I have a friend from France visiting me in LA soon. She has a French passport. This will be her first visit to the U.S. I might want to take her down across the border to Baja Mexico for a day or two. Will she have a problem coming back across the border? She will first enter the U.S. at Logan in Boston if that matters and will be here for 11 days.

I don't see what special problems she would have (above and beyond the usual lengthy crap) so long as she otherwise qualifies under the visa waiver program.

http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/...pp.htm#readmit

"Can a VWP applicant for Admission Be Readmitted To the United States Following a Short Trip To an Adjacent Island, Canada, or Mexico?

* Generally, VWP applicants admitted under the VWP may be readmitted to the U.S. after a departure to Canada or Mexico or adjacent islands for the balance of their original admission period, provided they are otherwise admissible and meet all the conditions of the VWP, with the exception of arrival on a signatory carrier - in which case the inspecting officers have the discretion to grant the applicants entirely new periods of admission.
* The VWP applicant is admissible and may be readmitted to the U.S. under the VWP after a departure to Canada or Mexico or adjacent islands provided that: (A) their authorized period of admission has not expired, (B) they plan to depart the U.S. prior to the expiration date of their period of admission, (C) they present valid, unexpired passports which reflect admission to the U.S. under the VWP, and (D) they continue to meet all criteria set forth in 8 CFR 217 and section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act), with the exception of arrival on a signatory carrier."

What are the lines like at the Mexican border for non-US passport/DL holders?

Thanks for the info.

FYI, the lines at Tijuana are very long, but I usually skip 30 miles over to Tecate where they are short and easy.

Last time I went to TJ, the lines were very short and myself (on an Aussie Passport) and my Husband (a US citizen)...were both through within a few minutes. I was actually amazed at how quick it was.

Phoebe

I cross the border a couple of times a month in TJ.

I've waited an hour by car, i've waited 10 minutes, it all depends how co-operative everyone is on line. I never had to cross on sunday night, but i've heard it can be upwards of 2-3 hours. Crossing INTO TJ on a friday evening (6pm) looked like it was going to take 2 hours, so I went later that night. Starting at 4pm, the traffic backs up into the SD side of the freeway since the traffic doesn't move in TJ as well as the fact the workers who live in TJ are headin home.

The walking lines should go quickly and it doesn't matter what nationality you are, just have the passport ready and your french friend will just show the original stamp and will be waved back in, it'll be treated as if she never left the US (ie, she'll still have the same 90-day visa intact)

when I intent to re-enter to the USA on the same trip (happens to me when I make detours to Vancouver Whistler for skiing, or to Mexico-City for discussing and buying Tequila) I make sure to keep the exit-paper that immigration did attach to my passport when entering the first time - never a problem when entering the second time (when crossing the Canada-USA boarder I just showed my passport, with the attached paper, sitting in my car, and was waived through (last time in 2002).