Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

Johnnye

Sep 30, 2004, 11:18 AM

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Do travelers to Mexico need passports?

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My daughter and a friend and I went to Mexico on vacation a week ago, crossing at Ojinaga, Chihuahua, from Presidio, TX. I have a passport, but my daughter and my friend do not. They have always simply used birth certificates, voter registration certificates and drivers licenses to prove identity. This time, however, the clerk told them that although he would give them a permit for this time only, they would have to have passports to enter Mexico again.
Is this the case at all Mexico/U.S. crossings, or is it just peculiar to OJ?
I'd be interested to hear whether anyone else has had this experience.
Johnnye

jennifer rose

Sep 30, 2004, 12:06 PM

Post #2 of 10 (732 views)

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Re: [Johnnye] Do travelers to Mexico need passports?

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A passport is not required for an American citizen to enter Mexico.

The purpose of the documents you've described is not to prove identity, but to prove citizenship.

Johnnye

Sep 30, 2004, 12:09 PM

Post #3 of 10 (731 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Do travelers to Mexico need passports?

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Then am I to assume that the clerk was simply trying to pull his weight around? He told us in no uncertain terms that next time everybody would have to have passports. Oh, and yes, you're right, Jennifer, birth certificate etc. WERE to prove their citizenship, not identity. That was what the drivers license was for.

(This post was edited by Johnnye on Sep 30, 2004, 12:12 PM)

NEOhio

Sep 30, 2004, 12:34 PM

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Re: [Johnnye] Do travelers to Mexico need passports?

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Jennifer, last time we went to Windsor, Canada by way of Detroit we were STRONGLY advised to get, or bring, passports for future crossings. Going and coming back, both border officials mentioned it.

jennifer rose

Sep 30, 2004, 7:21 PM

Post #5 of 10 (681 views)

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Re: [NEOhio] Do travelers to Mexico need passports?

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There is huge difference between "strongly advised" and "required."

Personally, I think travelers' refusal to get a passport is perfectly idiotic. There's no reason not to -- unless you're on the lam or ineligible for one.

Whether at Mexican immigration or at US immigration, processing travelers who present a panoply of documents takes far more time than simply checking a passport. Nothing irritates me more than having to wait behind some tourist who hadn't gotten around to thinking about thinking about pulling that paperwork out, trying to figure out what his or her name du jour is, taking up other passengers' and immigration officials' valuable time. I think those folks should be sent to the back of the line.

bournemouth

Sep 30, 2004, 8:18 PM

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Re: [jennifer rose] Do travelers to Mexico need passports?

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When we cross back from Mexico, by road, we always offer our passports - last time the immigration took them and said "Wow, real travel documents, not drivers licenses, voters registrations cards and other things" - with that we were on our way. He didn't even want to know what we were bringing back - which was nothing anyway.

Marlene

Sep 30, 2004, 9:07 PM

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Re: [jennifer rose] Do travelers to Mexico need passports?

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It would be good if passports were mandatory for any international travel and that day probably isn't far off.

I have been asked for my passport (not the FM-3) at the strangest times here in Mexico. (In the bank for something as simple as changing US money into pesos, in the telephone office to hook up a phone line, etc)

The other day was a good example. I was unexpectedly asked for my passport for a simple currency exchange in the process of doing a direct deposit into someone else's account at Bancomer. Of course, I didn't have it with me (why would I?), so my husband, who had caught up with me in the bank line-up, whipped out his national credential. The teller said "Do you have an account here?" and then flatly refused to do the transaction upon his confession that he was actually an HSBC and Banamex customer! (This after more than 30 minutes in the line, and needless to say we were not amused to learn it is "our policy" not to do money exchanges unless you are a customer, or a foreigner with a passport)

I no longer ask for explanations on these sorts of things, but do appreciate the value of my passport.

Sep 30, 2004, 9:25 PM

Post #8 of 10 (660 views)

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Re: [NEOhio] Do travelers to Mexico need passports?

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Quote

"NEOhio" writes:
....last time we went to Windsor, Canada by way of Detroit we were STRONGLY advised to get, or bring, passports for future crossings. Going and coming back, both border officials mentioned it....

With regards to US citizens entering the United States from Mexico or Canada, current US Department of State regulation (which can always be changed with the appropriate notice) specifically states that passports are not required.

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS
CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
PART 53_PASSPORT REQUIREMENT AND EXCEPTIONS

Sec. 53.2 Exceptions.

A U.S. citizen is not required to bear a valid passport to enter or
depart the United States:
(a) When traveling directly between parts of the United States as
defined in Sec. 50.1 of this chapter;
(b) When traveling between the United States and any country,
territory, or island adjacent thereto in North, South or Central America
excluding Cuba; provided, that this exception is not applicable to any
such person when proceeding to or arriving from a place outside the
United States for which a valid passport is required under this part if
such travel is accomplished within 60 days of departure from the United
States via any country or territory in North, South or Central America
or any island adjacent thereto;

section continues....

You're still required to have both proof of identity and citizenship to gain entrance, but not specifically a passport.

(This post was edited by ET on Sep 30, 2004, 10:09 PM)

NEOhio

Oct 1, 2004, 5:14 AM

Post #9 of 10 (646 views)

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Re: [ET] Do travelers to Mexico need passports?

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Of course they are not required, but the conversation is about the suggestion that it may become a trend - and the result that those types of trends quite often become requirements.

I agree with Jennifer, everybody should have one. But of course I don't think about carrying it with me to Detroit on the off-chance my non-gambling husband will okay a casino trip. However, I can see why the officials on the bridge would be strongly suggesting that people get one and have it to use - because traffic is heavy, it makes it easier for all, you, them, the people behind you, and is probably smart to have one.

The possibility of a national identity/citizenship card can't be too far off in the future. Maybe they'll start issuing them along with social security numbers at birth.

ERISAjunkie

Oct 2, 2004, 9:45 PM

Post #10 of 10 (574 views)

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Re: [Johnnye] Do travelers to Mexico need passports?

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My work has me do a great deal of international travel. I think everyone should have a passport. I used to go to Mexico before 9/11 and basically think it's just an outpost of the United States. Long weekends in Cancun-that sort of thing. Everything has changed. A pssport is always a good idea.