General Reports

[Village Chief]

If I understand their laws correctly, a visiting United States citizen needs a visa to enter Mexico (two kinds, one is free, the longer one costs around $20). And the visa is to be turned in every time when that visitor exits Mexico.

But in the case of the free visa (for 7 days or less) the Mexican government doesn't want to go through the time, expense and bother of reissuing a S / T visa daily for those visitors who stay in Mexico for just a few hours each time, multiple times each week?

Too bad they didn't take that logic to the matter of someone who stays more than a week at a time, but does that multiple times within a 6-month period.

I did not see any place to return the visa on my way back. Apparently this is still in the initial testing stage. So I guess each time you enter, you will just have to go through the same process of getting a paper permit with the date stamp.

[Village Chief]

This remains to be seen. If the passport card works indefinitely then there is your answer. There is speculation that eventually they will tighten the reins once this has been in play for a few months. There are a lot of issues that need to be ironed out. They will change things as the program matures. They can't possibly do everything they want without some serious overhaul.

I will purchase a 180 day visa once a month until they tell me I can't anymore. My time is split between SD and Tijuana. Two weeks in each place. If they want me out eventually then fine I will leave.

Right now day trippers have been told to hold onto the 7 day visa and when it expires get another one. This could change at some point.

On the other hand people passing cars get waived right through.

This will be a mess for a while then it gets more strict or they give up due to caos. We shall see.

Have fun and just go with the flow.

Went to test it out myself yesterday and the passport card did work. However the lady who issued me the less than 7 day visa did say that each time I cross I have to go through the same process again and get a new pass for each visit. Therefore I tore up the pass and trashed it when I came back. Someone just mentioned that I could reuse it for at least 7 days if I cross again during this 7 day period. I don't know if this is true.

The taxi area is like a zoo or a circus, full of chaos, shouting and waving. It was a mess. It was not easy to get a taxi so I walked on foot across the bridge and went through the old path towards the arch. It seemed to me that there were not many people walking this path now. Many businesses moved away or closed. This is for sure going to affect the Tijuana business negatively in the short term. However I did see that some business including.

The people holding cups asking for money already moved to the sides of the half completed new walkway.

[Captain Solo]

I drove down, crossing border at about 7 PM Friday night.

The line backed up to the last USA exit. There was no accidents or delay, just slow down due to congestion. Cars were going through immigration lanes without stopping. Mexico even turned off the RED / GREEN traffic lights in the lanes. They pulled over and searched about 1 in every 200 cars, mostly pick up trucks and SUVs loaded with goods.

Nobody was asking for passport or exit visas. Just drove right through. It took half hour to get to Coahuila, and the same amount of time to cross back in SENTRI lane at midnight.

[ScatManDoo]

This remains to be seen. If the passport card works indefinitely then there is your answer. There is speculation that eventually they will tighten the reins once this has been in play for a few months. There are a lot of issues that need to be ironed out. They will change things as the program matures. They can't possibly do everything they want without some serious overhaul.

I will purchase a 180 day visa once a month until they tell me I can't anymore. My time is split between SD and Tijuana. Two weeks in each place. If they want me out eventually then fine I will leave.

Right now day trippers have been told to hold onto the 7 day visa and when it expires get another one. This could change at some point.

If I understand their laws correctly, a visiting United States citizen needs a visa to enter Mexico (two kinds, one is free, the longer one costs around $20). And the visa is to be turned in every time when that visitor exits Mexico.

But in the case of the free visa (for 7 days or less) the Mexican government doesn't want to go through the time, expense and bother of reissuing a S / T visa daily for those visitors who stay in Mexico for just a few hours each time, multiple times each week?

Too bad they didn't take that logic to the matter of someone who stays more than a week at a time, but does that multiple times within a 6-month period.

[Caprese7]

Heading to Tijuana the last week of this month. After extensive RTFF, I think I have a pretty good handle on how to stay away from problems. But I still have one question: If you're not staying in ZN, is it safe to take a taxi from ZN back to the border after 7 pm?

Thanks for any advice that can be provided.

For me, yes. I generally take a Taxi back around 1 am or 2 am. The line getting back to the USA (Thursday AM) is next to nothing.

What days of the week are you planning to be there this month?

