Feb 5, 2018, 9:34 am
Last edit by: i0wnj00
Please edit or add information to this wiki as necessary.
The northern “franja fronteriza” frontier zone, which includes the areas up to 20 kilometers / 12.4 miles (in some instances 30 km / 18.6 Miles) south of the US / Mexican border and permitted extensions, allows US and Canadian citizens and residents passage into Mexico by land without a FMM if remaining within the border zone for a period of less than 72 hours.
Exemptions (from having a FMM)
• Visitors traveling by sea staying less than 72 hours who remain in the seaport
• Visitors traveling by land to destinations within the 20 to 30 km (12-18 mile) border zone, and staying less than 72 hours.
• Visitors traveling by land beyond the border zone, staying less than 72 hours, and limiting their visit to the following destinations/tourist corridors: Tijuana to Ensenada, Baja California.; Sonoyta to Puerto Peñasco, Sonora.; Ciudad Juárez to Paquime, Chihuahua.; Piedras Negras to Santa Rosa, Coahuila.; and Reynosa to Presa Cuchillo, Nuevo León.
(E.g. just South of Ensenada, B.C. and Caborca, Son. are migration and customs checkpoints all drivers and passengers are required to stop and present documentation.)
• Business travelers with a business visa; students (as defined by Mexican immigration laws) with a student visa (contact Mexican consulate for business/student visa information).[/quote]
• Foreign Nationals with Temporary or Permanent residency cards walking or driving in. (Mexican residents flying out/in of the country still need to fill out the FMM for statistical purposes -make sure the Tipo de Viaje/Purpose of Trip is marked "Otro/Other". Always identify yourself as a Mexican Resident regardless how you enter, residents may use the lanes for Mexican Nationals to return.)
“Border crossing requirements:
You must have a valid tourist permit if you:
• Remain within the border zone, the area within 20 to 30 kilometers (12
miles) of the U.S. border, for more than 72 hours or
• Travel beyond the border zone”
Under these circumstances, within the “franja fronteriza” and under 72 hours, a US Passport Card or other identification accepted by the Mexican and US governments will suffice.
From SanDiego.org:
“When crossing the border back and forth between Baja and San Diego (or other US-Mexico border towns and cities) you’ll need to have a valid passport or other acceptable identification handy. When entering the United States, U.S. citizens are required to show passport, U.S. passport card, Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI, Global Entry or FAST) or an Enhanced Driver's License. Resident aliens must possess a green card. Knowing which ID to bring depends upon your method of travel (air, land, or sea). Voter's registration card, military ID, driver's license and social security cards are not considered valid forms of citizenship identification. For more information on the San Diego ‒ Tijuana border crossing, visit Smart Border Coalition.
Citizens of other countries must carry a valid passport with a valid I-94 or multiple entry visa or visa waiver to re-enter the United States; please verify details with the Mexican Consulate before traveling.”
If driving, remember US auto insurance is invalid in Mexico. Rental car contracts generally do not allow US rented autos to be taken into Mexico. Valid auto insurance is mandatory in Mexico (see relevant thread), and there are sellers of short term auto insurance policies at the border.
Violation of these conditions can result in significant fines and / or being banned from entering Mexico in the future.
Link to AAA PDF document
The northern “franja fronteriza” frontier zone, which includes the areas up to 20 kilometers / 12.4 miles (in some instances 30 km / 18.6 Miles) south of the US / Mexican border and permitted extensions, allows US and Canadian citizens and residents passage into Mexico by land without a FMM if remaining within the border zone for a period of less than 72 hours.
Exemptions (from having a FMM)
• Visitors traveling by sea staying less than 72 hours who remain in the seaport
• Visitors traveling by land to destinations within the 20 to 30 km (12-18 mile) border zone, and staying less than 72 hours.
• Visitors traveling by land beyond the border zone, staying less than 72 hours, and limiting their visit to the following destinations/tourist corridors: Tijuana to Ensenada, Baja California.; Sonoyta to Puerto Peñasco, Sonora.; Ciudad Juárez to Paquime, Chihuahua.; Piedras Negras to Santa Rosa, Coahuila.; and Reynosa to Presa Cuchillo, Nuevo León.
(E.g. just South of Ensenada, B.C. and Caborca, Son. are migration and customs checkpoints all drivers and passengers are required to stop and present documentation.)
