Traveling to Mexico

Can someone tell me, with the new rules, what I need? My wife and I
are traveling in April to Mexico, but both our passports expire not
long after. Hers is up in May, mine in June. But we're returning to
the states by April 11. We called Continental and they said it's not a
problem, but I've been reading online that I might have to have a
passport with 6 months of validity beyond my visit? Is that true? Do I
need to expedite this thing immediately??

igendreau wrote:

> Can someone tell me, with the new rules, what I need? My wife and I
> are traveling in April to Mexico, but both our passports expire not
> long after. Hers is up in May, mine in June. But we're returning to
> the states by April 11. We called Continental and they said it's not a
> problem, but I've been reading online that I might have to have a
> passport with 6 months of validity beyond my visit? Is that true?

CO is correct. Mexico doesn't require a US citizen to have a passport
for a short visit, but the US requires one for returning citizens.

Okay, that's fine. My passport doesn't expire until after I return to
the US. But what about this whole "passport must be valid for 6 months
past your departure date"? Mine expires 2 months after I return.

"igendreau" <ian_gendreau@hermanmiller.com> wrote in message
news:1174135801.276427.224230@y66g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Okay, that's fine. My passport doesn't expire until after I return to
> the US. But what about this whole "passport must be valid for 6 months
> past your departure date"? Mine expires 2 months after I return.
>

Such rules are only imposed by the country you are visiting,
not the country that issued your passport.

I think it has been assumed by all here that you have a US
passport, do you?

tim

Mike Hunt wrote:

> CO is correct. Mexico doesn't require a US citizen to have a passport
> for a short visit, but the US requires one for returning citizens.

Or what ... the US won't let you back in ... ?

--
Craig

I do have a US passport. Valid through June. However, I've seen sites
that say you have to have a passport with 6 months validity. Why? I'm
leaving April 5, returning April 11. Will I have any problems when I
get to Mexico is what I need to know...

>I do have a US passport. Valid through June. However, I've seen sites
>that say you have to have a passport with 6 months validity. Why?

There are some countries that won't let you in if your passport is
that close to expiring. Mexico is not one of them.

> I'm leaving April 5, returning April 11. Will I have any problems
>when I get to Mexico is what I need to know...

Of course not, they'll barely look at your passport. Mexico is
utterly blase about people coming from the US for a short trip.

R's,
John

"igendreau" <ian_gendreau@hermanmiller.com> wrote:

> I do have a US passport. Valid through June. However, I've seen sites
> that say you have to have a passport with 6 months validity. Why? I'm
> leaving April 5, returning April 11. Will I have any problems when I
> get to Mexico is what I need to know...

Historically, Canadian citizens haven't needed a passport to travel to
Mexico. All that was necessary was proof of citizenship and a photo ID.
The proof could be a citizenship card, passport, or a birth certificate,
and a few others.

With the changes since 9-11, the US requires a passport for anyone
entering the US by air, so it becomes simpler to travel with a passport,
even if you can still go by land into Mexico with only the proof of
citizenship.

Canadian citizens who are traveling to Mexico as tourists are issued a
tourist card on arrival at the airport in Mexico. This card is valid for
up to 180 days, and the cost is included in the price of your airline
ticket. You can also get the card from a Mexican Consulate, or sometimes
the travel agency will give you one, though you don't need to get one
ahead of time.

My understanding is that the six month validity requirement on passports
only applies to people from countries that have to obtain a visa prior to
traveling to Mexico. You should be OK with the passport you have.

By the way, I suggest that you ask for the full 180 days on the tourist
card, in case you have to stay longer than you intend. Even a week more
would be helpful. It doesn't cost anything extra, and the immigration
agent just writes down what you ask for. If you overstay the time printed
on the card, you might have to pay a fine, and it is a real hassle to get
things sorted out.

Also make sure that you turn in the card when you leave, as they can fine
you or make life miserable if you want to get back into the country. The
airline generally will pull the card from your passport when you check in
for your return flight. You can also mail it back, if the airline
forgets.

