Wayzata World Factbook 1996/The World Factbook - 1996 Edition - Wayzata Technology (3079) (1996).iso/pc/text/tvltxt/mexico.tvl

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Mexico - Consular Information Sheet
September 2, 1994

Country Description:  Mexico has a rapidly developing economy.  Luxury
accommodations in major cities and resorts are widely available.  Tourist
facilities in more remote areas may be limited.

Entry Requirements:  Proof of citizenship and photo identification are
required for entry by all U.S. citizens.  A passport and visa are not
required for a tourist/transit stay of up to 180 days.  A tourist card
issued by Mexican consulates and most airlines serving Mexico is required.
Minors traveling without a valid passport require notarized consent from
parent(s) if traveling alone, with one parent, or in someone else's custody.
 Mexican regulations limit the value of goods brought into Mexico by U.S.
citizens arriving by air or sea to $300 per person and by land to $50 per
person.  Other travel-related items may also be brought in duty-free.
Amounts exceeding the duty-free limit are subject to a 32.8 percent tax.
Upon arrival in Mexico, business travelers must complete a form authorizing
the conduct of business, but not employment for a 30 day period.  If the
business traveler departs and re-enters, the 30-day period begins again.
There is no fee for the business pass.  For further information concerning
entry requirements, travelers may contact the Embassy of Mexico at 1911
Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006, telephone [phone],
or any of the Mexican consulates in major U.S. cities.

Medical Facilities:  Adequate medical care can be found in all major cities.
 Health facilities in Mexico City are excellent.  Care in more remote areas
is limited.  Air pollution in Mexico City is severe, especially from
December to May.  For additional health information, travelers may contact
the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline at (404)
332-4559.

Crime Information:  Street crime is common, especially in urban areas.
Persons driving on some Mexican roads, particularly in isolated regions,
have been targeted by bandits who operate primarily after dark.  Criminals,
particularly in Sinaloa, sometimes represent themselves as Mexican police or
other local officials.  Any U.S. citizen victims of crime in Mexico are
encouraged to report the incident to local police authorities and to the
nearest U.S. consular office.

The U.S. Embassy advises its personnel not to travel on Mexican highways
after dark.  Highway 15 and Express Highway 1 (limited access) in the state
of Sinaloa are particularly dangerous areas where criminal assaults and
murders have occurred, during the day and at night.

Driving Information:  U.S. driver's licenses are valid in Mexico.  Mexican
insurance is required.

All vehicular traffic is restricted in Mexico City in order to reduce air
pollution.  The restriction is based on the last digit of the vehicle
license plate.  (There is no specific provision regarding license plates
with letters only.)

-Monday:  No driving if license plate ends with 5 or 6.
-Tuesday:  No driving if license plate ends with 7 or 8.
-Wednesday:  No driving if license plate ends with 3 or 4.
-Thursday:  No driving if license plate ends with 1 or 2.
-Friday:  No driving if license plate ends with 9 or 0.

Also, no driving of vehicles with temporary license plates or any other
plate that does not conform with the above.

-Saturday and Sunday:  All vehicles may be driven.

Traveling in Baja:  During heavy seasonal rains (January-March), road
conditions can become difficult and travelers can become stranded.  For
current Mexican road conditions between Ensenada and El Rosario, Mexico,
travelers can contact the nearest Mexican consulate or tourism office or the
U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana.

Traveling in Chiapas:  The town of San Cristobal in the state of Chiapas
remains quiet after the disturbances in early January 1994.  The situation
could become unstable in areas of Chiapas state outside of San Cristobal.
U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Mexico may contact the U.S. embassy
or consulates for further security information.

Travel Through Mexico To Central American Countries:  Mexican authorities
require that all international transit of persons (transmigrantes) and
merchandise through Mexico, destined for Central America, from the area from
Ciudad Acuna to Matamoros, be handled by the Lucio Blanco-Los Indios customs
office and by the Colombia, Nuevo Laredo customs office.  Transmigrantes
entering Mexico from areas other than the Ciudad Acuna-Matamoros zone, will
continue to use their regular ports of entry.  Mexican authorities require
that a customs broker handle the temporary entry into Mexico of all non-
personal property of travelers destined for central American countries.
Fees will be processed through the customs broker.  For more detailed
information, travelers can contact the nearest Mexican consulate or tourism
office or the U.S. Consulate in Matamoros prior to departing the U.S.

