Hi Jonathan. Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezie! It was a textbook crossing. Thank you very much for the comment and please stay-tuned for more from Albuquerque and Northwest New Mexico.
OK, you two are legit drifters! What an odyssey! I guess no one loves an 18 hour bus ride, a bunch of city bus trips and a walk across the border (in the heat with dusty brown mountains in the distance) - but this journey seemed a bit mournful. Maybe I was bummed to see you leave Mexico. Maybe it was the accordion (or harmonica?) and guitar music (which was sad, but perfect). It reminded me of Into the Wild and Eddie Vedder's soundtrack. Anyway, this was a fascinating video! I will not be following your footsteps on this one, but I really appreciate being able to take this journey vicariously. Thank you - and I look forward to seeing what New Mexico is like.
That's a VERY thoughtful comment, Dan - we thank you so much. We'll return to Mexico in late June although us crossing back (on foot!) isn't a given due to the current state of things. Because of that, the sad music seemed appropriate to us - thank you for picking up on it! Still, heading into New Mexico is worth it for us and leaving Mexico is a gamble we're prepared to take - fingers crossed we make it back! Please continue to stay tuned for some New Mexico videos before we cross back into old Mexico. Thank you again for your support.
You guys are real troopers. I love how you document all your journey segments. Are people good about masking up on the bus? Here’s to a great house-sit in Nuevo Mexico!
Hi Robert, Thank you for commenting. People were good about boarding the bus with a mask, however we're not sure if everyone kept them on 100% of the time. Thanks for the well-wishes for our sit in New Mexico - this is a repeat sit and it's our favourite! Stay tuned for more videos from New Mexico.
That crossover is much nicer than the one from Tijuana into Cali, the last time we went into Mexico by rental car to Rosarito/Ensenada and came back by car and it took a while, I still have a Mexican blanket I bought from a vendor for $20. If I didn't have pets now I would do the bus, Thank you guys for your honesty with your experiences, something that should be appreciated by anyone thinking of doing this.
We've crossed back at San Ysidro and Mexicali from Baja in our van (which we've since sold), a couple of years ago. Both times we queued up for almost 4 hours to cross back into the States. You definitely have to be prepared for a wait when crossing by vehicle. We much prefer crossing on foot, though the convenience of having your own vehicle certainly has it's own merits. Thank you so much for watching our videos and always leaving such thoughtful comments. We really appreciate it.
What gate did you pass through? I’m trying to drop someone off at the border so they can walk through to Juarez but not sure what gate I can drop them off
In this video we crossed from Mexico to the United States at the Paseo del Norte Bridge. It seems you are asking about crossing the border while going in the _other_ direction - that is an entirely different point named Stanton St. Bridge - we have crossed into Juarez on this bridge several times. There is another entry point into Juarez which we aren't familiar with at all: Puente Internacional Cordova de las Americas. You should look online for _official and up-to-date information_ about these crossing points.
None of the three manned stopping points along the way across the pedestrian bridge (the turnstiles on the Mexico side, the center border line station and the customs downstairs at the end) are looking for vaccination status. They do warn that you might have been infected and recommend that you get tested three days after the crossing and quarantine indoors for 7 days afterwards.
More great info for others - thank you Konrad! It's important to let others know that, as of right now, there are only recommendations regarding covid at the land border and not requirements.
Nothing like those long night busses. We took the bus for about 12 hours from Oaxaca City to San Cristobal de Las Casas. Endless speed bumps and twists and turns over mountain roads. We had the very last seat on the bus right opposite the toilet. The heat was on full in the toilet and a roaring fan made it feel like a blast furnace every time the door was opened! I don't think we slept much at all. We did survive though and thoroughly enjoyed San Cristobal.....but decided to fly back to Mexico City from Tuxtla Gutierrez. Money well spent. This was about 10 years ago.
Those seats next to the toilet can be a nightmare! We just had a really good bus journey yesterday - it was a double-decker bus and we had upstairs seats at the front row. Great views the entire way! Of course, wifi didn't work but the scenery made up for it. Oddly enough, we once took a flight from Mazatlan to Tijuana which was _much_ less expensive than any bus journey covering that distance would've been. Compared to Central America, buses in Mexico are expensive. Often, the level of comfort and conveniences one can opt to pay for on Mexican buses aren't worth it based on our past experiences.
@@ACoupleofDrifters We always tell people how great the bus service in Mexico is. We've had those front/top seats before as well. One time. from Queretaro to SMD we had the entire bus to ourselves! Kind of strange. We half expected the bus company to hire a taxi for us instead!
Yes, having a bus to yourself is EPIC! Indeed, buses in Mexico are frequent and you can get to just about any town - the coverage is amazing and that does make the system very good, no doubt about that! We've found that paying for a 2nd class bus or _ ordinario_ service is an even better value for us - the extra amenities of _primera_ services seldom seem to function when we've paid for them in the past - maybe that's just our luck? However, sometimes we have no choice but to take a fancier bus on certain routes. When we _do_ have a choice, we opt for the more basic service each and every time.
