Job Discussion Forums

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

A little reminder to Americans...as of Dec. 31st, 2006, you need a passport if going to Mexico, Canada, or anywhere in the Western hemisphere. This isn't to enter western hemisphere countries, but to go back home. This only applies to returning to a US air or sea port, and not yet overland. Starting Dec. 31st 2007, all ports or methods of entry will require you to have a passport returning home.

Which means, strangely enough, for 2007, it will be easier for Canadians to enter the US than for Americans to do so.

Unless...someone has heard of a recent update or change to these rules? I culled it all from the Washington Post, the DHS website, and CNN.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

A Continental airline employee told me just last night that it has been extended until January 23, 2007. They advise people to get onto getting passports immediately because the passport offices are swamped, hence the extension!

Here is a travelnews link:

http://www.traveltrade.com/headline_news.jsp?articleID=8133

elaina · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Calgary, Alberta

The passport office by my office is packed. They were telling me that the average wait time to see an agent is between 4-6 hours. The worst part, is that most of the people who are applying, don't have the right paperwork. This means they wait, see an agent, leave to get the right stuff and then come back and get to the front of the line. On the passport canada website, it says that Jan 23 is the latest

gordogringo · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 159 Location: Tijuana

Currently the passport requirement for returning from the border areas of Mexico is delayed till 2008. A group of border lobbyists with deep pockets made this possible. They are also working on a temporary card system for US Citizens so they will not be discouraged from going to Baja California.In truth the border folks are just killing time.Once Bush is out of office everything from the stupid wall to this idiotic idea will crash and it will be business as usual.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

mapache · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Villahermosa

really - I would gladly trade this for the Mexican immigration procedure to get or renew a FM-3 that usually takes 8 return trips (albeit the line wait is ususally only 2-3 hours per trip).

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

Actually, this last time I renewed I was mildly surprised because it took only two visits: one to drop off the documents and another to pick everything up! Only one other person was ahead of me, so it took a grand total of 15 minutes. The bus ride to the office took more time! Shocked

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

gordogringo · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 159 Location: Tijuana

The border trade is huge. For sure. And the US passport office could never handle the volume of applicants if everybody was scrambling for a passport. About 10% of the US has a passport. Can you imagine if 20 more percent went scrambling for one all at once? They could never handle it. And about 30% of the US population will cross the border in 2007.

Our mayor in Tijuana, Jorge Hank, is leading the battle to bring business back to Tijuana and has made a few trips to DC to block the passport issue. Of course he will not admit that the reason business is down is he let his drug trafficing relatives stage shootouts with the police in the heart of the tourist area.Was so bad for awhile Navy personnel were banned from Tijuana by thier superiors afraid for thier safety. And with a huge navy port 20 min. away that hurt.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

You didn't see The Day After Tomorrow? Wink

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

gordogringo · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 159 Location: Tijuana

When you think travelers you think people on vacation. Specifically to travel to Mexico. The vast majority of tourism to TJ is day trippers and the surfing crowd for Rosarito and Ensenada. San Diegans and even the LA crowd consider Tijuana an extension of California and go there frequently.Juarez and Mexicali are also increasingly busy. 90 million trips is an awfully easy number to get.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

business2300 · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 60

A concerned family member contacted me a few days ago alerting me... she said that the passport requirement was to go into effect at the end of January..