Maybe helpful or not

Posted By: Tom T. House
Date: 12/6/06 12:07p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: It's also in the archives if I could pull it up... (nm) (Jim)

I also looked in archives and could find anything newer than 2004 which said once one checks into a Mexican Port, they are good to go for all ports and one doesn't have to check in any more. However I'd check to be sure and here's some more info, but I could see how up to date it is: From Latitude 38 Clearing Up the Clearing Procedures in Mexico May 25, 2006 - Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico "In spite of the great news about the various port captains who have 'got the message' about the new clearing rules in Mexico," somebody wrote in an unsigned letter, "it doesn't appear that the port captain in Nuevo Vallarta is on the same page! That would explain why the Mexican fellow who used to process ship's papers is still walking the docks. "We are currently at dock in Paradise Village Marina, and just had a couple stop by in their dinghy after visiting the port captain for a departure tomorrow. They were told by the port captain to come back, before his office closes, at 2:30 p.m., with: 1) A letter from Paradise Marina stating that their bill had been paid, 2) Two copies of the good old Mexican Crew List, and 3) Another copy of the ship's documents. "I asked the couple why if, for example, Mazatlan, La Paz, and other places are no longer requiring check-in papers (salida) from the last port captain, one would need to get one now from the port captain in Puerto Vallarta? If when you return from, for example Mazatlan, La Paz, where they do not issue check-out (salida) papers, what are you going to give the Nuevo Vallarta port captain? I guess I answered my own question about the paper-processing guy walking the docks. Somebody still wants him to have a job." The Port Captain's Office at Nuevo Vallarta. Based on what we've heard, the port captain's procedures are in compliance with the current rules. From an Unsigned Letter - We think that you misunderstand the new clearing procedures. Skippers are still required to 'inform' the port captain of their arrival or departure. Sometimes the port captain may delegate this job to the marina, where a log is kept. But no matter if 'informing' at a port captain's office or at a marina, you could - and very possibly will - be asked to produce a Crew List and your ship's document. But what's the big deal with that? When the new Latitude comes out on Friday, you can read how Pete Boyce of the Northern California-based Sabre 40 Edelweiss checked into Nuevo Vallarta. He hopped in his dinghy for the very short ride to the port captain's office, gave him the basic information, and was done in five minutes. We don't know how anyone can complain about that. There was, of course, no charge. With regard to the 'paperman' or ship's agents, our understanding is that no port captain can require them, and that none have been. However, that doesn't mean that some cruisers still may not prefer to have a agent do their work for them. For example, when at Barra de Navidad, where the port captain also requires that you clear in and out with him, Boyce paid an agent to visit the port captain for him. The fee was $20. We doubt that most cruisers would do that, but Pete did it voluntarily. So everything seems to be exactly by the book - and great for cruisers - in Nuevo Vallarta as everywhere else in Mexico. The only thing that seems a little funky is that a government agency seems to be doing a job for private enterprise in checking that a boat's bills have been paid. You also have to wonder if, when the high season begins, port captains aren't quickly going to weary of having to do a bunch of work with cruisers for which they aren't getting any money. We suspect it won't take long before they all delegate the clearing procedures to marinas. From http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/sailingregs.html IV. Once You're In Mexico Clearing. Whenever you stop at an official port of entry - if sailing from Southern California, the first will almost certainly be Ensenada, Cedros Island, San Carlos (inside Mag Bay) or Cabo San Lucas - you're required to clear in and clear out with Immigration, the Port Administration - if there is one - and the Port Captain. First, bring your vessel documentation, passports and 'tourist cards' (if you've already got them) for all crew, plus five copies of your crew list to Immigration. (The 'crew list' is also known as the Rol de Tripulantes, and if you're clever, you can use the form at the end of this pamphlet by copying and enlarging it.) In places where you have to pay a Port Fee - such as Cabo, La Paz and others - you have to pay this to the proper agency - which may differ depending on where you are. Immigration will tell you if and where. Once you get a receipt for port fees, you may have to go back to Immigration. Your final stop will be the Port Captain's Office. Bring all your paperwork. When you want