Job Discussion Forums

[sbtesol]

HI. I will be crossing the border into Mexico at Nogales with my Car, my Cat, and a bunch of other stuff I will need for the next year (laptop, printer, books, CD's, clothes, etc.) I know what I need to do for my cat and my car, but I was reading on the State Department Website that the agents at the border will only allow me a certain amount of items and after that, I will be taxed at 32%. Has this happened to any of you? What should I tell them I am doing with so much stuff? (I won't have my FM3 yet). Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot!

[Samantha]

You won't likely have any problems at all with used personal belongings for your stay here. You should see the carloads of stuff the snowbird expats come down with every Fall. It boggles the mind. If you get a green light, which is quite probable, you won't have to answer questions anyway. Make sure not to bring anything that you CAN'T bring in to Mexico. The taxes are assessed on new things, but your used items won't be a problem.

[Flo]

I did the exact same thing last year with the car, the cat, the laptop, etc. No one even looks at your paperwork, health certificate for the cat, nada. The military people will want to verify that you have your car permit, but that is generally all.

Where I went there were no green lights/red lights. If they get picky and ask about the stuff, tell them you are driving to El Salvador to work.

Where are you headed?

[sbtesol]

Thanks for the information thus far. It is too bad I won't be able to know or not if they are going to look at my cat's papers, it is going to cost almost 100 bucks to get everything taken care of, but he is worth it! I am going to Mexico City, but I want to stop for a day and hang out in Mazatlan at the beach! Did you take Toll Road 15? If so how is it, is there a lot of gas stations and places to stop for the night etc? Just wondering....

[Samantha]

The drive from Nogales to Mazatlan (after you reach the 21 km checkpoint) is an easy 2 day or really long 1 day trip. It can be done in about 14 or 15 hours but driving at night is NOT recommended in the last stretch of Highway 15. Please don't do it. Break the drive in Navajoa. The El Rancho motel is a good place to stop and relax. That is where all the Mazatlan-bound expats stop on the journey south. You can park right outside your room, there is a pool, small restaurant bar etc. Best of all though, it is easy to find, since you sort of just drive right up to it as you are entering Navajoa.

Do a little studying of the situation around Hermosillo, since there is a bypass which is hopefully no longer under construction, and that is a good thing compared to getting lost in the city with a grid shaped like a lop-sided wagon-wheel. On the plus side, the drivers in Hermosillo are very courteous compared to elsewhere. There are some pretty agressive window washers (squeegy kids) at the cut off to the bypass. Have coins in your car ready to hand over for this purpose.

Also be aware of the signage around Culiacan so you can stick to the Cuota and not get lost inside that city with rude drivers. After that, Mazatlan is just over 2 hours. The tolls coming south as far as Mazatlan are about $65.00 USD (paid in pesos, so have pesos to cover that) The gas stations are frequent and the bathrooms are clean at the rest stops. Top up with gas as you go along. I hope you have air conditioning in your car or your cat will never ever forgive you. It is smoking hot in the Sonora desert right now and humid along the coast.

About the cat, there is no telling whether or not you will be checked for documentation. Most reports say that they don't ask at the border and this I have witnessed myself when travelling with someone who had a dog. They always ask at the airport when you fly a pet in. They checked my dog prior to leaving Canada and again when I arrived in Mexico (by air) with him.

If you bring along your pet's up-to-date papers that would probably get you through ($100.00 for a certification is alot! You would pay less in a little propina to the officer to overlook it) and if worse came to worse you could always turn back and get a vet certificate in Nogales, AZ.

You will enjoy Mazatlan. It is a great place to relax and spend time without spending a fortune as a tourist. Drive safely and don't stop for suspicious looking vehicles along the way. The official ones are well marked.

[thelmadatter]

Ditto Samantha. I used to live in Arizona and crossed over at Nogales many times by car, foot and bus (tho its been a while since I did it by car). While it is always possible to get stopped/assessed by customs, it is unlikely. (take off tags off any new items you might have) So much traffic goes thru there - like the snowbirds and other "gringos" going down to enjoy the beach, that customs generally assumes this is the case with everyone. They didnt even have a red/green light for people crossing on foot until a few years ago. Last time I crossed (last March), I was on a bus to Hermosillo, and they just waved us all through (surprised me! a full bus and Semana Santa).

I brought my two cats with me (yes, I am nuts) and while they didnt check my cats' papers (even in the airport!) - still get it done. Hopefully, you have indoor cats. Mexico can be a rough environment for cats.

Just be absolutely sure you take care of your car papers when you cross. I cant remember exactly where this is in Nogales (Sam - do you remember?) but its very soon after you cross. You generally wont get stopped to do this... that is until you go far enough south to be out of the "frontera" zone (15 km if I remember right). They WILL check to see if you got your temporary import paperwork for you car done before they let you pass.

Ditto on the contraband. The big one for the AZ border is guns. (Not that I think youre planning on bringing a Smith & Wesson with you). Despite all the huge signs warning border crossers not to bring firearms into Mexico, every so often some yahoo forgets that his shotgun is in the back of the pickup truck when he goes over to buy some cheap smokes

[Samantha]

The hub of activity for the permits seems to be at what we refer to as the 21 KM checkpoint, though I think it is closer to the 15 km that you quote. There are plenty of signs and you must pull over. This area is a bit of a distance from where you line up to do the paperwork. Now this whole scenario presents an obstacle for someone with a pet in the vehicle and traveling alone. It is too hot to leave pets in the car there at this time of year and maybe a little awkward to haul 2 cat carriers along with you through the documentation process, though that may be the only good option as it is all outdoor activity there. Is that what you did Thelma, or did you cross in the winter? It is usually about at least a 30 minute project if you are there early in the day and NOT on a weekend, and aren't pulled over for a search, which as Thelma says is highly unlikely in your case.

There is some talk that the permit procedure can be speeded up by obtaining a form online and having it completed ahead of time. I know someone who obtained their tourist card and car permit from their designated consulate in California, and there may be others but not ALL. I could try to come up with a link to post here because I have seen an online form in my travels around the net.

[sbtesol]

Good info...I will try to contact my CA consulate on Monday and see if I can get anything done ahead of time. I have another question..did you get your money converted to Pesos at the Border or at a local bank in the US? Where should I get this done, how much should I bring for Tolls to Mexico City etc. (can I use my card at the gas station? what about places to stay?) Sorry so many questions...I have always flown to my other ESL jobs! Thanks for your help and thanks for being so nice!