Turning in your FMM

I bet they don't. I say that because at the Reynosa Hidalgo crossing and the Nuevo Laredo Colombia crossing, immigration agents are tasked with doing data entry. I wouldn't be surprised that upon return, there might be a chance of a fine for late return or nothing at all. Each crossing is different just like in the U.S. and each reports to a person who does things differently.

I mail mine back! Figure the buck & half to the USPS is the easiest way to return it.

But if they do not give you a receipt the system is flawed ! You have no way of proving that it was returned. And if you say it was turned in they have no way of proving you wrong. I will have a better idea next fall as I know a few who do not return the forms.

Moisheh

The law says you should return it. Almost nobody does this, and it appears that they don't care. Yes, "the system is flawed". Duh. Welcome to Mexico.

I've said this before too.......

One year we crossed into Mexico at Nogales.

We returned to the US at Laredo/Columia that year.

The guy where we turn in the vehicle permits said we did not need to turn in the FMM - so we didn't. I think this was a communications/language problem and we misunderstood each other.

The next year we went to cross at Columus,NM/Palomas and when we did our paperwork the guy knew right away we did not turn our papers in the previous year - so I am going to guess they know somehow - and they do keep records - and the records are in the system throughout the system no matter where you cross in either direction. The guy told us it was a $5 a day fine for every day we went over the permit period - I do think he was joking - maybe. I do not think it is anything to worry about - but then again???


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What country gives you a receipt for turning in a tourist card or permit?

I had been checked plenty of times in SSP retenes and Puestos de Controles Militar but never at the border.

They have always given receipts for TIP's so why not for an FMM. Countries may not give you a receipt but you do not leave the country without turning it in. Why don't they have a booth on the outbound side to collect the permit? The answer is they don't give a damn. You can both enter and exit the country without speaking to any Government agency. In most cases they don't even have your plate#. Ridiculous !

Moisheh

We always return our FMM. Our passports are stamped upon entry and stamped again when we exit. I consider the passport entry and exit stamps my receipt.

Roslyn wrote:
We always return our FMM. Our passports are stamped upon entry and stamped again when we exit. I consider the passport entry and exit stamps my receipt.

The only thing that matters is the passport exit stamp. It is recorded. The one year I didn't turn it in when I returned, he said you didn't turn it in last year's. I handed my old TIP to him and he said no more.

Several times when I drove out but handed him my airline entry TIP. He said it was not paid, I quickly showed him the stamp and let him know all airline TIP's are prepaid.

Likewise when you fly out, if you don't have a paid TIP, they have every right to make you pay again.

So just get your passport stamped when you leave.