FYI / Jan 31st passport requirements

[Mommy of 1]

Killit wrote:

You know I could have sworn I saw somewhere that said you needed the original copy of the birth certificate and in fact I think I posted the link, but can't find it now. I guess it could be I"m wrong and they will accept a copy of a birth certificate? ( I looked at the Gov site, and they just say you need a BC, but they don't say it has to be a original copy or just a good copy?

I just looked at my BC and on the bottom of it on both sides they have a raised seal making it pretty hard to fake. I'm still thinking they still need the original copy of the BC if you follow the letter of the law, but now you have me confused Killit?

Next time I'll ask the border guys what you need to get back into the US officially the original copy from the state, or will they accept a cheap copy I can make with my printer at home? ( If it works for you Killit keep doing it)

Supergato so they asked you 'why you travel to Mexico so much in Germany? That's not good for the married man or the guy with a girl friend? Do you think they would ask such a question to a US citizen traveling in Mexico?

My experience is they use to swipe my DL about 1/4 of the time, and they then read something, but I couldn't see, once I tried to look at what they are seeing but the guy didn't let me, and they never asked me anything about previous trips to Mexico. Perhaps yours was an isolated experience Supergato, as I'm sure visiting Mexico lots of times and then Germany will raise small flags to a border agent? ( also how often did they scan your DL Supergato when visiting Mexico?)

Anybody else have a experience like Supergato did where they ask you why you visited a country so much particle Mexico?

 

[? G??? ? ????s ?]

Did your copy of the purple stamp? or by copy, did you take a copy of that BC?

 

[Ms Take]

FB:

Really? They aren't suppose to according to their website as they want original copy that you send for in the hall of records. Buy hey it if works for you, keep doiing it, but for others it could mean a trip to secondary, and may delay you getting back into the states, but you will get back. But I see no reason why they shouldn't take a copy? I'll go check out my Birth Certificate and see the difference between that and a copy I can make, I think mind has raised letters in in some part of the BC?

I went to kinkos to make the copy,I been across about 8 times. nobody have said a word about my copy of BC.

 

[Kiss my befuddlement]

I had an interesting experience last night with the new regs. I decided to ask one of the border agents if my recently expired passport would be good to re-enter the country. He was a total asshole and started talking shit , "this expired two months ago,why haven't you gotten a new one etc, etc until the other guy sitting next to him said " sir, you can use your expired passport to re-enter the country by land- it just wouldn,t be valid for air or sea travel". It was one of those typical good cop-bad cop scenerios. On my way back, I was just asked a couple of questions, they looked at my passport and let me back. it was about 3:30 am sat morning and there was hardly anyone at the lines.
I would like to point out, that from my personal experience, despite all this nonsense, it seems like this is a good time for mongering in tj. The limited amount of american mongers has created a certain eagerness to please in some of the providers. My last girl at AB actually swallowed my load!!! Boy did I feel sorry for her next customer if he went for a gfe. But really, all 3 gals i hit last night were very attractive and provided great service at reasonable prices.,

 

[littlest Pixie]

If they swipe your card, they've made a record of your crossing. I believe current DHS regulations call for keeping these records for 30 years. And unlike paying your bills on time helping your credit score, crossing the border several times sometimes brings suspicion. I was asked at DFW airport after returning from Germany why I go to Mexico so much. I thought that was odd and afterward I realized that for land crossing from Mexico I had rarely used my passport, so they've tied my DL with my passport number.

 

[Free Caledonia!]

Killit wrote:

Really? They aren't suppose to according to their website as they want original copy that you send for in the hall of records. Buy hey it if works for you, keep doiing it, but for others it could mean a trip to secondary, and may delay you getting back into the states, but you will get back. But I see no reason why they shouldn't take a copy? I'll go check out my Birth Certificate and see the difference between that and a copy I can make, I think mind has raised letters in in some part of the BC?

And no they don't stamp your passport when returning to TJ. But like they did with the drivers license some agents will swipe it, and some agents won't. I don't know if by swiping the DL or passport keeps a record, I bet it does? ( or maybe they are looking for warrents to see if you are wanted?)But the good news if you have a wife or girlfriend, the agent never shows it to you, and says anything about it.

