Job Discussion Forums

[Nic]

Hi everybody,

Quick question: I'm in the 'ticket booking phase' of my travels. And I'm wondering, will it look suspicious at all if I arrive in Mexico City on a one way ticket (with a tourist visa in tow)?. . . Will they question that at all??

What d'ya think?

N

[dduck]

Hi Nic,

I arrived in Guatemala on the back of a 1-way ticket, worrying about the same question. It was really straightforward, they didn't even take one look at my ticket, boom bang here have 90 days on us!

When I crossed the border from Guatemala into Mexico by bus I read in my Footprint guide that they sometimes only give out 15 days to tourists which really would have messed up my plans. The immigration guy asked me where I was going - I was worried they'd expect me to give a full address - when I simply said San Crist�bal de las Casas y lo max�mo tiempo possible everything was hunky dory.

I suggest that if you are asked say that you plan on travelling down through Central and South America and don't know when, where, why you'll be leaving. Should do the trick.

I actually had more trouble getting into Canada a couple of years ago and that was with a two way ticket!. Go figure!

Iain

[Nic]

Thanks for your insight Iian. I'll keep that in mind:)

N

[Nic]

Whoops I spelled your name wrong!! I'm sorry - and I was worried about that too,

There, I got it right this time Iain,

thanks again,

N

[Nic]

Can you get your tourist visa extended?? (once you've been in the country for the 'stamped' length of time)

[dduck]

I've been in Mexico about 10 days. I've not had to worry about that yet. The maximum you can get is 180 days offically. I've read in my Footprint guide that the author made regular trips to the border and managed to stay in Mexico for 5 years without any trouble. Much easier to get yourself a FM3 work visa and do things properly, if you ask me.

Iain

[Guy Courchesne]

You can go to immigration close to or on the day your tourist visa expires and have it renewed. sometimes, they'll max it out to 180 days, other times, they'll ask when you are leaving and give you up to that day. On last check, it was costing around 200 pesos at DF airport migra for the renew.

Getting the FM3 takes care of those problems too, though it can depend on where you get it and how. Check with an employer on getting FM3, which can go around 1400 pesos.

[Nic]

Thanks for this info! I will look into the FM3.