Can't fly out while you have a vehicle in Mexico?? True?

[tony_lee]

Recently reported elsewhere - that Mexico have linked their immigration and aduana systems and that they are enforcing their rules about no being able to leave the country when there is a 180 day TIP still in force.

Was surprised that it wasn't discussed here so I'm wondering whether it applies to the normal winter-time snowbirds or whether it only applied to those living more or less permanently in Mexico

see first section in https://yucalandia.com/driving-in-mexico-issues-fun/importing-driving-a-car-in-mexico/

June 20, 2016 Update
INM at airports appear to now have access-to & use Aduana-Banjercito vehicle permit database information when we fly out of Mexico. …
A recent San Miguel Expat forum post described a change at one INM airport office on for foreigners exiting Mexico (in Mexico on a Visitor’s Visa)… who also had an existing (un-cancelled) Temporary Import Permit for their foreign-plated car:

” Our car permit is in my husband’s name (we’re on tourist visas). He had to fly out yesterday to care for his mom for awhile. When the plane was just about to take off, they found him and he had to pay a 390 peso fine because he’s leaving the car behind.
Word to the wise! “

or is it old news.

Mind you a $20 fine is hardly significant but it would be if you were stopped from getting back in because of an abandoned vehicle

[Talleyho69]

So why do you think he was told to go to the booth, turn in the FMM he had, and buy another?

[moisheh]

Talleyho69:

You cannot get on a plane flying out of Mexico without proof of your "status" You can be a Mexican citizen with a passport, you could have a residente Permanente or a temporal residente. Last would be an FMM. FMM's are actually supposed to be turned in when you leave the country. Therefore when you go to the ticket counter you must turn in your FMM. Does not matter if you have a car permit or not.

Moisheh

[Talleyho69]

I'm still confused about what happened to him.

If we both entered by land, there would be no vehicle attached to my FMM because it is attached to his. Why would I have to turn in my FMM at the airport and purchase another one?????

[moisheh]

You cannot board an airplane in Mexico that is going out of the country without showing one of the following: your Mexican passport if you are a citizen, your FMM or your residente card. The FMM must be turned in . When you return a new one is needed to board the plane. tleeming: When you entered the country did you pay a bond for a car or truck? If so you may have lost that bond. I live in the no hassle zone so do not need any car permit or bond and my MH has a 10 year permit.

Moisheh

[Talleyho69]

You shouldn't have to show your new FMM to anyone, and you don't have to surrender it when you exit the country, so it shouldn't be an issue.

Be nice to understand why/how you had to get a new FMM.

[tleeming]

I flew out of PVR for 8 days over Xmas to the USA on United.
The ticket agent would not accept the tourist visa. I had to go the the IMF booth and purchase a new tourist permit to hand in to the agent. My Spanish is not the best but my understanding was that my permit was for entry by road not air. There was no discussion about my vehicle TIPs etc. I almost missed the flight as that booth was busy so allow extra time for that.
I received 180 day permit upon my return. It will be interesting to see if I can drive out of the country without buying another permit!

[moisheh]

Never cross when the Californians are going home @ Xmas. That date varies according to the California school system. This year the rush was Jan,6,7,8. We were lucky and only took one hour. One year I got stuck in that mess and was over 4 hours. Another year I turned around and headed to Douglas.

Moisheh

[reed_cundiff]

We crossed into Belize several years ago and told the Belize officials that were planning to leave vehicle in Belize and fly to Cista Rica. They told us that this was illegal and would have to leave rig at impound yard in Belize City. We did this and it worked well though we had to pay about $5 US per day. Good to hear about impound area at Cancun airport if we ever had to return under emergency conditions

[playaboy]

Anybody can cancel a TIP, even expired, at the border. There is no checking of FMM's. There is no checking names. Anybody can process the cancellation, you don't have to be the owner of the vehicle. Just have the original paperwork and sticker on the window. Takes less than 5 minutes at the kiosk.

[navegator]

The only way to get out with out to much hassle is to be at the border late in the afternoon of December 29 2016, there are thousands of Mexicans that spend Christmas with family in Mexico and need to be at work on Monday the 2nd, since some of them have at least a four day trip back home to places as Chicago, Detroit, ETC. they swamp the border, this mass of persons returning decals and paperwork means that the agents collect and scrape decals, they do not look or read the documents, since you are travelling on motorcycles it will be faster, go to the front of the line once on the US side and maybe they will let you get ahead of some one to the US check point.

navegator

[peterth]

Yes you could do that by applying for temporary residence in the country where you live and then completing the process in Mexico, you would then be allowed to come and go at will but you need to have a Mexican address. You could then have your vehicle permit extended to the time of your residency. But you would probably need to first take the vehicle out and back in with a new TIP. I have had to do this. But not quite as to your situation.

[scharfg]

Hi folks just came across this useful forum/message trail from Tony Lee.

Looks like we will need your help as we were not aware of what we were doing was a problem (ie: leaving our motorcycles behind in MX), but now that I'm researching to go back before our TVIP expires I'm learning that we are in trouble!

So I went to one of the web links in this message string and found this info:

"Leaving Mexico without your Vehicle Registered when you have an FMM: (Hint: Don’t)

If you entered Mexico with a valid Resident Temporal, then there are no issues with you traveling out of Mexico without the vehicle. If, however, you enter Mexico on an FMM, and get a TIP for your car, then you must only leave Mexico with the vehicle – driving out. The vehicle’s permit sticker has control numbers associated with your FMM, and when you leave the country (e.g. by flying), then when you depart Mexico, they take/cancel your old FMM.

When you re-enter Mexico, they issue a new FMM, and the number on the new FMM will not correspond to the control number on your car’s sticker, which will potentially cause big problems when you attempt to leave Mexico with the vehicle."

So now I'm wondering what we do now given we've already flown home at the end of our trip in October and now have flights booked to return March 04th/17 (so we will get a new FMM on the plane) with the idea of riding south to Tapachula, cancelling the TVIP, putting the bikes back in storage and then returning in ~8 months to either ride more of MX or enter into GT for two weeks?


We had a bit of an experience with the FMM when we left in October in that we had surrendered out FMM when we checked in at the airport, no problem. But then when we were getting ready to board the plane they stopped us and said we had to pay our FMM fee as our FMM said we entered by land and were flying home. We had to go back to the airline check in desk and show them our FMM receipt and then we were good to go. Not a big deal (even if we had to pay for another FMM), but it may be an indication that MX is tightening up on things.


We need to get this figured out before March! Our TVIPs expire April 05 but this may be a mute point if we'll be in cuckah because our FMM number won't match what is linked to our TVIP!

Also, will we need to cancel the FMM at the same time we cancel the TVIP? I hope not as we'll need to surrender the FMM when we go to board the plane home..... :?

If we are lucky enough to cancel the TVIP without the change in FMM number, how do we find out about storing the bikes in Gov't bonded storage until we return (keep in mind we don't speak Spanish)?

Hi folks another edit: I read this thread a bit more and was wondering if a Temporary Residence Card would allow us to ride in MX for the next 4 years and not have to worry about going back and forth and the 180 day TVIP time limit....?

Suggestions....?

[Canadian_Rainbi]

Tequila wrote:
As to #3 I have wondered if you could fill your fresh tank with vodka or white tequila and get away with it.

You might get caught with that. The Black tank might be safer. :E

[Tequila]

As to #3 I have wondered if you could fill your fresh tank with vodka or white tequila and get away with it.

[Talleyho69]

VERY well said!!!!!