• Business travelers with a business visa; students (as defined by Mexican immigration laws) with a student visa (contact Mexican consulate for business/student visa information).[/quote]
• Foreign Nationals with Temporary or Permanent residency cards walking or driving in. (Mexican residents flying out/in of the country still need to fill out the FMM for statistical purposes -make sure the Tipo de Viaje/Purpose of Trip is marked "Otro/Other". Always identify yourself as a Mexican Resident regardless how you enter, residents may use the lanes for Mexican Nationals to return.)
“Border crossing requirements:
You must have a valid tourist permit if you:
• Remain within the border zone, the area within 20 to 30 kilometers (12
miles) of the U.S. border, for more than 72 hours or
• Travel beyond the border zone”
Under these circumstances, within the “franja fronteriza” and under 72 hours, a US Passport Card or other identification accepted by the Mexican and US governments will suffice.
From SanDiego.org:
“When crossing the border back and forth between Baja and San Diego (or other US-Mexico border towns and cities) you’ll need to have a valid passport or other acceptable identification handy. When entering the United States, U.S. citizens are required to show passport, U.S. passport card, Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI, Global Entry or FAST) or an Enhanced Driver's License. Resident aliens must possess a green card. Knowing which ID to bring depends upon your method of travel (air, land, or sea). Voter's registration card, military ID, driver's license and social security cards are not considered valid forms of citizenship identification. For more information on the San Diego ‒ Tijuana border crossing, visit Smart Border Coalition.
Citizens of other countries must carry a valid passport with a valid I-94 or multiple entry visa or visa waiver to re-enter the United States; please verify details with the Mexican Consulate before traveling.”
If driving, remember US auto insurance is invalid in Mexico. Rental car contracts generally do not allow US rented autos to be taken into Mexico. Valid auto insurance is mandatory in Mexico (see relevant thread), and there are sellers of short term auto insurance policies at the border.
Violation of these conditions can result in significant fines and / or being banned from entering Mexico in the future.
Link to AAA PDF document
Documents & Conditions for Mexico Cruise Pax / Frontier Zone (w/o FMM)
Nov 4, 2013, 2:20 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ABQ
Programs: Delta Platinum, Southwest A-List
Posts: 1,426
Documents & Conditions for Mexico Cruise Pax / Frontier Zone (w/o FMM)
Does anyone know if you can enter Mexico by land without a passport and only using a Global Entry card? My passport is currently being renewed and I'm not sure I'll have it back before I cross the border by land.
I have searched Mexico's websites and can't find anything about them accepting these cards instead of a passport.
I have searched Mexico's websites and can't find anything about them accepting these cards instead of a passport.
Nov 6, 2013, 8:25 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,507
you are not finding anything because there is nothing to find.
global entry is only for use in expediting the entry process into the USA; in no way does it replace actual travel documents. Global Entry is not used by other countries for entry into their country.
while the USA does not require a passport or other travel document to exit the usa - Mexico definitely requires a travel document (passport) to enter their country. A Global Entry card is not a travel document.
global entry is only for use in expediting the entry process into the USA; in no way does it replace actual travel documents. Global Entry is not used by other countries for entry into their country.
while the USA does not require a passport or other travel document to exit the usa - Mexico definitely requires a travel document (passport) to enter their country. A Global Entry card is not a travel document.
Nov 6, 2013, 8:32 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ABQ
Programs: Delta Platinum, Southwest A-List
Posts: 1,426
you are not finding anything because there is nothing to find.
global entry is only for use in expediting the entry process into the USA; in no way does it replace actual travel documents. Global Entry is not used by other countries for entry into their country.
while the USA does not require a passport or other travel document to exit the usa - Mexico definitely requires a travel document (passport) to enter their country. A Global Entry card is not a travel document.
global entry is only for use in expediting the entry process into the USA; in no way does it replace actual travel documents. Global Entry is not used by other countries for entry into their country.
while the USA does not require a passport or other travel document to exit the usa - Mexico definitely requires a travel document (passport) to enter their country. A Global Entry card is not a travel document.
From Global Entry's website: Q: How are Global Entry cards used?
