a chill pill. That comment was for the benefit of the original poster and the rest of the community, not a personal attack. What is with
the aggression and defensiveness on this forum?
[Edited on 3-16-2015 by toronja]
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13195
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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welcome cioppa! as most stated- getting your tourist visa is very necessary going as far south as san quintin. It is the law and it can protect you.
the "visa" office is right at the customs control building, to the far right as soon as you enter Mexico. you fill out a form and you pay right then
and there. then you get a stamp. Perhaps take a picture of the FMM so that you have proof in case you lose it, quite easy to do.
Have a wonderful trip!
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7084
Registered: 8-5-2011
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I drove north from Mulege a couple of weeks ago and was not asked. I've never seen an immigration guy at the checkpoints and I doubt, but don't know,
the military guys who man the checkpoints ever ask for immigration type papers. I have been asked for the car registration once though. If you get
asked for a visa tell them you lost it and you're on your way to the US.
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soylent_green
Junior Nomad
Posts: 90
Registered: 9-4-2014
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I was recently at a conference where the head of Immigration in Baja spoke - Rodulfo Figueroa.
some common misconceptions.
There is no such thing as a "free zone" or "72 hour rule". Nothing in Mexican law that states this. Through practice and general policy - yes.
If you cross into TJ to go get tacos for a couple hours, you should by law have a FMN.
Realistically of course, there is no way the Immigration office, with one guy in it, can issue thousands of permits for day. BUT, there is not "free
zone" law.
7 days or less - your FMN is free
And everyone's concern about returning your FMN when you come back - the head of immigration should the proper manner: pretended he was wadding up a
piece of paper and throwing it in a trash can. They don't care if you return it. If you do return it, the wad it up and throw it in the trash can.
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soylent_green
Junior Nomad
Posts: 90
Registered: 9-4-2014
Member Is Offline
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Also, if anyone feels they are getting mistreated by Baja INM - Mexican Immigration - the official in charge of compliance and to report any improper
actions by their officials, the contact is
Ricardo Salazar
664-636-6017
=====
if you live in Baja, spend the money and get your residence.
just sayin
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churro
Nomad
Posts: 195
Registered: 5-6-2013
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I would get the tourist visa for going to SQ... If you have any problems such as a traffic accident, you want to be in the country legaly.... We got
one in TJ last week and only took a couple minutes to fill out the form and pay the 25 bucks per person. We had our passports stamped
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 2-9-2004
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Below is news from Discover Baja. Since you are planning to travel in the future just get one. Also it may needed to make your Mexican auto
insurance valid. Avoid any worry and be sure to get both.
From Discover Baja
The Mexican Immigration Department has had a checkpoint south of Ensenada on Highway 1 just past Las Canadas, where they are checking to make sure
that non Mexican citizens have their FMM tourist permits. If you do not have an FMM, they will turn you back to Ensenada to get the correct paperwork
which you can get at the port before you are able to proceed.
Any time you enter into Baja for more than 72 hours, and or head 20 kilometers south of the border Mexican law requires non Mexican citizens to have
an FMM. If you will be in Baja for just seven days or less, you can obtain a free FMM at the border.
The easiest way to make sure you have all of your correct paperwork, is to get a prepaid FMM through Discover Baja. Please allow two weeks advance
notice so that we can be sure to have an FMM reserved for you.
Please call us at 800 727 2252 or email us at ask@discoverbaja.com to obtain your FMM. See the Discover Baja website for more information on FMM
Tourist Permits
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