anyone ever have an issue with not returning tourist cards?

briansue wrote:
Months later we crossed at La Palomas and they knew right away we did not turn in the previous years FMM. The guy told us the penalty was $5US per day - but he did not charge us so I think he was kidding.

Sounds like either a either joke or attempt of extortion, or both. Hey, Mexico is a fun country :) ... I "think" that $5 per day is fine for overstay, i.e. staying after tourist card aka FMM had expired. Makes sense since they measure FMMs in days.

Fine for not returning FMM is measured in months, and it is either $US 40 (according to US Consulate in Monterrey), or $100 for the 1st month and then after few more months sliding down to $40 a month (according to gringo grapevine). Reportedly, they have guidelines for fine reductions through negotiations.

pomsplus wrote:
There are several border crossings where there is no visible spot to turn in your visitors visa. Also even when turning it in you have to ask some of them to actually stamp your passport. The system is getting better but is still not perfect. I keep my old FMM and if I am asked would give it over.

Yes I usually cross at Lukeville. At Tecate I could nto find a spot to turn it in.

BTW that road from Puerto Penasco to San Felipe across the top of the Sea of Cortes is in good shape. My GPS indicated it did not exist.

A few years ago we entered at Nogales and exited at Laredo. The guy where we turned in our vehicle permit indicated that was all we had to do - we did not turn in the FMM. Months later we crossed at La Palomas and they knew right away we did not turn in the previous years FMM. The guy told us the penalty was $5US per day - but he did not charge us so I think he was kidding. We now make the effort at Laredo to cross to the entry building and park and go in and return the FMM - requires driving in circles. We have never had our passport stamped on exit. I have no idea what the rules really are.

There are several border crossings where there is no visible spot to turn in your visitors visa. Also even when turning it in you have to ask some of them to actually stamp your passport. The system is getting better but is still not perfect. I keep my old FMM and if I am asked would give it over.

Ok, you found them, now you'll mail them by regular mail and won't have a proof that you did. Most gringos send it by regular mail - I mean most of those very few that do bother to mail it, in the first place.

Yes, officers enter it in computer when issue. No, I have never heard of anybody having issues with cards not returned. Neither have I heard of anybody being denied a new card after a few months because he hasn't returned the previous one. Just make sure you don't leave the old one in your passport when handing it to Migra asking for a new card :)... One guy did, and was yelled at, and then was issued a new card.

I haven't heard of anybody having any issues with any abuse of their visitor status, other than when openly committing a serious crime. Tourists don't return their cards, they don't bring their vehicles back if TIP is not required, they bring several times more stuff than $75 value allowed per tourist ($300 if flying in) and then they leave this stuff in Mexico because they bought a home there - a tourist, yes. At some point the authorities will start enforcing some of this - maybe.

This is the first time I hear of somebody asked why they didn't stamp "salida" in passport when leaving Mexico.

Once every few years somebody has minor problems when they travel all over the country WITHOUT any tourist card (which is only allowed within 30 miles from the border). They are fined $100 or 200 and set free.

I found them. Dan Goy of Baja Amigos sent me the address to mail them back. Apparently you have 30 days after they expire.



Instituto Nacional De Migracion

Puente Puerta S/N

Colonia Federal

Tijuna, B.C., Mexico

CP 22310

It will be awhile before absolute tracking is possible. Look at the insanity at major border crossings. If that stupid migra had asked me about a missing gringo pasaporte missing stamp I would have responded with...

Please tell me EXACTLY as to how to go about doing this at Garrita 2 Tijuana?

If INM gives you a hard time for no reason, get their name and badge number. Make out a report with an Angeles Verdes. It is a Denuncia Federal. Se golpe el ventilador con esterico believe me.

I got quite a lecture year before last because our passports hadn't been stamped 'salida' when we left Mexico the previous spring. Now we cross into the U S at Sonoyta/Lukeville and before the gate I stop, walk across the street, wake the guy up, give him the fmm's and have him stamp our passports. Most crossings do not have any place to stop to do that. Yes, we are now in their 'system'.

There is no answer to your question. In the past you could just toss the FMT. There was no record keeping. But now the tourist permit is tied to your passport in the Migra computer. Last time I crossed going south I was told that soon there will be a booth on the northbound side to collect the permits. In the meantime they could be tracking expired permits. Or not!

Moisheh

I've traveled in Mexico on and off since 1998 and I have never returned a tourist card, nor is there any clear opportunity to do so at the Laredo crossing. Vehicle permits, absolutely, tourist cards never.