| Missions to Mexico |
| Crossing the Border/Tourist Cards |
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Update regarding Passports:
There has been quite a bit of confusion regarding when Passports will be needed for re-entry into
the U.S.A. We went to the border crossing and asked officials about this and were told that U.S.
Citizens traveling by ground will not need Passports until an "undetermined" later date for re-
entry into the U.S. So at this time just a valid photo ID and an original birth-certificate are all that
are needed for re-entry into the U.S. For air travel, Passports are needed at this time. Here's the
U.S. Department of State website that confirms these findings for your info as well: http://travel.
stat.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html
For detailed driving instructions for how to get from the border to our area click here
Entering Mexico
When entering Mexico, or at a different checkpoints along the way, you might be asked some
questions (rarely happens). It’s possible they might ask you what your purpose is in Mexico.
Remember that you’re coming as a tourist. Your time here in Mexico will be under the
recognized category of tourist. It is best that just the leader speak and the others remain silent
unless asked a question. Your group should be briefed that they as well are coming as tourist.
Also, in the event you have a problem crossing the border at the main Tijuana crossing (for some
strange reason they're in a bad mood and create some "New Law", you can go to the Otay Mesa
crossing which is just a few miles east of the main crossing. It's where the trucks and larger
vehicles cross. Just go back up the 805 freeway and grab the 905 freeway east. This will take
you directly to the Otay Mesa Border crossing.
Are Tourist Cards Needed?
Mexico has a suggested tourist fee they charge visitors. If you are either staying in Mexico longer
than 72 hours or traveling past the Border Zone you will need to pay the 260 peso Tourist Card
fee (roughly $25 US dollars). The card, known as the Migratory Tourist Form (FMT) is valid for up
to six months (180 days) with multiple entries.
In Baja California, the border zone has been extended to San Quintin (includes our area), on the
Pacific side and San Felipe, on the Sea of Cortez. Sonora state is in the process of extending it's
border zone too. In mainland states along the border, this includes a 16-20 mile zone south of the
border.
Whether or not you need tourist cards is a good question. The technical answer seems to be,
"yes", if your stay will be over three days, however, several years ago the Mexican government
made the Northern State of Baja, a, "Free Zone". This means you can travel in the Northern State
for up to three days without a tourist card. Yet, when they established this law, they didn't put a
check system in place to verify the time factor. Some say this was on purpose because the most
important thing the government wants is tourism and money. In the years since they started this,
no one to our knowledge has ever been asked for their tourist card. It appears they put it in place
to glean some extra funds if possible. They would rather have you here without a tourist card than
not at all.
We leave the decision up to groups on whether or not they obtain tourist cards and we remain
neutral on the issue. If you choose to obtain them, they cost about $25.00 per person and need
to be obtained at the border crossing in Tijuana. You'll need a passport or a birth-certificate and
current ID.
For more go to: www.mexonline.com/visamex.htm
Vehicle Insurance
Although vehicle insurance is not required in Mexico, you might want to have it just in case. We
strongly recommend that you purchase insurance prior to your trip. Purchasing insurance at the
border can be costly and time consuming.
Is it safe to travel in Mexico?
Traveling in Mexico carries no more inherent risk than in the U.S. A custom that is used in Mexico
which is helpful, and at the same time confusing, is the way they use their left blinkers. If you are
on an open stretch of highway, and following a slow vehicle, they will often put on their left turn
signal. This tells you that no one is coming and you can pass them. (But be careful here, they
might actually be going to turn left!) A valid driver’s license from the U.S. is valid in Mexico.
Thievery is also common in Mexico, so leave your valuables locked up, or out of sight.
There has been quite a bit of confusion regarding when Passports will be needed for re-entry into
the U.S.A. We went to the border crossing and asked officials about this and were told that U.S.
Citizens traveling by ground will not need Passports until an "undetermined" later date for re-
entry into the U.S. So at this time just a valid photo ID and an original birth-certificate are all that
are needed for re-entry into the U.S. For air travel, Passports are needed at this time. Here's the
U.S. Department of State website that confirms these findings for your info as well: http://travel.
stat.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html
For detailed driving instructions for how to get from the border to our area click here
Entering Mexico
When entering Mexico, or at a different checkpoints along the way, you might be asked some
questions (rarely happens). It’s possible they might ask you what your purpose is in Mexico.
Remember that you’re coming as a tourist. Your time here in Mexico will be under the
recognized category of tourist. It is best that just the leader speak and the others remain silent
unless asked a question. Your group should be briefed that they as well are coming as tourist.
Also, in the event you have a problem crossing the border at the main Tijuana crossing (for some
strange reason they're in a bad mood and create some "New Law", you can go to the Otay Mesa
crossing which is just a few miles east of the main crossing. It's where the trucks and larger
vehicles cross. Just go back up the 805 freeway and grab the 905 freeway east. This will take
you directly to the Otay Mesa Border crossing.
Are Tourist Cards Needed?
Mexico has a suggested tourist fee they charge visitors. If you are either staying in Mexico longer
than 72 hours or traveling past the Border Zone you will need to pay the 260 peso Tourist Card
fee (roughly $25 US dollars). The card, known as the Migratory Tourist Form (FMT) is valid for up
to six months (180 days) with multiple entries.
In Baja California, the border zone has been extended to San Quintin (includes our area), on the
Pacific side and San Felipe, on the Sea of Cortez. Sonora state is in the process of extending it's
border zone too. In mainland states along the border, this includes a 16-20 mile zone south of the
border.
Whether or not you need tourist cards is a good question. The technical answer seems to be,
"yes", if your stay will be over three days, however, several years ago the Mexican government
made the Northern State of Baja, a, "Free Zone". This means you can travel in the Northern State
for up to three days without a tourist card. Yet, when they established this law, they didn't put a
check system in place to verify the time factor. Some say this was on purpose because the most
important thing the government wants is tourism and money. In the years since they started this,
no one to our knowledge has ever been asked for their tourist card. It appears they put it in place
to glean some extra funds if possible. They would rather have you here without a tourist card than
not at all.
We leave the decision up to groups on whether or not they obtain tourist cards and we remain
neutral on the issue. If you choose to obtain them, they cost about $25.00 per person and need
to be obtained at the border crossing in Tijuana. You'll need a passport or a birth-certificate and
current ID.
For more go to: www.mexonline.com/visamex.htm
Vehicle Insurance
Although vehicle insurance is not required in Mexico, you might want to have it just in case. We
strongly recommend that you purchase insurance prior to your trip. Purchasing insurance at the
border can be costly and time consuming.
Is it safe to travel in Mexico?
Traveling in Mexico carries no more inherent risk than in the U.S. A custom that is used in Mexico
which is helpful, and at the same time confusing, is the way they use their left blinkers. If you are
on an open stretch of highway, and following a slow vehicle, they will often put on their left turn
signal. This tells you that no one is coming and you can pass them. (But be careful here, they
might actually be going to turn left!) A valid driver’s license from the U.S. is valid in Mexico.
Thievery is also common in Mexico, so leave your valuables locked up, or out of sight.
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