Down to Panama and back, TIP questions.

Try to "pay" for the refunded money with a credit card or debit card, what really is important is that you and the vehicle be out of Mexico at or before the 180 days, I can not offer any information about Guatemala, last time I was there was in the early 70's, things ave changed.

The TIP for Mexico can only be surrendered in Mexico, less hassle when reentering, although there are some that do not or have not done this in a long time, do not risk it.

Another bit of advice, do not walk bare foot on the streets, specially the little one, here are nasty fungus that one can catch, my brother caught one and it had to be removed by a doctor.

I do not know if you volunteered for something as in Peace Core or is it an Archeology project, then they might be able to obtain a longer "work visa" for your stay in Mexico.

navegator

Yes, You can cross any border with Mexico and get a new TIP. ExPats do it all the time. Remember you will also have a deposit that must be refunded. That could be a problem.

Moisheh

Righto, yes, we do have a "truck camper" = F350 with slide-on white thing in the tray. And while I use it as a full time 'rv' I do not get the discount associated with it for insurance purposes (registered in Arizona). This therefore means, I believe, that I cannot qualify for the 10 year TIP. Hence, is there no opportunity for us to remain in Mex for longer than the 180 days that will be given at the border? Are there extensions available? What would happen if I dropped across the border of Guatemala for a day? Would this reset the TIP?

And then there is the bigger question of other countries with similar restrictions. It is all well and good to say not to surrender a TIP in say Costa Rica or Guatemala and return back through the country before it expires but we travel slow and may not get back before then.

So, basically, for planning purposes, which countries provide how many days TIPs and how long does one need to stay out of a country in order to qualify for a new TIP? The last place I want to be is stuck trying to get north because of a lack of planning!

And I am aware of the dangers of mosquito borne threats, its funny how you are blase about it for yourself but when your really small offspring is at stake, you start to think of things differently.!

Thanks for all your feedback!

You cannot get a title and registration for a truck with camper.

I was relying on reports on forums that some people permanently fixed their camper to the truck and were then able to get it retitled as a motorhome/RV and then paid less for registration and insurance.
Obviously not available in all states, but if it were the case, the aduana may accept the vehicle for a ten year TIP, especially as in my experience, the officials don't ever step out of their office and just accept whatever is on the documents.

A truck and camper coming in from the North ( USA) does not need a TIP for the camper. It is not a vehicle. You cannot get a title and registration for a truck with camper. But Tony is correct that a truck does not get a 10 year permit.

Moisheh

Do you mean truck camper as in pickup truck with a camper shell that can be lifted off or a truck with a built living cabin that is attached to the chassis permanently?

That changes what type of TIP you are issued.

navegator

I doubt whether you will get a 10-year for a truck camper coming in from the north unless the camper has been permanently fixed to the truck AND the title and registration details modified to reflect that status. Trouble is then you can't drive around with the camper removed because the TIP will not be accurate. Of course only there is a roadside check and then only if an official spots the error - but given that trucks on their own never get 10 year TIPs it isn't hard to spot.

All RV's get a 10 year TIP, by RV it means class A, B, C, pull trailers and 5th wheel.

The cars, SUV's and some toys get a maximum of 180 days, days not 6 months, the same amount of time as the personal visa, the vehicle and the person that has the visa have to be out on or before the 180 days have expired, the RV can stay behind, when you exit on the way South turn the vehicles permit not the RV's in to customs and your visa to immigration, when you return from Panama the Mexican authorities will issue a new TIP for the vehicle and a visa for you, the RV already has a 10 year TIP.

Have your passports stamped when entering and exiting, that gives you the time in country and when you return it verifies that you have exited the various countries that you have traveled to.

Be aware that there are mosquitoes that transmit blood born infections, make sure that you and the child get vaccines before you leave Australia, I belive that you have asked about this in a prior message on this forum.

At the beginning of this forum there are a number of persons that have very good info, you might be able to ask some of the writers trough personal mail some specific questions.

Bien venidos a Estados Unidos de America, México y Centro América.

navegator