My understanding is that the six month validity requirement only applies
to people from countries that

If you want to be really sure about all of this, call the Mexican
consulate in Ottawa, Toronto, or Vancouver and ask them.

James Robinson <wascana@212.com> wrote:

> "igendreau" <ian_gendreau@hermanmiller.com> wrote:
>
>> I do have a US passport. Valid through June. However, I've seen sites
>> that say you have to have a passport with 6 months validity. Why? I'm
>> leaving April 5, returning April 11. Will I have any problems when I
>> get to Mexico is what I need to know...
>
> Historically, Canadian citizens haven't needed a passport to travel to
> Mexico. All that was necessary was proof of citizenship and a photo
> ID. The proof could be a citizenship card, passport, or a birth
> certificate, and a few others.

Oops, I see you have a US passport. For some reason, I thought I was
replying to someone from Canada. I must have read a post somewhere else
recently from a Canadian.

In any event, the same rules apply to US citizens. You get a tourist card
on arrival for up to a 180 day stay, and can use proof of citizenship if
you travel by land, but need a passport if you travel by air. The passport
only has to be valid for the period of time you expect to be in the
country.

In fact, I have used an expired passport as proof of citizenship, and it
was accepted at the border.

igendreau wrote:

> I do have a US passport. Valid through June. However, I've seen sites
> that say you have to have a passport with 6 months validity. Why? I'm
> leaving April 5, returning April 11. Will I have any problems when I
> get to Mexico is what I need to know...
>

Mexico doesn't even require the passport. The US government requires it
when your return. Since Mexico doesn't require it for short term
tourists that are US citizens, why would they care how long it is valid
for. Your best source of info is the Mexican consultate for requirements
when visiting Mexico. Have you asked them?

"Mike Hunt" aka Michael Voight wrote:


> igendreau wrote:
> > I do have a US passport. Valid through June. However, I've seen sites
> > that say you have to have a passport with 6 months validity. Why? I'm
> > leaving April 5, returning April 11. Will I have any problems when I
> > get to Mexico is what I need to know...
>
> Mexico doesn't even require the passport. The US government requires it
> when your return. Since Mexico doesn't require it for short term
> tourists that are US citizens, why would they care how long it is valid
> for. Your best source of info is the Mexican consultate for requirements
> when visiting Mexico. Have you asked them?



Oh why don't you STFU...LUSER.

--
Best
Greg

In message <drqdnfkGzIyyTmPYnZ2dnUVZ_vHinZ2d@comcast.com> Mike Hunt
<postmaster@localhost> wrote:

>Mexico doesn't even require the passport. The US government requires it
>when your return. Since Mexico doesn't require it for short term
>tourists that are US citizens, why would they care how long it is valid
>for. Your best source of info is the Mexican consultate for requirements
>when visiting Mexico. Have you asked them?

Why would they care?

Well, if I were Mexico, I wouldn't permit anyone to enter unless they
had reasonable odds of being able to return to their home country.

If the US will (by letter of the law, if not in practice) refuse to
accept citizens to return with an expired passport, were I writing
policy for Mexico I would not permit individuals to enter the country if
they would be unable to leave on their expected departure date, plus a
margin of error in case they are delayed.

*shrugs*

Now Mexico doesn't have such a policy yet, but I could see it coming if
the US starts actively refusing entry to it's own citizens without
proper documentation.
--
Insert something clever here.

On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 10:36:13 GMT, Craig Welch
<craig@pacific.net.sg> wrote:

>Mike Hunt wrote:
>
>> CO is correct. Mexico doesn't require a US citizen to have a passport
>> for a short visit, but the US requires one for returning citizens.
>
>Or what ... the US won't let you back in ... ?

Homeland Security assures us they cannot keep a US citizen from
returning home. But they can sure slow down the return if you
don't have a passport.

--
************* DAVE HATUNEN (hatunen@cox.net) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *