Tourist Card for Mexico?

[devin western]

I'm crossing into Mexico, and have found conflicting information
regarding a tourist visa. As an American Citizen - what is required?
I found this site that claims I don't need a visa/tourist card:
http://portal.sre.gob.mx/sanjose/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=194&op=page&SubMenu=

But then there are a few sites that say you still need a tourist card
or "FMM": http://math.ucr.edu/ftm/bajaPages/TouristCard.html

I'm obviously going to be staying in Mexico a couple months, but no
longer than 4. Also, with bikes, more importantly with trailers, do
you cross where the cars go (I've walked across many times and
remember the turn-styles, but I don't remember a place for bikes where
people walk...)

[Lukas Steiner]

Hi devin

We crossed the border in November 2010 in Tijuana. We also had conflicting information about tourist visas and border crossing. I'll give you our information but I'm not sure if they are still up to date or correct. As far as I know it’s the same for US citizens.

We crossed the border in Tijuana on a car line. It was easy and without any trouble. They didn’t check us at all. :-) We met some cyclists they crossed on “pedestrian-lane” without problem. So I think it doesn’t matter on which lane you cross.

You’ll need a tourist card to visit Mexico. There is a small corridor around the border where you can stay a few days without this card. If you enter the country by plane the fee for this tourist card is included in the ticket prize. But if you enter the country by land you have to purchase a tourist card at the border. They don’t sell this tourist card from themselves so you have to ask for it. Be had to pay about 265 Pesos per card in cash. Our tourist card was valid for 180 days.

Safe you receipt!! When we left Mexico to Guatemala, we had to prove at the exit port that we have purchased such a card. If you can’t, you have to pay again + some fees (I guess it depends on the officer :-) ).

We were controlled once by the immigration police and they wanted to see our tourist card. We heard if you can’t show them your tourist card, you can get some serious problem. But I don’t know if it’s true.

Safe travels Lukas
http://www.bicycle-adventure.ch

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Luca & Rebi on Tour: bicycle-adventure.ch

Lukas Steiner
Mittelstrasse 16
CH-4900 Langenthal
phone:+41 79 250 60 75
web: www.pucky.ch