What's the latest on docs reqd for Mexico entry?

[tridacna]

I'm off to CSL next week. Is there an official Mexican immigration form that can completed online? I'm hearing that planes typically do not have them forcing you to do them while in the immigration line. Any help here?

 

[Manuel Sam]

On my flight on American from Dallas, they didn't even have the Customs forms to give out. I think that as Tridacna sort of said, the printed at home forms is the way to go from now on unless you don't mind the added delay of a few minutes.

 

[-JD-]

Well, C**p! The online system won't allow you to use it if your passport expires less than 180 after entry.

Everything I can find is that as a USA PP holder, as long as the PP is valid through your trip you are good to go. I'm (hopefully still) off to the invasion in a week and my PP expires end of July.

Why does everything that is supposed to streamline things not-work or just make things harder!

 

[Darnold9999]

Well, C**p! The online system won't allow you to use it if your passport expires less than 180 after entry.

Everything I can find is that as a USA PP holder, as long as the PP is valid through your trip you are good to go. I'm (hopefully still) off to the invasion in a week and my PP expires end of July.

Why does everything that is supposed to streamline things not-work or just make things harder!

That is pretty common in most countries and has nothing to do with your US passport. Doesn’t matter what passport you hold it needs to be valid for some period of time after you enter the foreign country and every country you enter has their own requirements. Six months is relatively normal. There are exceptions, travelling between the US and Canada for example, but for most of the world the requirement is six months.

 

[tridacna]

…but for most of the world the requirement is six months.

Not Mexico - the subject of this thread.

 

[Darnold9999]

Not Mexico - the subject of this thread.

Your right, I misunderstood the post.

 

[gopbroek]

On my flight on American from Dallas, they didn't even have the Customs forms to give out. I think that as Tridacna sort of said, the printed at home forms is the way to go from now on unless you don't mind the added delay of a few minutes.

There is the official online immigration site where you can enter your data and then print it out in advance. The printed copy is not in the same format as the manually filled out form. The website has default settings and will not allow completion if your passport has less than 180 days remaining.

https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico...4N0q5Upi7DjZw9WrILBMo9_dzgj7N6ayfcHY21vE18hUQ

The manually filled out forms are printed by the Mexican Government and have sequential barcode strips and numbers, the form also has a strip of multicolor holographic printing. These are sent to the various air carriers and if they are not available on the flight they will be available at arrival. There are sites on the internet that have pdf copies of the manual form you can print but they will probably be rejected since when they scan the barcode it will no longer be valid if previously used.

The air carrier is supposed to do a document check prior to departure. This goes back to the 19th century as the carrier is responsible for returning you back if you are rejected at immigration for reasons such an invalid documents. They are supposed to verify you meet the rules of the destination country. Some agents check and others do not but I have witnessed persons being reject at the gate when trying to board a Cozumel flight over the 180 day rule. This was about 6 years ago and I am not sure if the agent was correct. Multiple sites on the internet state Mexico does not enforce the 180 rule but if I was trying to travel on a short passport I would try to check in and do a document check with as much time as possible prior to the final leg in case a supervisor is needed to sort things out.

LATE PS/EDIT: if I had two months remaining on my passport I would print out copies of several Mexico Government sites that state you need a passport valid thru the length of your stay. This may help clarify the situation if flagged by a gate agent at departure

 

[-JD-]

LATE PS/EDIT: if I had two months remaining on my passport I would print out copies of several Mexico Government sites that state you need a passport valid thru the length of your stay. This may help clarify the situation if flagged by a gate agent at departure

For Convenience:
US state Dept.: Mexico International Travel Information
Mexican Consulate Website: https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/washington/index.php/servicios-para-extranjeros-visas?id=182
Mexican Consulate FAQ (Feb 2022 - .pdf): https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/washington/images/2020/visas/FAQ_13-02-2020.pdf