Nuevo Laredo

[Zoom 21]

I have been told the same thing regarding payment. In all my trips into Mexico I have never been asked for the card EXCEPT at the checkpoint 25 miles south of Nuevo Laredo. Everytime they stop the bus and walk through they always ask me for it. One time I didn't pay the fee and get stamp, the soldier pulled me off the bus and into an office next to the bus. He made me leave $20 and gave me my passport back. I doubt if the 20 went to the bank. It is a pain in the butt and also I am not sure if all banks actually will stamp it. What they tell you at the border isn't always true when you are standing in the lobby of a bank.

Does anyone know which banks will take the fee and stamp the card?

I went to Monterrey and I have to go a the way to the airport to pay the fee,
what you get is a ticket from the bank.

The bank was Banorte in the airport.

Zoom

[Imran M]

Is it safe to visit NL downtown or NLBT?

[Member #3453]

I have been told the same thing regarding payment. In all my trips into Mexico I have never been asked for the card EXCEPT at the checkpoint 25 miles south of Nuevo Laredo. Everytime they stop the bus and walk through they always ask me for it. One time I didn't pay the fee and get stamp, the soldier pulled me off the bus and into an office next to the bus. He made me leave $20 and gave me my passport back. I doubt if the 20 went to the bank. It is a pain in the butt and also I am not sure if all banks actually will stamp it. What they tell you at the border isn't always true when you are standing in the lobby of a bank.

Does anyone know which banks will take the fee and stamp the card?

I finally had a chance to more closely inspected the visa stub I received, and I'll be damned if it isn't stamped with the date, etc...just like they would have done were I to have paid for it, or come through airport immigration. I guess there is really no way for them to know that I didn't pay with that stamp there with the date and all.

So, if you go Visa office in Nuevo Laredo, and the cashier isn't open, or they're getting read to close or something, you'll probably get a valid visa, stamped, stamped prematurely in advance of your showing the clerk that you paid for it that is, and you'll be told to pay at a bank when you have a chance.

They're stamping the thing out of laziness in advance of payment, and just waiving you off if the cashier is closed, or unable to take your money.

[Doubt98]

The last time I got a tourist card, June 2010, they asked for my passport, and actually stamped in it, you have to look really close to see the stamp as the stamper was almost out of ink. The only time I have ever been asked to show a card was about 4 or 5 years ago when traveling, as a passenger, in a POV.

I have been told the same thing regarding payment. In all my trips into Mexico I have never been asked for the card EXCEPT at the checkpoint 25 miles south of Nuevo Laredo. Everytime they stop the bus and walk through they always ask me for it. One time I didn't pay the fee and get stamp, the soldier pulled me off the bus and into an office next to the bus. He made me leave $20 and gave me my passport back. I doubt if the 20 went to the bank. It is a pain in the butt and also I am not sure if all banks actually will stamp it. What they tell you at the border isn't always true when you are standing in the lobby of a bank.

Does anyone know which banks will take the fee and stamp the card?

[Slick Willie]

The last time I got a tourist card, June 2010, they asked for my passport, and actually stamped in it, you have to look really close to see the stamp as the stamper was almost out of ink. The only time I have ever been asked to show a card was about 4 or 5 years ago when traveling, as a passenger, in a POV.

I have been getting these things religiously every 6 months since 2003, and I have never paid for one once. Last Saturday I went through the check point at Allende in a super luxurious Autocamiones de Pasaje Anahuac bus with on-board wifi, which was bound for Mexico City, and nobody got on the bus to check anyone's papers. At the same check point on the way back, however, the army made all the passengers get off the bus and went through everybody's stuff except mine. A Gringo with a backpack who hasn't paid his $20 is the last of anybody's worries.

