Mexico - Still have departure card

On my way home from MEX last week I had checked in online and printed my BP at the CO kiosk in the airport, and no one needed to look at my passport. Because of this I forgot to turn in my departure card and still have it. Does anyone know where I should send it so I am not denied entry in the future? Thanks for your help.

Are you talking about your FMT (Forma Migratoria Turista) document (often referred to as your "tourist card")?

Yes, these are supposed to be turned in upon leaving Mexico and now that Migracion has a new computer system they are much better at tracking these things. I've heard that there is a fine assessed on your next entry to Mexico if Migracion discovers that you failed to turn in your previous FMT.

Might be worth contacting your nearest Mexican consulate and ask them what to do.

Don´t worry about it. Mexico is in desperate need of Turism and specially from wealthy countries (that is what they say)!!! So they will never fine you for comming back to spend your money in Mexico, when you have options in the Caribbean and Central/South America. So do not worry about it.

Also, remember that only expats in Mexico need to stamp their passports on their way out. I carry a Mexican Passport and a European Passport, so I never have to stamp my passport on departure as FM2 and FM3 holders do. But you don´t either, as you are not a resident in this country. So, stop worring and please, feel free to return to our beautiful beaches and lovely towns.

If it is someones fault is INM (Mexican Immigration Service) for not having counters before or after Mexican TSA for all the passengers travelling outside the country.

It is a non issue. If you were given 6 months and it is still valid and there is any chance you would ever enter by land and travel to the interior while it is still valid, save it and it will save $20 next time you visit. Otherwise, throw it in the trash or put it in your scrap book as a souvenir.

I try to specifically make a point of keeping it because I often enter by land at Tijuana and then board a domestic flight at TIJ and if you have a still valid FMT from your last international air arrival you don't have to pay for a new FMT at TIJ. The only time I ever turn them in is if they specifically collect them when boarding an international departure but a more common situation for me is if I enter by land at Tijuana, buy/have a left over FMT. Board a domestic flight. Make an international departure at MEX where often they collect them but sometimes they don't. Make an international return where I get a new one. So now I have two if no one has collected the last one :D It's good to have a spare, they cost $20. Fly back to TIJ where they do not collect them. Depart by land and then if I repeat within 6 months I don't have to pay again.:D

Really. It is a total non issue. Do whatever you want with the piece of paper. They will happily sell you a new one next time you arrive. (if by air it is included in your ticket taxes).

There hasn't been a "FMT" for more than a year. It's called the "FMM", and also referred to by people outside Mexico as a "tourist card." It is important that you didn't return it and I'm suspicious that Continental's security is so lax.

It is important that you didn't return it and I'm suspicious that Continental's security is so lax.

I guess you tried to say "It is important that you do return it", because you are suggesting the OP to keep it. And NO, nothing will happen as he is outside Mexico and not overstaying its turist visa. So he is OK to return without a problem for his next visit to our country.

Whether the OP encounters a problem if attempting to enter Mexico in the future is something we won't know until that later date. The card should have been returned prior to departure. Mexico now has an enhanced database for arrivals and departures by air. It's important for guests to have respect for Mexico and it's laws. The OP seems to have violated the regulations - and Continental seems to have violated established security procedures.

Whether the OP encounters a problem if attempting to enter Mexico in the future is something we won't know until that later date. The card should have been returned prior to departure. Mexico now has an enhanced database for arrivals and departures by air. It's important for guests to have respect for Mexico and it's laws. The OP seems to have violated the regulations - and Continental seems to have violated established security procedures.

As a Mexicana citizen I can only tell you the system isn´t as enhanced as you think. It only saves what is in the passport at the time of arrival, but if you change passports (dual citizenship or expired), the system can not tell it is you, contrary to what happens in the US. Also, a piece of paper will not make a difference, as many US spring breakers forget to return the card and return next year just to be welcomed to our beautiful CUN, PVR or SJD!!!

OP, do NOT worry about it, you are perfectly OK and no one will tell you anything because you forgot to return it. What if you enter by air and departed by Tijuana border!!! There is NO place to return the card. So, as long as Mexico doesn´t have the place to collect them in its borders, they can not tell you anything.

Are you talking about your FMT (Forma Migratoria Turista) document (often referred to as your "tourist card")?

Yes, these are supposed to be turned in upon leaving Mexico and now that Migracion has a new computer system they are much better at tracking these things. I've heard that there is a fine assessed on your next entry to Mexico if Migracion discovers that you failed to turn in your previous FMT.

Might be worth contacting your nearest Mexican consulate and ask them what to do.
Dose of common sense

Seems to be two options presented:

1. I call the nearest Mexican Consulate, ask and follow that advice, which might include spending $0.44 to mail the thing to the Consulate.

2. I listen to people who don't even have the correct name for the form, can only speak from what happened to them in the past, and aren't actually familiar with the system as it will be enforced in the future and risk: A) fine; B) lengthy delay on entry next time I travel to Mexico.

Carlitos, "Mexicana' or not, your information is wrong.

Here are the official procedures for the issuance of Mexican immigration documents as published in their federal government's official journal of record (i.e. Congressional Record). I scanned through this and while it mentions what to do if a FMM is lost or stolen I didn't find anything relative to not turning it in on departure.

http://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5129775&fecha=29/01/2010

Next time I'm at the Mexican immigration counter I'll ask the officer. After I'm checked through of course!

I'd be willing to bet that if you mailed it to a Mexican Consulate in the US they would initially be confused by why you mailed it to them in the first place but then they would most likely resolve the situation by dutifully filing it away in their ronda archivador.

I would say, do what ever makes you feel comfortable. If it were me personally, for myself, I would not even spend 10 seconds worrying about it. The only scenario's I personally find plausible where someone would be fined is if they were stopped IN the interior of Mexico without one or if they were on some kind of visa, not just a tourist.