A: CBP accepts Global Entry cards for lawful U.S. entry at land and sea ports of entry. Global Entry cards have radio frequency identification, which enables their use at SENTRI and NEXUS expedited travel lanes entering the U.S. Global Entry cards are not valid for entry into Canada via the NEXUS lanes and kiosks. Global Entry cards are not accepted at Global Entry kiosks, which require passports or U.S. lawful permanent resident cards. Global Entry card holders must follow all program rules for SENTRI and NEXUS when using this card at land and sea ports of entry.
Further more, from the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (which started the whole you need a passport thing) website:
Starting June 1, 2009, U.S. citizens returning home from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda, by land or sea, are required to present one of the travel documents listed below.
U.S. Passport – This is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies a person’s identity and nationality. It is accepted for travel by air, land and sea.
U.S. Passport Card – This is a new, limited-use travel document that fits in your wallet and costs less than a
U.S. Passport. It is only valid for travel by land and sea.
Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) – Several states
and Canadian provinces are issuing this driver’s license
or identification document that denotes identity and citizenship. It is specifically designed for cross-border travel into the U.S. by land or sea.
Trusted Traveler Program Cards – Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST enrollment cards can speed your entry into the U.S. and are issued only to pre-approved, low-risk travelers. The cards are valid for use at land or sea; the NEXUS card can be used in airports with a NEXUS kiosk.
Nov 6, 2013, 10:11 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,507
Juan, what you posted confirms exactly what I told you, but um, okay, I will bite - because perhaps there is a chance I missed something and I am always willing to learn - what isnt true?
What in the passage you copied from the GE website indicates a GE card may be used for anything other entry into the US, let alone as an acceptable travel document by Mexico?
What in the passage you copied from the GE website indicates a GE card may be used for anything other entry into the US, let alone as an acceptable travel document by Mexico?
Nov 6, 2013, 10:29 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ABQ
Programs: Delta Platinum, Southwest A-List
Posts: 1,426
Juan, what you posted confirms exactly what I told you, but um, okay, I will bite - because perhaps there is a chance I missed something and I am always willing to learn - what isnt true?
What in the passage you copied from the GE website indicates a GE card may be used for anything other entry into the US, let alone as an acceptable travel document by Mexico?
What in the passage you copied from the GE website indicates a GE card may be used for anything other entry into the US, let alone as an acceptable travel document by Mexico?
I do seem to find that Mexico requires a passport or passport card for admission since 2010. And of course that's their perrogative.
Look, to me it just doesn't make sense to push for cards that allow you back into the us if they don't allow you to the other country to begin with. The reason you would want an enhanced dl from the states that issue them is so you don't have to get a passport to cross the borders. The global entry is as whti compliant as those enhanced drivers licenses my friends use all the time to enter canada.
Last edited by JDiver; Dec 28, 2015 at 10:14 pm Reason: Redacted overly personalized material
Nov 7, 2013, 12:13 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,507
Juan,
you are right, I could have been less snarky and for that I apologize. It was late, and based on the knowledge and experience your profile and original question indicated you had, as well as your own research that you posted, I could have had more patience for your follow up reply.
you are right, I could have been less snarky and for that I apologize. It was late, and based on the knowledge and experience your profile and original question indicated you had, as well as your own research that you posted, I could have had more patience for your follow up reply.
Nov 7, 2013, 5:52 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ABQ
Programs: Delta Platinum, Southwest A-List
Posts: 1,426
Juan,
you are right, I could have been less snarky and for that I apologize. It was late, and based on the knowledge and experience your profile and original question indicated you had, as well as your own research that you posted, I could have had more patience for your follow up reply.
you are right, I could have been less snarky and for that I apologize. It was late, and based on the knowledge and experience your profile and original question indicated you had, as well as your own research that you posted, I could have had more patience for your follow up reply.
Nov 8, 2013, 1:11 pm
#9
Moderator: American AAdvantage
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I've crossed our southern border many times - by land, etc. and the GE / NEXUS card is still a convenience when queues are hugely lengthy at land border crossings (Otay Mesa, San Ysidro most recently).
I can only hope geopolitics will some day settle down, and a single document can allow us crossings - sure, they may have to vet us like for Global Entry, but that should suffice. (OTOH, we can have members here settle differences by being open, why can't they? and congrats, fellow members!)
Of course, we may be speaking of, ahem, Juan in a million... (I'd settle for 107 in a million...)