Yeah that would be a real bummer if the agent said, OH I see you have 30 trips to TJ within the past year, and your wife or girlfriend says WTF we haven't been in TJ for years? So you can relax as the border agents never do that.

 

[Kenneth C]

Went down again this past week (Wed afternoon) and the border wait was non-existent -- literally. There were only about 3 people in each of the lines when I arrived. (Monday, it was about an hour wait -- go figure.) I had only seen it like this in the afternoon once or twice before.

When I got up to the agent, there was literally no one behind me and only a handful of people were being processed by the agents in the other lines. I asked the agent what will happen when people just show up with their driver's license. He gave me a wickedly mischievous wink that would have made John Belushi jealous and said, "Oh, we send them off to secondary and let 'em wait a couple of hours." I said, "I guess they go get their passport then." He said, "Yep."

So, for now, it seems they are just going to make your life miserable if you don't acquiesce to the new regulations. In time, the misery may result in extended stays outside the country. Hopefully, there will be a push to have everyone get their passports. A patriotic duty, even for those in Iowa? But those who don't have their passports will probably be very reluctant to take that day trip to TJ when they are in San Diego for their three-day convention. (A boon for the San Diego providers?)

I always bring my passport and more often than not, they swipe it; sometimes they don't. Does anyone know if they are indeed keeping a log of every time you cross the border? I don't really have a problem with this, especially if it helps build a history of incident-free, border crossings -- kinda' like your credit history. I've meant to ask but so far, I always forget. (Besides, there are certainly at least a half dozen or so cameras that are recording everyone's movements as they move through the facility.)

The new regulations are a dual-edged sword. On one hand, it should make the lines at the border shorter. A two-hour wait to get back to the States is a major buzz-kill after a glorious afternoon of squish and bliss. However, on the other hand, one wonders how much business the chicas will lose from having less gringos visit. It was fairly quiet Wednesday afternoon. There were far more chicas in AB and HK than mongers and not that many hombres americanos checking out the SGs. (CC had three chicas and one monger. How does that place stay in business?!) I noticed some Mexican mongers but not any more or less than I've seen in the past.

For certain, the only constant in this world is change. Nothing remains the same forever. La Zona will survive, to be sure. But it is hard to believe it won't be affected negatively. I sure hope mis chicas favoritas don't have to relocate anytime soon. One of them told me she plans to move back to Senora (sp?) in a couple of years after she has saved up enough money.

Happy Hunting, My Brethren!

 

[jeark]

I don't think they will stamp those who are walking across the border, Maybe if you were to fly, but not walking. So no worries .. the wifey/girlfriends won't catch on ...

 

[prettyBoy]

You can use a copy of your brithcertificate.{that what I been useing.}

 

[Pompal 09.]

wow, hadn't checked the boards in a few weeks and didn't know they had actually finally gone through with this. I walked back across the border today and was asked for my birth certificate (which I obviously didn't have). The frustrated dick at the desk said, "You need both a photo ID and a birth certificate to pass!" I'm sure he said that 1000 times already that day. He then scowled and waved me in anyway... I'm sure they can't get strict on it for a while, but ill be bringing my passport next time.

 

[Herbie]

Bombed down today for some afternoon delite. Was anxious to see if the new documentation requirements would affect the border wait. It wasn't too bad. An hour wait with the line extending back behind the pedestrian bridge a few hundred yards. Once we got up to the agents, it seemed the individual lines were flowing about as fast as they usually do (except mine, of course).

My apologies, dondulce, but I forgot to ask one of the agents how they would treat an expired passport. I'm sure you could call the office and ask.

 

[Aaron R]

Went over on Saturday and did not see very many mongers. It looks like this passport thing is really going to hurt TJ's economy and well as inconvience mongers. On the way back home my passport was not stamped. Once they start stamping I will go back to my local providers.

 

[horny one]

ok guys- I think I may have a problem. My passport just expired on dec14th and I was borned outside usa so my b- certificate wouldn't do much good. I will be hitting tj on feb 8th and 9th. It's too late for me to renew my passport, so do you think my recently espired one would be good enough? can someone who makes a post 1-31 trip ask one of the border guards? I would appreciate the info.

