My 7 day tourist visa

I apologize, since I know this question has been asked and answered before. I tried a search, and it produced too many entries to sift through.

Yesterday, I got my passport stamped for entry into Mexico at the Cd. Juarez bus terminal, and was given an accompanying tourist entry card. I didn´t look at it, since I´ve entered Mexico 7-8 times before, and was always given a 30 day visa or longer. But I looked later, and they only gave me 7 days.

I´ll exit Mexico via the Guatemala border in December, so I definitely need more than 7 days.

Is there a way to fix this, or do I not have to worry about this?

What a pain...

As you prob know that's the "free" stay... where you can enter and leave without paying anything... but maybe you could get the FMM sorted out at the INM office in Mex City (if you're passing by?) for 500. Otherwise, if you're cross at, say La Mesilla, I think it would be easy to just pay for the few days of overstay at the bank... haven't done it in a while and can't say what the fee would be, maybe 500 for the full FMM? Definitely not more I'd guess.

I think it would be in your interest to get it sorted out before your seven-day permission to visit expires.

...as a matter of convenience, but practically speaking, there is close to zero chance of it being a problem and not easily sorted at the border (maybe 1 in 3,500,000,000, better odds if you've got an awful strange look to you).

Yes, there was always that one lady that one year, but it's worth mentioning that saving it till the end doesn't make anyone an illegal or anything, just someone pending an administrative formality.

Go to the nearest / most convenient INM office and seek to work it out. The 7-day permission is unusual and a 'red flag' initiated by the agent after having looked at your record in INM's database. Maybe because most prior trips were of short duration.

LW

The 7-day permission is unusual and a 'red flag' initiated by the agent after having looked at your record in INM's database.

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

You are incorrect, sir. Thank you for playing Guess About Mexico.

...kidding aside, it is the totally standard "free" visa that they hand out every day to people who are just transiting through the country. Possibly a lack of communication involved, maybe he thought you were holding up 7 fingers.

What on earth would cause an agent to nefariously give someone a week in the country because of some red flag? Think about how little sense that makes. Let sketchy people in, BUT... hit them with extra paperwork.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g150800-i164-k8945540-Overstay_Mexico_on_free_7_days_visa-Mexico_City_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html

...just one similar question of course, it doesn't take too much poking around to find out that it's SOP. Unfortunately neither this forum nor the other has ever been a shining beacon of fact when it comes to this subject.

Also: if you don't send an update in 7 days, I'm going looking for you in the detention centers with a printed out picture of your Thorn Tree avatar. Don't worry, I'll get you out. ;)

Correct. A communications mishap. The border agents were speaking to me in relatively fluent English, so I assumed they understood when I said I´d be in the country for a month.

I will be going through Mexico City. Is it possible to find the INM agents at the airport when arriving on a domestic flight? Or do you know the address for an office in the city center?

Actually, #4's post may have some validity (see points 1 & 3):
https://yucalandia.com/2017/09/02/inm-continues-to-increase-enforcement-of-restrictions-on-6-month-tourist-visas/
can't say what the fee would be, maybe 500 for the full FMM? Definitely not more I'd guess
Thank you for playing Guess About Mexico.

The main one is in Polanco... I'll post it tomorrow.

No, #4's post had zero validity, and claiming that someone was given a 7-day visa because they were flagged in the system is just laughable and unhelpful. We can do better, no matter how passionately some people here clutch their pearls about immigration nitpicks for what is still one of the most relaxed countries in the world in that respect.

TT rocks, but expats who lounge around year round without a care and folks who haven't visited Mexico in many, many years are just not great sources for this kind of info and the forum has been a notoriously poor source of actual facts on the matter since forever.

