TEO
Inverness, FL, USA
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I read in several places that it is necessary to turn in your Tourist Permit as you exit Mexico or it will be very difficult and costly to enter next year. Driving north through Columbia Crossing there was no place that we could see to turn them in.
A friend who drove through the same crossing several days later told me that turning in the Tourist Permit wasn't necessary as the process of removing the decal from the windshield and verifying everything takes care of everything.
I'm looking for verification that this is true. An email to the Mexican Consulate in Laredo has yet to be answered.
Thanks,
Paul
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Turtle-Toad
Wherever I park (orig Kingston, WA. USA)
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I haven't crossed at Columbia so can't speak directly to your question but I can give you a general answer.
Turning in your TIP does NOT clear your FMM. These are two different agencies (think immigrations and customs) and they don't share info.
Not turning in your FMM will result in fines when you do return to the border. They might even make you wait a year before issuing another FMM.
What I don't understand is, if you turned in your TIP's why didn't you turn in your FMM at the same place ? Normally the two agencies are co-located.
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hacienda contreras
Mexico
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At Columbia you turn in the TIP at a little booth near the exit, then you have to make a left hand turn and go about 1/2 km to the immigration office. It is easy to miss. It is the same office that you get your tourist permission,(FMM) but it is not near where you turn in the TIP.
As for not turning it in, there is the potential for fines, however Sal and I have tried to turn in our FMMs and as recently as January of this year the teller/immigration agent said he didn't need it. However 2 years ago when we filled out the application for a new FMM, we didn't offer the old one and the official DID want them then. He threatened us with fines but eventually relented and gave us new ones good for 6 months. He did make us write a note of apology for not turning it in when we left, nothing but a power play or an attempt for a bribe. We wrote the note and then watched him throw it in the garbage.
I think it is random, and while you are officially supposed to turn it in, it doesn't appear to be a big deal most times. Are they going to deny you entrance to the country, and turn away your spending potential? Doubtful.
If it were me in your shoes, when returning to Mexico, I would just apply for another 6 month FMM, and if he says anything about not turning the last one in, just say you did. They are not giving receipts or anything, and definitely have not marked anything down in our passports. Good luck.
Paul, does this mean you are coming back?
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briansue
on the road
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I am the one Paul mentioned who did not turn in our permits. We did do the vehicle permit and repeatedly asked the guy about the Visa and he repeatedly told us that scanning our vehicle permits and stickers took care of everything. I even pointed over at the building I thought might be where we are supposed to turn them in and he said no you don't need to. We have crossed quite a few times at various different crossing - never at Columbia before - never entered at Columbia - so are not sure of any of there procedure - only went by what the guy told us. There have been other times we have left MX and did not turn them in because we did not know we were suppose to or that it was not the same agency as turning in the vehicle permit. In fact I can only recall one time we turned them in because someone finally told us we were supposed to. So 6 crossings in the past 6 years and only turned the papers in once that I can recall. No one has questioned us about it yet. I am not by any means suggesting that this is OK or that you don't have to do it. I am only relating our personal experience which may or may not work for anyone else. This is not advice - this is just a report of our experience.
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qtla9111
Monterrey, Mexico
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I'm not a photoshop type of guy but here is a pic of what the procedure is.
First stop at the caseta to turn in the TIP, then continue on to make the left turn to the Aduana building, park, walk to the building to turn in your FMM, make the turn around again passing the caseta and cross the bridge.
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Bounder Lew
fulltimer Melaque Mex , site 33 Oceanside
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For us land lubbers crossing by car FMM and TIP appear to be two totally different systems as described above. However a camp mate of mine came into Mexico in Oct 2010 with a TIP and FMM. Flew back to Can in apr 2011 so his FMM expired. then came back into Mex in Oct 2011 - then when he flew back out in Jan 2012 they knew from his FMM that he had an expired TIP! I know it is bizarre but if you want a better explanation talk to Sandy at LDT. He had to sign his life away and go to Manzanillo when he got back.
PS I am guessing at the dates above but the bottom line is that I have concluded that there is some sort of interlink between TIP and FMM.
And if you want to talk about the link between passport numbers and TIPs I am willing to wonder if they will ever close that loop hole for us 10 yr TIP for RVs?
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hacienda contreras
Mexico
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So what did they do or say to your camp mate? Did they make him pay any fines? I'm thinking if he flies back in then drives out and turns in his TIP he should be ok. Not sure. And did he get stopped in Mexico at all while he was driving on an expired TIP?
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Graydon
Somewhere on the road
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When we crossed, the guy at the little caseta where we turned in our vehicle permits told us we had to go to the Immigration Office in the Audana building to turn in our FMMs. We did it exactly as Chris's map shows.
Graydon
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moisheh
North America
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My understanding is that the 2 are linked. First because the FMM's are recorded in a computer. Second because there has to be a link for those that have FM2's and 3's ( Inmigrante and non inmigrante) for the deposit paid on vehicles. I don't know this as fact but it makes sense. There is no loophole for 10 year permits. Even though you turn in your FMM the 10 year permit is still valid. This past year I have noticed many for sale signs on various foreign owned RV's. Especially motorhomes. Very illegal. You can bet that if this continues the 10 year permit will end very quickly and deposits will be required on RV's.
Moisheh
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Turtle-Toad
Wherever I park (orig Kingston, WA. USA)
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Of course they are linked, you have to have a FMM before you can get a TIP, and your FMM number is entered into the TIP database. But to think that just because you turned in one, doesn't mean they are going to automatically cancel the other. I know that the databases are linked, but I believe each agency is responsible for their own and probable can't change anything on the others database.
And I believe the loophole that Lew is talking about is the fact that, for U.S. citizens, your passport expires every 5 years and your RV or Boat TIP's are good for 10 years. But I don't understand how this can be considered a loophole, I mean, how is someone going to take advantage of this? It may be a glitch and may cause headaches with the Mexico record-keeping, but I doubt that it will affect the travelers.
Of course I could be wrong and everyone is working off the same database.
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