Curious since she has an accent and says half instead of 30, but is your wife(?) a US citizen or permanent resident? Just asking because of the restrictions entering the US for foreigners even by land. Also, is there any immigration entering Mexico in Juarez these days? I crossed by foot with some friends back in the 90s and you just dropped a quarter in the turnstyle and you were in MX. Same with how Tijuana was before they redid the border at San Ysidro.
Indeed, she is an Irish citizen (born and raised in Dublin) and a US citizen. As for entering into Mexico at Juarez: In 2019 we crossed into Juarez at a spot where (at least at that time) agents were not checking passports at all - we were told to enter Mexico there at that point (without showing passports) and head to the other point of entry a few hundred yards away in order to present ourselves at immigration. We also crossed once into Tijuana on foot (way back in 2013) and we had to actively seek out an immigration agent in order to get our FMM. To fully answer your question about Juarez, yes there is immigration there in order to enter Mexico.
We're confused by your comment... Unless things have changed very, very recently per official orders, US citizens do not need covid vaccinations, MANDATORY temperature checks or any MANDATORY covid tests whatsoever to enter the United States when crossing the LAND BORDER from Mexico. We strongly recommend ALWAYS checking OFFICIAL entry/exit requirements just prior to crossing the land border - situations can and do change frequently, especially now more than ever. Once again ALWAYS check and rely on OFFICIAL government websites regarding current, up-to-date information and requirements.
Hi I'm currently in Ciudad Juarez and was wondering how the actual crossing worked out, in what order? Did Homeland security/custom do any certain checks such as check your luggage and bags, passport, covid test and or vaccination card? My wife and I flew here so we don't have FMM anymore as when we flew from Guadalajara to Ciudad Juarez and will head back home soon but flight here was a really bad experience due to the airline and due to being Thanksgiving week, it is extremely expensive right now. The quickest and probably cheapest route is walking across by land then flying from El Paso airport to Chicago. First time so we have no experience and do not know what to expect, please advise thank you! Video showed crossing was very easy just not sure what to expect when the camera wasn't on.
Hi Daniel, Here is how the process went for us when we filmed in April, 2021: We have never been asked to surrender our FMM permits to Mexican agents during any of our land border crossings from Mexico back into the U.S. Our first "check" was a U.S. CBP agent on the bridge - she was looking to make sure we had U.S. passports before waving us through. Keep in mind this agent was merely looking for U.S. passports before waving us on to the next step. The next agent we saw was in the actual processing area, complete with multiple immigration agents at desks with computers. The agent who processed us asked how long were we out of the country/where we had visited/etc. There was no check at all regarding a covid test or a vaccination card as U.S. citizens entering back into the United States on foot. The next step was customs where our bags were scanned. After that, we exited the building, walked to the bus terminus for El Paso city buses (a few blocks from the border crossing) and took a bus ($1.50) to El Paso airport in order to pick up our rental car. This city bus took 45 minutes to arrive at the airport but it saved us so much money versus taking a taxi. The bus route was #52 if my memory serves me right... Keep in mind that we suggest you find all the OFFICIAL up-to-date information you can regarding border crossing requirements for you and your wife - requirements can and do change, often with little or no notice at all. There were no health checks/screenings, vaccination requirements or negative tests needed to cross the land border into the U.S. as U.S. citizens when we filmed this video. Again, we VERY STRONGLY urge you to rely ONLY on OFFICIAL information - good luck and have a safe journey home to Chicago!
@@ACoupleofDrifters Thank you so much, we were looking at latest information but a lot of it didn't include details like this. Seems like this will be the route we will have to use when heading back. We appreciate the video and you two sharing your experience!
Sorry for such a late response back to you, Daniel. You are certainly welcome - we hope our video was of some help to you. We also hope the trip back home went smoothly for you both. Take care, Daniel!
Thanks for the comment and the compliment! As of now, NO covid tests or vaccines needed going INTO the USA from Mexico by land - ditto for crossing by land FROM the USA to Mexico. We've crossed in both directions within that last few months and are now back in Mexico. Having said that, we really do encourage you to check OFFICIAL SOURCES regarding what is or isn't required IMMEDIATELY BEFORE you cross the land border - things can and do change with frequency, now more than ever. The bigger question is this: What is your nationality, or which passport will you present to border officials? Depending on that, your travel could be seen as non-essential.
@@ACoupleofDrifters thankyou so much! I was very worried but now i feel better! Oh and yes i was born in the usa! So i think theres not gonna be many problems! Right?😁😁😁Anyway thanks again i apprecciate you a lot😃😃oh by the way u definetly earned a sub!😃
Thank you so much for subscribing - this really means a lot to us!! You should be fine to enter if you have a US passport. Just gather all the OFFICIAL information you can regarding border requirements with covid before you cross by land - as we said, things can and do change! Take care and happy travels to you!