[Bbond]

It's a laid back border crossing. You could probably write your name as "Mickey Mouse" on it and I doubt anybody would ever notice, since they rarely seem to bother look at whatever ID you happen to show them. I had one a few years ago which I never paid for (not because I was trying to skip out, but because the bank line was too long and I was in a hurry). I've also never returned a tourist card for land trips. I'd be pretty surprised if anybody in Mexico is actually keeping track of this stuff, and I think they are facing bigger problems than tracking down USA visitors who don't pay the fee which they barely bother to try to collect. Though, I wouldn't advise abusing the system either or they'll tighten it up. Just pay it except when they make it a major inconvenience.

The last time I got a tourist card, June 2010, they asked for my passport, and actually stamped in it, you have to look really close to see the stamp as the stamper was almost out of ink. The only time I have ever been asked to show a card was about 4 or 5 years ago when traveling, as a passenger, in a POV.

[Blourghus]

I had to come across the border the other day and purchase a 180 day tourist visa. I filled out the paperwork, and was told to go next door to pay the cashier. The cashier said that he couldn't accept payment today. It was probably about 4:30pm.

I went back over to the immigration office, and they told me I could pay the fee at any bank. I figured I would need to pay it right away in order for the visa to be valid. But, I complained to the immigration official that I did not have a car, etc. And that I didn't want to cart my shit all over creation to pay the stupid visa fee. He said, that's ok, you can pay it whenever you can. I asked him how long I have to pay it and he said 180 days.

That sounds really fishy to me, but I am walking around with a filled out visa that has never been paid, and I'm under the impression that it's valid, even though I have not paid for it yet. Anybody know whether they were just full of shit at the Immigration Office.

Seems kind of stupid if you can take 180 days to pay for a tourist visa. Who would be fool enough to pay for the thing if you can walk around with it for 180 days and not have to pay for it until the 180th day. I did not notice any record keeping that would show that you had filled it out and never paid for it, but maybe there is something in their system that kicks it out when you fail to pay for one, and go to apply for your next tourist visa.

Your experience is exactly the same as mine.
On the most recent visa I got (back in June or so), the immigration guy told me to go the bank and if it was closed just go to any bank after I arrived in Monterrey. The bank guy gave me the receipt, but the card itself never got a stamp or any type of mark regarding the payment. I asked him if I needed to carry the receipt along with the visa and he said no.

It's a laid back border crossing. You could probably write your name as "Mickey Mouse" on it and I doubt anybody would ever notice, since they rarely seem to bother look at whatever ID you happen to show them. I had one a few years ago which I never paid for (not because I was trying to skip out, but because the bank line was too long and I was in a hurry). I've also never returned a tourist card for land trips. I'd be pretty surprised if anybody in Mexico is actually keeping track of this stuff, and I think they are facing bigger problems than tracking down USA visitors who don't pay the fee which they barely bother to try to collect. Though, I wouldn't advise abusing the system either or they'll tighten it up. Just pay it except when they make it a major inconvenience.

[Crespo]

Yes of course Crespo, as opposed to NL where everything is cool and nothing happens?
Excuse me but NL is a warzone compared to Monterrey.

Yes Crespo, things are tough in Monterrey, but up to now, the common ordinary folk in Monterrey has been spared getting the blunt of the battle of cartels trying to conquer the city.

Yes, there has been many bad instances, and some innocent victims, but these, as in NL, have been collateral damage hit in crossfire between the army and the narcs.

Reality check: Same as Bbond and many mongers that attend NL, and me in Monterrey, we know where to walk and where not to walk. Where to be and where not to be.
We know our turff like the back of our hands.

The purpose was just to point out that Monterrey is not as safe as it used to be and thus perhaps not a good diversion on the way to San Luis Potosi. I wasn't trying to make any comparison to Nuevo Laredo.

I was surprised when I read that article. Here's something more current:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...LEFTTopStories

[MonterreyDude]

Yes of course Crespo, as opposed to NL where everything is cool and nothing happens?
Excuse me but NL is a warzone compared to Monterrey.

Yes Crespo, things are tough in Monterrey, but up to now, the common ordinary folk in Monterrey has been spared getting the blunt of the battle of cartels trying to conquer the city.

