U.S. pedestrians into Mexico now need passport at Tijuana border crossing

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

Walking into Mexico at the nation's busiest border crossing with the United States is no longer an uninterrupted stroll for foreigners.

Starting late Wednesday, pedestrians going to Tijuana from San Diego at the San Ysidro crossing must choose between a line for Mexicans who get waved through, and a line for foreigners who must show a passport, fill out a form and -- if staying more than a week -- pay 322 pesos, or roughly $20, for a six-month permit.

... Travelers have long followed similar protocol at Mexican airports, but the new border procedure marks a big change at land crossings that weren't designed to question everyone. Pedestrians and motorists have generally entered Mexico unencumbered along the 1,954-mile border with the United States.

... Previous efforts to question more foreigners entering Mexico met resistance in Tijuana, whose economy partly relies on Americans who visit restaurants, beaches, doctors and dentists. Lines to enter the United States at San Ysidro have exceeded four hours.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_28672691/u-s-pedestrians-into-mexico-now-need-passport

[George II]

1. Is this really new? I crossed the border at Matamoros (across from Brownsville Texas).....

....a couple of times maybe ten years ago. I had to fill out a form, get a "permit", and pay about $15 at the time.

Maybe so many people crossed at Tijuana they never bothered before.

[Brother Buzz]

6. Yes

Walking through the portal into Tijuana was totally open, and often not even manned. Interesting, I flew in from La Paz, Baja California to Tijuana and had to show papers to leave the airport.

[Historic NY]

2. Which means it was easier to get into Mexico than it was to Canada...

say from NY state. A passport or an enhanced NY driver license is required.

http://www.niagarafallslive.com/Niagara_Falls_Border_Crossing_Information.htm

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

17. But do you have to fill out a form to get to Canada?

All I have to do is answer a couple of questions. in addition to the passport or enhanced D.L.

Where are you going? somewhereville.
What are you doing there? dinner.
Are you bringing anything in? beer.
What's the beer for? Dinner.
Welcome to Canada, eh.

No form, no entry fee, just a fee for the bridge (Detroit to Windsor)

[Gigabear]

3. I last went to Tijuana from San Diego in 2011 and a passport was required then

I think the only thing that is new is the fee for those who are staying for more than a week.

*Edited to add the passport was required to reenter the US, not to enter Mexico.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. I've crossed the border several times on foot at Tijuana

The last time was maybe 15 years ago. I remember seeing what looked like Mexican customs agents in a booth but they didn't detain you and only looked at you.

[KansDem]

10. I lived in San Diego during the 1970s...

It wasn't uncommon for me and my friends to suddenly decide to go to Tijuana for a few beers.

"I remember seeing what looked like Mexican customs agents in a booth but they didn't detain you and only looked at you."--There was never a problem.

[staggerleem]

5. Thank You, Mr. Trump!

Just in case you hadn't guessed, that title is TOTAL !

[Chakaconcarne]

7. We used to cross only with a driver's license...

Requiring a passport could be huge for the TJ economy...

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. DHS is now charging citizens to cross the border via "permits".

I read a long web page by DHS that outlined the various ways you could apply for and get "permits" to come and go across both borders.
Fees were high, permits had to be renewed every couple years.
A border tax, in other words.
Plus to get a permit, much like getting one of those "expedited" TSA lines, you had to tell them everything about you.

The net is getting tighter.

[Travis_0004]

9. you mean a passport?

Also they are valid for 10 years. Not exactly a heavy burden. Cost averages out to less than 6 dollars a year.

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. No, I mean the various cards under their "Trusted Traveler Program"

CBP's Trusted Traveler Programs provide expedited travel for pre-approved, low risk travelers through dedicated lanes and kiosks.

http://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs

[Historic NY]

14. Its for the convenience I guess...

I did see the price has come down some on the US & Can ones.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

11. Thanks, tRump!

[MyNameGoesHere]

12. They should start requiring visas too

And raise the price to make it smart. Maybe if these rich repigs had to pay an extra thousand bucks for their all inclusive pampering they would shut their pie holes about a wall.

[Zorra]

15. FYI: The border crossing in Tecate is another option. It's a nice drive, but

it's about an hour drive from Chula Vista.

If your destination is Ensenada or points further south, you can bypass the whole Tijuana spiderweb by taking Mexican highway 3 directly from Tecate to Ensenada. Tecate is a charming little city and the drive from Tecate to Ensenada becomes "La Ruta del Vino", loosely "the route through wine country".

I lived in Mexico for 8 years, in Baja, Oaxaca, and Chiapas, and have lived down there on and off since 1985. Cabo San Lucas was still in transition from a fishing village to and international tourist high rise hellhole in 1985.

Baja was wide open back in the day, the personal freedom was comparable to how the western US was in the 1960's. Many of the years I lived down in Mexico I was "undocumented". It's extremely difficult to pull that off these days.

This lockdown, spy on everyone everywhere modern world is a total bummer.

"Your papers, please!"

Too many people, too many rules, too little space.

Sorry, nostalgia rambling...now get off my lawn.

[left-of-center2012]

16. Mexican officials stopping tourists may be new

I've crossed into Mexico from El Paso and San Ysidro numerous times 1970s --> 2001 without being stopped or paying any fees,
using just a driver's license for return into the USA (on foot or in a car).

But Americans on foot or in a car have been required to have a passport to enter/return from Mexico since 2009:

"passport requirements for travelers land crossing borders with Mexico and Canada.
If you are crossing by land, you will need a passport beginning Jan1, 2009"

Traveling by air or sea - requirements began in 2007.

http://mexicolesstraveled.com/passport.htm

[Zorra]

18. I've gone to Mexico every year since 2009, and never been stopped

going through the border going into Mexico. I never cross into Mexico through the Tijuana border xing.

Returning to the US is another story. I have had my passport checked every time I have entered the US from Mexico since 2001. About one third of the time they send me into secondary. Most of the time they don't even search my vehicle in secondary, they just make me get out of my vehicle and hang out for awhile. I think they just observe my behavior with cameras and can tell I'm not nervous, just bored, and slightly annoyed. I'm not white, or Latina, so I may be getting profiled.

There is a "border zone" in Mexico of 20km to 30km for which you don't need a passport or Tourist Card if you enter by land and stay in the border zone less than 72 hours. (Except for Tijuana, where you need a passport to enter Mexico at the xing now, with this new rule).

As of March 1, 2010, all U.S. citizens – including children -- must present a valid passport, book or card, for travel beyond the “border zone” into the interior of Mexico. Entry by any means, for example by plane or car, is included in this requirement. The “border zone” is generally defined as an area between 20 to 30 kilometers of the border with the U.S., depending on the location. Stays of less than 72 hours within the border zone do not require a visa or tourist card.

http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/eacs_sheet.html

Question: Do I need a passport to travel to Mexico?

A passport or other WHTI-compliant travel document is necessary for U.S. and Canadian citizens traveling to Mexico. You may not be asked to present your passport if entering Mexico by land, but you will surely need to present one upon your return to the United States.

http://gomexico.about.com/od/entryrequirements/f/need_passport.htm

[left-of-center2012]

19. I've gone to Mexico every year since 2009, and never been stopped

Not going in, no.
But apparently now, maybe they don't like Trump's border comments.

[NCjack]

20. Expect Mexico to charge for a day-permit to off-set the Trump entry fee to build

the fence. Trump is stupid if he thinks Mexican officials are too stupid to counter his game.