Thank you for the compliment! We have never crossed into or out of Mexico with a pet. Facebook groups are great places to ask all sorts of questions - you'll likely find a few people who cross the border with their pets. the group "On the Road in Mexico" is one we recommend.
You are welcome - and thank you for watching. We are releasing another video today - thank you for your interest and we hope you like it! Also, we hope you get an answer regarding your question about crossing with pets - please use this comment thread to let us know what you find out.
Yes, inside the building (where we didn't film) is where all people are processed before entry into the U.S. Depending on nationality, some people need visas to enter the United States in addition to their passports.
When we filmed this video (April, 2021) it wasn't a requirement for U.S. citizens to have a covid test to cross into the United States by land. We strongly encourage people to get OFFICIAL up-to-date information regarding requirements for international border crossings immediately BEFORE travel - anything can change with little or no notice.
Hi I am traveling to Durango with my boyfriend and daughter and I have a passport but my boyfriend can not get one because of child support that he owes. Do you know if leaving Juarez in a bus to Durango we will have any issues along the way at check points? Do you know what will happen if he doesn’t have his passport but does have his United States birth certificate and drivers License. We live in El Paso Texas and plan to cross walking
Hi Kimberly. I'm assuming your boyfriend in a U.S. citizen? If so, your boyfriend legally needs a passport book or passport card (the latter is valid for land and sea travel only) to enter Mexico and you each must have an FMM card (migration form) - this is a visitor permit but many people wrongly refer to this as a visitor visa. This is NOT a visa! To get an FMM your boyfriend must have a passport or passport card to cross the land border into Mexico and then on to Durango. Two months ago (March, 2022) we bussed through the entire country of Mexico (from Chiapas north to Juarez) and came across no less than eight INM (immigration) checks, mostly in the extreme south and extreme north of the country. In each case we (as foreigners in Mexico) had our passports and our FMM forms checked thoroughly. In some cases the INM agent(s) boarded the bus and checked Identification/passports/FMM forms and in other cases we had to get off the bus in order to be processed inside a central building where our bags were subject to scanning and search. We're used to quite a few military checkpoints on highways in Mexico but not nearly as many immigration checkpoints as we encountered in March, 2022. We think it's highly likely you may come across checkpoints with INM agents as you head south into Mexico. Simply put, without being in Mexico legally (valid passport book or passport card and a valid FMM card) your boyfriend may very likely face a fine, arrest and deportation if he cannot prove to an INM agent that he's in the country legally. We strongly encourage anyone to be in any foreign country LEGALLY and to always seek out official, up-to-date information on this matters.
Hi Guys, thanks for the video. I will have to do the exact same at the end of May. I am an Irish citizen. But crossing to the US in the morning and back into Mexico in the afternoon. Did you notice if it took longer for non-US passport holders to get across? Thanks!!Stephen
Hiya Stephen. I (Fiona) have my Irish passport and a U.S. passport. Crossing into Mexico and back into the States I use my U.S. passport. Unfortunately I don't know if it took longer for non-US passport holders to get through. It seemed like all the queues were moving along fairly quickly. If anything the queue we were in was the slowest! It could also depend on the border crossing, though typically crossing on foot never seems terribly busy, even at Tijuana. Which border crossing are you heading to? I also don't know if non-US passport holders could be grilled on if it's "essential travel" or not into the U.S. Might be something to check out on an official site online. I don't know if this is something they're being pernickety about. We hope all goes well for you and that you have absolutely no bother at all. Actually keep us posted on how it goes. Fiona and Jerry (Your Drifters)
Buses can delay for any number of reasons. Having said that, we've been on a lot of buses in Mexico which have scheduled arrivals and departures and for us they have almost always been on time or just a few minutes late. We were recently on a bus in Mexico that got a flat tire - that resulted in a big delay. As for air conditioning on buses: Many less expensive, second-class buses will not feature air conditioning - often times theses buses are older models and any air-con units they may have had at one time are no longer functioning. Our experiences with pricier first-class buses are just the opposite - drivers blast the air-con on these buses and we always keep a long sleeve layer on standby in order to ward off the chill!
No, we didn't need any type of Covid test or proof of Covid vaccination to cross the land border from Mexico into the United States. Things can and do change so it's wise to always check with official sources regarding this matter prior to travel.
I am almost certain that video recording in that area would be _very_ strictly prohibited. Similarly, I would suspect that talking on a cell phone and/or being online with any sort of device is strongly regulated within this building as well.
@@ACoupleofDrifters okay so we can not record in the building or no? Because I have watch videos that when people pass to the border with their car people are recording when they are talking to the border patrol. So that is legal then.
