Like it says on the bathroom wall, "The job's not finished till the paperwork's done"

[LAZ 1]

I am currently in Mexico for the Winter. I drove down from Canada in my DIY built AWD SAFARI MICRO MOTORHONE. Just another retired Canadian "SNOBIRD" sun seeker who went South to escape the cold. I do not plan to live in Mexico full time, just for the Winters. Here is a glimpse at what types of paperwork were involved to get me, my 75 lb GERMAN SHEPHERD, and my vehicle where we wanted to be.

The "ME" paperwork part was fairly simple ... I went to my local TRAVEL health clinic, and got all the innoculations they recommended for the areas I was visiting. My passport was already renewed, and I had already created a US funds bank account and a US funds Mastercard ... BUT I CHECKED THEM BEFORE LEAVING JUST TO MAKE SURE $$$ would come out of the ATMs like it should. Good thing I checked because some tweaking and tuning were required. AND, when I got to Mexico, only my US Mastercard worked in their ATMs.

$$$ out of the wall is nice, but I always also carry some CASH ...US currency, 20s, 50s, and 100s. Often it is difficult to get the larger bills exchanged. BUT, but I have been in some situations where NO CREDIT CARDS OF ANY KIND ARE ACCEPTABLE, and good ol US dollars can buy your way out. I usually split up my cash stache and credit cards ( and IDs ) into several smaller packets, stored in various different locations. I also have a few "LOW LIMIT" extra credit cards along in case my primary credit card becomes unusable. And hi definition color copies iof my cards and ID. TWO COPIES!

As in,
one trip to Mexico,
where my ex-wife bought a drink in a bar, and her credit card was maxxed out buying a swimming pool for some local entrepeneur. No phone calls could get her a replacement card in time to finish off her vacation in style but we did have other cards available. And then there was the time her purse was stolen ... alo g with ALLLLL her identifucation. She needed a trip to the Canadian Consulate to sort that one out. They will not let you on the airplane to leave for your home country without SOME ID. YEP ...
The job is NOT finished without paper.
(;-{)

The German Shepherd paperwork involved obtaining an International Vetrinarian Certificate of good health, along with specific shots and treatments required for the US and for Mexico. Cost was about $300. Crossing borders with a BIG GSD is interesting. Neither US nor Mexican customs agents were eager to get in the motorhome fkr a detailed inspection ... even with me holding back my 75 lb "ORGANIC ALARM SYSTEM/ ANTI THEFT DEVIICE" ( nick named CHUPACABRA) . And neither asked for any K9 papers this trip. BUT, on previous border checks, I have had to dump out all my EXPENSIVE DOG FOOD ???

AND,
at nearly every Mexican hiway toll booth,
I got smiles and compliments from the attendants.
A couple even chatted about THEIR GSDs.

The paperwork for my Do It Yourself motorhome body added to a 1999 GMC SAFARI AWD van chassis, is " COMPLICATED". It is currently registered in BC, CANADA.
The reg certificate still lists it as a VAN,
HOWEVER,
after the extensive body conversion work, I was required to have it inspected as road worthy, and a supplementary BC certificate was issued.

But BC still considers it a VAN because by their definition, a motorhome has four FIXED items, bed, stove, sink, and toilet. My rig has a REMOVEABLE PORTA POTTI, so does not quite qualify as a "motorhome" by their definition.
COMPLICATED?
CONFUSING?
Keep reading ...

When I got my one year MEXICAN travel insurance from Sanburns, we insured it as a MOTORHOME, WITH collision/comprehensive COVERAGE FOR A DECLARED VALUE!

AND,
when I filled out the Mexican Temporary Import Permit, I spent an extra hour with Mex customs making sure the TIP was for a MOTORHOME ... because motorhomes have a TEN YEAR TIP, and regular vehicles (like vans) only get a 180 day TIP. It cost a bit more in time and $$$ to do it this way, but now I can leave the ???motorhome??? In Mexico for up to ten years, and can fly back to Canada
and return to Mexico at will.

As a part time SNOWBIRD, who prefers to only spend Winters in Mexico, this makes sense to me.
(;-{)

[Tony LEE]

One bit of paperwork you didn't mention - the FMM in the border zone