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scott14 · Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 50

I am thinking of leaving asia for Mexico and I read this at another site.

"It used to be that if you entered the country by plane, the maximum number of days granted was 90".

Is this still true?

Thanks in advance!

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

From what I've seen and heard, these days Mexican immigration usually gives visitors 30 days on their tourist card. If you want to stay longer, you have to pay a visit to an immigration office and prove you have the funds to stay longer.

You can probably find more info about this in the Thorntree at www.lonelyplanet.com Smile

MO39 · Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 4:08 pm Post subject:

About a year ago, I flew into Mexico City and was given only 30 days by the unfriendly Immigration agent. When I saw the number she had written on my tourist card, I politely asked her for more days and she grudgingly changed the "30" to a "90".

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

In November of 2003 I flew into Mexico City from Ecuador with an expired FM-3 which I didn't want to have extended as I was not going to be working in Mexico until April of 2004--and received 180 days on my tourist visa. I flew out at the end of January 2004 to Venezuela and returned at the end of February and received 180 days again.

some waygug-in · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 339

I think it depends on the mood of the guy/gal at the desk when you arrive.
I always fill out the number of days before I get there. If they ask any questions it's "para ver al pais" .

It's always worked for me.

Ms. Atondo · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 2:56 pm Post subject:

From my experiences you are allowed to stay in Mexico for 6 months. You can usually get up to 3 months at the airport and then you need to go to immigration to get more time. You have to prove that you have enough money to support yourself but any sort of foreign amount should do it. Immigration asked my friend for a credit card balance. They asked me for a photocopy of my ATM card. Depends on who you get at immigration I guess.

Wouter · Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Posts: 128 Location: Tlaquepaque

You can get quite easily an extension for another 90 days at the immigration office. I live in GDL and have several friends who did this. No problem what so ever. After the 180 days it gets more complicated. Go to the immigration office and ask for the list from the papers that you have to bring. What we had to do in GDL is.

Make a copy of all your pages in your passport

Make a copy of your credit card

Fill in a form that they will give you at the immigration office

Also you get a form at the immigration office for the payment. Sometimes they dont give this. It is called "Form 5". You must have three copies of these. The amount that you have to pay is 210 pesos. Make sure you fill in the form correctly. Ask them to fill in the form. There are some codes that only they know. They should fill int these codes. Also there is a place on the top where you have to fill in you personal ID. This is a Mexican ID code. You can make your own. It�s the first 2 letters from your last name than the first letter of you mothers lastname and than the first letter from your first name followed by your birhtdate. If i remember correctly first the two year digits and than month and day.

If you in GDL and want help you can visit me. I�m always at my school in Tlaquepaque. See my website at the bottom.

Wouter

reddevil79 · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 5:17 pm Post subject:

Has anyone ever had their tourist card checked when leaving Mexico? Last time I was in the country I had stayed beyond the 90 days I had been given and was naturally a bit nervous when leaving. No need - the airline took my tourist card and flung it to one side, no checks whatsoever. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

scott14 · Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 50

Thank you to all those who provided some useful information to my question about getting a 180 tourist visa at airport immigration.

I now understand the tourist visa process better, as well as its inconsistencies.

Some Waygug-in provided a comment which seems the easiest path to follow. The comment reads,

�I always fill out the number of days before I get there�

I am wondering if anyone else has written the number of days they want on their tourist card before entering, and then what happened when they got to immigration, good or bad?

I know the easiest path sometimes ends up as the most troublesome, but it can also be the best way.

Thanks again!

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

They are pretty nonchalant--I don't think they would do that. And it's no big deal if they do....

scott14 · Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 50

I have come to these conclusions because of your imput.

It can't hurt to try and write the days you want to stay on the tourist card before giving it to airport immigration.

or

It can't hurt to ask immigration for the days you want at airport immigration.

These ways seem much easier than having to go get an extension.

Thanks all!