I believe this is the INM office to visit in Polanco, will try to confirm soon:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/''/''/@19.4367195,-99.2814157,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x85d2021b1a2365f7:0x5c3d60bf86488142!2m2!1d-99.2113752!2d19.4367329

Nor is any post that includes qualifiers such as 'I think, I guess' of any value. If you're the so-called Mexpert that you pretend to be, you'd know (or should know) that each immigration agent/office has free reign to apply or misapply immigration rules as suits their whim, regardless of what some sabe lo todo from New York might pretend to know.
Hey, I read you were in Queretaro recently, you should have PM'd me, I'd have treated you to one of those fancy foo-foo drinks you people are fond of.
BTW, I'm writing this from my luxury high-rise condo here in Queretaro just minutes from centro. A place it costs you about $1,000 to get to.
Enjoy the snow.

I would honestly suggest not posting under the influence... just sayin'.

To get a FMM card extended from 7 days to up to 173 days more can be done at any full service INM office in any city in any state of Mexico. CDMX has some in that área and Polanco is just one of them. $500.00 pesos.

Start here:

https://www.inm.gob.mx/tramites/publico/estancia.html

Select in 1st. dropdown box: Extender la estancia [Extend the stay]

Select in the 2nd. dropdown box: Expedición de Tarjeta de Visitante por Ampliación [Issuance of Visitor Card for extensión]

Fill out the data and print out the form to take to an INM office, between 9AM to 1PM Mon. thru Fri.

For decades there's been an INM office in the airport. I haven't needed to go there in many years but when I did it was adjacent to the concourse near Entrance 10 to Terminal 1. Check with an information desk or federal police officer you see ... or with your airline's terminal office/staff. This office is separate from the INM agents scatteres at kiosks in the international gates areas.

LW

For decades there's been an INM office in the airport. I haven't needed to go there in many years but when I did it was adjacent to the concourse near Entrance 10 to Terminal 1.

LW

As of last June they were still at that location. They can speak Spanish and English fluently, are well organized, and there wasn't any line when I was there (was helped immediately). There is an internet cafe in the airport as well, if need be.

Well done, #14. Finally accurate information instead of I guess/I think. Funny how some think that good advice is just to ignore the problem until you exit, and the INM agent will just happily wave you on. After all, if the agent upon entry screwed up, Lord knows what would happen when you exit. It's always best to follow the rules.

It's less funny considering that literally nobody said it... but the actual "rules" in Mexico say you need to resolve your administrative status before leaving. It's pretty much universally understood that any minor (and even major) overstays are extremely easy to handle on the way out. A year overstay? Pay your fine and leave. No public execution, no chorus of Thorn Tree regulars jeering you across the boarder. Just a receipt and go.

Anyone who loses their FMM card pays a simple, set fee. It's up to the tourist and this forum's mega drama queen approach has always been out of line with reality. While they may want this country to be Indonesia or something, it simply isn't. Deal.

That said, those with crime/drug issues etc. are best keeping their nose clean, because they tend to attract... problems. They also might want to avoid returning to the country, as a few regulars here have admirably done: better safe than sorry, right?

(and for those who are still unclear on the concept, 1) OP did not arrive in "the airport" and 2) 7 days is the standard free transit visa given to thousands of non-flagged people per day)

Funny how some think that good advice is just to ignore the problem until you exit, and the INM agent will just happily wave you on.

For most people who are honestly / mistakenly overstating the permissible # of days (contrasted with the expats living in Mexico improperly on a tourist card) ... declaring the minor overstay is easily remedied. However, for visitors traveling on expired cards who are in vehicles inspected at certain military or police checkpoints ... or otherwise asked to demonstrate permission to be in Mexico ... the consequences can be serious. By the way ... overstay are now recorded in both Mexican and some home country immigration databases

LW

It would be just as easy to tell someone that if they visit Mexico, the consequences can be serious, because believe you me: THEY CAN BE.

As for not having your papers in order, yes, there is a minuscule chance of mild inconvenience if you draw the short straw out of 1,000,000 and get searched at a roadblock or something with an invalid FMM. Overstays, even extensive ones, are remedied through the appropriate administrative procedures. At the border, in the airport? Sure. At the INM building? Hey, even better.