As mentioned in the reply, I am not completely certain if it's permitted to film in the building. I make no definite claims as to whether or not it is legal to film in the building. Again, I am almost certain that agents would tell you to NOT film within the building, especially the acts of processing entrants and/or going through customs. As for driving through the border, I do not know if it's legal or not to film this process. Perhaps being in a private vehicle with a recording device is different than being inside a federal building with one? Perhaps it's easier with a simple dashcam to film the process of driving through the border than it is to walk up to an agent (at a desk in a building) and stick a camera in his/her face? Whatever the case may be, we aren't going to find out if this is legal or not with US agents - you must find this out for yourself. You can either find official information about this, ask a border agent the next time you see one or just try filming the process yourself and see what happens. While filming for a different border crossing video INTO Mexico, we WERE told by an INM agent to turn our camera off about 50 ft. from the entrance to the processing facility. Is filming anywhere near an INM facility legal or not? We don't care - what matters is the fact that a government agent from Mexico told us to turn the camera off.
@@ACoupleofDrifters okay, some agents lie and try to control. Because they want us to do what they want. But thank you I will try to record inside the video I do not know if is private or public area I will see. Mm from the agent from mexico I will see about that.
US Citizens entering from Mexico to the United States via land borders do not need proof of any COVID vaccination. The same applies to US Citizens crossing into Mexico from the United States by land. Things can and do change - we strongly suggest you _always_ get official and up-to-date information regarding your question.
Also, a good hint if you ride with someone that has a SENTRI pass. Only people registered on the SENTRI pass can enter in the vehicle. Enjoy the air conditioning in the car as long as possible. Get out at the stop sign before the vehicle weigh station. This is the last place you can get out before the turnstiles. Don't forget your peso coins.
Hi ☺️ of course you’re not going to see a Mexican officer crossing Juarez-El Pasó Front where you pay the five pesos Are the Mexican officers Crossing El Paso -Juárez the other side of the same bridge they didn’t ask you the Covid test because you’re American citizen and you have rights to go to the hospital non-American citizens don’t have the rights to go to the hospital that’s why they ask him Covid test They don’t want the hospitals all crowd
Quoting LAS AVENTURAS DE JOSÉ Y TANIA MARQUEZ : " of course you’re not going to see a Mexican officer crossing Juarez-El Pasó Front where you pay the five pesos" Our point is this: FMM permits are not collected. Where you will or will not see an INM agent on Mexican soil is not important for the purpose of this video. And yes, an INM agent has jurisdiction to be at the spot where the five pesos is collected - this spot where the money is paid is still within the boundaries of Mexico. In the video you will see two US agents on the bridge - those agents also have jurisdiction to be on the bridge, just like any Mexican officer would, but that is not the point. 😀 Not everyone knows that you will not see an INM agent when leaving Mexico by land, either on foot or in a vehicle. Again, our reason for mentioning that is to let viewers know that they WILL NOT be asked to surrender their FMM upon leaving Mexico - we say this several times in the video. Believe it or not, some United States citizens are still unsure of covid requirements for international travel, either by air or at the Mexico/United States land border. This is why we urge people to always have OFFICIAL and up-to-date information before crossing international borders - things can and do change with little or no warning. In the comment section of this video you can read the questions other people have. It's safe to assume at least SOME of these people have questions because they've never crossed the border from Mexico into the United States at all - this is exactly who we made the video for. This video is NOT not for people who already know this process. It sounds like you are aware of this process - this is good information to have! However, not everyone is as wise when it comes to the procedure(s) involved with crossing international land borders and because of that they might have a few questions. We hope our video is helpful to those who are unaware of crossing from Mexico to the United States at an official border post.
Very interesting guys ! Thanks for sharing the journey !
You are welcome. We don't know how we're getting back to Mexico yet so stay tuned for that adventure!
Looks like it was easy peasy getting across. Looking forward to seeing Albuquerque. Thanks for sharing
Hi Jonathan. Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezie! It was a textbook crossing. Thank you very much for the comment and please stay-tuned for more from Albuquerque and Northwest New Mexico.
OK, you two are legit drifters! What an odyssey! I guess no one loves an 18 hour bus ride, a bunch of city bus trips and a walk across the border (in the heat with dusty brown mountains in the distance) - but this journey seemed a bit mournful. Maybe I was bummed to see you leave Mexico. Maybe it was the accordion (or harmonica?) and guitar music (which was sad, but perfect). It reminded me of Into the Wild and Eddie Vedder's soundtrack.
Anyway, this was a fascinating video! I will not be following your footsteps on this one, but I really appreciate being able to take this journey vicariously. Thank you - and I look forward to seeing what New Mexico is like.