Caprese7

[Caprese7]

Probably heading down to Tijuana next week on Wednesday or Thursday (8-26,8-27). Noticed that the "Ticuan" is open again, but although I stayed there once before and liked it, not sure it is the same since re-opening. Also, the location is a long walk to the Zona. So, perhaps "Cascadas" this time instead. Anyone have any thoughts as to which choice would be better? Simply going to drink some beer, relax and have fun for an afternoon and night.

[Artisttyp]

In your case I guess you had to pay for a more than 7 day visa? What if you live in US and cross frequently but only stays less than 7 days each time? Do they stamp your passport book each time you cross? Then the passport will soon run out of stamping spaces.

I believe this will definitely affect the business in Tijuana negatively.

This remains to be seen. If the passport card works indefinitely then there is your answer. There is speculation that eventually they will tighten the reins once this has been in play for a few months. There are a lot of issues that need to be ironed out. They will change things as the program matures. They can't possibly do everything they want without some serious overhaul.

I will purchase a 180 day visa once a month until they tell me I can't anymore. My time is split between SD and Tijuana. Two weeks in each place. If they want me out eventually then fine I will leave.

Right now day trippers have been told to hold onto the 7 day visa and when it expires get another one. This could change at some point.

On the other hand people passing cars get waived right through.

This will be a mess for a while then it gets more strict or they give up due to caos. We shall see.

Have fun and just go with the flow.

[Don Smith 10]

Will a passport card work to cross the border, I don't want to have to carry my Passport around with me.

The Tijuana cops are going to have a field day with this one.

Every single gringo will be stopped and if you don't have your Passport and permit on you your going to pay!

I crossed the border just now with my passport card.

Fast and easy.

No stamp on my card. LOL.

Even taxi stand is closer than before.

Just shout 10 pesos and 1 of the driver will waive hand.

You can get off at revolution and 2nd.

[HorseTrader]

Anyhow walked through the Mexican line because I am Mexican nobody stopped me or even gave me a second glance. If you ask me it is racial profiling to be stopping people who do not look a certain ethnicity. They should be checking everybody's passports.

While racial profiling is a taboo in United States, that isn't a world-wide standard. The Caucasians, AA, and Asians will just have to prove their status before entering. That isn't too much to ask.

[Striker2]

Business takes me to Tijuana and I cross each morning and return in the evening. If I have to stand in line each time I cross I will have to rethink my plan. I was hoping the initial paper would be sufficient and you could bypass completing the paperwork again but that does not sound like an option.

My trips to Tijuana are actually business trips to San Diego. I tend to work daily from about 5:00 am until 1:00 pm and then have the rest of the day free.

Daily trips from San Diego to Tijuana have not been a problem after I got Global Entry. This new Mexico entry requirement may screw up that whole system.

[Village Chief]

I received a stamp in my passport. This was two weeks ago. I live in Tijuana.

In your case I guess you had to pay for a more than 7 day visa? What if you live in US and cross frequently but only stays less than 7 days each time? Do they stamp your passport book each time you cross? Then the passport will soon run out of stamping spaces.

I believe this will definitely affect the business in Tijuana negatively.

[Captain Solo]

If Mexico insists on stamping passports, the gringos who live in Mexico and commute to work in the US (like one of my attorney friends) would have about 300 stamps every year in their passports.

Unless they use a very small stamp, it would quickly take lots of passport pages for those commuters.

[Artisttyp]

Hi GSR,

I was in Tijuana last week with a group of visitors. No one stopped us. It seemed to me it was business as usual. However due to the chaos of the construction, it took a lot longer to come back to the line in the taxi. The taxi driver was cursing all the way for the mess. My question is did they put a stamp on your passport or the paper permit they issued.

Thanks for your kind reply.

I received a stamp in my passport. This was two weeks ago. I live in Tijuana.

[Artisttyp]

Will a passport card work to cross the border, I don't want to have to carry my Passport around with me.

The Tijuana cops are going to have a field day with this one.

Every single gringo will be stopped and if you don't have your Passport and permit on you your going to pay!

So far YES people have mentioned that a passport card works.

[ScatManDoo]

Will a passport card work to cross the border, I don't want to have to carry my Passport around with me.!

Yes.

Under the new program where United States citizens are trying to enter Mexico on foot via San Ysidro the Mexican officials are gladly accepting passport cards AND passport books. They are NOT accepting Sentri or Global Entry.