warning, avoid nogales on Jan 10

[Tequila]

I will be taking 17 rigs across that day. We will probably plug up km21. Best to avoid crossing.

[Tequila]

We got 17 in there, nearly all class A's & 5th wheels. One guy missed the oart about having to have a letter of permisison to take a company truck in even if you own the company. Thye woudl nto give him a permit. I went back to my rig where I have a printer and typed up an official looking letter and they took it.

There were 2 ladies who were also refused a permit (not part of our group) who had a middle intial conflict between their passport an registration. Their plan was to have a corrected registration DHL'd to Guyamos then try at the other Banjercito. If it is closed as you say, that means they have to backtrack.

[robatthelake]

Tequila ,

There is only enough room at Km 21 for about Four Rigs! We plugged it up with three larger units just this past Wednesday!

The Station at Guaymas was Not Open either !

[moisheh]

Caravan Company Information Some Caravan companies may be tax evaders. They probably do not pay USA, Canadian nor Mexican corporate taxes. they do not pay the IMSS for their employees. Instead the employees become an LLC and they call them contractors. Foreign LLC's are not recognized under Mexican law unless they are registered.. They are foreign corporations and cannot operate in Mexico without permission. The above link to the terms stats that the Wagonmaster has an LLC. Does not state that is a Mexican or USA LLC??? I wonder if the Caravan company tell their employees that this practice is probably illegal in Mexico. If it is legal then these employees should be self paying their Seguro and taxes. These employees require a work permit. I am not sure if the Migra issues work permits for this type of employee. The employees require a Residente permit with the work option. This raises all kinds of difficulties. It becomes very complicated. These employees are also required to report this income to the IRS or the CRA. It is also interesting that Tequila is always complaining about being charged in USA $$. He is 100% right! However the caravan company he works for also charges in USA $$. A double standard??? These companies are operating on the "dark side". Cheating employees. avoiding taxes. not following immigration laws, not paying payroll taxes and overcharging their clients. Reading the terms of this company tells me some ambulance chaser has had a hand in those terms. However employment law in Mexico is very strict. I doubt all their disclaimers would pass muster in a courtroom. If I were Tequila I would be worried that his employer is passing the buck to him. They claim no responsibility for anything that Paul does. If a client were injured and it was deemed to be Paul's fault he would be paying big time!!! And deported. I am surprised that Vagabundos is involved in this business. I am not a tax attorney but they may be involved in something that is not allowed under their tax status. I also wonder if all Caravan companies operate in this manner. There is also a problem with tourist insurance. If your vehicle is being used in a business you cannot have tourist insurance. An FMM is invalid as well. There is a box on the FMM where you can check that you are here on business but I think that is for persons who are here to represent a foreign company. Example: a salesman wanting to sell a product or service. Interesting.

[Tequila]

briansue wrote:

What is a "Green Angel"? I gather it is someone who helps run a caravan?

The Green Angels have been around for a very long time. Last I heard there are a couple thousand of them. Basically mechanics in government trucks who travel many of the numbered roads all over Mexico to help motorists who have problems. They carry some tools and basic parts and fuel. Another of the great ideas and things we love about Mexico. You can Google to see lots of pictures of them and go to these websites to try learn more about them. Call 078 on your cell phone to get help from a Angeles Verde. They now have little travel trailers to pull behind their trucks so they can go with caravans in case there is a need for their assistance. The service is free but parts or fuel must be paid for. They will also try to get you to the nearest repair facility if your needs are greater than their capabilities.

http://av.sectur.gob.mx/

http://sedetur.qroo.gob.mx/index.php/tramites/angeles-verdes

They are very good. My boss who is Mexican, has the connections and he arranges Green Angel escorts for both his caravans and Fantasy's plus a couple of the Quebec ones. It works out cheaper than paying for a tailgunner who has mechanical skills. Plus they have all the local resources, can call for help if they need another to help another stranded tourist, etc. and have many parts with them. 2 years ago someone damaged theri frame on a trailer, next day they showed up woith a wielded in the RV Park, that sort of thing. In another case somebody popped their back window backing up their 5th wheel. They took a few days but sourced out a replacement & installed it. For free. They also have the authorization to stop traffic. Sometimes we have them front & back to transit confusing cities. Last seaon when they were digging up periferico #3 in Aguascalientes, they took us over #2, I waas glad they they were there. They are sort of 1/2 way beteween AAA and the cops.