That's a VERY thoughtful comment, Dan - we thank you so much. We'll return to Mexico in late June although us crossing back (on foot!) isn't a given due to the current state of things. Because of that, the sad music seemed appropriate to us - thank you for picking up on it! Still, heading into New Mexico is worth it for us and leaving Mexico is a gamble we're prepared to take - fingers crossed we make it back! Please continue to stay tuned for some New Mexico videos before we cross back into old Mexico. Thank you again for your support.
You guys are real troopers. I love how you document all your journey segments. Are people good about masking up on the bus? Here’s to a great house-sit in Nuevo Mexico!
Hi Robert,
Thank you for commenting. People were good about boarding the bus with a mask, however we're not sure if everyone kept them on 100% of the time. Thanks for the well-wishes for our sit in New Mexico - this is a repeat sit and it's our favourite! Stay tuned for more videos from New Mexico.
Great video guys!!!
Thank you Greg!
That crossover is much nicer than the one from Tijuana into Cali, the last time we went into Mexico by rental car to Rosarito/Ensenada and came back by car and it took a while, I still have a Mexican blanket I bought from a vendor for $20. If I didn't have pets now I would do the bus, Thank you guys for your honesty with your experiences, something that should be appreciated by anyone thinking of doing this.
We've crossed back at San Ysidro and Mexicali from Baja in our van (which we've since sold), a couple of years ago. Both times we queued up for almost 4 hours to cross back into the States. You definitely have to be prepared for a wait when crossing by vehicle. We much prefer crossing on foot, though the convenience of having your own vehicle certainly has it's own merits. Thank you so much for watching our videos and always leaving such thoughtful comments. We really appreciate it.
Thanks for the great video!
You are welcome!
Great video guys. Thanks. Safe Travels
Thank you Dwight! Keep the cold, cold Pacifico's flowing for us while we're gone!
I just crossed the footbridge today and the line took 2 hours. I used to be able to go in, buy medicine and walk back out to El Paso.
Awesome video, thanks for documenting this!
Thank you for the compliment Kevin - we're very happy that you found the video useful!
What gate did you pass through? I’m trying to drop someone off at the border so they can walk through to Juarez but not sure what gate I can drop them off
In this video we crossed from Mexico to the United States at the Paseo del Norte Bridge. It seems you are asking about crossing the border while going in the _other_ direction - that is an entirely different point named Stanton St. Bridge - we have crossed into Juarez on this bridge several times. There is another entry point into Juarez which we aren't familiar with at all: Puente Internacional Cordova de las Americas. You should look online for _official and up-to-date information_ about these crossing points.
None of the three manned stopping points along the way across the pedestrian bridge (the turnstiles on the Mexico side, the center border line station and the customs downstairs at the end) are looking for vaccination status. They do warn that you might have been infected and recommend that you get tested three days after the crossing and quarantine indoors for 7 days afterwards.
More great info for others - thank you Konrad! It's important to let others know that, as of right now, there are only recommendations regarding covid at the land border and not requirements.
Nothing like those long night busses. We took the bus for about 12 hours from Oaxaca City to San Cristobal de Las Casas. Endless speed bumps and twists and turns over mountain roads. We had the very last seat on the bus right opposite the toilet. The heat was on full in the toilet and a roaring fan made it feel like a blast furnace every time the door was opened! I don't think we slept much at all. We did survive though and thoroughly enjoyed San Cristobal.....but decided to fly back to Mexico City from Tuxtla Gutierrez. Money well spent. This was about 10 years ago.
Those seats next to the toilet can be a nightmare! We just had a really good bus journey yesterday - it was a double-decker bus and we had upstairs seats at the front row. Great views the entire way! Of course, wifi didn't work but the scenery made up for it. Oddly enough, we once took a flight from Mazatlan to Tijuana which was _much_ less expensive than any bus journey covering that distance would've been. Compared to Central America, buses in Mexico are expensive. Often, the level of comfort and conveniences one can opt to pay for on Mexican buses aren't worth it based on our past experiences.
@@ACoupleofDrifters We always tell people how great the bus service in Mexico is. We've had those front/top seats before as well. One time. from Queretaro to SMD we had the entire bus to ourselves! Kind of strange. We half expected the bus company to hire a taxi for us instead!
Yes, having a bus to yourself is EPIC! Indeed, buses in Mexico are frequent and you can get to just about any town - the coverage is amazing and that does make the system very good, no doubt about that! We've found that paying for a 2nd class bus or _ ordinario_ service is an even better value for us - the extra amenities of _primera_ services seldom seem to function when we've paid for them in the past - maybe that's just our luck? However, sometimes we have no choice but to take a fancier bus on certain routes. When we _do_ have a choice, we opt for the more basic service each and every time.
Curious since she has an accent and says half instead of 30, but is your wife(?) a US citizen or permanent resident? Just asking because of the restrictions entering the US for foreigners even by land.
