Viajero Confiable, Mexico's Global Entry program

[Mossman]

Not that I care, but when I buy out the Margaritaville at the Cozumel airport and install a branch of my new Mossarita franchise there, I will insist that anyone with global entry blah blah blah take a hike. You're not welcome at my bar because we want people with exciting stories to tell, not just "yeah, I almost got busted for jaywalking, but I quickly hurried back to the curb when I saw the cop approaching". Congratulations!

Well, reporting in on the process:
Well…. The office in terminal 2 is to the left of Santander bank in departures. Hence you line up with everyone who lost their fmm passport or whatever and is bitching about their plane leaving. You stand outside until the signal you into the office. The lady could not have been nicer. English wasn't great but my missus translated. They have one integrated machine for photo print and iris scan. She took us both back at the same time. They aren't too sure on using it yet I guess so that took time. missus' ridge detail required a lot of repeats to get. Then they lost the entry and had to do it all over again. They have a quick interview form. No English version was there. Basically yes no stuff. One question you answer yes and write global entry. Mine processed fine. Susan passed and got a letter at the end and they said there is a kiosk to the left by handicap line in IMN. We didn't notice it on the way in. Mine however did not pass. I am thinking Susan's had more time until they got mine done. She said I would get an email in a few days hopefully or she would call my cell the next day. If not come see her when we leave. Took close to two hours or so. Everything but them operating the machine was easy.
And the waiting. Some Brit was threatening to call his solicitor if he missed his plane.

 

[cvchief]

Not that I care, but when I buy out the Margaritaville at the Cozumel airport and install a branch of my new Mossarita franchise there, I will insist that anyone with global entry blah blah blah take a hike. You're not welcome at my bar because we want people with exciting stories to tell, not just "yeah, I almost got busted for jaywalking, but I quickly hurried back to the curb when I saw the cop approaching". Congratulations!

I will sneak into Mossarita and look around. I am sure there will be lots of neat things no one else has.... because they are illegal to import.

I won't buy them though.....

 

[Mossman]

I will sneak into Mossarita and look around. I am sure there will be lots of neat things no one else has.... because they are illegal to import.

I won't buy them though.....

The entire bar made from black coral, bar stools covered in Galapagos tortoise hide or whale shark skin, can't decide yet.

I'll order you some rhinoceros horn powder for that condition of yours, it's actually not too bad mixed into a margarita.

 

[mstevens]

Are the panda steaks going to be served with or without ketchup?

 

[Mossman]

Are the panda steaks going to be served with or without ketchup?

What's black and white and red all over?

You have to try the deep fried juvenile spotted drums. Very crunchy.

 

[ggunn]

I will sneak into Mossarita and look around. I am sure there will be lots of neat things no one else has.... because they are illegal to import.

I won't buy them though.....

Wasted away again in Mossaritaville...

 

[cvchief]

Ok, more update:

I never got the email or the phone call, so I stopped back in terminal 2 IMN again. Sadly, the nice lady who did it the first time was not there. The new nice lady, after I waited in line a while, called me in. We explained everything and she tried to give us another FMM form to fill out. So we explained it AGAIN and this time she called us in and called another office. Then she told us to go outside and wait. After a while a two very nice ladies showed up and took us in the rear office. They couldn't quite figure out what was going on. They finally found us in the system. Oddly, they said I was approved but the missus was now on hold. She showed them her signed approval letter which confused them more. So then they made some more phone call and pounded on the keyboard some more. FINALLY they were able to print my approval letter. They then wanted me to check my email to make sure the system sent me the approval letter. I was able to and found it had just arrived. So we were good. Except a supervisor needed to sign the approval letter. He was off in the terminal dealing with another issue. They eventually got him to the office and he signed the letter. This took about another hour and fifteen minutes or so.

Apparently now we are both enrolled and ready to skip the steerage, untrustworthy types like Moss, sweltering in the queue.

Of course while we were waiting we had to listen the cacophony of threats and complaints from all the people who needed a new FMM form in the other room. One guy apparently didn't have the $36 or so they make you pay when you lose that little slip of paper.

 

[mstevens]

Follow-up on my Viajero Confiable application. (None of the 3 in my family got it.)


Here are some important things to keep in mind:

• This is NOT available to temporary or permanent residents (Residente Temporal or Residente Permanente). The application website does not say this anywhere, but if you have either of those migratory statuses, save your nonrefundable USD$100 application fee. This is why my wife didn’t get it. Mexican citizens and US Citizens with Global Entry on FMM (“tourist visa”) only

• Although the application website does not ask for a middle name, if you have one you MUST put it. The final name MUST match your passport. So, if you have a middle name, don’t just put Smith for your last name and John for your first name. Put John Terwilliker as your first name. This is why my son and I didn’t get it.

• You can’t just change your info (online ONLY) and re-do the interview because interviews must be at least 15 days after they are scheduled. For minor problems you do not have to re-pay the fee.

• Take the departure portion of your FMM (e.g., if your appointment isn’t when you arrive).

• Take your Global Entry card.

We did the interviews in Terminal 3 in Cancun. The overall process was very smooth with a pleasant agent who spoke good English and delayed his lunch to see me when my flight was delayed so I didn’t have to return hours later. He also gave my son a break on the FMM, which was left in Cozumel for safety, even though ultimately that didn’t make a difference.


Part of the interview was to ask where else we would like to use Viajero Confiable (“Cozumel, please!”), and that was written in a specific place on the forms and entered on the computer.


The agent pointed out that there was one kiosk in each entry area by the handicapped lane, but that they didn’t really work. We would be given cards that would entitle us to use the crew or citizens entry lanes (which would be great for me since that would let my wife and me enter together). I did not ask if this worked at airports other than the 3 in the program, but I strongly believe it would not.

More to come in May when I do the interview again.

 

[cvchief]

Wow. That is a little different.

I did order the Global Entry cards when we got GE, but I have never taken them with me. They didn't say anything about it, but just write Global Entry in on the interview form. Do most people even spend the extra for the card? It only is for a land border crossing right?

I *think* I removed my FMM from my passport so it would not get lost. (And I would have to stand out front with all the other disgrunted types. ) I am don't think they looked at it, though I am not sure.

That also make me wonder: Does the kiosk print you an FMM to give the airline when you check in to depart?

Also no one said a word about us getting cards. We got, eventually, a signed approval letter. And they insisted we check our email to make sure we got the approval email which did contain a PDF of another approval.

The email just says:

Please find attached ‘Welcome’ letter for your Programa Viajero Confiable/ Trusted Traveler Program Mexico membership . It contains details of your membership.

Please keep it safe, because it will be necessary in case you apply for the renewal of your membership.

The letter itself says:

Thank you for your interest in participating in our Viajero Confiable Program! Now that you are a member, you will be able to enter Mexico quickly and easily through kiosks
at Mexican participating airports.* From this moment and during the validity period of your membership, the assigned number is (And there is my number). Please keep it safe, because it will be necessary in case you apply
for the renewal of your membership.

Then it lists the 5 year span it is good for.

If you need further information, please see our website: Programa Viajero Confiable :: Inicio,
we will be glad to help you.

The asterisk text at the bottom:
* Mexico City International Airport, San José del Cabo International Airport and
Cancún International Airport.

The letter they gave me that day says in Spanish basically, I proved with my passport that I am me and that I read and agree to: Then it lists a HUGE paragraph of law citations and departments that I apparently read. Seriously, half the text on the page is a list of laws. Then is says since I did agree to all that, it lists my name and VC number. It says it only automatic filter thing at the three airports.

It is then signed by the subdelegado federal of Cancun.