July 13'th is the big day...Move from Michigan to Leon

[conklinwh]

One good thing about the bajio, and expect that includes Leon, is that we don't have the hot humid weather of the beach. We are a little higher than Leon but our temp at 7AM is typically high 50's in the summer and high the low 70's.

[Miniflexalex]

Hello,

I'm sorry for not answering earlier, the last few days (well, the last few weeks) have been very stressful.
We had to prep the house for the market, get our stuff shipped, driving to the Consulate to get our visa etc....

Well, the last three days we drove down to Laredo, we stay tonight at an hotel and cross the border tomorrow bright and early.

As said above, we finally got our visa after almost 5 month of waiting

I left my little collection at a friends house, I will bring it with me once I fly to the US the next time.


TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY

We are very excited and a little nervous since we speak pretty much no Spanish yet....

On out way to the Hotel we've seen what we believe the two border's, well, at least the roads leading to it...once was called Colombia...... and the other one was called "world trade bridge"....
We did not deside yet which one we want to take, well, where do you usually cross the border?

When we cross the border, do we have to see an immigration officer or is it like crossing the border to Canada, basically just showing the Passport and thats it?

Once we crossed the border, we have to get the sticker for the car and thats about it right?
Where are all the "checkpoints"? I've read that there are several quite away from the border....I also read that there is nobody, just the gate and the light...if the light turns green I can go, if the light turns red, whats then? are there any signs or something with instructions on what to do

I'm sorry again for all these noob questions but I feel like I had to ask them


We cant wait to arrive in our nice home in Leon....we are VERY excited

[circle110]

>>We did not deside yet which one we want to take, well, where do you usually cross the border?
We cross at Colombia but since you are already in Laredo it will be rather out of your way to cross there and really not worth it. If you take that turn off further north on 35 you get to Colombia even faster than you get to Laredo; but since you are already in Laredo just head south on route 35 and cross at the crossing that is the southern terminus of 35.

>>Once we crossed the border, we have to get the sticker for the car and thats about it right?
Yes, but you also should also go to immigration to "check in" to the country. With a visa (I assume they are FM3/no-inmigrante) you always need to check in and out of the country.

>>Where are all the "checkpoints"? I've read that there are several quite away from the border
They are always changing so you never know. The only permanent one is customs, some 20 minutes drive south into Mexico.

>>I also read that there is nobody, just the gate and the light...if the light turns green I can go?
This would be at customs only -- the other checkpoints have no gate or anything. If you get the green, just keep going.

>>if the light turns red, whats then? are there any signs or something with instructions on what to do
If you get the red light, there are inspection bays off to your right. Just pull into an empty one and someone will come and do the inspection. We got the red light our last time and it was a thorough but efficient inspection and the guy just said "have a nice trip" and sent us on our way.

[Miniflexalex]

Originally Posted by circle110

>>We did not deside yet which one we want to take, well, where do you usually cross the border?
We cross at Colombia but since you are already in Laredo it will be rather out of your way to cross there and really not worth it. If you take that turn off further north on 35 you get to Colombia even faster than you get to Laredo; but since you are already in Laredo just head south on route 35 and cross at the crossing that is the southern terminus of 35.

>>Once we crossed the border, we have to get the sticker for the car and thats about it right?
Yes, but you also should also go to immigration to "check in" to the country. With a visa (I assume they are FM3/no-inmigrante) you always need to check in and out of the country.

>>Where are all the "checkpoints"? I've read that there are several quite away from the border
They are always changing so you never know. The only permanent one is customs, some 20 minutes drive south into Mexico.

>>I also read that there is nobody, just the gate and the light...if the light turns green I can go?
This would be at customs only -- the other checkpoints have no gate or anything. If you get the green, just keep going.

>>if the light turns red, whats then? are there any signs or something with instructions on what to do
If you get the red light, there are inspection bays off to your right. Just pull into an empty one and someone will come and do the inspection. We got the red light our last time and it was a thorough but efficient inspection and the guy just said "have a nice trip" and sent us on our way.

Great info, it is much appreciated.
Well, going back to the Colombia crossing would not be that big of a deal, if it is much easier to cross there I would drive back up north and cross there...why is the Colombia crossing your favorite?

So we have to park the car somewhere to see the immigration officer (yes, we have a FM3 visa)?

