Actually if you have A credit card that is all that matters because the cc company will lend you the money - up to your CREDIT LIMIT. I doubt that any credit cards have such low limit as not to be able to cover the TVIP deposit. If you fail to repay the cc company before the monthly due date then you will face paying high interest rates on the "LOAN"
What you really are getting at though is a very good point. If you deposit a bunch of dollars onto your credit card before you use it that will be considered a cash surplus, a CREDIT to your account and you can draw on it without worries of having to pay 27% interest . Better have a stash of money on the cc acount and forgo the small return it would get in your chequing account than to pay the cc company at a very much higher rate .

So after an brief six weeks in Eastern and Yucatan Mexico I crossed back into the USA. A few days later the ITV Deposited money into my credit account. There was a difference of $65. I am not sure why there was less money returned to my account but it really is not worth my time to argue to much about it.

Its pretty easy to pay credit cards online while traveling but you are right that if you end up carrying a balance you will pay a high price.

Most of my credit cards limit the amount that I can overpay. a card with a $10,000 dollar limit will only let me pre deposit 1000 or 10%.

On a similar note:

I travel using two separate checking accounts with separate ATM cards. I never travel outside the US with my primary checking account ATM card. I transfer money, as needed, to the primary account while leaving an emergency amount ($500) in the back up card that I can also transfer money to if I lose my primary card.

Just curious Foflappy..
could the $65 difference in your return payment be because when you paid the deposit it was charged to your cc in the same transaction as your payment for the TVIP and the Tourist Card?
Several of the entry points to Mexico have very efficient Banjercito and Migracion programs where they actuallly do combine these payments.
As you know , ONLY the security deposit for TVIP is refundable and you will always have to pay for the actual TVIP and Tourist
Card which together do add up to an amount close to $65.Take into consideration the possible variation in exchange rate and you may have the answer.

I am about to cross over as well, from my research I was planning to pay cash instead of credit card because of a processing fee when you use the credit card. Could that be the $65 difference from the above posters?

I heard you get paid back in cash also when you leave but I would prefer to do this electronically. Can anyone confirm this? Or suggest the "least expensive way" to pay this deposit?

Xago , have no fear of "processing fee" there is NO such charge that adds up to $65 worth. If your cc company does that to you get away from them!banjercito certainly charge such a horrendous processing fee
All cc transactions involve some small cost like 1% hidden in its structure, thats how cc companies make some money.
However remember that you must also pay the security bond for the TVIP which is several hundred dollars depending on the age of your bike or car. This bond is REFUNDABLE . If you decide to pay cashfor the TVIP you will then also need to carry that amount for the TVIP securitry deposit in cash.
Simply put it is much easier to use the credit card

Thanks for the reply, I guess I will just use the CC, we will also be importing two bikes.

I was considering going by the Mexican Consulate here in SF to do all the import paperwork before hand so we don't need to deal with it at the border? Is that worth it or is it fairly quick at the Border? We will likely cross early in the morning on a Monday or Tuesday.

Mexico deposit
 

Chages and explanation + it cost us $32pp for tourist visa in June 2011 - No probs with getting the refund - We crossed from Guatemala into Mexico thru El Ceibo and there were no Credit Card facilities available, also the border was closed to vehicular traffic on Mondays.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h7...3/P6070185.jpg

Do not bother the embassy people with these kinds of querries .
This is strictly a Banjercito concern .It can be done online , but I advise against that because if you change plans you will have a hard time cancelling the papers.
It is Oh So Easy and straightforward to do it AT THE BORDER, and for two people it is usually no longer than for one.It also helps to train you in dealing with Mexican officialdom and language.All part of the trip experience