Down to Panama and back, TIP questions.

[marksgone]

We are about to head on a year journey from US to Panama and back. We are both Australians with a 7 month old in tow traveling in a track camper. We have just scored a volunteering position in Mex for 4 months and now researching visas tips etc.
We hoped to stay on in Mex for a further 3 months, maybe also throw a trip to Cuba in. I read now that TIPs for Mex come in two flavours, 6 month and 10 year. Can we get the 10 year RV TIP? I have found conflicting information about what qualifies and what does not. If not how can we renew it? Will a quick trip across the Guat border able us to get a new one? And what about other countries and their restrictions. We travel very slowly but need to be aware of the different restrictions, ie we dont want to be stuck in Panama for 90 days waiting for a CR visa.

Also, how is it with personal Tourist Cards? Can we get a renewal in-country or do we need to leave and re-enter? And are there any specific things we need to do for the little guy?

Lots of questions, but there are lots of smart people out there!!

[qtla9111]

Based on my experience canceling several permits for rvers in past years, it is a nightmare and I will never do it again. Nightmare is a bit extreme but you'd better speak pretty good Spanish and know how to be a ver patient person.

I guess I don't understand most of this. The rule is to turn it in as you exit the country. Turn the darn thing in and be done with it. With GPS, Google Earth, cell phone cameras, I don't understand how you could miss the caseta.

Rules are rules and if anyone wants to get around them, it shouldn't be those who live north of the Mexican border.

K.I.S.S is the best rule.

[moisheh]

Tequila's link to Mike Dean's article( who is Mike Dean?) is not exactly correct. I and others on this forum have tried to follow the instructions and run into lots of roadblocks. It is not just a matter of couriering a few papers. Some on this forum gave up! I persisted and after spending a small fortune and sending it to Mexico City twice it was canceled. Many have failed at this task. I was able to call a person in the Aduana Office and after about 5 phone calls she explained the missing steps. It was hell and my BP has never been the same. One of my courier packages was refused because they had moved to a different office in the same building. The courier explained to me that they will not accept anything with a wrong address. If the woman in Mike Dean's article retires or quits your parcel will be returned.

Moisheh

[Tequila]

IMO, it is always a good idea to return a TIP whenever you leave Mexico, even a 10 year one. You never know when circumstances may prevent you from returning.

[navegator]

As you have mentioned señor tequila the TIP was not used, yes it can be mailed in, if you are in the U.S.A. or Canada, in Guatemala or points South mail service might be spotty if any, they may be denied re-entry going North, that would mean having to leave for the US from Guatemala or Belize, it is better to surrender the TIP at the border on the way south and re-apply when returning North.

navegator

[Tequila]

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.

Not exactly true in every case, if it was obtained on line & never used it can be done by mail, but it's a big hassle. See
Link

[Tequila]

You can get a 10 year permit on a truck & camper if you do it online. You will need a US address to have it sent to. I know people who have done it. If you want to be safe, remove the jacks from the camper, before entering, but you can still get away with it, easy. I have known people who have been giving a 10 year, even at the border on a Truck & Camper, although they will normally consider it as a truck carrying cargo.

There is a lot of info here, plus a link to an example online form and the URL to fill it out.

border info

[navegator]

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

[moisheh]

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

[marksgone]

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!

[tony_lee]

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.

[moisheh]

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

[navegator]

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

[tony_lee]

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.

[navegator]

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