Leaving Mexico - again

As described briefly in yesterdays journal entry - when we left Mexico yesterday we mistakenly got into the lineup to enter the US before we had completed Mexican exit processing. Hence we arrived in the US still holding our Mexican Tourist cards (and with no exit stamp in our passports) and still holding the temporary import permit for the vehicle. I find it amazing that the south-north border crossings are so US focused that one can accidentally leave Mexico; but that is the way it is.

So this morning we headed into Calexico, CA to cross back into Mexico with the plan of completing the appropriate Mexican exit processing at the downtown Mexicali-Calexico crossing. We chose this particular crossing because our Church and Church guide had informed us that Banjercito was open on Sundays at this crossing but was not open on Sundays at the newer Mexicali East (Garita II) crossing.

On arriving in Mexico we quickly discovered (from a helpful Mexican border official) that this advice was incorrect. There now seems to be NO Banjercito at the down town crossing and that one must go to the new Garita II (Mexicali East) crossing for a Banjercito. So after 5 or 6 miles of stop signs we arrived at the entrance to Garita II. Unlike yesterday we chose to park the truck outside the crossing complex and go search on foot for the Banjercito.

The crucial information for exiting at Garita II is to go to the Banjercito and Migracion BEFORE getting into the US entrance line. In order to achieve this one needs to observe carefully the roads that lead into the border complex.

Find the Garita II border complex entrance at N 32.666759 W 115.387982. Do not confuse any of this description with the truck/cargo crossing about 1/2 miles farther east.

There are two sets of entrance lanes into the border complex separated by a grass/planted strip. The eastern most of these are north bound lanes that lead directly to the US border post.

Immediately to the west of the grass strip are single north and south bound lanes that provide access to the Mexican border post. This is where traffic from the US exits into Mexico. Take the north bound of these and after a little while (50-100 yards) you will take a turn into a parking lot on the left. Look around and you will see the Banjercito office. Ask in there for directions to the small white booth outside that takes the vehicle papers. After that walk 100 yards north to Migracion to hand in your Tourist Cards and get an exist stamp.

When all that is done, take the south bound lane out of the Mexican border post and then enter the lane/lineup for the US border post that is immediately to the east.

It is best to do this when the border crossing is quiet. When busy the place is chaotic with traffic everywhere, parking is then difficult, and it is easy to get swept into the wrong lanes.