 

[Cory]

at San Ysidro- they said they dont even have a stamp- and cant stamp it if you want em to! I think your safe!!!

 

[Came Twice]

They don't stamp your passport.

 

[Augustus]

Hey guys, are they stamping your passport or just looking at it. The reason I'm asking is I don't want my wife seeing that I went back & forth over the border daily while I'm supposed to be in San Diego on business in March. If that’s the case I'll use the birth certificate/drivers license, thanks

 

[Marianne]

Today is Jan 31 and it's the first day you're suppose to have either have a drivers license and a Birth certificate( not a copy) together, or just a passport in order for re-entry back into the US, as they will no longer accept your oral declaration that you are a US citizen.

This is too fucking bad, I guess starting today I'll have to put my passport in my car, as it's one of those days I might get a feeling to go to TJ, but I'm not sure if I'll even go, but I have to do it as it's too far to go back home pick up my passport and then go to Tijuana.

Damn I was hoping for a reprive. Maybe instread I'll just put my birth certificate in the car, as it's not a big deal if I lose that, but I don't think I'll like to carry around my BC all over TJ.

I guess if you forget your BC or passport you'll just get sent to secondary, and you'll eventually be allowed back in after they check a few things?

If anybody goes to TJ before I do be sure to let us know how the lines are, and if they are longer and the kind of wait you had to endure getting back into the US.

Gee don't you feel safer already with Homeland Security asking for proof of US citizenship? I'm sure the the terrorist in Mexico, are saying oh shit now what are we going to do?

 

[ChipA]

The official Customs and Border Protection flier I picked up last night at the Laredo Tx station shows what you'll need to reenter the US effective 1/31/08. I'm attaching a scan of the first page (split into top and bottom half sections to fit the site's 100k size limit). The top section is the "US and Candian Citizens - Single Document Option" which is the passport -or- the yet-to-be-available-US Passport Card -or- the yet-to-be-available-REAL ID driver's license or ID card. The bottom section is the "US and Canadian Citizens - Two Document Option"

The back of the page has information on if you are a Permanent Resident of the US, you'll need to show your Green Card; if you're a Mexican Citizen you need to show your passport and B1/B2 nonimmigrant visa or Border Crossing Card.

What I found interesting was that it says "Travelers who do not presentone of the documents listed below may be delayed as US Customs and Border Protection officers attempt to verify their identity and citizenship." While I'm glad they will not tell you to go back to Mexico, they chose to use the word "may" rather than "will". I'm wondering if an "American looking" person with just a driver's license would get through without much delay.

And I also hope that the delay for people w/o proper documentation happens at a secondary inspection area and not in the main lines.

[and as pocodinero reminds us, if you plan on driving into the United States you should have a driver's license as it is illegal to drive on public roads without one]

 

[Sadg A]

If you do drive, don't forget to take care of the insurance. Talk to your insurance agent. It is very, very unlikely that your California auto insurance completely covers you while you are in Mexico. (Usually, there is a provision that covers you if you hit an American within 25 miles of the border -- not very useful, in my humble opinion.)

 

[leeroy c]

pocodinero wrote:/

Pocodinero when I posted about not needing both a passport and drivers license at the same time I was thinking walking in TJ, not driving, as I walk in 90% of the time, and will only drive in Tijuana if I'm going somewhere else in Mexico. Yes, you may have a point if your driving, as you need a drivers license, and the agent might ask for that and ask about the vehicles owner, along with the passport?

However, there is still nothing in the new rule requirements saying anything about a combination License and passport requirement to enter the US from Mexico, but common sense and driving laws tell you to always carry your driver license when driving.

I notice lot of people still love to drive in TJ for some reason. I guess it's a personal choice, but one I don't do if I can help it. I park and pay $5 dollars, and either take a yellow cab $5 dollars, or taxi libre a few dollars cheaper if they turn on their meter, and even sometimes the bus for 60 cents. I do this because when I leave about 12 midnight or later there is no wait at the border. If you driver in you're always assured of at least an hour wait, and often times longer sometimes up to two hours or longer?