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twelveoaks

Feb 20, 2012, 8:02 AM

Post #1 of 14 (5094 views)

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need info on crossing at Lukeville, AZ

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My wife and I are planning to cross the border at Lukeville, AZ but have been told that this would necessitate going through customs twice as it enters the main highway on a side road. Is this true ? Doesn't seem right but who knows ? We would appreciate hearing from any one who has crossed at Lukeville.

Thanks,

Fred & Donna

chicois8

Feb 20, 2012, 3:22 PM

Post #2 of 14 (5061 views)

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Re: [twelveoaks] need info on crossing at Lukeville, AZ

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When crossing at Lukeville AZ you will be met by US Customs who will ask if you are carrying more than $10,000.00 USD, and if someone gave you any packages to bring into Mexico for them, (I am assuming you are asking about traveling south into Mexico)....You then cross the border and a Mexican customs agent asks where you are going in Mexico...About 21 KM from the border headed east you come to the Immigration and Banjericto area where you get your FMM and Temp. Vechicle Permit, you then proceed to a lane where either you declare or don't declare, if you declare you go to secondry and show and tell, if you don't declare there will be a stop sign, it will either be red (secondary) or green for go,pase, adios...........

RickS


Feb 20, 2012, 3:47 PM

Post #3 of 14 (5055 views)

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Re: [twelveoaks] need info on crossing at Lukeville, AZ

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"but have been told that this would necessitate going through customs twice...."

I don't know of anywhere where this would be the case (but I'm sure that if there is, someone will post pretty quickly where the place(s) is/are).

bournemouth

Feb 20, 2012, 5:29 PM

Post #4 of 14 (5035 views)

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Re: [RickS] need info on crossing at Lukeville, AZ

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Rick - it's just like crossing at Nogales. You go into the frontier zone and then into the mainland area - there are two opportunities to get the red light!

RickS


Feb 20, 2012, 6:26 PM

Post #5 of 14 (5026 views)

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Re: [RickS] need info on crossing at Lukeville, AZ

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Well, like all things Mexico, border crossings are not always the same. The two borders that I have crossed in the last several trips down (Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras and Presidio/Ojinaga, both in Texas) only have one customs red-light/green-light.

At Ojinaga everything is at the border... one gets their visa and car permit in one building 50 feet after going through the red/green light lane. Later at km 26 there is a stop but the single guard just wants to see your visa before sending one on down the lonely road to Ciudad Camargo.

At Piedras Negras one gets the red/green light at the border but nothing else. One then drives down to Allende to get a visa and car permit. At that point there is no red/green light with which to contend.

YMMV

Reefhound


Feb 20, 2012, 9:01 PM

Post #6 of 14 (5018 views)

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Re: [RickS] need info on crossing at Lukeville, AZ

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In Reply To
At Piedras Negras one gets the red/green light at the border but nothing else. One then drives down to Allende to get a visa and car permit. At that point there is no red/green light with which to contend.

YMMV

What? There are definitely red/green lights, speed bumps, and gates at Allende. In fact, here's a google street view pic of them.

http://maps.google.com/....21,,0,9.31&z=15


(This post was edited by Reefhound on Feb 20, 2012, 9:04 PM)

robt65

Feb 21, 2012, 4:55 AM

Post #7 of 14 (5007 views)

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Re: [RickS] need info on crossing at Lukeville, AZ

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Hello RickS,

Isn't it really the same clear across Mexico? For example, I know when I have used the Matamoros crossing and have gone through the hoops at the border then at a "geographic or highway choke point" there is a secondary Aduana, and Immigration check station. Usually these can be found from between 30 and 60 miles south of the original crossing. I think they are more or less a checkpoint after leaving the “free zone” as another poster has suggested in this thread. The same really holds true when crossing at Reynosa, Laredo, Colombia, and others, as when you get just South of Monterrey, taking Hwy 57 South towards DF. There is another checkpoint for both Aduana and Immigration. Mostly Aduana, They seem to be simply double checking and (for me) they have usually just checked the cars permit and then your papers for the original Aduana check as well as your (in my case) FM2. If all is OK you proceed and all of this takes only a few (usually less than ten) minutes to pass. If you are caught lying on your declaration, it can be a bit rough (and I would presume expensive) from what I have seen as I passed through these secondary checkpoints. It is really nothing to be worried about and is very simple . . . . . . . if a traveler has been honest.

robt65


Reefhound


Feb 21, 2012, 5:46 AM

Post #8 of 14 (5000 views)

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Re: [robt65] need info on crossing at Lukeville, AZ

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The U.S. also has "interior" checkpoints about 20-30 miles north of the border, although they are focused more on checking legality of people rather than cargo.