I've always found this issue was somehow related to folks just being really jealous of others who stay for long periods in Mexico (or who visit at all), and lashing out by trying to scare them or wish some kind of crazy punishment on them for their bureaucratic sins. Fortunately, even the new, slightly stricter Mexican guidelines really don't care... it's not a big deal, no matter who wants it to be.

(and for those who are still unclear on the concept, 1) OP did not arrive in "the airport" and 2) 7 days is the standard free transit visa given to thousands of non-flagged people per day)

Concept, what concept?

The OP clearly stated they entered Mexico by bus.

They didn’t enter at Polanco either, but here you are, in Posts 10 & 11, suggesting the Immigration Office in Polanco, while at the same time admonishing those that suggested the Immigration Office in the airport…because the OP didn’t enter at the airport??? Huh?

The previously mentioned Terminal 1 Airport Immigration Office is reportedly open 24/7. They are a full service and fully capable Immigration Office. Very convenient if the OP happens to be passing through CDMX on their trip south.

In CDMX, I stay in the Centro Historico and find the Metro to the airport INM is as quick and easy as to other offices in the city.

"BTW, I'm writing this from my luxury high-rise condo here in Queretaro just minutes from centro. A place it costs you about $1,000 to get to. Enjoy the snow"

Oh I bet you are even very close to the USA owned big box stores that you love so much. I am jealous.....NOT!

I guess some cannot afford to live in their own country.

In CDMX, I stay in the Centro Historico and find the Metro to the airport INM is as quick and easy as to other offices in the city.

Yes. And ...

@8, the OP asked if the # of days could be corrected at the Mexico City airport, or elsewhere in the city. The individual will be at the airport arriving in a domestic flight.

If visiting the INM office at the airport is an available option for the OP (as previously suggested it is) I think that's preferable to trying to accomplish the same task at the most often heavily congested Polanco headquarters building.

If the OP chooses the Polanco INM office, I'll suggest stopping afterwards at the popular Caldos D'Leo Restaurante ... nearby on Ejercito Nacional.

LW

Hey, I'd personally follow the, you know, rules, just to avoid being thrown in jail for 20-30 years, but if anyone else wants to try winging it at the airport or finding an INM office in Tepito, they should knock themselves out.

From the official site:
http://www.inm.gob.mx/gobmx/word/index.php/cdmx/

"En Aeropuertos Internacionales sólo se realizan trámites de revisión de documentación migratoria de pasajeros."

I can translate if you need, ya edgy rulebreakers. ;)

This post has been removed by its author.

...and by the way, even though the "rules" clearly state that the airport is not the place to handle the affairs of terrestrial visitors, I'm sure that a friendly immigration officer might "bend" them as the folks who are suggesting this are so fond of doing. ;)

At the very least, there's a good chance of not being thrown in a dank cell with only tortillas and onions for the rest of the year.

That office took care of me when I was a terrestrial visitor, twice, though both times it was for easy FMM card issues that were quickly taken care of. Since the OP is arriving there on a domestic flight, with an FMM card issue, it should be a snap. Both times I've been to that office there were no lines.

Exactly. Anecdotal evidence (is there any other kind?) seems to show that the system is willing to ignore the technical rules as long as the visitor doesn't seem to be taking it too far... though obviously it's not always guaranteed.

Yes, there was the infamous case of that unlucky German lady and the story of that one Italian dude who sounded like a real character, but these are uncommon, to say the least, and even people who flagrantly abuse the system seem to manage to find a simple $olution in the end.

That office took care of me when I was a terrestrial visitor, twice, though both times it was for easy FMM card issues that were quickly taken care of. Since the OP is arriving there on a domestic flight, with an FMM card issue, it should be a snap. Both times I've been to that office there were no lines.