It seems like I've read about the customs check point with the lights and the gate.
The other checkpoints are police checkpoints?

again, thank you very much for all the info.

[circle110]

The main advantages of Colombia are speed of crossing and avoidance of Nuevo Laredo. However, if you drive to Colombia from Laredo you will loose that advantage of time. I would say just cross in Laredo. Many (most?) prefer it to Colombia.

Since we have never crossed at Laredo, I can't tell you specifics of how it works there. I'll bet another forum poster can tell you since many do cross at Laredo.

The other checkpoints are either Federal Police or the military. Last trip we made we encountered six military/police checkpoints going northbound but only two heading back south. The majority of them just wave you through although we have been questioned a few times and once or twice had to submit to a search that was done pretty quickly.

[cuylers5746]

Originally Posted by Miniflexalex

We don't bring a trailer, we have a moving company taking care of our stuff. We only take the most important items with us to survive the 2 weeks until our stuff arrives in Leon.
We have a yellow lab and he is pretty sensitive to heat....even up here in Michigan he is pretty much hiding out in the cool house I hope he will get used to the heat in MX, he surely will miss the winter though
We drive an VW Passat wagon, we will lay flat the back seat so he can stretch out while he sleeps....
We are planning on driving thru the nights (at least in the US) and spend some time during the day walking with him....it's probably more comfortable for him that way.
I'm not going to nationalize my car, our work contract id for 2 years, if we want we could extend the stay but for now we will import the car temporarily.
As far as I know the permint is for one year, the same as our FM3 visa...we have to renew it every year.

We can't wait to finally be there....needless to say, we are currently in crunch mode ....lot's of stuff to do and so little time to do it....getting our house here in the States prepped up for sale, package all out stuff, say good bye to friends and neighborhood....

Hi;

We've traveled many times with our English Bull Dog in/out of Mexico. Here's a few suggestions.
Don't leave things up to chance when dealing with any Govt. Buracracy in Mexico or any where else for that matter.

1.) I'd get an International Health Certificate, with all the dogs vacinations on it and statement of general health from your vet before you go. Depending on the funkyness of the Aduana station at the border or if major crossing you could get anything from; "dog?.. who's to stop them from coming and going across the border (happened to us at San Luis across from Yuma about 10 years ago) and not even asking to see any papers, to NO, you can't bring him in with without the International Health Certificate for animals, during a crossing in Nogales during Semana Santa.

Oh, and check in with the Vet for Heat Worm Medication, and other potential problems. Just cheaper to buy those pills state side and bring into Mexico. Get a Prescription from your Vet so you don't have any hassle with the quantity you are taking across the border.

2.) If you know it's a problem, why not have your dog's hair shaved 75% off right before you take the trip, or stop at a dog parlour in Texas before crossing and get it done? Dehydration, over heating of a dog and you not being near a trusted Vet in the boon docks of the desert in Mexico, is not a very settlying thought. We almost lost our Bull Dog on a trip to Florida in the heat and humity of summer time, thank God we found one who specialized working with Bull Dogs too. But still $200+ USD later, and almost losing him, was not fun.

3.) As you're from a cooler state yourselves. Start taking more Vitamin B6 & B12 and Nicacin a month before you leave. This will build up your ability to retain more fluids and keep your energy levels up in 120-130 F weather. That's what some "Desert Rat" Pharmacist told me in Barstow one summer. I tried it and it worked just great. Oh, but don't take over 100 mg of Niacin at first as you can break out in hives. Don't think this is going to be a leasure drive down I-75 rarely getting out of the car into the heat. You'll be getting out of your A/C many times along the way with Aduana Office/ check points for Drugs, Car Permits, even Agricultural inspections, lunch, dinners
and gas. Don't get unnerved with many soldiers or PJG Police around you with automatic rifles as they're there to protect you.

You'll start to build your reptoire of amazing incredible incidents in Mexico to laugh a lot about when your older. Last trip to California, while waiting in line in our car for a Drug Inspection Point in the Sonoran Desert , I asked the young 19 year old soldier, is that a new Beretta Automatic Rifle? He was very proud of it and showed it's features up close to me. He then asked me if I wanted to go over to the side of the road and fire off a few rounds? Incredible huh? Looking at his buddies forward in line further up the road, all with automatic rifles, what would they think of this civilian doing this? Would they drop me then and there? Interesting, but I wasn't tempted really.

Words of advice.