As I posted in Feb., the rates for the card (if you don't get one immediately at the border and pay whatever small fee is required at a bank at that point) are totally out of sight now. This trip I was never asked for or checked to see if I had 'the card', and after heading back to the States without a need for it, I ask this... has anyone actually been checked for, and if so, where, what time of day, and the eventual outcome? 15 years of Baja and I'm thinking more times than not I 'forgot' to get one and never checked, other than maybe once at the N?S border at Gurerrero, and going north during business hours on a weekday. Any thoughts? Something about gravity sports desires flying below the radar whenever...and wherever possible.

I experienced the same thing several years ago until a immigration jerk got a hold of me in Guerrero Negro and tried to get a good chunk of change from me. After arguing with the guy for about 20 minutes he let us through without it and said that we better make sure we pay for it on the way back home in ensenada. I chanced it and never paid, but it was not a good experience. Not to mention that when I went through Guerrero Negro it was 1:00 AM.

Are you talking about a tourist card or FM3? I came through Tecate a few weeks ago on Sunday, was unable to pay cuz the Bank was closed. I paid a couple of Days later in Mulege, no hassle, cost was about 30 bucks....I had an FM3 for years and just quit renewing it, pain in the ass, and seemingly, no benefit......

why is it that > entering the United States anything needs to be 100% perfect by law (otherwise you are arrested) but some Americans entering other States (like Mexico) try to do everything illegal.
Point is: If you enter Mexico you got to have some kind of an FM > FM-T or -2 or -3.
Entering without such permit is illegal. That Mexico has some kind of 'lush' enforcement in this matter does not mean that one don't need the legal paper.
Period

Hey Frank $ Tina, get off your high horse. In case you haven't noticed, there seems to be no shortage of Mexicans here in California who don't give a crap about immigration laws. Why the hell should I give a rat's ass about Mexican laws?

Immigration: New Procedures, May 1, 2010



IMMIGRATION: New procedures, May 1, 2010

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Mexico’s National Immigration Institute (INM) has announced a range of amendments to its immigration and internment procedures to be implemented starting May 1, 2010. Although the amendments do not significantly alter the core rules and regulations which underpin current immigration law, the changes will make the paperwork and procedures less complicated for foreigners wishing to enter Mexico; particularly for those coming to Mexico to do business and those who wish to live, work and retire here.

The new entry form is the FMM, or Forma Migratoria Multiple.

The new FMM will cover visits of up to 180 days for tourists, business visitors and technical visitors, with sections on the form for each category type. Business and technical visitor categories are clearly defined and the entry extension to 180 days is a significant change to current regulations which allow business visitors only a 30-day window to remain in the country.

The new FMM forms are scheduled to be introduced on May 1 and the new FMM-based procedures will be available to visitors who are passport holders of countries eligible for entry to Mexico.

For people who are staying in Mexico longer than 180 days using FM3 or FM2 visas, the current paper booklets will be replaced with plastic cards, and holders will no longer need to have their change of address, change of business activity, marital status, et al, annotated on the document proper. Resident foreigners will still be required to file notification of changes in personal and professional circumstances, but the procedures which required the surrender of the document to the institute for a period of up to several weeks while changes were annotated will no longer be required.

Mexican consulates based overseas no longer issue FM3 visas. They will, instead, issue a sticker that is placed into the applicant’s passport once the INM has approved an overseas application. The applicant will then need to enter Mexico within 365 days and obtain the new FM visa card within 30 days of internment, by visiting a local office of the INM.

In summary:

Tourists: If you enter Mexico as a tourist, your entry will remain virtually unaffected by the new procedures. You will simply need to complete the ‘Tourist’ section of the new FMM visitor’s card at the port of entry, and when you enter the country you will be granted leave to remain in Mexico for no longer than 180 calendar days.

Business Visitors: If you visit (or plan to visit) Mexico to undertake business activities or to undertake work in Mexico for periods of 180 days or less, you will enjoy greater flexibility by way of these new arrangements.

Long Term Visitors and Residents: If you remain in Mexico for longer than six months, there are some welcome simplifications being introduced to the FM3 and FM2 visa procedures, especially in relation to doing-away with the process of surrender and re-issue of paper booklets.

The new procedures are explained and illustrated by the following video produced by INM:
Instituto Nacional de Migración Here is a summary of the New Procedure: http://www.inm.gob.mx/EN/index.php

Baja Ralph: you should give a "rats ass" about Mexican Law because IT IS the law. Just because ILLEGALS in this country don't does not give you the right to do the same. The new changes to the system sound good, an improvement for sure....

Thank you for the LOGICAL reply, JR. It would be nice to know if the new form has to be obtained immediately at the border as the old forms are, or did they ease off to the older and more 'less complicated' method of the past. If not, a form is a form is a form, kind of like the EZ 1040 of the IRS... less complicated my you-know-what. I don't mind filling out forms, just being charged an arm and a leg for them, or losing a full day out of my trip to get it.

Now, getting back to my original post of 02.04.2010, the point of my statement of this post is the overt FINE one has to pay for not getting the FMT (Tourist Card) immediately at the border. In past trips I've always got my paperwork LEGALLY done at either the office at Guerrero border or in Sta. Rosalia, and paid my 'dues' at the local banks thereof. I'm no novice at traveling in Mexico, been doing it LEGALLY for many years (oooh, the criminal element of it all!), but border towns are almost impossible to find parking towing an RV, and this year (for those who didn't look at the original post before commenting) I got my card/form at Sta. R., and when paying at the bank found out the gov.t fined me a HUGE amount of $$ for not getting it done "within 100 Km. of the border" (IN QUOTES). Ended up almost $150 for two of us, and i was a little non-plussed.

Now before you get on the 'cheapskate' bandwagon, I drop a siginificant amount of dollars every month while there, which goes into the Mexican economy and individual families' pockets and dinner tables and improving their lives, and the little amount (in comparison) that the fine represents does NOT. Matter of fact, that was $150 that could have. I resent being fined for that, which monies go into the gov.t's pockets (and I'm NOT inferring the Mexican gov.t is corrupt, I'm STATING that ALL gov't.s ARE). Far's the U.S. entry is concerned, there's lots of little rules I break every day. So Frank & Tina, your comment was a little caustic and deserved a caustic reply, albeit off the original point. Could have been worded a little nicer. Geez, you made me feel so guilty I almost drove back to a border crossing and surrendered that extra case of Pacifico I SMUGGLED SOOO ILLEGALLY across. Tell me F & T, going into the United States as a Mexican National how much are they CHARGED for entering and how much do they leave behind as economic bolsters? I'm not inferring any prejudice here, just making a point of the fines levied on me. And if the FMT is so important, why is it not enforced AT ALL? Yes folks, the LAW IS THE LAW. Period. But I'll be the honest one that states I will 'bend' the silly ones with impunity when they're unjust or over-burdening and it does not hurt a single soul by it. So kiss me sweeetly for doing it(one place or another, your choice).

Big Smooch! I cross at Tecate, leave my rig in the Lil shopping center parking lot, walk over to the Immigration office, do the deed and walk back...Good leg stretch after the hours behind the wheel....Case of Pacifico? Oh Shame!

It is amazing to see how many folks are "sitting on the high horse" only b/c they think Mexico is lawless, right BajaRalp?
Your post is evidence of lawless thinking which you certainly only accomplish in Mexico, but don't have the gutts to do that inside the US.
Be smart BR, go with the law and do not judge others when doing incorrrect. None of your business!