Mexico Outreach

• Mexico Outreach

• About the Program
• Outreach Opportunities
• Register Now!
• Resource Center
• • Mexican Auto Insurance
  • Spanish Worship Music
  • Online Resources
  • Frequently Asked Questions
• Photo Gallery
• News and Events
• Contact Information

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does Mexican Law say about foreign visitors?

2. What is the process to obtain an FMT?

3. What happens with people in my team who are not U.S. or Canadian citizens?

4. What will happen if I don't get my team roster and documentation in on time?

5. What will happen if a participant did not make it onto the final roster and the documents were not turned in?

6. Can I FAX documents instead of mailing copies?

7. What are the penalties for staying in Mexico for more than 72 hours without an FMT?

8. Do minors require permission from their parents to travel to Mexico?

9. I called the Mexican consulate and they told me I did not need anything. What do I do ?

1.  What does Mexican Law say about foreign visitors?

The Government of Mexico requires that all U.S. citizens present proof of citizenship and photo identification for entry into Mexico.  However, U.S. citizens have encountered difficulty in boarding flights in Mexico without a passport.  The U.S. Embassy recommends traveling with a valid U.S. passport to avoid delays or misunderstandings.  However, U.S. citizenship documents such as a certified copy (not a simple photocopy) of a U.S. birth certificate, a Naturalization Certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Citizenship are acceptable.  U.S. citizens boarding flights to Mexico should be prepared to present one of these documents as proof of U.S. citizenship, along with photo identification.  Driver’s permits, voter registration cards, affidavits and similar documents are not sufficient to prove citizenship for readmission into the United States.
U.S. citizens do not require a visa or a tourist card for tourist stays of 72 hours or less within “the border zone,” defined as an area between 20 to 30 kilometers of the border with the U.S., depending on the location.  U.S. citizens traveling as tourists beyond the border zone or entering Mexico by air must pay a fee to obtain a tourist card, also known as an FM-T, available from Mexican consulates, Mexican border crossing points, Mexican tourism offices, airports within the border zone and most airlines serving Mexico.  The fee for the tourist card is generally included in the price of a plane ticket for travelers arriving by air. (Taken from the U.S. Department of State’s web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/mexico.html)

2.  What is the normal process to obtain an FM-T?

• Stop at the border and walk into the Immigration Office and request an FMT form.
• Go to the bank (next door) with the form
• Pay the fee (about $21 U.S.) and they will give you a receipt. (If bank is closed you will have to go back during the day to pay fee.)
• Take the form and receipt back to the Immigration Office and they will give you the FM-T.
• They may give you a pink form you may have to return to the Immigration Office on your way back to the U.S.

Mexico Outreach has again processed a petition with the hope of waiving this fee for all those individuals or teams participating in Special Projects such as Medical Ministries, Prison Ministries and Community Service Ministries as long as their roster and documentation are turned in before the assigned deadline.

3.  What happens with people in my team who are not U.S. or Canadian citizens?

Mexican immigration has informed us that the only citizenships that will be processed without any inconvenience are United States of America, Canada, and of course, Mexico. We suggest that all other citizenships should be checked with the Mexican Consulate as soon as possible since some visas may take up to 4 months to process. Feel free to contact our office with any questions.

Special Registration:
It is very important to know that the United States has placed a Red Flag on several citizenships due to national security issues. People that were born in those countries, even if they are now citizens of another (including the US, Canada, Japan or Mexico) will have to go through Special Registration (most countries in the Middle East are on this list). This Special Registration consists of stopping at selected ports of entry/exit of the U.S. with Canada and Mexico and going through an interview process both on the way in and out. This process allegedly takes about one hour.  For more information on Special Registration check the U.S. Immigration and Customs web site: http://www.ice.gov/pi/specialregistration/index.htm

4.  What will happen if I don’t get my team roster and documents in on time?

If for some reason your complete roster and documents are not in by your assigned camp deadline you will have to go through the normal process of obtaining a FM-T at the border as you go into Mexico (See questions #1 & #2). You may be able to do this at camp if once again Mexican immigration allows us to do it as they did last year. If this is the case, you will be notified through our mailings before the camp. Either way, you will still need originals of valid passport or Birth Certificate and Photo ID, plus the $21 dollar processing fee.

5. What will happen if a participant did not make it onto the final roster and the documents were not turned in?

That participant will have to obtain an FM-T at the border as your team drives in. This will delay the entire team. That is why we encourage you make sure that every participant has all his or her documentation in before the assigned deadline

6. Can I fax documents instead of mailing copies?

No. When faxed, pictures on ID’s come out blurry and Mexican Immigration will not accept illegible copies of documents.

7.  What are the penalties for staying in Mexico for more than 72 hours without an FMT?

If Mexican Immigration Office decides to do check-ups, they may deport individuals without a FM-T who have been in the country for more than 72 hours without leaving Mexican territory. (Crossing to border to get a burger does not re-start the 72 hours.)

8. Do minors require permission from their parents to travel to Mexico?

Mexican law requires that any non-Mexican under the age of 18 entering Mexico must carry notarized written permission from any parent or guardian not traveling with the child.  This permission must include the name of the parent, the name of the child, the name of anyone traveling with the child, and the notarized signature(s) of the absent parent(s).  The State Department recommends that the permission should include travel dates, destinations, airlines and a brief summary of the circumstances surrounding the travel.  The child must be carrying the original letter – not a facsimile or scanned copy – as well as proof of the parent/child relationship (usually a birth certificate or court document) – and an original custody decree, if applicable.  Travelers should contact the Mexican Embassy or closest Mexican Consulate for current information.

All travelers should refer to our Foreign Entry Requirements brochure (http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1229.html) for more information on Mexico and other countries.  Visit the Embassy of Mexico web site at http://www.embassyofmexico.org/eng/ or contact the Embassy of Mexico at 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006, telephone (202) 736-1000, or any Mexican consulate in the United States for the most current visa information. (Taken from the U.S. Department of State’s web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html)

9.  I called the Mexican consulate and they told me I did not need anything. What should I do?

We have a special agreement with Mexican immigration officials that have taken into consideration our special circumstances and decided that this is the route that we have to follow. Even though some Mexican consulates may state that we don’t need a FMT or any other kind of special paperwork, we have received our instructions from the Director of the National Immigration Institute (INAMI) headquarters in Tijuana, Baja California and have to obey the rules and regulations stated by the government we are trying to partner with. Some of the reasons why they want us to be registered through them are: In case of an emergency (such as a natural disaster or national security) they want to be able to locate us and bring aid. In case of an accident (such as a car accident that may or may not involve local citizens) they want to be able to say that they are aware of our presence in the country; and they also consider that it is better to be registered due to the nature of the activities that we do.
You will find the Consent to Travel form in the Leader's Manual found in our Resource Center.

Disclaimer: As we have experienced in the past, this law could change without previous notice and the process could be modified. If this happens, we will inform you as soon as possible.

For more information you may contact us.