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Debbie B
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 06:40 am |
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| Has the requirement changed as far as needing Visas for a 7 day stay? Last I heard was if you are visiting for 7 days or less a mexican visa is not required. Is this true?
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Susura
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 01:03 pm |
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| You still need a visa. If you are not going further than San Carlos or travelling in the Sonora area free zone you do not need a car permit.
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7th_heaven
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 02:56 pm |
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| I am not sure what is going on lately about this issue, but on two different trips down they told me only the driver needed a visa. they checked everone elses passports and stuff but that was it. Just issued one Visa. Maybe they were low on forms?? Anyone else has this occur??
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Teo
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 07:49 pm |
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Debbie B. - You will need an FMT (Mexican tourist visa) when traveling to SC. The tourist visa is free if staying seven days or less. If you stay more than seven days, the cost is about $21 USD per person. An FMT can be obtained at Immigration at km 21 south of Nogales.
7th heaven - The "single visa" happened to us, too, on our last trip to SC. On the way down, the immigration officer at km 21 listed both my wife and I on the same visa form after checking our passports. Coming back, a different officer was confused that we didn't have individual visas but made no big deal about it.
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Master98
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 08:15 pm |
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On our last 3 trips with guest husbands and wives, each person was given
their own visa even as a non driver. They were free if under 7 days.
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Debbie B
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 09:11 pm |
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| Thank you for all of your answers. Things seem to change on a daily basis here in Mexico, so just needed clarification. Our family is coming for a visit over the 4th.
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TC
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 12:40 am |
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Debbie, just a guess here, but since you're going at a busy time, it might be a lot faster to get the FMT (Forma Migratoria Turística, a.k.a. Tourist Card, not really a visa) at the Mariposa crossing rather than k21. The office is on the right, immediately after crossing the border. We always get ours there, and I don't think it's ever taken more than ten minutes, usually less. As long as you don't need a car permit, there's then no need to stop at k21.
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Debbie B
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 01:03 am |
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TC,
Is that where you go through the red/green light and go through Nogales instead of paying the first toll? If it is, thanks for the info. Didn't realize you could get a Visa there.
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TC
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 01:36 am |
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Debbie B wrote: TC,
Is that where you go through the red/green light and go through Nogales instead of paying the first toll? If it is, thanks for the info. Didn't realize you could get a Visa there.
Debbie, I'm not sure where you mean, but the route I'm talking about isn't through Nogales. The Mariposa crossing to the west of Nogales -- exit 4 off I-19 (if I remember correctly - don't trust that exit number, but it is Mariposa Road). Google Maps, in satellite mode, shows the building very clearly: to the right (west) immediately after the border.
Most people don't realize that the FMT is available there -- that's why it's so uncrowded and quick!  Sometimes there's no one in line at all, and I don't think I've ever seen more than 3 people ahead of us. How much that might change in the July 4th rush, I don't know.
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Debbie B
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 02:16 am |
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| Yes, TC were talking the same route. We always do the Mariposa route coming and going. There is a red/green light there at that building. If you drive through there you by-pass the first toll booth. You end up coming out on the road towards K21. I believe it is the old route before the toll road was put in. Again, thanks for the info. Now, when our family comes to visit us they may not have to wait in a long line to get their visas. Have a GREAT 4th of July!!
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Sandman
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 01:29 pm |
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I assume that you are talking about (Ruby Road Exit), the truck route? When we went through there is it was confusing, we got green lights, drove right past the white building and missed it totally, no one came after us. When we got to town we were told we needed the visa, we went to the airport and got one, but, the INS man wanted to charge us a fine, and I talked him out of it. When you are leaving town you drive right past that building. Seems they really don't care, or just there to collect money.
My question is, if you have a 6 month Visa, you don't have to stop at all?
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TC
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 02:50 pm |
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Sandman, yes, the truck route, but not Ruby Road, which 8 kilometers further north. This exit:
http://www.interstate-guide.com/images001/i-019_st_08.jpg
I agree that it's a bit confusing on the Mexican side of the Mariposa crossing, because one would assume that there would be paperwork ceremonies mandatory there. But there aren't, presumably because of the freedom of movement permitted in the zona fronteriza, i.e. no Mexican documentation is needed to travel within the border zone.
The two easiest choices for obtaining the FMT* are there at the Mariposa crossing, or at k21. k21 is where the border zone ends, thus for traveling beyond there, the FMT is required, one per person.
Great question regarding using FMTs for multiple entry. Officially, it's supposed to be returned upon exiting the country (check the text on the back of the one you have). Since there are no exit formalities on the Mexican side when leaving by land, it's seldom returned, and it's normal to use it until it expires. If you're comfortable with that, there's no need to stop for paperwork as long as you're not going to areas that require car permit.
*(Minor technical point of no interest in most cases is that the FMT to visit Mexico and the visa to visit Mexico are two completely different creatures. Last time I checked, there were 39 countries whose citizens can visit Mexico with the easy-to-obtain FMT, no visa required. Citizens of all other countries are required to obtain a visa, a more time-consuming bureaucratic process. The minor technical point of no interest could become a major point of great interest for a traveler from those countries, and for anyone traveling with them.)
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Sandman
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 04:40 pm |
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We got off at Ruby Road,turned left went and got gas&pesos, then went straight up the hill to the truck entrance. Is this correct? The gate was wide open, no waiting, no cars and drove straight through.
I read the back of the Tourist Visa
Valid only for 180 days, with no possibility of renewal, starting at the date of entrance
Will not be authorized to perform lucrative or remunerable activities
Will be authorized to request an extension until completing 180 days of stay.
The form does not say anything about being returned. Am I missing something?
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Dave
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 04:57 pm |
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| Ruby Road is a long way north of Mariposa Road. Ruby Road does not go to the border. Keep going further south on the Freeway until you see the sign Truck Route, Mariposa Road, then turn right and keep going and you will run into the border.
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Sandman
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 05:05 pm |
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| Got it now, Mariposa Road, actually, I think that is where we were.
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TC
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 06:06 pm |
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Sandman wrote: Got it now, Mariposa Road, actually, I think that is where we were.
Sandman, yes, Mariposa Road, also designated Route 189 -- the exit in the photo in my previous post. As Dave notes, and as I noted previously, Ruby Road is a few miles -- approximately 5 -- to the north. Have a look at Google Maps and you'll see that both are very clear.
I hope I'm not leading you astray with regard to what's on the back of the FMT. The only one I've located here at home is from 2004, so it may not be up to date. On the back in the tiny print under both Instrucciones and Instructions it says that the foreigner will have to turn it in upon leaving the country.
In any case, I've used an unexpired FMT for multiple entries on many occasions, and know other people who've done the same. Not technically by the book, but it makes sense that it would work: since entry and exit aren't tracked, a visitor with a valid document could just as well have been in country since the date of issue. Whether from a legal aspect it's a good idea or a bad one to use it that way, I can't guess.
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Traveler
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Posted: Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 09:05 am |
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In May of this year I was told by the issueing officer at K21 that our 6 month fmt's were to be used for multiple entries and were not to be turned in upon final exit.
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Sandman
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Posted: Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 01:18 pm |
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| So, my question is, If you have a 6 month FMT, and nothing to declare, do you have to stop at the white building at KM21? We are coming down again Labor Day, by the way, can't wait. Beach, Beach, Beach! Last edited on Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 01:19 pm by Sandman
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will rogers
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Posted: Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 07:01 pm |
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| No!
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gbates
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Posted: Fri Jul 4th, 2008 02:50 am |
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| Do you have to go through the "lights" or can you just drive right on by?
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