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Old 09-08-2015, 08:15   #16
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

Have an Aunt and Uncle that live south of Ensenada. They invited me to sail down, but the headache caused in figuring out requirements and then figuring out how to obtain them brought the planning to a close.

Knowing first hand how quickly "regulations" and interpretations can change down there, it takes on the appearance of being a dangerous place to travel.
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Old 09-08-2015, 08:30   #17
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

Quote:
Originally Posted by TacomaSailor View Post

What ? I guess you missed the point I was making! How does one determine what is necessary to be legal?

Immigracion is the official Mexican agency which issues tourist visas. They tell me a visa is NOT necessary to bring my boat to Ensenada and will not issue the visa (been there-done that). The Port Captain in Ensenada tells me the same thing - get the VISA in Ensenada if we are headed south of Punta Banda. BUT, the Mexican Navy says they will seize my boat if I do not possess the visa that the visa agency will not issue. ??? What does one do?

VHF License - there is no such thing so how would I obtain it? How do I earn a legal VHF license issued to a person?

Fishing License - we get one issued by mail but the Navy says it is not the correct form. How do we deal with that problem?

I was trying to make the point that it is very difficult to determine what is really required.

PS - when we cruise in Mexico we do have all the required Visas, fishing permits, and and HAM licenses - done it many times with no problems.
VHF License - you are mistaken, it's not a VHF license, it's a ship's station license from the FCC. See page 7 of the doc I linked. It covers anything on the boat that transmits, VHF, HAM, SSB, Radar, sat phone, and you get an international MMSI.
Fishing licenses - See page 7
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Old 09-08-2015, 08:41   #18
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

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Originally Posted by TacomaSailor View Post

- VHF license at least one person on board must be a "captain" with a VHF license. There is no such license assigned to a person in the US - the license belongs to the boat. Mexico does not issue such a license.
Actually, the FCC both issues and requires a person-specific license if you call on any foreign port. It's a called a "Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit". Technically, if you don't call at a foreign port, but only sail in foreign waters, the FCC would not require you to have the permit, but that doesn't mean the foreign (Mexican) government can't require you to have one when in their waters.

You can file online for the permit:
http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html#159
and:
http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html#605

The operator permit is in addition to the station license that is also required.
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Old 09-08-2015, 08:45   #19
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

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Originally Posted by roverhi View Post
So there's only a few million who get to stay.
Is there a point to that? something remotely to do with sailing?
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Old 09-08-2015, 08:54   #20
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

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Is there a point to that? something remotely to do with sailing?
??

Any boat (one of the hundred or so a day out there) that sails more than 3.8 NM south of the San Diego sea buoy are in Mexican waters and subject to seizure. The prevailing winds are from the NNW so any course below a very tight reach takes you into Mexican waters.
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Old 09-08-2015, 09:16   #21
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

Interesting about the Restricted RadioTelephone Permit - I had forgotten all about it. I got one 25-years ago, filed it with the ships papers and never thought about it again.

The question local sailors here are having is about the definition of "captain" for the RRP - I am not a licensed captain but do have an RRP so am I OK when I skipper my own boat?

If a person with no RRP commands the boat they own but a friend on board is a USCG captain with an RRP is that OK?

How about if I am onboard?

I think the most interesting aspect of the "what permits and licenses are needed to sail in Mexican waters for the day" is that the Ensenada Port Captain and the head of the Tijuana immigration office both have stated, in TV interviews and newspaper articles, that the Mexican Navy does not understand the rules and is enforcing rules the local officials do not accept.
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Old 09-08-2015, 10:22   #22
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

First a moan here - why do people quote the entire post they are responding to? Just wasted bandwith and time to scroll through it. If responding to a specific item, how about just quoting that item. Odds are very high that the post you are responding to was already read by everyone who will be reading your post.

Now some real info. You can get a tourist card online. Pretty sure the San Diego sportfishing link posted earlier has a hot link to it. This is the process. Complete the form on line. (Last year had to do a complete a separate form for each person). You get a "receipt" that you print out and keep with you. When, or if, you hit land in Mexico you go to immigration and exchange it for a regular tourist card. I am pretty sure this is the process sportfishing boats out of San Diego are using, even though they never hit land in Mexico.

Hint - make sure you get them to stamp the back of the card showing payment, and keep a copy of your online receipt. If you are flying out of some airports they may not accept it without that stamp on the back and you will have to buy another tourist card. No problem in Cabo, but has been a problem at some mainland airports.

Compared to the process you had to go through moving around in Mexico years ago, they really are showing an interest in making it easier for boaters. If you think the Mexican process is a pain, try being a foreigner coming into the US with a boat. Our officials are not much better on giving consistent information and having uniform requirements. Seems it is a fact of life so you can go with the flow or develop ulcers.
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Old 09-08-2015, 10:26   #23
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

hi everybody; i am a homeowner in mexico and the boat i have now was sailed from canada to mexico by it's previous owner. i hope to sail there myself in the near future. i agree that it's hard to play the game without knowing the rules. i'm feeling an unhelpful under current of disrespect for mexico in some posts that does not help those of us who really would like to know the requirements needed to sail mexico. mexico is a crazy place for sure so hard factual information is truly appreciated
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Old 09-08-2015, 10:28   #24
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

Quote:
Originally Posted by Moontide View Post
First a moan here - why do people quote the entire post they are responding to? Just wasted bandwith and time to scroll through it. If responding to a specific item, how about just quoting that item. Odds are very high that the post you are responding to was already read by everyone who will be reading your post.