Bringing Vehicles into Mexico:  The government of Mexico strictly regulates
the entry of vehicles into Mexico.  The owner of an imported vehicle should
be present in the vehicle at all times the vehicle is in operation or the
vehicle may be confiscated.

Travelers are advised to contact the nearest Mexican consulate in the U.S.
for specific, detailed information prior to departing the U.S.

Drug and Firearms Penalties:  Penalties for drug and firearm offenses are
strict, and convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines.
 Sentences for possession of drugs in Mexico can be as long as 25 years plus
fines.  Just as in the U.S., purchase of controlled medication requires a
doctor's prescription.  The Mexican list of controlled medication differs
from the U.S. list, and Mexican public health laws concerning controlled
medication are unclear.  Possession of excessive amounts of a psychotropic
drug such as valium can result in arrest if the authorities suspect abuse.
A permit from a Mexican consulate in the U.S. is required in order to import
firearms or ammunition into Mexico, whether or not the firearm is legally
registered in the U.S.  Sentences for possession of firearms in Mexico can
be as long as 30 years.  Some Mexican cities have ordinances prohibiting the
possession of knives or anything that might be construed as a weapon.
Travelers should check with the nearest Mexican consulate before traveling
to Mexico with firearms or to purchase medication.

Dual Citizenship:  U.S. citizens who are also considered to be Mexican
citizens could be subject to compulsory military service and other aspects
of Mexican law while in Mexico.  Those who may be affected can inquire at
the Mexican Embassy or a consulate to determine status.  In some instances,
dual nationality may hamper U.S. government efforts to provide protection in
Mexico.

Other Information:  U.S. citizens who become involved in time-share or other
real property purchases should be aware that Mexican laws and practices
regarding real estate are markedly different from those in the U.S.  A list
of local attorneys can be obtained from the U.S. Embassy or nearest
consulate in Mexico.  The U.S.  Embassy strongly recommends the use of
competent local legal assistance for any significant real property or
business purchase.

Tips for Travelers:  Useful information is provided in the Department of
state pamphlets "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to Mexico"
which are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing  Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

Civil Aviation Oversight:  In May 1992, the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration assessed Mexico's civil aviation authority as in compliance
with international aviation safety oversight standards for Mexican carriers
operating to and from the U.S.  The same level of safety oversight would
typically be applied to operations to other destinations.  For further
information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at 1-800-
322-7873.

Registration:  U.S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy or a U.S.
Consulate can obtain updated information on travel and security within Mexico.

Embassy and Consulate Locations:  The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City
at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone [phone].

There are also U.S. Consulates General in:

Ciudad Juarez at Avenida Lopez Mateos 924-N, telephone[phone];

Guadalajara at Progreso 175, telephone [phone];

Monterrey at Avenida Constitucion 411 Poniente 64000 Monterrey, telephone
(52-83)45-2120;

Tijuana at Tapachula 96, telephone [phone].

There are U.S. Consulates in:

Hermosillo at Ave. Monterrey 141, telephone [phone];

Matamoros at Ave. Primera 2002, telephone [phone];

Merida at Paseo Montejo 453, telephone [phone] and

Nuevo Laredo at Calle Allende 3330, Col. Jardin, telephone [phone].

There are Consular Agencies in:

Puerto Vallarta at Parian Del Puente Local 12-A, telephone [phone];

Acapulco at Hotel Club Del Sol, telephone [phone];

Cancun at Avenida Nader #40, Edificio Marruecos, third floor office #31,
telephone [phone];

San Luis Potosi at Francisco De P. Mariel 102, Desp. One, telephone (52-
481)2-1528;

Oaxaca at Alcala 201, telephone [phone];

San Miguel de Allende at Dr. Hernandez Macias #72, telephone (52-465)2-
2357/2-0068;

Tampico at Ave. Hidalgo #2000 local 4, telephone [phone];

Veracruz at Victimas del 25 de Junio #388, telephone [phone];

Cabo San Lucas at Blvd. Marina Y Perdregal, Local No. 3 Zona Centro,
telephone [phone] and Mazatlan at Hotel Playa Mazatlan, Rodolfo T.
Loaiza #202, Zona Dorada, 82110, telephone [phone] ext. 285.

No. 94-186

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated June 7, 1994 by adding
information on aviation oversight.