I can only hope geopolitics will some day settle down, and a single document can allow us crossings - sure, they may have to vet us like for Global Entry, but that should suffice. (OTOH, we can have members here settle differences by being open, why can't they?
and congrats, fellow members!)Of course, we may be speaking of, ahem, Juan in a million... (I'd settle for 107 in a million...)
Nov 9, 2013, 6:47 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,507
Apr 4, 2015, 10:23 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2004
Location: OAK
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My experience at the San Ysidro border crossing is that there is *no* Mexican immigration check, so there are no officers waiting to check our passport. You would only need to worry about getting back into the USA.
Dec 23, 2015, 10:39 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2012
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To update this post with more recent information, Mexico has recently completed a new customs and immigration facility at the San Ysidro crossing (no more sketchy, run-down room that everyone just strolls through), and as a result now has proper passport control at this crossing. You will need your passport whether crossing on foot or by car.
Dec 27, 2015, 10:12 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AA Plat, Nexus
Posts: 358
To update this post with more recent information, Mexico has recently completed a new customs and immigration facility at the San Ysidro crossing (no more sketchy, run-down room that everyone just strolls through), and as a result now has proper passport control at this crossing. You will need your passport whether crossing on foot or by car.
In my case, the immigration officer checked with another officer, who escorted me to the back room. The back room was simply a waiting room where I waited for the second officer to finish with the person he was with (apparently same issue). When it was my turn a few minutes later, it took all of two minutes. Fingerprints, photo, copying of NEXUS ID information, and a verbal "bring your passport next time, enjoy your stay".
The next person in line was still remonstrating with one of the officers - "but this is a combined passport-driving license!" Probably an EDL, which is just as unacceptable to Mexico for entry as any other card.
Sep 4, 2016, 5:43 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Programs: Many
Posts: 773
Only vaguely related to the original post but the topic still kinda fits:
I did stumble over some unclear information and hoped you might be able to clear it up a bit.
So here's an interesting situation: I am enrolled in the DHS Trusted Traveler Program. I do have Global Entry and my GOES account also has a link to SENTRI under TTP benefits but I certainly did not apply for it.
As a non US Citizen I never received a Global Entry card though.
Would I still be able to use the fast lanes when crossing in and out of Mexico?
I did stumble over some unclear information and hoped you might be able to clear it up a bit.
So here's an interesting situation: I am enrolled in the DHS Trusted Traveler Program. I do have Global Entry and my GOES account also has a link to SENTRI under TTP benefits but I certainly did not apply for it.
As a non US Citizen I never received a Global Entry card though.
Would I still be able to use the fast lanes when crossing in and out of Mexico?
Sep 6, 2016, 11:29 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,507
Only vaguely related to the original post but the topic still kinda fits:
I did stumble over some unclear information and hoped you might be able to clear it up a bit.
So here's an interesting situation: I am enrolled in the DHS Trusted Traveler Program. I do have Global Entry and my GOES account also has a link to SENTRI under TTP benefits but I certainly did not apply for it.
As a non US Citizen I never received a Global Entry card though.
Would I still be able to use the fast lanes when crossing in and out of Mexico?
I did stumble over some unclear information and hoped you might be able to clear it up a bit.
So here's an interesting situation: I am enrolled in the DHS Trusted Traveler Program. I do have Global Entry and my GOES account also has a link to SENTRI under TTP benefits but I certainly did not apply for it.
As a non US Citizen I never received a Global Entry card though.
Would I still be able to use the fast lanes when crossing in and out of Mexico?
"FAST" is a program only for commercial truck drivers; so, based on your profile (being based in the Netherlands), unless you are driving Chitty Chitty Bang Bang then no, you cannot use the FAST lanes at the US/Mexico border.
However, if by "fast lane" you mean the SENTRI lanes, then you might be able to use those lanes if you have your SENTRI Card and the tag for your car. Note that one cannot randomly move the tag between vehicles - the vehicle tag and the license plate have to be registered. If you do not have both the SENTRI ID card and the tag for your car, then the answer is no.
At the same time, I believe SENTRI is limited US and Mexican citizens or permanent residents; I am not sure a simple non-resident GE member traveler from another country qualifies for SENTRI (but I could very well be wrong).
Last edited by Section 107; Sep 6, 2016 at 11:35 am