I am noit so sure about thr 078 thing. When I use a US cell phone to dial a local mexican number I dont have to put anything extra in fornt of it. I will have to try it.

[Talleyho69]

You are so right. Fortunately, we live down here half the year, and have a 10 year.

[Tequila]

Talleyho69 wrote:
As of right now, FMM's are not available on line. The TIP is, and it's fabulous. Same cost, delivered to your hands in just a few days, and no stopping at the border!

For a couple of years, maybe 15 years ago, we could go to our Mexican Consulate and get our FMM's. Not any more.

End result? Get your TIP on line, save a lot of hassle, then all you have to do at the border is the FMM.

We are close enough to the border that we do a couple day trip to San Diego shortly before our heading south for the winter, and get our FMM's. That way, no stopping at all when we cross the border. Works for us!

You have to be absolueley sure you are going or DO NOT DO IT ONLINE. They are almost impossible to cancel unless you are able to get ot the border to do it. OK for 10 year ones, not so good for 180 day ones.

[briansue]

You cannot call 078 from an American cell phone.

Didn't know that either. We get a Telcel basic phone. Fortunately have never had to call for help.

[briansue]

Sorry - I am totally confused about the whole get the permits online thing. Couldn't remember if it was FMM or TIP. We tried it but still had to stop for more paperwork. We called the consulate in Phoenix some years ago and knew you can get one but not the other. So the stop is still required. Since we have to stop anyway we just get as early a start as we can to try to beat the rush.

A couple of times we have tried a different system. As we cross NM and TX we head to a small border crossing we know is not busy and does not get traffic. We do all our paperwork there in advance. Then we go to the main crossing and just go across with paperwork all done. Doesn't work for everyone just as other systems don't work for everyone. We go to a dentist south of Deming, NM in Palomas, MX to do the paperwork and get teeth checked - and get all paperwork done with no line and no waiting. Then we continue on to Laredo to cross. All depends on where you are going and where you are coming from and what works for you.

[Talleyho69]

As of right now, FMM's are not available on line. The TIP is, and it's fabulous. Same cost, delivered to your hands in just a few days, and no stopping at the border!

For a couple of years, maybe 15 years ago, we could go to our Mexican Consulate and get our FMM's. Not any more.

End result? Get your TIP on line, save a lot of hassle, then all you have to do at the border is the FMM.

We are close enough to the border that we do a couple day trip to San Diego shortly before our heading south for the winter, and get our FMM's. That way, no stopping at all when we cross the border. Works for us!

[moisheh]

You cannot call 078 from an American cell phone. Only from a Mexican phone.

[briansue]

What is a "Green Angel"? I gather it is someone who helps run a caravan?

The Green Angels have been around for a very long time. Last I heard there are a couple thousand of them. Basically mechanics in government trucks who travel many of the numbered roads all over Mexico to help motorists who have problems. They carry some tools and basic parts and fuel. Another of the great ideas and things we love about Mexico. You can Google to see lots of pictures of them and go to these websites to try learn more about them. Call 078 on your cell phone to get help from a Angeles Verde. They now have little travel trailers to pull behind their trucks so they can go with caravans in case there is a need for their assistance. The service is free but parts or fuel must be paid for. They will also try to get you to the nearest repair facility if your needs are greater than their capabilities.

http://av.sectur.gob.mx/

http://sedetur.qroo.gob.mx/index.php/tramites/angeles-verdes

[briansue]

is it still possible to get all the necessary permits at the nearest Mexican consulate?

We checked on all this a couple years ago. I believe it is possible to get the FMM (some call visa but not) online but not the vehicle permits which must be done at whatever crossing. This may have changed but the last we heard you still have to stop and do some sort of paperwork if you are going beyond the free zone. I could be wrong but we have not figured a way to make the crossing simple - as it is going into Canada.

[Tvov]

What is a "Green Angel"? I gather it is someone who helps run a caravan?

[cgmartine]

Tequila, is it still possible to get all the necessary permits at the nearest Mexican consulate? I have never done it online, but I might the next time. I always went to San Bernardino, Ca., some twenty five miles away from my home, and got everything I needed there, so I never had to stop at kilometer 21.