Yes. That's what the particular office is for. Minor and not so minor immigration issues. For whatever reason, the OP was allowed only a short stay. That airport office can sort it out by providing more days ... or stick with the original 7. It's possible, even likely, the OP has already dealt with the issue and will report back later.

LW

While someone might want the office to be for randos walking in off the streets, "en Aeropuertos Internacionales sólo se realizan trámites de revisión de documentación migratoria de pasajeros" is really not a difficult concept to grasp. This is the rule and rules are RULES.

Which, in Mexico, are almost always possible to bend, so yes, valid point. It's for whatever anyone wants it to be, including a service center for people who wandered off the cruise ship and decide to hang out for a while.

I´m still here in Mexico. Just been offline for a few days exploring the Copper canyon. I thought I´d take longer to reply, but now the internet has reached Urique, isolated at the very bottom of the canyon.

It looks like the MEX airport might be the best option. Although I might try to see if an office handles cruise ship arrivals in Mazatlan, where I will be later this week. Or maybe if someone knows of an office in the center of Guadalajara. I will be in those places first.

Sounds like you'll be scofflawing as of tomorrow... I wouldn't tell the folks on this forum, some would turn their own mother-in-law in for a one day overstay. It's a VERY emotional issue for them and that's OK, because people are people.

Once in administrative limbo, I'd personally just wait till the border and sort it out there, despite the screams for my head on the TT, but otherwise you might want to just go to the INM office in GDL:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/''/''/data=!4m5!4m4!1m0!1m2!1m1!1s0x8428b0323fe8a869:0xf67af367eb2c597e?sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjmsIbTldHXAhVIwlQKHRwzC5wQ9RcICzAA

It's just a few blocks north of the cathedral.

Given your demonstrated disrespect for Mexico and Mexicans ... I don't doubt for a minute the INM agents had good reason to flag your entry for special attention. Then again, it might be .. that like someone else participating in this discussion ... you're trolling us. ;-) Go away, and leave the discussions here to responsible travelers.

LW

Told you... it's a deeply hurtful subject for some folks, especially when they may not travelled for many, many years, and it just gets their goat seeing anyone go down there and have a good time (seriously... it makes me sad, can we do a Gofundme or something?). Meanwhile they promote flagrant rulebreaking like getting your stuff sorted out at the airport, simply because they can't be bothered to read the actual rules in, you know. Spanish.

What they don't realize is that Mexicans could literally not give two *****s as to whether you resolve your administrative business at the border, the airport, the INM building – not even a single one. Find even one Mexican who feels "disrespected" because some tourist is enjoying and spending money their country with all their papers in order, when this is something that the country explicitly offers you the chance to take care of on your way out, and... I mean, and nothing, because no.

As for the bureaucratic stuff, get it done at the office, in the street, at the border – literally nobody cares except for a few random internet people (WHO CARE VERY MUCH THANK YOU).

It's also pretty irresponsible to suggest that certain travelers are flagged for some abuse or crime when knowing absolutely zero about how the immigration system works. Just don't do that: it's embarrassing, and the time would be better spent learning Spanish and reading the actual laws.

For anyone who is STILL unclear on the concept, 7 days is the standard transit visa given to thousands of people every day. Anyone whose feelings are hurt by that needs to take a step back and reassess.

You can head straight to the immigration office and ask them to extend your visa. You just have to carry your passport, visitor card. You need to prove that you are financially capable of extending your visit. for that you'll need your debit, credit card, or your bank statement. It is a bit of a hassle, but that's the easiest way to do it.

Trolls sometimes do a thing called psychological projection which actually is calling other posters trolls when confronted by them. It is a defense mechanism for pathological liars etc..

Sounds like the story of the US at the moment!

While the OP may not appear to be treating this as quite the deadly serious matter that some posters would like, they've been active on many branches for years and is legit as they come.

