Job Discussion Forums

chicagogirl · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 30 Location: Chicago, IL

Hello all!
Does anyone know if its ok to buy a one-way plane ticket to Mexico from the states? Wasn't sure if there would be any problems with customs and if so, is it ok to tell them I plan on staying or do I just say I'm backpacking and not sure when I'm returning?
Thanks! Christina

tholla1 · Joined: 24 May 2003 Posts: 4

I just bought a one-way ticket to Guadalajara a couple weeks ago (also from Chicago). It better be OK. I have been advised to ask for the maximum 180 day tourist visa, and to just say that I plan to see a lot of Mexico or something like that. I'm taking Spanish classes, so I expect revealing that will get me off the hook pretty easily. You probably don't want to be totally honest about your intentions.

amelie · Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2004 4:02 pm Post subject:

I actually would not mention anything about taking Spanish classes. I made that mistake last summer and they only gave me 30 days instead of 180 because they said that I should have applied for a student visa. Just say you are travelling and aren't sure when you want to return Wink

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

Hiyas,

I came into Guadalajara last year from LA on a one way and had no problems at all.. No-one even spoke to me.. But then, I did get that green light thingy that I keep banging on about.

Tell em you're going to travel the length of Mexico and maybe going to Guatemala etc and aren't sure where you're leaving from. You'll be fine..

Lozwich.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

The green light is for customs inspections of luggage--it has nothing to do with immigration issues. Let's try not to confuse newcomers?

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

You're right moonraven, but I believe that getting searched at customs could lead to the asking of lots of questions, and this would be the point where people would need to have their story straight.

For example, why do you have books about English teaching in your luggage, when you are only here as a tourist? If you are only here as a tourist, why do you have a one-way ticket?

That's all I was getting at.

MO39 · Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 8:14 pm Post subject:

I have a one-way ticket and will be flying into the D.F. in less than three weeks(!). If questioned about why I have English books in my suitcase, I'll just say that they're for my friend who is an Engish teacher (which is partly true; I find it easier to lie if my story is only partly made-up).

Marsha

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

chicagogirl · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 30 Location: Chicago, IL

THANKS EVERYONE!
I'm getting the one-way.... Good ideas about & saying their for a friend or having them shipped...it will make my back pack a lot lighter! Christina Smile

MELEE · Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 2:03 pm Post subject:

seaskyclay · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 32 Location: Vietnam

Wait, why is it funny? Is it because the postal system down there is so laughable that you may never receive the books if they were sent to you? I'm curious because I am trying to answer some of the same questions for myself right now. I will be flying to Mexico in just 3-1/2 weeks myself.

Thanks.

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

The only relatively sure way of receiving things is to use a private service. I prefer FedEx, but it depends on which part of the country you're in. They're expensive, however.

I'm still waiting for a box of clothes sent to me from Iowa and 2 boxes of paperback books sent to me from Florida via the regular postal service . . . in 1997! Sad

seaskyclay · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 32 Location: Vietnam

Ah, I see. Thanks a lot. It's good to know these things ahead of time. Smile

I can't wait to get down there.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Hmm. I have been teaching English and designing ESL programs here for 10 years. I don't own any books about English teaching....

MELEE · Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 5:11 pm Post subject:

okay,

Things have calmed down and I'll answer sensibly now.

1st of all about entering on a one way ticket. I've entered Mexico more than 12 times and other than once at the Cancun Airport and once by car at Nuevo Laredo, I've always flown into Mexico City. I've never been asked to show an onward or return ticket. If it wasn't for a visit to Korea I wouldn't even know that countries did that, because I also wasn't asked in Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, or Costa Rica.

Everyday, thousands of tourists come to Mexico, the vast majority of them leave in less than two weeks. You may be asked how long you want to stay, but you may not--you should watch as they stamp your tourist card because the official may have is stamp set for thirty days because he's just stamped 800 people who will be leaving at the end of the week. (this is particularly true in Cancun where 3-4 day packages from the US abound).

As for customes, I've recieved the red light at the airport only once and the search was rather pitiful. While I did have an FM-3 at that time, I think it would be the same for tourists. I don't think what books you have with you matter in either case. One because the customes officials probably can't tell an English teaching book from any other kind of book and two they are really doing when the search you is looking for illegal sustances or merchandise, things to take from you or charge you tax for. There's nothing illegal about having a stack of books with you. (Maybe if you had 20 copies of the same book they might suspect that your planning on selling them.)

What you should know is that there is a limit to the number of CDs that you can have with you. I think it is 20, I can't remember for sure. Pirating music is a big issue in Mexico and one of my co-workers did get caught on this one when he brought his entire CD collection in. Had he been on a tourist visa he would have lost them all. But because he already had an FM-3 and extremely good Spanish he talked his way clean by augruing that since he was neither a Mexican Citizen nor a tourist but a Non-immigrant resident and the back of the customs card said nothing about non-immigrant residents.

I believe Ben answered about the mail!
I did recieve new books from Amazon in an amazing 8 days last month! And the shipping cost me two dollars less than the total cost of the three books.

(Do not have shoes, new or used, sent to you by any means if you ever want to see them again, unless of course they're Made-in-Mexico shoes.)