need urgent advice on crossing tijuana!HELP, paperwork, because of broken radiator...
 

ok, guys :welcome:

please help me out on this one, i will need every advice i can....

a week ago i crossed the border in Tijuana coming from sandiego. have the tourist visa, and vehicle permit for mexico, baja and mainland. the bike is stamped in my passport.

after some serious off road from Bahia de Los Angeles to Guerrero negro, where i am now. my radiator totally collapsed :helpsmilie: to bad to repare says the local know it all. So i need a new one... not an easy job to find one here... and i dont know if i have the money. also I am almost at the end of my journey of 3 months with the bike.

i think my best shot is to pimp up the radiator with stopleak and regular waterchanges to get back to San Diego from here tomorrow morning.
I will go back to eagle mike where i did the doo. See if he has a cheap second hand radiator, otherwise sell the bike.

here are my problems,

1. i have a waiver visa for the states untill 14july, its still in my pasport. will i experience any problems if i want to get back in the states with this?

2. Do i need to go back to the aduanas in tijuana to have the bike stamped out of my passport before i cross the border into the states?

or can i wait with this and when i know where im up to at eagle mikes place cross the border with the trolly from san diego into tijuana? without the bike with me? i have to be in cancun by the end of the month because from there im travveling another 3 months without the bike and with my girlfriend. i dont wanna have problems with the bike stamped in my pasport when i leave cancun by plane again to belgium.

if i can have a new radiator, maybe... ill head back to mexico and drive to cancun. otherwise(more likely) i sell the bike before 13 july and fly by plane to cancun from san diego before my visa expires.


what should i do? keep in mind? etc?


PLEASE HELP ME OUT WITH ALL YOUR ADVICE!!!

cuz its giving me a headegg...

I don't understand why you're asking these questions, since it sure sounds like you already know the answers. If you can get the bike to San Diego, do it (I'd hire a truck if necessary to get it to the border if it's worth any money). Mike's a nice guy; phone ahead and he'll have a radiator if anyone can. He's well-connected and trustworthy and can probably also help out in selling the KLR.

Turn in your import permit in Tijuana or you might find yourself unable to return to Mexico without paying large fines. I don't specifically know what happens if you try to turn in your permit without the bike being present, but I can sure imagine! Since there's no advantage to doing this, why bother?

US Homeland Security is as prone to ridiculous decisions and arbitrary enforcement of whims and imagined regulations as any other country in the world---more than many, in fact. Be polite at the border and don't volunteer information except that you're selling the bike and leaving again. Bask in the knowledge that you've every right to enter, and you're not doing anything wrong. If you get turned back because your waiver is almost expired, try again or plead your case to a supervisor (this does actually work sometimes).

Good luck.

Mark

Lunapix ---- SLOW DOWN...... If you only have a radiator problem and want to go back to San Diego to get it fixed and your US tourist visa expires only on 14 July then you still have ample time to be in the USA legally.

DO NOT cancel your Mexican tourist card and temp import permit !!!

These Mexican documents are valid for six months and you are free to cross the border back into the USA as often as you wish without biothering the customs or Banjercito folks in Tijuana.
The USA customs guys also will let you in without a problem, just tell them your Belgian citizenship and show your passport with your valid I 94 green receipt.
After you get your rad fixed you can head back into Mexico and then, before crossing into Tijuana you should stop at the US side and hand in your I 94 card.
If you are planning to sell the bike in the uSA , you can get the rad fixed first and then cancel the Mexican paperwork at TJ, But be sure you get a new I 94 tourist permit for the USA.

I would hire a truck to take you close to the border. There is no sense in riding the bike that far with a radiator in as poor of condition as yours.]

If you are really low on money then go to the nearest truck stop and camp there until you can negotiate a fare for one of the trucks to help you out.