RickS


Feb 21, 2012, 6:48 AM

Post #9 of 14 (4995 views)

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Re: [Reefhound] need info on crossing at Lukeville, AZ

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I stand corrected.

El Gato


Feb 21, 2012, 7:31 AM

Post #10 of 14 (4982 views)

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Re: [twelveoaks] need info on crossing at Lukeville, AZ

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My wife and I are planning to cross the border at Lukeville, AZ but have been told that this would necessitate going through customs twice as it enters the main highway on a side road. Is this true ? Doesn't seem right but who knows ? We would appreciate hearing from any one who has crossed at Lukeville.

Thanks,

Fred & Donna
"The World After WW1 - 1918 - 1921" at amazon.com, Barnes & Nobel - letters written at the end of WWI

Reefhound


Feb 21, 2012, 8:52 AM

Post #11 of 14 (4967 views)

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Re: [RickS] need info on crossing at Lukeville, AZ

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Easy to forget about 'em if you get passed through. I didn't. ;-)

chinagringo


Feb 21, 2012, 6:35 PM

Post #12 of 14 (4925 views)

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Re: [twelveoaks] need info on crossing at Lukeville, AZ

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The responses to this OP are a perfect example of just how different the setups are at each border crossing between the US and Mexico. None of us really has any business stated how it should be based upon out personal experience at a border crossing not related to the one in question. For example, for years our preferred crossing at Santa Teresa, NM/San Jeronimo, Chih had the typical actual border crossing. Then when one connected with Hwy 2 heading east to Hwy 45, you came upon an Aduana station which consisted of one pickup truck and a 5'x5' shack. They were only interested in your vehicle documents and nothing else. Then back in 2009, they closed that Mickey Mouse station and opened a brand new huge Aduana station on Hwy 45 south of Juarez. Very official looking but from our experience, all they were still interested in where your vehicle documents. No interest what so ever in what you had in your vehicle!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM


RickS


Feb 22, 2012, 9:20 AM

Post #13 of 14 (4881 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] need info on crossing at Lukeville, AZ

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"Aduana station which consisted of one pickup truck and a 5'x5' shack."

This is an appropriate description of the station that I spoke of south of Ojinaga, Chih.

El Gato


Feb 24, 2012, 1:41 PM

Post #14 of 14 (4756 views)

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Re: [twelveoaks] need info on crossing at Lukeville, AZ

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Lukeville is an easy crossing. On the US side the guards stop you and ask if you are carrying large amounts of cash or any weapons into Mexico. Once through there you have the Mexican entry. It is a red/green light system. If you get the red light stop and they will ask a couple of questions and maybe check your car and/or trunk out. Lately they have been enforcing the laws about bringing beef down. If you get the green light you just continue through slowly. Although they can ask you to stop even if you did get the green light. Happened to us when we moved down with a car loaded down with personal items. They hit the buzzer and directed us over to an area where they could check the car out. Opened the trunk, took one look at DH's undies and sent us on our way. Make sure that you stay within the speed limits as they enforce the speed laws - also Gila Bend and Ajo have speed traps.

If you are going to Rocky Point/Puerto Penasco, or other places within the free port area, you do not have to stop for a visa. If going further south you need a visa and the office is right there to the right when you cross into Mexico. You park sort of in the middle divided area. The border at Lukeville is closed between midnight and 6am.

Have a great trip
"The World After WW1 - 1918 - 1921" at amazon.com, Barnes & Nobel - letters written at the end of WWI
 
 
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