Living in Mexico, Working in the US

[fidelsgirl]

I spent about 5 hours yesterday on the internet trying to find some answers, so I am hoping someone here might know what I am trying to find out.

I am planning on moving to Mexicali, Mx with my fiance. I plan on working in Calexico, CA which is right on the other side of the border.

I know I can get a FMT (tourist) visa that is good for 180 days or a FM3 which I believe is good for a year when I enter Mx for the first time. My questions regarding this is:

1) When I come back into the states in the morning to go to work, and then am returning to MX in the evenings, does all that paperwork have to be redone every day?
2) If not redone, does my 180 days start over every day?
3) I will be driving my own car, so do I have to register it every day?

and in regards to bringing our household belongings into mx.. Is it better to say they are MY belongings or say they are his? He won't be able to come into the states to bring them across so I am hoping he will be able to meet me on the other side of the border and talk to the officials there. I speak ok spanish, but when it comes to legal stuff I want to make sure I'm not saying something wrong.

I know for most mx re-entering mx after shopping, they can only bring in like $75 duty free. But what about people that have been deported? Can their family or friends not bring them what they have left here in the states?

Just really confused over these details.

[MandyMeMe]

To answer some of your questions...
1...NO all that paper work does not have to be everyday...Mexico could care less who drives into and out of Mexico...you will have to pay a toll...then stop at a light and it will either turn green or red...green...keep on driving..red...mexican customs stops you and asks to look in your car...you dont have to get out of your car....you could even play that oyu dont know spanish...and then they really dont check your car as much...this is my expierence with mexican customs...
2...your 180 days...is 180 days....you really dont even need a visitors visa if you stay on the frontera....one reason you need it is to obtain a permisso for your vehicle....you need to have the visitor visa to get this permisso. You need a permisso to travel into the interior of Mexico...which can be anywhere from 25-40km from the border into the interior. They have a traffic stop and check your permisso at this point.
So you dont even need to show the visitor visa to anyone unless asked when you stop at the check point...which again is going to the interior.
3....I think i answered your question in #2....no you dont have to register your car...at all...if you stay with in that 25-40km range.....

Bringing your stuff into Mexico.....it really all depends how you bring it in...how were you thinking to bring it over? What vehicle?
I've done it...and have several friends who have moved stuff here....i can help.

[fidelsgirl]

Do I pay a toll going into MX or the US? Any ideas on how much that is? I haven't seen that mentioned anywhere.

I was hoping that I would be able to drive a Uhaul down to Calexico and then have someone that he knows that has a truck meet me somewhere and we could transfer it to their truck and bring it in. If need be, I am thinking to rent a storage unit in Calexico and just bring a little bit in every day, but I don't know.

It's all getting to be a big headache right now..

[albiesgirl]

Hello and just wanted to say there are several girls that have experience with that and hopefully will be on to help. Mandymeme is one of them that knows and several others so just be patient and they will be on soon I am sure and good luck.

[pamela_c]

In Tijuana, Tecate & Ciudad Juarez there are no tolls to enter. There may be where Mandy is. There are lots of toll roads in Mexico, but I haven't had to pay a toll to enter in the above places, or Aqua Prieta either. I don't think we did in Laredo either. Usually, you just drive over, get into the lane 'sin declarar' (nothing to declare), you have to stop and wait for the traffic type light to flash green or red. If it's green, you just go on, if it's red, you will be directed over to a spot to stop. They might ask you where you are going, what you are doing, what you have with you, if you have any firearms....that kind of thing. Usually only one or two questions, but those are some that I have been asked. Occasionally, they will open a back door and glance inside. Then you are on your way.
We have brought truckloads of stuff many times and never had any issues at the actual border crossing. It's usually later at the Aduana inspection stations that they ask more questions or make you pay taxes, fines or bribes.
Like Mandy said, if you are just staying in Mexicali, you wouldn't have to get tourist permit or permiso for your car. If you chose to, they would be good for 6 months at a time. If you are going to drive to the interior, you definately want to get a permiso for your car. My daughter forgot her Birth Certificate, so they would not let her get the permiso for her car. They went ahead on to Michoacan (me sending her BC and granddaughter's passport FedEx to there), and ended up having to pay hundreds of dollars in bribes on the way through Sonora & Sinaloa. They actually can impound your car, so it's not worth the hassles and expenses to not have the $29 permiso if you can help it.
You can get information from representaciones de paisana @ (213)487-8320 or by emailing - informacion@paisanolosangeles.com
Best wishes!

[MandyMeMe]

Renting a storage unit...is a good idea...we did something like that...when we had our stuff brought to us.
However....remember...only bring what you will need....destash your stuff now....somethings can be bought again...esp. if you live close to the US. SOme things you will not need....like a vacumn cleaner...you will need fans...extension cords...lots of extension cords.
I have a friend who brought her stuff over in her minivan...7 different loads. It can be done...it does take time though!

[zunigan]

Thats what I did since I only lived 2 hours away I would go each weekend and bring things in my truck. Mandy is right get rid of things you don't need. Only take the needed things. Again if you live close to the border you can buy anything else you need. when my husband took his truck to his state I put all the the things I wanted from here like my good non stick pans, my space heaters. anything I had that I wanted there. I had that truck full!! They do not check to much and if you live in a border town you do not need a visa.

[convictedfelons]

Wow! I'm excited just reading all this stuff you guys are writing. I'm planning to move to Mexico to be with my husband as soon as I can get an early release/discharge from my probation. Believe me, there are some days when I just want to throw in the towel and run for the border but I have to be realistic since I'm a US citizen. I"m "paying my time" and will hopefully be off probation within the next six months and then I can get out of here myself. I can't wait to read more stories and ideas about making the move.

[MandyMeMe]

Convictedfelons: what part of Texas are you from? What part of Mexico are you looking to live in?

Originally Posted by convictedfelons

Wow! I'm excited just reading all this stuff you guys are writing. I'm planning to move to Mexico to be with my husband as soon as I can get an early release/discharge from my probation. Believe me, there are some days when I just want to throw in the towel and run for the border but I have to be realistic since I'm a US citizen. I"m "paying my time" and will hopefully be off probation within the next six months and then I can get out of here myself. I can't wait to read more stories and ideas about making the move.

[convictedfelons]

Im in the North Texas area, going to Reynosa.

[MandyMeMe]

Oh...there are quite a few of us in Reynosa...