Also, is there any immigration entering Mexico in Juarez these days? I crossed by foot with some friends back in the 90s and you just dropped a quarter in the turnstyle and you were in MX. Same with how Tijuana was before they redid the border at San Ysidro.
Indeed, she is an Irish citizen (born and raised in Dublin) and a US citizen. As for entering into Mexico at Juarez: In 2019 we crossed into Juarez at a spot where (at least at that time) agents were not checking passports at all - we were told to enter Mexico there at that point (without showing passports) and head to the other point of entry a few hundred yards away in order to present ourselves at immigration. We also crossed once into Tijuana on foot (way back in 2013) and we had to actively seek out an immigration agent in order to get our FMM. To fully answer your question about Juarez, yes there is immigration there in order to enter Mexico.
What happens when you cross the border with no covid card and they take your temperature and it’s not hot and it’s a negative test result?
We're confused by your comment... Unless things have changed very, very recently per official orders, US citizens do not need covid vaccinations, MANDATORY temperature checks or any MANDATORY covid tests whatsoever to enter the United States when crossing the LAND BORDER from Mexico.
We strongly recommend ALWAYS checking OFFICIAL entry/exit requirements just prior to crossing the land border - situations can and do change frequently, especially now more than ever. Once again ALWAYS check and rely on OFFICIAL government websites regarding current, up-to-date information and requirements.
Hi I'm currently in Ciudad Juarez and was wondering how the actual crossing worked out, in what order? Did Homeland security/custom do any certain checks such as check your luggage and bags, passport, covid test and or vaccination card? My wife and I flew here so we don't have FMM anymore as when we flew from Guadalajara to Ciudad Juarez and will head back home soon but flight here was a really bad experience due to the airline and due to being Thanksgiving week, it is extremely expensive right now. The quickest and probably cheapest route is walking across by land then flying from El Paso airport to Chicago. First time so we have no experience and do not know what to expect, please advise thank you!
Video showed crossing was very easy just not sure what to expect when the camera wasn't on.
Hi Daniel,
Here is how the process went for us when we filmed in April, 2021: We have never been asked to surrender our FMM permits to Mexican agents during any of our land border crossings from Mexico back into the U.S. Our first "check" was a U.S. CBP agent on the bridge - she was looking to make sure we had U.S. passports before waving us through. Keep in mind this agent was merely looking for U.S. passports before waving us on to the next step. The next agent we saw was in the actual processing area, complete with multiple immigration agents at desks with computers. The agent who processed us asked how long were we out of the country/where we had visited/etc. There was no check at all regarding a covid test or a vaccination card as U.S. citizens entering back into the United States on foot. The next step was customs where our bags were scanned. After that, we exited the building, walked to the bus terminus for El Paso city buses (a few blocks from the border crossing) and took a bus ($1.50) to El Paso airport in order to pick up our rental car. This city bus took 45 minutes to arrive at the airport but it saved us so much money versus taking a taxi. The bus route was #52 if my memory serves me right...
Keep in mind that we suggest you find all the OFFICIAL up-to-date information you can regarding border crossing requirements for you and your wife - requirements can and do change, often with little or no notice at all. There were no health checks/screenings, vaccination requirements or negative tests needed to cross the land border into the U.S. as U.S. citizens when we filmed this video. Again, we VERY STRONGLY urge you to rely ONLY on OFFICIAL information - good luck and have a safe journey home to Chicago!
@@ACoupleofDrifters Thank you so much, we were looking at latest information but a lot of it didn't include details like this. Seems like this will be the route we will have to use when heading back. We appreciate the video and you two sharing your experience!
Sorry for such a late response back to you, Daniel.
You are certainly welcome - we hope our video was of some help to you. We also hope the trip back home went smoothly for you both. Take care, Daniel!
A question do i need a covid test or a vaccine to cross the usa border by foot? Im pretty worried so anyway nice video!!😃
Thanks for the comment and the compliment! As of now, NO covid tests or vaccines needed going INTO the USA from Mexico by land - ditto for crossing by land FROM the USA to Mexico. We've crossed in both directions within that last few months and are now back in Mexico. Having said that, we really do encourage you to check OFFICIAL SOURCES regarding what is or isn't required IMMEDIATELY BEFORE you cross the land border - things can and do change with frequency, now more than ever. The bigger question is this: What is your nationality, or which passport will you present to border officials? Depending on that, your travel could be seen as non-essential.
@@ACoupleofDrifters thankyou so much! I was very worried but now i feel better! Oh and yes i was born in the usa! So i think theres not gonna be many problems! Right?😁😁😁Anyway thanks again i apprecciate you a lot😃😃oh by the way u definetly earned a sub!😃
Thank you so much for subscribing - this really means a lot to us!! You should be fine to enter if you have a US passport. Just gather all the OFFICIAL information you can regarding border requirements with covid before you cross by land - as we said, things can and do change! Take care and happy travels to you!
