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Martygraw

Aug 12, 2011, 4:41 PM

Post #1 of 12 (2458 views)

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Columbia crossing

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We crossed into Mexico at the Columbia crossing again this year. We were first halted and questioned just after the bridge by the Army, no problem, then on to the Aduana, we hit a red light and my wife stayed with the van and the Aduana, while I went in to get our car permit. No problem there either, but the young lady took a lot of extra time to explain the new rules re the permit. Our van is a 2010 Dodge and we had to post a $400.00 deposit as well as the normal fee. She explained that the deposit would not be cashed as long as we reported the renewal of our FM's one month before the expirery date. She then had us sign a "Recibo de Depósito de Dinero por la Importation Temporal de Vehículos". We then went to the INM and returned the other half of our exit visas. This whole prosess took about 20 min. I know there have been a lot of people who have warned about banditos and mordida cop on the road from the Columbia crossing, but we have never had a problem. There are so many trucks on the Hwy, just tuck yourself between two of them and you will not have a problem. As an aside, the only time we did have a problem was on the drive out of N Larado 7 years ago.

bournemouth

Aug 12, 2011, 5:26 PM

Post #2 of 12 (2438 views)

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Re: [Martygraw] Columbia crossing

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As one can only start the renewal process for FM3's - or whatever they are now - 30 days before expiry - it's going to be hard to report that it has been renewed in the time frame mentioned - I'm waiting to hear from the first people who are in country more than 180 days.

Martygraw

Aug 12, 2011, 6:23 PM

Post #3 of 12 (2425 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] Columbia crossing

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It's not the FM's that ha ve to be renewed one month before, it's the car permit. As an example my FM expires on 2 Dec 2010, I will have to renew the car permit one month before then as they now put an expiration date on the car permit of one month before your FM expires.

bournemouth

Aug 12, 2011, 7:09 PM

Post #4 of 12 (2414 views)

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Re: [Martygraw] Columbia crossing

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Are you saying that you have to go to the border to renew it? That doesn't go with anything else that is being reported. The requirement is "alleged" to be that you must give the Aduaneros written notice that your FM has been renewed. Only time will tell.

Martygraw

Aug 12, 2011, 7:13 PM

Post #5 of 12 (2405 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] Columbia crossing

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No you do not have to go to the boader to report the renewal. You go to the nearest Aduana, in our case I guess that would be at the Gualalajara Airport.

Martygraw

Aug 13, 2011, 6:07 AM

Post #6 of 12 (2352 views)

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Re: [Martygraw] Columbia crossing

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Just checked my bank acct and, the 400.00 was taken out. However rereading the form it does state that the deposit will be credited back when the car leaves the country.

(This post was edited by Martygraw on Aug 13, 2011, 6:15 AM)

stevebrtx

Aug 13, 2011, 6:18 AM

Post #7 of 12 (2344 views)

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Re: [Martygraw] Columbia crossing

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In another thread someone is trying to get their money back after using a credit card and so far not successful. Cash might be a better method, I would think getting hard cash back if leaving MX would be easier. And, if your card changes, stolen, replaced etc. I'd bet the chances of getting it back are about zero.

They're creating a nice little cash nest egg there if they can figure out how to get all of us resident to deposit, if there are 100,000 of us at $300 a head, that's $30M in the bank, not bad because for those of us resident, we don't ever expect to leave, so it's gone money.

There still seems to be some confusion over notifying Aduana 15 days after or 30 days before.
www.chapalaweather.net

Altahabana

Aug 13, 2011, 6:34 AM

Post #8 of 12 (2341 views)

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Re: [Martygraw] Columbia crossing

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"I know there have been a lot of people who have warned about banditos and mordida cop on the road from the Columbia crossing, but we have never had a problem. There are so many trucks on the Hwy, just tuck yourself between two of them and you will not have a problem"

Most of the NL municipal police force, known locally as the Polizetas, was suspended last month so the military is in charge of local law enforcement. The " mordida cops" were actually informal tax collectors for the Zetas

I don't use Highway 2 --the highway that runs from the Columbia bridge turn-off to the interchange with Highway 85 to Monterrey -- because it is a major tranist route for Zeta commandos/convoys transporting drug product, weapons and other contraband between the expropriated ranchos of rural Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon and Coahuila and their operations center on the west side of Nuevo Laredo. Most of the time they do not bother other motorists and if you don't know what they look like, it's the same as if they aren't there. But occasionally individuals or a small group will act spontaneously if mood and opportunity strike and something catches their eye.

The risk for a bad experience is low for an individual traveler on a specific trip. Even if they are mostly about their own business I just don't feel comfortable being around these people and avoid places where they are likely to be. Around here the military aggressively tracks them and I want to minimize the even slight risk of being in the vicinity if a confrontation occurs. I was a km or so away recently when something went down and my wife and daughter were even closer during the big event in July 2010. It is very disconcerting to say the least and I will take reasonable precautions to avoid it.

(This post was edited by Altahabana on Aug 13, 2011, 9:48 AM)

Rolly

Aug 13, 2011, 11:04 AM

Post #9 of 12 (2301 views)

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Re: [Martygraw] Columbia crossing

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Well Marty, now that you have learned that the nice lady was wrong about when your card would be charged, it's time to point out the other misinformation she gave you. She said you must notify Aduana 30 days before you renew your visa. This is obviously nonsense. The rule clearly says the notice must come within 15 days after the change in visa status. Here's the rule:

Toma en cuenta que deberás presentar un aviso a la autoridad aduanera dentro de los 15 días siguientes a aquel en que se autorice la prórroga, ampliación, refrendo o cambio en la calidad migratoria, a efecto de que no se haga efectiva la garantía que otorgaste al tramitar tu permiso.

The whole rule is here.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Martygraw

Aug 13, 2011, 2:01 PM

Post #10 of 12 (2272 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Columbia crossing

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Well Rolly, it appears the nice young lady was just that. I have read the law as you posted, and agree that the renewal should be reported 15 day's and not 30. Sorry for the misinformation.

(This post was edited by Martygraw on Aug 13, 2011, 2:05 PM)

stevebrtx

Aug 13, 2011, 3:04 PM

Post #11 of 12 (2253 views)

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Re: [Martygraw] Columbia crossing

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Unfortunately an all too common occurrence, the problem is that they are wearing the uniforms with the authority to make life miserable for us.
www.chapalaweather.net

whynotwrite

Aug 13, 2011, 4:28 PM

Post #12 of 12 (2236 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] Columbia crossing

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there is always life NOB. Rules are rules, new rules cause people to make mistakes. Such is life. New proceedures are put into pracitce all the time in private industry and in the government. Some people just shrug their shoulders and go on with life, others take every change like it is a world ending event. For me it is " tell me what you want" I then do my best to make it happen and then they just go away and leave me alone. so simple.