to leave, or if you change crew, you get to do the dance all over again. Or, you can pay an agency - usually in or near a marina - to do the work for you. A typical fee is between $20 and $50. Be warned that normal hours of business at Immigration and Port Captain offices are between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, irregular hours, lots of holidays and absent officials frequently screw up the process. Overtime charges may be assessed for checking in after hours, so wait until they open. It's usually no problem going ashore if you check in within 24 hours. Since the rules and habits of local officials differ widely, always ask other cruisers or listen to the local net for the latest clearance procedures. Suppose you've checked out of Cabo, but Britany Spears hits on you in Squid Roe and wants to be your galley slave for the trip up to La Paz. Legally, you're supposed to go through the whole process again to add her name. In reality, some Mexico vets would shine it on. Proceed at your own risk. Most Mexican officials are pretty flexible. Two winters ago, for instance, we checked out of Cabo for San Diego - then showed up in Mazatlan. This wasn't proper, of course, but we smiled and explained to the officials that we decided we'd much rather be in Mazatlan than in San Diego. It made perfect sense to them and was no problemo. If you politely approach an official and say, "I have a very big problem," things can usually be worked out. Twenty-Year Import Permit. If you intend to sail to the Mexican mainland and/or leave your boat in Mexico for longer than six months, you'll need to obtain a '20-Year Temporary Import Permit'. Twenty years is "temporary"? Once obtained, this permit allows you to cruise in and out of Mexico for up to 20 years without having to leave the country. Not too many years ago, foreign boats were supposed to leave every six months. While you don't need to apply for this permit until your initial six months is about to run out, many cruisers get them sooner because having one theoretically exempts you from having to pay duty on replacement parts for your boat. There has been great confusion about what the 20-Year Import Permit allows you to bring in, and how you're to go about bringing stuff in. Many cruisers have behaved as though the permit gave them carte blanche to import anything they wanted into Mexico duty free. This is wrong, wrong, wrong - and has gotten several cruisers into very serious trouble. For details on this important issue, see page 130 of Sightings and page 237 of Changes in Latitudes in the September '98 issue of Latitude 38. But be prepared for policy changes too. Leaving Your Boat in Mexico. If the legal owner of a boat wants to leave her in Mexico while he/she returns home, the vessel must - in theory, at least - be left in the care of someone else, such as a friend or a marina. If this is the case, you'll need to fill out a 'Certificate Maritime Letter of Permission'. Ask at any marina. If you're going to leave your boat with a friend and want him/her to move it, make sure you give your friend a letter - with all the pertinent information - authorizing it. V. Dealing With Officials The key to getting official business taken care of quickly in Mexico is to act as though you have all the time in the world. Mexicans view time as being infinite, and even business meetings as being social occasions. So it's often wise to begin with a bit of small talk - about the weather, the guy's children, his shirt - whatever. Above all, smile and be patient - because if you rush, the official will be insulted and stall you in ways you can't even begin to imagine. If you get on the wrong side of an official, he'll usually get back at you in one of two ways: 1) Make you come back the next day, or 2) Make you fill all the forms out again for some completely insignificant reason. Also remember that different Port Captains and Immigration officials obey different sets of official and unofficial rules. Hey, it's Mexico! Sometimes agencies or marinas that do paperwork for a fee are able to get the rules interpreted differently. Dress to Impress. To a much greater extent than in the United States, officials will treat you according to the way you dress and behave. If you dress like you're an important person, you'll usually be treated accordingly. But if you dress like a bum, don't be surprised to be treated that way. It's not the end of the world if you dress in the 'cruisers' uniform' of shorts, faded t-shirt and flip-flops, but it doesn't get you any favors, either. If you're a woman who enjoys wearing sexy outfits or displaying breast augmentation with a skimpy bathing suit, you won't have any problems within tourist areas or resort marinas. But when you venture off into 'real' Mexico, you should avoid hassles by dressing conservatively. Similarly, going naked is lots of fun, but Mexico isn't the South of France. So go starkers on your boat when you're anchored way out or on some isolated beach. Caution: 'Mexican eyes' are everywhere.