Now some real info. You can get a tourist card online. Pretty sure the San Diego sportfishing link posted earlier has a hot link to it. This is the process. Complete the form on line. (Last year had to do a complete a separate form for each person). You get a "receipt" that you print out and keep with you. When, or if, you hit land in Mexico you go to immigration and exchange it for a regular tourist card. I am pretty sure this is the process sportfishing boats out of San Diego are using, even though they never hit land in Mexico.

Hint - make sure you get them to stamp the back of the card showing payment, and keep a copy of your online receipt. If you are flying out of some airports they may not accept it without that stamp on the back and you will have to buy another tourist card. No problem in Cabo, but has been a problem at some mainland airports.

Compared to the process you had to go through moving around in Mexico years ago, they really are showing an interest in making it easier for boaters. If you think the Mexican process is a pain, try being a foreigner coming into the US with a boat. Our officials are not much better on giving consistent information and having uniform requirements. Seems it is a fact of life so you can go with the flow or develop ulcers.
Great question!

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Old 09-08-2015, 10:33   #25
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

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Originally Posted by TacomaSailor View Post
How does one determine what is necessary to be legal?
Easy...just ask the experts on CF then sit back an enjoy...
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Old 09-08-2015, 10:54   #26
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

My info is pretty dated but when I was in the delivery business, many of my clients were members of the 91day yacht club who were required to keep their vessel outside the U.S. For that period to avoid CA State tax.
As a licensed skipper, I was in and out of Mexico many times a year and was careful to obtain all the necessary licenses and paperwork to move freely around the coast.
The VHF license was required in Mexico but difficult to find an office that would issue it.
There used to be an office directly inland from the old casino in Ensenada about 5-6 blocks. The Port Captain there can give you directions. They also issue licenses for all communication gear aboard your boat, SSB, Ham, VHF, etc.
In getting Zarpe's and Dispatcho's from Port Captains, it is a good idea to bury them in paperwork and documentation whether it is needed or not. I used to carry about 30-40 copies of everything along with my own stamp. When delivering a clients vessel, I was required to have a Letter of Permission signed by the owner and occasionally the lien holder of the boat. Dressing respectfully is also important. I can recall many instances arriving at a Port Captain's office and seeing a bunch of shabbily dressed cruisers in saggy old, paint covered shorts, sandals and wife beater singlets sitting waiting to be cleared. When I walked in with my ships papers in a folder, dressed in clean slacks, deck shoes, short sleeved white shirt with my Capt bars on the shoulder and my skippers cover, I went to the front of the line! Just saying, presentation is extremely important in the Mexican culture. If you look professional, are organized and polite deferring to their power structure, you will be treated well. Phil
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Old 09-08-2015, 11:06   #27
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

Just to highlight the problem with KNOWING what is required - here is a quote from the official Mexican SECTUR (Secreteria de Turismo) government website:

"If you are considering a vacation in Mexico, you should consider the immigration requirements to enter our country.

Arriving in Mexico will only have to present your passport and the tourist migratory form, Transmigrants, Guest business person or visitor counselor, a form that can be obtained for free from travel agencies, airlines or at the point of entry ."


The SECTUR website does not offer an option to apply online.

In a later section it says:
"COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE VISA

The nationals of the following countries or regions do not require a visa to travel to Mexico and apply for admission as a Visitor without permission to perform remunerated activities."


and lists the USofA.
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Old 09-08-2015, 13:44   #28
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

The "VHF License" the Mexicans are talking about is a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (RROP) which everyone operating a marine VHF-FM radio outside of US waters needs to have in their wallet. It is issued to individuals not to boats. Boats may also have a "Station License" for various equipment on board. Both the RROP and the vessel Station License are no longer required within US waters on US pleasure craft (They are still required on commercial vessels). But, both are required for international operations. Some countries may let you get by without one or the other, or both, but I wouldn't take the chance.
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Old 09-08-2015, 13:57   #29
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

If someone on board has a USCG Master's ticket he will also probably have a commercial "Marine Radio Operator Permit" which is different from the Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit which he may also have (I have both). This license says "Marine" on it, the RROP does not as is required of international aircraft pilots as well as sailors. The RROP is free with no test, the commercial one costs $135 and requires a test. Also, a guy with a masters ticket is not necessarily, or legally, the master or "the captain" unless designated so by the owner or operator of the vessel. I have a master's ticket but I sail on many vessels where I'm just a deck hand. It's better that way unless you're being paid big bucks.
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Old 09-08-2015, 14:45   #30
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Re: Mexico enforcing its rules of entry

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Originally Posted by TacomaSailor View Post
??

Any boat (one of the hundred or so a day out there) that sails more than 3.8 NM south of the San Diego sea buoy are in Mexican waters and subject to seizure. The prevailing winds are from the NNW so any course below a very tight reach takes you into Mexican waters.
Which has what to do with "only a few million mexicans get to stay"?

I don't come here to read political commentary or racist comments.
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