The tourist card is required for any stay longer than 72 hours , even in Baja California only.
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There is something funny about the TC though.
And it depends much upon which border crossing one uses.I haven't done anything into Baja this year yet but have used several other crossings .
The TC must be paid for at a bank,--- ANY bank-- Or it can be paid fror at the Banjercito right at the border. It all depends on where you enter and maybe the mood of the staff.
Recently I crossed from USA at Reynosa city center and Piedras Negras using the km 51 terminal on Mex 57 at Allende Coahuila, and on both trips they were quite happy to let us pay for the TC immediately using a credit card at the Banjercito. At El Ceibo from Guatemala there is no Banjercito nor ANY other bank and the TC must be paid for at a bank somewhere inside Mexico, your choice, at some time before you return to the border to cancel the TC. It is NOT a requirement that you must pay for it at some border-town bank before they permit you to proceed .
At some crossings the Banjercito exists but they refuse to accept payment.....BUT ...even then the staff member in their non-Banjercito persona will often accept the payment and deposit it into a regular bank and cancel your TC for you. Very helpful and friendly people if you have the misfortune of forgwetting to cancel it yourself at a bank.
I do wish though that Banjercito would get this act straightened out and accept credit card payment just like any smalll business can do. Why the rigamarole of specifying a different bank payment mode?

Good to hear that the San Ysidro - is that Otay Mesa ? - crossing also does the tourist paperwork, in addition to downtown Tijuana

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http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93