Yes, there has been many bad instances, and some innocent victims, but these, as in NL, have been collateral damage hit in crossfire between the army and the narcs.

Reality check: Same as Bbond and many mongers that attend NL, and me in Monterrey, we know where to walk and where not to walk. Where to be and where not to be.
We know our turff like the back of our hands.

Mexicana airlines on the brink of collapse:
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?Arti...tegoryId=14091
So, you might be best off renting a car (in Mexico). It looks like a 350+ mile trip from Laredo.

I would avoid staying in Monterrey given its deteriorated security situation:
http://www.nexos.com.mx/?P=leerarticulo&Article=73206

[Member #3453]

I have to cross the border on foot, and walk into Mexico at Nuevo Laredo in a few days. Does anyone know where I can pick up a visa?

I had to come across the border the other day and purchase a 180 day tourist visa. I filled out the paperwork, and was told to go next door to pay the cashier. The cashier said that he couldn't accept payment today. It was probably about 4:30pm.

I went back over to the immigration office, and they told me I could pay the fee at any bank. I figured I would need to pay it right away in order for the visa to be valid. But, I complained to the immigration official that I did not have a car, etc. And that I didn't want to cart my shit all over creation to pay the stupid visa fee. He said, that's ok, you can pay it whenever you can. I asked him how long I have to pay it and he said 180 days.

That sounds really fishy to me, but I am walking around with a filled out visa that has never been paid, and I'm under the impression that it's valid, even though I have not paid for it yet. Anybody know whether they were just full of shit at the Immigration Office.

Seems kind of stupid if you can take 180 days to pay for a tourist visa. Who would be fool enough to pay for the thing if you can walk around with it for 180 days and not have to pay for it until the 180th day. I did not notice any record keeping that would show that you had filled it out and never paid for it, but maybe there is something in their system that kicks it out when you fail to pay for one, and go to apply for your next tourist visa.

[Crespo]

Thanks for letting me know. I'll check some alternative methods of travel. The cost is too high via the airlines from the US. I had planned to stop off in MTY for some fun on the way down. But, eventually getting to SLP is business, and I can't get out of it. Maybe tickets are cheaper out of MTY airport for SLP.

Mexicana airlines on the brink of collapse:
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?Arti...tegoryId=14091
So, you might be best off renting a car (in Mexico). It looks like a 350+ mile trip from Laredo.

I would avoid staying in Monterrey given its deteriorated security situation:
http://www.nexos.com.mx/?P=leerarticulo&Article=73206

[Member #3453]

Traveling by bus to SLP?......... FOOL, read the news, they be jacking full buses, robbing all on board.

Cost is 262 pesos for 180 days.

Thanks for letting me know. I'll check some alternative methods of travel. The cost is too high via the airlines from the US. I had planned to stop off in MTY for some fun on the way down. But, eventually getting to SLP is business, and I can't get out of it. Maybe tickets are cheaper out of MTY airport for SLP.

[Bbond]

Yes, sorry I wasn't clear before. I am going to be traveling to San Luis Potosi by bus from Nuevo Laredo.

Do you know the cost of the tourist card, and how many days it's good for?

Traveling by bus to SLP?......... FOOL, read the news, they be jacking full buses, robbing all on board.

Cost is 262 pesos for 180 days.

[Member #3453]

You can get a Mexican tourist card at their customs office just after entering from the pedestrian bridge. It will be on the right near where cars are inspected. (Tourist cards are only needed if visiting the interior, such as when going to Monterrey.)

Yes, sorry I wasn't clear before. I am going to be traveling to San Luis Potosi by bus from Nuevo Laredo.

Do you know the cost of the tourist card, and how many days it's good for?

[Crespo]

I have to cross the border on foot, and walk into Mexico at Nuevo Laredo in a few days. Does anyone know where I can pick up a visa?

You can get a Mexican tourist card at their customs office just after entering from the pedestrian bridge. It will be on the right near where cars are inspected. (Tourist cards are only needed if visiting the interior, such as when going to Monterrey.)