Baja Races and Tourist Cards

[Al Swearengen]

Just trying to see if most people get their FM-T card when they go racing in Baja. Apparently if you travel down to Baja Sur they check at the border at Guerrero Negro. What if you don't have your card at the border check ? Will $20.00 get you thru the check point?

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[stokes31]

Just trying to see if most people get their FM-T card when they go racing in Baja. Apparently if you travel down to Baja Sur they check at the border at Guerrero Negro. What if you don't have your card at the border check ? Will $20.00 get you thru the check point?

We all stopped and got Tourist Cards at the 1000 last year and they were never checked.

I wouldn't take the chance though. Might as well spend the $20 @ the border instead of sweating it out on the side of the road with some Federalies that may or may not let you go!

Just my $.02

[Chase 2]

Two questions: Why wouldn't you want to be legal when traveling in Baja?? Don't you have enough going on during a race without adding possible problems?

[Al Swearengen]

Two questions: Why wouldn't you want to be legal when traveling in Baja?? Don't you have enough going on during a race without adding possible problems?

Hey, I'm asking the questions around here I haven't traveled to Baja Sur before and many people I have talked to said "don' worry about it" I want to be legal and don't need any problems...I'm just looking for others' input.

[Laurie]

We didn't have them when we came back from La Paz, and were asked for them in Guerro Negro. My husband filled out the paperwork while most of us were asleep.

[nimrod]

I have talked to surfers who got turned around at the Baja Sur border and sent ALL the way back to TJ to get the card. They tried to pay money for the cards at the Sur border, but it was no dice. All the way back to TJ. Maybe they hit the federales with an attitude that caused this problem, I don't know. I, personally would hate to be down there and have that kind of problem. I think you can get them at your local consulate, or right as you cross the border on the Mexico side.

[Superfab]

Am I right in thinking you dont need the card if you have your passport with you?

[klaus]

Just trying to see if most people get their FM-T card when they go racing in Baja. Apparently if you travel down to Baja Sur they check at the border at Guerrero Negro. What if you don't have your card at the border check ? Will $20.00 get you through the check point?

The last years Baja1000 we hit that checkpoint with a tourist card. They made us fill out the forms there and we had to pay $20(?) at a Bank in LaPaz and show proof of that on our way back home. On our way back nobody ever checked us.

So I guess we got lucky. The proper way is to get the form and pay the fee way ahead of the Baja Sur checkpoint. Thats the only way I will be doing it from here on.

[nimrod]

Am I right in thinking you dont need the card if you have your passport with you?

No, passport is different. You mostly need your passport to get back to the US. Tourist card is for Mexico entry more than something like 20 miles south of the border zone, or a stay over a week or any combination of these 2. The previously stated facts are pretty much off the top of my head and sure to be wrong. Just know that you should have a tourist card anytime you are south of Rosarito. Most of the time, you won't really be asked for it until the Baja Norte and Baja Sur border check.

[bajafan]

Always better to have and not need, then to need and not have... It's been a few years, but we were able to "buy" one at the Baja Sur border by being polite and playing dumb - not recommened though.