I'd be surprised if they asked for bank statements for a simple small extension like this (it's more for long ones), but anything's possible I guess, and once it does actually expire they might well get a little pricklier.

You can head straight to the immigration office and ask them to extend your visa.

It's not a "visa." But, yes, had the OP taken the matter seriously and visited an office of the INM before the FMM - tourist permission card - expired ... it might have been extended ... if the entry hadn't been flagged for other concerns by Mexico.

You just have to carry your passport, visitor card. You need to prove that you are financially capable of extending your visit. for that you'll need your debit, credit card, or your bank statement.

Sometimes, the INM agents will ask for proof of onward travel ... and a valid credit card or exhibit of cash ... sufficient for the number of days being asked for in an extension request. There's little consistency across-the--board amongst the INM offices/officers, though. Lots of discretion afforded the agents. I've never heard of someone being asked for a bank statement ... except when one of the expat aliens living in Mexico once again lied on their FMM cards (or were suspected of doing so).

Let's not feed the trolls interrupting this discussion. ;-)

LW

A bit confused... I don't see anyone throwing you forum snacks?

Again, it's completely standard policy to ask for bank statements for extension of temporary resident permits. There's something really special about claiming to have insight into immigrant policies to the point that someone would claim that visitors are liars, are flagged in the system, etc... sounds like that projection thing that #38's talking about.

Sheesh, this thread seems to have acquired a nasty streak.

My memory has improved over the last couple of days, regarding my visit to the CDMX airport INM office last June. I thought I should share the following:

Earlier in this thread, I said I had been a “terrestrial” visitor at the time. I had arrived in CDMX overland, but I left via a flight to Tijuana. So, the INM agent may have asked to see proof of my flight before rendering help on my FMM issue. I say “may have” because I really don’t remember. In any event, for the OP of this thread, who is arriving in CDMX by flight, my recommendation of using the airport INM office in CDMX still stands.

Another suggestion, one our experienced OP has probably already though of, is that when boarding their flight to CDMX, they not present their expired FMM along with their passport at check in. (disregard if the FMM issue has been resolved before the flight). The flight check in will want to see your passport, but normally not your FMM, so no sense bringing their attention to an expired FMM if you can avoid it.

The OP did mention they were heading to Mazatlan, and then Guadalajara, before reaching Mexico City.

Yes, I would take care of it as soon as possible. I didn't mean to suggest that the OP use the CDMX airport office at the exclusion of others.

That's just me. Some might be comfortable traveling around with an expired FMM, but I would prefer to have it in order.

Yeah, I would refrain from "accidentally" showing someone the invalid FMM if possible. That could be awkward.

After this epic thread, we have to hope that OP will come back a final chapter and epilogue.

Well, it appears the situation has been resolved, for now. I've just been to the IMN office in Guadalajara, and they told me I would need to pay $500 pesos at the frontera, when exiting the country. And they couldn't issue more days. So, to me it looks like a policy choice that Mexico has made.

Without mentioning the 7 days, the migracion official in Ciudad Juarez told me I would need to pay $500 pesos to exit the country also, whether at the airport or the frontera. I assumed this was just the normal exit fee for US travelers. But now it looks to me like they issue the 7 day FMM with the understanding that they will collect the $500 at the end, the fee being what they really want.

And no, I wasn't ever thinking of rearranging my visit to the Copper Canyon so I could take care of this within 7 days.

My thanks to enroutesiglo for the google map.

And what happens if an INM officer stops you and asks to see your passport and FMM before you´ve exited the country?

But now it looks to me like they issue the 7 day FMM with the understanding that they will collect the $500 at the end, the fee being what they really want.

But the only contributor you thanked said that the 7-day transit visa is free!

And what happens if an INM officer stops you and asks to see your passport and FMM before you´ve exited the country?

The same thing that happens if you go to some off-the-map remote village where gringos don't roam and they decide you're bad news and want to smoke you... you improvise.