@@ACoupleofDrifters no problem! Thanks as well have a great day!!😁😁
sorry to join in but I have a Mexican passport you think there would be any problem crossing with out the vaccine ?!
Hey guys great video quick question, did you guys experience what it's like to cross through the same bridge but with a pet.
Thank you for the compliment! We have never crossed into or out of Mexico with a pet. Facebook groups are great places to ask all sorts of questions - you'll likely find a few people who cross the border with their pets. the group "On the Road in Mexico" is one we recommend.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Thanks for the reply looking forward to your new vids.
You are welcome - and thank you for watching. We are releasing another video today - thank you for your interest and we hope you like it! Also, we hope you get an answer regarding your question about crossing with pets - please use this comment thread to let us know what you find out.
Although we've never traveled like this with pets and don't know first-hand, we've recently heard that it can be a pretty straightforward deal.
My friend crossed the border in car with 4 dog's from Mexico to US without papers for the dogs 2 weeks ago. Had no problems.
thanks for the video, so in the building is where they check if you are able to get into US? they check your passport and thats it?
Yes, inside the building (where we didn't film) is where all people are processed before entry into the U.S.
Depending on nationality, some people need visas to enter the United States in addition to their passports.
The fee at the turnstiles is now 7 Pesos. I crossed the bridge today (10/31/21).
Thank you very much for the update, Konrad! This is good information to others crossing the border on foot.
I have a question, Is it a requirement to make a Covid-19 test to cross the border ?
When we filmed this video (April, 2021) it wasn't a requirement for U.S. citizens to have a covid test to cross into the United States by land. We strongly encourage people to get OFFICIAL up-to-date information regarding requirements for international border crossings immediately BEFORE travel - anything can change with little or no notice.
Hi I am traveling to Durango with my boyfriend and daughter and I have a passport but my boyfriend can not get one because of child support that he owes. Do you know if leaving Juarez in a bus to Durango we will have any issues along the way at check points? Do you know what will happen if he doesn’t have his passport but does have his United States birth certificate and drivers License. We live in El Paso Texas and plan to cross walking
Hi Kimberly.
I'm assuming your boyfriend in a U.S. citizen? If so, your boyfriend legally needs a passport book or passport card (the latter is valid for land and sea travel only) to enter Mexico and you each must have an FMM card (migration form) - this is a visitor permit but many people wrongly refer to this as a visitor visa. This is NOT a visa! To get an FMM your boyfriend must have a passport or passport card to cross the land border into Mexico and then on to Durango.
Two months ago (March, 2022) we bussed through the entire country of Mexico (from Chiapas north to Juarez) and came across no less than eight INM (immigration) checks, mostly in the extreme south and extreme north of the country. In each case we (as foreigners in Mexico) had our passports and our FMM forms checked thoroughly. In some cases the INM agent(s) boarded the bus and checked Identification/passports/FMM forms and in other cases we had to get off the bus in order to be processed inside a central building where our bags were subject to scanning and search. We're used to quite a few military checkpoints on highways in Mexico but not nearly as many immigration checkpoints as we encountered in March, 2022. We think it's highly likely you may come across checkpoints with INM agents as you head south into Mexico. Simply put, without being in Mexico legally (valid passport book or passport card and a valid FMM card) your boyfriend may very likely face a fine, arrest and deportation if he cannot prove to an INM agent that he's in the country legally. We strongly encourage anyone to be in any foreign country LEGALLY and to always seek out official, up-to-date information on this matters.
Hi Guys, thanks for the video. I will have to do the exact same at the end of May. I am an Irish citizen. But crossing to the US in the morning and back into Mexico in the afternoon. Did you notice if it took longer for non-US passport holders to get across? Thanks!!Stephen
Hiya Stephen. I (Fiona) have my Irish passport and a U.S. passport. Crossing into Mexico and back into the States I use my U.S. passport. Unfortunately I don't know if it took longer for non-US passport holders to get through. It seemed like all the queues were moving along fairly quickly. If anything the queue we were in was the slowest! It could also depend on the border crossing, though typically crossing on foot never seems terribly busy, even at Tijuana. Which border crossing are you heading to? I also don't know if non-US passport holders could be grilled on if it's "essential travel" or not into the U.S. Might be something to check out on an official site online. I don't know if this is something they're being pernickety about. We hope all goes well for you and that you have absolutely no bother at all. Actually keep us posted on how it goes. Fiona and Jerry (Your Drifters)
Why do buses in Mexico delay or just don't turn on the air?
Buses can delay for any number of reasons. Having said that, we've been on a lot of buses in Mexico which have scheduled arrivals and departures and for us they have almost always been on time or just a few minutes late. We were recently on a bus in Mexico that got a flat tire - that resulted in a big delay. As for air conditioning on buses: Many less expensive, second-class buses will not feature air conditioning - often times theses buses are older models and any air-con units they may have had at one time are no longer functioning. Our experiences with pricier first-class buses are just the opposite - drivers blast the air-con on these buses and we always keep a long sleeve layer on standby in order to ward off the chill!
