Job Discussion Forums

[Dragonlady]

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out of date

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[corporatehuman]

Just noticed these posts, which is good...I realize I'm supposed to stay in guatemala for 72 hours, but I don't really have the time to.

I leave this friday for the Comitan border place dragonlady was referring to, and I just plan on trying to enter, and then return. I'll let you all know how it goes.

Chris

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[corporatehuman]

So here's how the immigration story went:

I left here at Chiapa de Corzo at 10:30, arrived in La Mesila at 3 or so. Problem was yesterday all the highways from Comitan to the Frontier had blockades supporting PRD. On the way there this wasn't a problem, the combi would drive to the blockade and we could cross.

I went to immigration and at first it was closed, in support of the protest. An hour later it was open. I went, had my passport stamped by Mexican immigration, that I left. Then I went into La Mesila, which very well may be one of Dante's Inner Circle of Hells, to the Guatemalan immigration, and they stamped my entrance.

A second later I said now I want to leave. I paid 200 pesos and they stamped my exit. They clarified for me that at the moment, technically, I was still in Guatemala, because I didn't have a Mexican entrance stamp.

So then I go to Mexican immigration, maybe 30 minutes later. The immigration official there asked me, "Didn't you just leave?" and I said, "Yes." and that was it, he gave me 90 days. I asked for a 180, but he told me the max is a 90.

I returned that night, somehow getting through the myriad of blockades, and arrived home at 11pm.

If anyone else goes to this border, just be aware the immigration offices are not obvious. The Mexican one, has two buildings, and is 10 minutes outside of La Mesila. The smaller building is the one with the immigration. The other office is for cars, something else.

Also the border itself isn't clearly marked. When you walk into 'Guatemala' you do just that, no one stops you, just walk in. to the left is Guatemalan immigration. You also wouldn't have to pay 200 pesos, I stupidly didn't have a smaller bill at the time.

Anyway, so it can be done in a day. For what it matters, I also made small talk with the Mexican immigration guy, and the chaos of the day (with all the highways closed) made for easy conversation.


Best of luck to anyone else,

Chris

[cangringo]

hlamb,

I know what you went through, we did the same thing because at the border they refused to give us 90 days, only 30 days and the same for our vehicle permit which I must say turned the whole process into a big pain in the butt. We had to go there 3 or 4 times...yeesh just for a tourist visa. They told us the forms and then we coudn't find the SAT form anywhere because we were looking for the wrong form. Finally found that, then couldn't find the man with the typewriter we were assured was a block away from the immigration office. Luckily we met some people that worked at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce here and they helped us with the paperwork - especially the letter stating why we want to be here. Anyway finally got back with paperwork in hand and were told it would be a week for the visa and stupid us had to get back to the border to renew our car permit. After explaining this in Spanglish, they said well why didn't you just go across the border again to which we replied, well they only gave us 30 days and we thought this would ensure us the needed 180 days. When the nice lady at immigration finally saw me reaching the breaking point, she said ok come back in a half hour. Yay finally got visa and then had to drive to the border and renew the car permit.

For the debit or credit card, luckily they don't actually need a statement just a record of a transaction at a local bank machine so make sure you have one of these on hand.

I realize we might have been able to get the 90 day visa at the border but we would still have to renew the car permit etc, etc, etc. and there's no guarantee that they will give you the 90 days at the border - yadda yadda yadda...

[Samantha]

Cangringo wrote:

[cangringo]

Oh man, I wish we'd know that because we didn't want to make the drive back to Reynosa for the new car permit, we are good until June but our car permit expires in Feb. So you're saying we don't need to renew again?? What happens to our car deposit though, we had to give the $200 deposit to bring it in as we don't have credit cards...??

It would be fantastic if we didn't have to drive back and we didn't think it made sense to do that but they told us at the border we had to and the people at the immigration office were clueless.

We are getting used to that though...

[Dragonlady]

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out of date

[Samantha]

cangringo wrote:

[cangringo]

Thanks for the info, when we looked up the tourist permits that isn't what it said at all. We did leave for a week at Christmas and came back in by air and the guy at the border decided to give us 180 days. Very unusual I know.

Like I said we didn't want to leave the visa for this long but we have also had conflicting stories on who can get it, how to get it etc. and because our school isn't applying we were unsure we could even get one because from what they told us at immigration they want a bank statement showing you have enough money for a few months etc. if you apply by yourself and not through the school?? I'm guessing you are saying that isn't true but after the FMT paperwork...

and we are getting our stuff together for it and getting help from the friend because we don't want to make 4 trips again.

[corporatehuman]