Just to be clear, there is no fee for the 7-day allowance if one actually transits within that time. There IS a fee if you exceed it, which is the same amount that you'd pay for a lost FMM. We've been over this. The stuff really isn't THAT complicated and despite what some foreigners insist on thinking, it is not that big of a deal (though people are obviously free to think so if it makes them feel... better). As long as you resolve your situation, nobody cares.

So, to me it looks like a policy choice that Mexico has made.

Some posters here are NOT going to be happy with Mexico because this is NOT how they want things to be!

INM in Guadalajara would not extend his 7 day EXPIRED FMM tourist card because there is no "tramite" (processing) to do it and would not issue him a new 180 day tourist FMM card in Mexico, only at ports of enter do they issue them to foreigners entering Mexico.

If he was at any INM office before it expired they could have extended it for him another up to 173 days for the $500.00 pesos payable at any bank and then bring back the paid reciept paperwork to INM..

Exactly... but in the end, the result would've been pretty much the same. Now it's just a question of sorting it out at the border, which Mexico doesn't get nearly upset about about as our forum members.

You can just exit Mexico without handing anything in or stopping when you leave by land at Cd. Cuauhtemoc/La Mesilla.
I am not making any claim to whether that is what is supposed to happen or not. But the office is not at the border point.

Huh? You just waltzed through without getting stamped out?

Hey, to each their own, but THAT'S the only thing that's actually a big no-no... you are golden as long as you intend on getting yourself straight before leaving the country and actually do so.

I've used that border tons of times and always turn in my card. For a 5-day stay in Mex last year, there was no fee. Otherwise, there is, which you pay at the office... which is at (or rather, right before) the border.

"Huh? You just waltzed through without getting stamped out?"
I didn't say/write that.

"you pay at the office... which is at (or rather, right before) the border."
Oh, well maybe it has moved since I was there. It was a little office, a few kilometres from the border, you had to take a taxi from it to the border., as the end of the collectivo route was near that point.

OK, but you did say "you can exit Mexico without handing anything in or stopping."

That's a non-starter. Definitely don't do that (even if it's physically possible). You could also theoretically fly over the border in a jetpack or shoot your way out of the country, but these are not great ideas either.

Have you done that and gotten into trouble?

A question was asked on a forum about what to do as the person had not handed their FMM in when leaving by land. They wanted to know if they should mail it somewhere.

Someone replied that they never handed it in, and that they had a whole bunch in a drawer, telling the poster not to worry about it. It seemed it was very common practice among those who travel by car and not a big deal.
I only fly, so have no personal knowledge of this. I would be more concerned about being in the country without one, compared to leaving with it. Many countries have no sort of formalities when you exit, and Mexico does not stamp your passport when you leave and there is no physical barrier or fence or person there, so no need to be dramatic and talk about shooting your way out!

Well, it's explicitly, profoundly illegal, so no... I haven't.

I would be more concerned about being in the country without one, compared to leaving with it.

Not trying to be contrarian here, but you've got it turned around. Being in the country without resolving your administrative status is not a big deal (which is why they didn't haul OP off to some dank cell when he showed up with an expired FMM); trying to leave the country on the sly is a serious crime and a terrible idea. Believe me or don't, but it is what it is.

and Mexico does not stamp your passport when you leave

Seriously? Finding it hard to believe that you could think that! I've got half a dozen entry and half a dozen exit stamps in my passport (both land and air) that suggest otherwise. Whoever told you this may have been pulling your leg... ;)

Many countries have no sort of formalities when you exit

In 2017 Latin America/Western Hemisphere? Hmmm...

When you walk across the border at the Tijuana-San Ysidro crossing, there is no US immigration or customs when traveling from the US to Mexico, and no Mexican immigration or customs when traveling from Mexico to the US. When leaving Mexico and entering the US at that crossing (the ‘old crossing’), there is no facility for handing in an FMM or paying for one. It has been that way every time I’ve crossed there in the last three years. There is no stamping out of the US when southbound and no stamping out of Mexico when northbound. Are the two countries acting as one at this crossing and sharing information?