So you did not have to show a PCR test or proof of vaccination?
No, we didn't need any type of Covid test or proof of Covid vaccination to cross the land border from Mexico into the United States. Things can and do change so it's wise to always check with official sources regarding this matter prior to travel.
Thank you and great information!
You are welcome - and thank you!
I think USA do not to ask to citizens for the vaccine.
You can't record inside the buindling when they ask you for the the passport? You did not record there?
I am almost certain that video recording in that area would be _very_ strictly prohibited. Similarly, I would suspect that talking on a cell phone and/or being online with any sort of device is strongly regulated within this building as well.
@@ACoupleofDrifters okay so we can not record in the building or no? Because I have watch videos that when people pass to the border with their car people are recording when they are talking to the border patrol. So that is legal then.
As mentioned in the reply, I am not completely certain if it's permitted to film in the building. I make no definite claims as to whether or not it is legal to film in the building. Again, I am almost certain that agents would tell you to NOT film within the building, especially the acts of processing entrants and/or going through customs.
As for driving through the border, I do not know if it's legal or not to film this process. Perhaps being in a private vehicle with a recording device is different than being inside a federal building with one? Perhaps it's easier with a simple dashcam to film the process of driving through the border than it is to walk up to an agent (at a desk in a building) and stick a camera in his/her face? Whatever the case may be, we aren't going to find out if this is legal or not with US agents - you must find this out for yourself. You can either find official information about this, ask a border agent the next time you see one or just try filming the process yourself and see what happens.
While filming for a different border crossing video INTO Mexico, we WERE told by an INM agent to turn our camera off about 50 ft. from the entrance to the processing facility. Is filming anywhere near an INM facility legal or not? We don't care - what matters is the fact that a government agent from Mexico told us to turn the camera off.
@@ACoupleofDrifters okay, some agents lie and try to control. Because they want us to do what they want. But thank you I will try to record inside the video I do not know if is private or public area I will see. Mm from the agent from mexico I will see about that.
We wish you luck on your journey across the borders, Me Jhon - let us know how it goes for you!
do you need proof of covid vaccination when crossing by foot?
US Citizens entering from Mexico to the United States via land borders do not need proof of any COVID vaccination. The same applies to US Citizens crossing into Mexico from the United States by land. Things can and do change - we strongly suggest you _always_ get official and up-to-date information regarding your question.
Also, a good hint if you ride with someone that has a SENTRI pass. Only people registered on the SENTRI pass can enter in the vehicle. Enjoy the air conditioning in the car as long as possible. Get out at the stop sign before the vehicle weigh station. This is the last place you can get out before the turnstiles. Don't forget your peso coins.
Thank you Konrad, that's a great tip to share! We didn't know this!
Hi ☺️ of course you’re not going to see a Mexican officer crossing Juarez-El Pasó Front where you pay the five pesos Are the Mexican officers Crossing El Paso -Juárez the other side of the same bridge they didn’t ask you the Covid test because you’re American citizen and you have rights to go to the hospital non-American citizens don’t have the rights to go to the hospital that’s why they ask him Covid test They don’t want the hospitals all crowd
Quoting LAS AVENTURAS DE JOSÉ Y TANIA MARQUEZ : "
of course you’re not going to see a Mexican officer crossing Juarez-El Pasó Front where you pay the five pesos"
Our point is this: FMM permits are not collected. Where you will or will not see an INM agent on Mexican soil is not important for the purpose of this video. And yes, an INM agent has jurisdiction to be at the spot where the five pesos is collected - this spot where the money is paid is still within the boundaries of Mexico. In the video you will see two US agents on the bridge - those agents also have jurisdiction to be on the bridge, just like any Mexican officer would, but that is not the point. 😀
Not everyone knows that you will not see an INM agent when leaving Mexico by land, either on foot or in a vehicle. Again, our reason for mentioning that is to let viewers know that they WILL NOT be asked to surrender their FMM upon leaving Mexico - we say this several times in the video. Believe it or not, some United States citizens are still unsure of covid requirements for international travel, either by air or at the Mexico/United States land border. This is why we urge people to always have OFFICIAL and up-to-date information before crossing international borders - things can and do change with little or no warning.
In the comment section of this video you can read the questions other people have. It's safe to assume at least SOME of these people have questions because they've never crossed the border from Mexico into the United States at all - this is exactly who we made the video for. This video is NOT not for people who already know this process.
It sounds like you are aware of this process - this is good information to have! However, not everyone is as wise when it comes to the procedure(s) involved with crossing international land borders and because of that they might have a few questions. We hope our video is helpful to those who are unaware of crossing from Mexico to the United States at an official border post.
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