Exit stamp from US and camping store in Mexico?
 

Hi everyone.

I am in Baja now and driving south on my KLR to (hopefully) argentina.

But I did not get an exit stamp from the US when I left via Tijuana. I did however get the entry stamp to mexico. I really tried to look for a place to get the stamp and to turn in my departure card but to no avail.

This is not a problem if you are a US citizen, but I as a Danish citizen fear that I will not be able to reenter in say 6 months because my visa is long since run out at that time. And I dont have an exit stamp.

Anyone been there before? Should I go to a US embassy or is my mexican stamp sufficient?


Next Q:

You live and you learn and I have learnt that my sleeping bag and mattress are for more tropical conditions than mexico. Any decent stores down here? What is the cheapest way to send something from the US down here if I cant get it here?

Anyone tried that?

Happy holidays everyone!

Ride back north, get your camping gear and exit stamp...all is solved.
As far as the gear goes, this is the cheapest way.

I agree with lone rider. If you can ride back to the States and buy the camping gear you need. It will be much cheaper and a lot easier to find. Shipping into Mexico is fast ii you use expensive services like DHL etc and slow if you use USPS which will take about a month to get anything. You will also have to pay import duties.
When you left the States you should have handed in the card that was probably stampled to your passport (either green or white) on the US side of the border to the person who collected the toll or anybody else that has a uniform. If you go back to the States now this won't be a problem. If you go back to the States later and it has expired then DON'T show it to anyone and say you handed it in to the person who collected your toll.

Exit stamp from US and camping store in Mexico?
 

I did the same as you when I entered Mexico from the USA. There was no one at the US side that I could find to get an exit stamp.Ended up getting a form from US embassy in Panama.(try any US embassy)Just fill it in and post it.
Cant help you with the camping gear.
Ben.

Thank you for your replies.

I think I will try to locate a US embassy along the way and fill out a form. Thanks for the info.

Nice tip with ripping out the departure card, very adventurerider'ish (I feel tempted to do I just because of that)

Please warn any non-US citizens of the Tijuana border. There simply isnt a US border office on the exit side, only on the entry side. I was very carefull and drove really slow so I at least got the entry stamp to mexico and turist card and all.

In regards to camping gear I will have to make do with what I got. I wont spend 10 days or more riding back and forth. Mexico is expensive!

But thanks all!

Exit stamp
 

I would advise to get the paper work done otherwise there could be a problem if you wish to return to the USA.
Ben

10 days...? I thought you were in Baja.

The camping gear purchased in California will be cheapper than the ferry cost over to mainland Mexico, and you can then ride down the west coast of mainland Mexico, not retracing your riding in Baja.

Do you still have the white I-94 card. Are you afraid the U.S. will think you stayed in the U.S. too long. If so the Mexican entry stamp shows when you left. Don't assume tearing out the card will work anymore.

Where did you get the entry stamp in La Paz? If you go back to the U.S. now a good office will see the Mexican stamp as it is probably the most recent one where he will look to give you a new stamp. If your visa is expired now I think that is your bigger problem.

I went last month from guatemala to US, and crossed the border in Tecate (east of Tijuana). Since I could not cancel my temporary import in Tecate I went back into Mexico in Calexico to process my Mexican exit again. All very easy, saw nobody at the US side, and on my re-entry in the states had no problem. I must say I am Belgian and do not need a visa. I did last year about 25.000 kms in Mexico and the most beautiful were the 1500 from Mazatlan to Salina Cruz. If I finish this week I will post the story of my last journey, but if you have any questions, please ask.

Hi Guys
 

Thank you for all your replies.

Just to cut it short, I was not in the mood for going back so I just asked to see if there where options further down.

I am in Guatemala now and I will do the paperwork somewhere like Panama or so. My US visa wont expire until march so I will have the papers done before it expires.

Thank you for your views/experiences and maybe I will see you on the road one day!

Happy riding.