The OP of this thread is now in Mexico illegally. Though the odds are in the OP’s favor, there have been other travelers in the same situation that have been detained for not having a current FMM.

The OP of this thread is now in Mexico illegally

According to the Mexican law (not the forum marms), his status is "pending administrative resolution." The only thing that would make their stay "illegal" would be to leave the country without resolving it. If they were going to "detain" the man, they would have done it at the INM.

Good point re: leaving via the Baja land border without turning it in and OP could probably do that with no problem... apparently the law has been changed as of September 2015 so that this is not technically necessary (even though it says it is on the back of the card). From what I've read, people do turn it in at the immigration office, but if you don't need to according to the letter of the new law, then that's that.

For the southern border, they definitely do stamp you out and definitely do collect the FMM (or fine). Could someone sneak out without resolving their situation? Hey... if that's what floats their boat, why not?

Yes, obviously, Mexico has denied the OP's presence in Mexico for more than 7 days, for reason. The OP is in Mexico without permission.

LW

Yes, because it was already expired, and that's how the system works. Deal.

Fortunately, in Mexico, these kinds of decisions are up to the INM, and not random forum gringos with a bone to pick. The law is the law, and it's probably better not to misrepresent it, just in case they decide to go through your browser history next trip down to see if you're an "inconvenient foreigner" as defined by the Mexican Constitution... because it sounds like you're accusing federal employees of aiding and abetting criminal activity, which I wouldn't recommend.

The OP of this thread is now in Mexico illegally

According to the Mexican law (not the forum marms), his status is "pending administrative resolution." The only thing that would make their stay "illegal" would be to leave the country without resolving it. If they were going to "detain" the man, they would have done it at the INM.

It’s only the INM agent that the OP dealt with in Guadalajara that would have detained him if he or she was going to. There is no guarantee that all INM agents will be so accommodating.

As far as leaving Mexico without being stamped out and turning in your FMM being a "real no-no" (as the forum marms would have you believe) at Tijuana-San Ysidro that is how it is done (no stamp out and no FMM turn in).

Enroute, when you leave the USA no one looks at your passport. When you leave Canada, no one looks at your passport. When you fly out of Mexico, the airline only cares that you have a legal right to enter the country you are flying to, no Mexican immigration looks at your passport.

when you leave the USA no one looks at your passport.

This is some bizarro world stuff right there... you're saying you've let on a plane in the US in the last two decades and nobody looked at your passport? I think this may be some Canadian misunderstanding, because in 2017 your passport is checked multiple times, at check-in (always), at security, and usually at the gate.

no Mexican immigration looks at your passport

Again, I have no idea how anyone could think this... maybe you just got lucky. They check it in CDMX, they check it in Cancun (very carefully, as this is a big source of income), and they check it at the southern border.

As far as leaving Mexico without being stamped out and turning in your FMM being a "real no-no"

While that one crossing is an exception for whatever reason, it is still illegal to leave without having your status resolved, even at that crossing... that doesn't mean it's not easy to get away with, but it's technically a crime.

There is no guarantee that all INM agents will be so accommodating.

Yes, I agree, and there is inconsistency from state to state and official to official. The chances are still incredibly slim that anything would happen in-country, but if it were me I would've resolved it right away anyhow just to be safe.

Enroute, when you leave the USA no one looks at your passport. When you leave Canada, no one looks at your passport. When you fly out of Mexico, the airline only cares that you have a legal right to enter the country you are flying to, no Mexican immigration looks at your passport.

