It was not to be, as the Federal Customs Office decided to revamp the program, including fee changes, procedure changes, etc. causing the legalization of vehicles to come to a complete halt, while they sorted out the new laws! So I wait, wait, and wait some more. Finally in September the process was restarted, however, it could now not be completed without presenting the vehicle at the border! I decided to head that way last week and get things finished. My title and paperwork was already in their Nuevo Laredo office, so it was easier to just deal with their sister office there. I was a little worried about the drug violence that has occurred in that area of the past year, but designed my route to make it as secure as possible. I departed PV on Sunday and drove about 12 hours to Saltillo for my 1st overnight, a safe town located outside of Monterrey. The next morning I would cross in Colombia about 20 miles west of Nuevo Laredo that is a major truck crossing and friends have been using this crossing without incident for years. After a 3 hour drive I was there, returned my Temporary Import sticker right at the Banjercito at the border, did my immigration paperwork, and without any traffic was through the US border in 5 minutes.
Now off to the Hermanos Cuevas Laredo, Texas office to restart the process. I met a lovely very helpful person by the name of Mari Villarreal who was bilingual and made things happen for me. I find out that first of all the paperwork submission could not happen the next day as it usually takes 2-3 weeks (similar to the what Ernesto had told me). I certainly was not going to spend 2-3 weeks hanging around the border, so it was agreed that the paperwork could be presented that day and it hopefully would be ready by Thursday or Friday, a few days away. After I paid my balance on the fees the file was sent to the Mexican Customs office.
I decided I could live with that and I would head to San Antonio, Texas for some BMW service and visit the Alamo, Riverwalk, American Tower, etc. that I had never seen before. After reconfirming with Mari the next morning that everything was in order I headed north the 2 1/2 hours to San Antonio BMW. Spending 2 wonderful days in San Antonio, I called Mari on Thursday morning to see if my paperwork was ready. She said the "approved list" was not available till around 11am, so she would call me then, and by 1130am she did and I was luckily on the list and could go now to the Customs office and complete the process. Seems that over 100 vehicles were on the list, so things may be really moving now. Since I was 2 1/2 hours away, and knowing the process could take 3-4 hours, I decided to start it the next morning. That would give me enough time to get back to Saltillo for my overnight location after the legalization.
I headed back to Laredo that afternoon and at 9 am on Friday morning, I go back to the Laredo office to pickup my "chauffeur" to assist me with the process that Ernesto assigned to assist me. Edwin was bilingual, so it made things a little easier and we head to the US Customs office to get a "Export" stamp on my original title. Then over to the International Bridge #2 as the Nuevo Laredo office was located right there and they would complete the final file for presentation to the Mexican Customs officials. So by around 12pm we arrive at the complex where the whole process happens. It is actually located about 2 miles from the border in a place that would have been difficult to find without Edwin's help. We arrived and he said the line was relatively short, but probably at least 2 hours. There were probably over 100 cars in 4 lines waiting to be processed! Very busy place as Mexican law prohibits Mexicans from legally driving foreign plated vehicles in Mexico, so all its citizens that wish to keep their US cars MUST legalize them!
Things were moving pretty well and I thought Edwin was correct, but all of a sudden nothing moved for about 45 minutes. (I think it was break time!) We struggled along the line and I was not allowed to move the car, it is the law that the agents move the cars. This basically means you cannot do this process without an agent! I was even encouraged to not even be in or near the vehicle. The actual processing works via a Banjercito agent who scans the car and gives you back your paperwork and lets you depart. There is another fee to be paid in the about of $60 USD or 828 pesos (based on the current exchange rate) and it is paid at the Banjercito office there. In our case it was just not the simple, probably because it was a BMW we had a "temporary hold" after the sticker was applied to receive our final paperwork. This seemed to happen to every luxury car that I saw and it meant that a real customs agent would have to review and re-certify the paperwork, VIN, etc. We were finally handed or final paperwork Mexican title and they even returned my US title. They also allowed me to keep my US plates, so that was interesting. When it was all said and done and we actually departed the facility, we had been there about 3 1/2 hours! In the blazing heat and sun of Laredo, Texas it was not fun!
Edwin suggested that I get a temporary license plate permit from the local police to get me 5 days to get my new license plates and I agreed. Even though there is no more local police in Nuevo Laredo (the Mexican Army is in charge), we went to an "Public Security" office and for 300 pesos you get the temporary permit to be taped in your front window. I dropped off Edwin for his trip back to Laredo, Texas and was told that 25 km down the road towards Monterrey was the main Customs and Immigration checkpoint, and I will need to stop there to get my "Final" customs stamp. I arrived there, did my immigration paperwork right from the car and parked to get my "Final" customs stamp from their kiosk. I was finally done!!!
I made to Saltillo by 7pm and was down the road back home to PV the next day about 12 hours later......safe and sound!
It was certainly not a simple process as most dealings with the Mexican government are not, this was certainly no different. Just make sure you have all your paperwork in order, using an agent, and things can be done with minimal effort.......just time is all it costs you, so allow plenty of it!
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