As pertains to air travel: airline personnel require travelers present a valid passport before being given a boarding pass ... or allowed to board ... in the USA and Canada ... and Mexico ... and in other countries I travel to. It's standard practice to require passengers to present a passport before being allowed to board a plane ... for many years now. At Toronto Pearson airport, travelers are required to clear USA immigration ... there, in Toronto before boarding ... and not at the USA destination city. But, yes, in Mexico City ... no federal immigration agent checks passports on departure; the airline personnel do. Well, there may be times a federal police officer mans the security checkpoint and looks at it.

LW

I suppose I will report back when I finally cross the border leaving Mexico. I would have preferred to settle the $500 pesos at the INM office in Guadalajara, in order to avoid the possibility of a border official who wants a bribe or something like that at a Guatemala border crossing. But that was not to be.

Well, you had 7 days to take care of it, right? After that it's sort of out of their hands according to the . Nobody's going to ask you for a bribe at the Guatemala border, it's strictly business down there (I mean, it's not theoretically impossible, but no). Just be ready to speak Spanish and pay the thing.

You'd BETTER report back! Or else I'm sending the forum squad down to the border to break you out, and you're not going to like the very, very stern words they will have for you.

But, yes, in Mexico City ... no federal immigration agent checks passports on departure; the airline personnel do.

At least United has automated checkin at Aeropuerto Internacional Ciudad de Mexico, including scanning of your passport, so this raises the possibility that this info is transmitted along with the passenger list to Department of Homeland Security for vetting before departure of flights flying through USA.

2 days ago I did finally cross into Guatemala, at the Frontera Corozal border crossing, after I visited the Yachilan archeological site. Then I took a boat across the river and entered Guatemala.

I paid the 500 pesos, which seemed like a routine matter to the Mexican INM official. I´m not at this point sure if I could have avoided paying 500 pesos by attempting to take care of the matter within 7 days. The immigration officials in Ciudad Juarez in fact told me that I´d need to pay $500 when exiting the country, at the time they stamped my passport. What I failed to grasp was that the $500 pesos was connected to the 7 days they allowed me on my FMM permit.

With so many posts, I´ve lost the essential facts. Would you mind telling us where you met the INM officer: was that before you crossed the border with Guatemala? And what was the response of the officer to your expired FMM? And what was the total you paid for your stay in Mexico: 500 or 1000 MXN?

Sure seems like a lot less drama than some folks on here were hoping for! Who knew?

All I was hoping for was that the OP would let us know how it turned out. Nobody knew how that would be. We figured the odds were in the OP’s favor, but it could have gone badly as well.

I check my FMM as soon as they give it to me, and also make sure I get my payment receipt as well. When exiting at the El Ceibo crossing, I would have had to pay 500 pesos again, if I hadn’t had my receipt to show…and the INM agent in TJ who gave me my FMM didn’t want to give me my receipt!…I had to gently ‘demand’ it.

Nobody knew how that would be.

Riiiight, this drama-free outcome was impossible to predict.

but it could have gone badly as well.

You could say this about literally every day you get out of bed. As for this FMM stuff, it's just how Mexico deals with business... the fact that it is deeply upsetting to certain random internet forum people simply doesn't factor into the real-life outcome. Sorry.

deeply upsetting to certain random internet forum people simply doesn't factor into the real-life outcome. Sorry.

Not at all.

Being cavalier is all well and good, but I would rather have my papers (FMM) in order. Why not? It’s so easy to do. You improve your chances that way.

Why not?

This was covered earlier in the thread.

With so many posts, I´ve lost the essential facts. Would you mind telling us where you met the INM officer: was that before you crossed the border with Guatemala? And what was the response of the officer to your expired FMM? And what was the total you paid for your stay in Mexico: 500 or 1000 MXN?

The total I paid to Mexico was 500 pesos, not 1000 MXN. The immigration officer who recieved the payment was in Frontera Corozal, 1/2 km from the river crossing, on the Mexican side of the river, of course. The immigration officer who first told me I'd need to pay 500 MXN was at the bus terminal in Ciudad Juaraz, since the bus terminal or the airport are the only way to get an entry stamp in CJ.

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