Last week I spent an afternoon and evening in Tijuana, Mexico. This border town in Baja California remains open during the pandemic for essential purposes and I want to address what to expect in terms of crossing in both directions. Hopefully this guide will be helpful in your travels across the U.S. – Mexico border.
Guide: Crossing the U.S. – Mexican Border Into Mexico
Last time I entered Tijuana was 2005. Back then, my brother and I simply walked through a turnstile over the border. There were no formal checks. This time, there was an official check.
The main border checkpoint is at the San Ysidro Transit Center. From San Diego, you can take a blue line train (locals call it “the trolley”) directly to the border, a journey of roughly 30 minutes. From there, you are directly at the border crossing into Mexico. We drove down and left our car in a nearby parking lot.
You’ll go up a very gradual hill, though a small building.
Then you’ll walk a bit further down another path in no man’s land between the two nations before coming to a final point-of-no-return turnstile with a sign clearly indicating you are entering Mexico:
Inside is passport control and customs. Your passport will be examined and you’ll be stamped into Mexico. Your luggage will then be examined. Please note tourism is not currently permitted in Mexico.
Once out, you’ll come out to a walkway, still in a secure area adjacent to the highway heading back into the United States.
Walk a bit further and you’ll come to one more turnstile and then you’ll really be out (expect taxi touts). Head right if you want to talk to downtown Tijuana, which is an easy walk and does not require a taxi.
Guide: Crossing the Mexican – U.S. Border Into The United Sates
Typically, there are three pedestrian crossing sections open from Tijuana back into the United States. One is called PedWest and is currently closed. There’s also the Cross Border Express which connects Tijuana Airport (TIJ) to the USA, but is only for travelers to/from TIJ. Then there’s the San Ysidro Port of Entry adjacent to the car lanes entering the United States.
We got there about 6:30PM and found a huge line. Observing it for several minutes, we saw it was not moving. Not at all. The CBP website indicated only a 55-minute wait, but it looked much longer, snaking back for nearly a mile.
Opportunely, a man approached us (we clearly stood out as gringos).
Señor. You’ll wait three hours in this line. I can get you over the border in 10-15 minutes for $20 each. We’ll use this special government lane…
I had no desire to wait three hours in line, so we continued to listen.
Let me take you there. You’ll be back over the border in no time at all. Just $20 each.
I told him I’d give him $10/each.
He countered at $15.
I inisted upon $10.
He said okay.
Taking our cash, he handed us two shuttle tickets for a company called SDTJ. He then escorted us about two blocks away to a little bus depot where were loaded up unto a shuttle. By the way, the tickets were $7 each there, so I didn’t feel too bad…
The Delay
Then we sat there.
And sat.
And waited.
Finally, the shuttle filled up and we took off. Using the far right lane we pulled all the way up to the border gate, then stopped.
And sat.
And waited.
For 25 minutes.
A girl sitting behind us started smoking. The driver let on a guy who was hawking Aguas Frescas.
Meanwhile, the pedestrian line started moving…quickly. 25 people were let in at a time and during our wait at least 125 people were let through the gate.
I also noticed that some people just cut the line by flashing a card.
Little did I know (stupid, stupid me) I just need my Global Entry card.
If you have Global Entry, you can use the SENTRI lanes and simply line-cut.
I would have just hopped out of the bus right then and there, but my wife doesn’t have her Global Entry card…yet.
Finally, the bus was cleared to pull through. We pulled up to a parking lot in the no-man’s-land between the two nations and were escorted out through prison-like doors into a long corridor leading to the immigration hall.
Again, we waited.
Finally, the line began to move again and we soon found ourselves inside the immigration facility.
Another 10 minutes later and we made it to the front of the line (there were about a dozen lanes and only two were open). After a cursory check of our passports, were were welcomed home and found ourselves back outside in the transit plaza.
CONCLUSION
My biggest mistake on the return: not using the Global Entry line. I’m adding the physical card to my passport case and will be ready for future trips. Even if I only saved us 30 minutes I think that was still worth the $10 each to use the shuttle. Overall, though, the process could have been much worse. Remember, essential travel only right now.
It wasn’t a big mistake not to use Global Entry because your wife doesn’t have it. However, it was a moral failing to park in a strip mall parking lot unless they welcome it for cross border trips. Parking lot maintenance, even re-sealing and re-striping is not inexpensive.
Near Nogales, AZ, there are paid lots and not nearly as expensive as airport parking.
In Beni Anzar, Morocco on the Meilla Spanish border, there were long lines of pedestrians but the Spanish agent walked into Morocco and picked out non-Moroccan looking people for expedited processing. Funny.
I learned this lesson as well. You do have to deal with the folks thinking you are cutting the line by walking by on the right, but you are well within your right to do so with Global Entry.
May I ask if Mexico scanned your passports or was it only visually inspected? (Canada for sure scans it and relays the data to the US as an exit record, and US does the same for Canada at the land border.)
I did a Tijuana walk a few years ago, and my pre-trip research indicated an ability to cut the line. At that time not only a TTP card but also a passport card also qualified for the short line. Not sure if it’s still true now.
They scanned it.
It’s unfortunate really how much of a PITA US-Mexico border crossings have become. Back in the day (like 30 years ago) we could walk across to Nuevo Laredo or Matamoros from the US side, buy a bunch of junk, and be back across in like 5 minutes. My dad even used to tell stories about how when he’d have to travel for work to El Paso, he’d drive across to Juarez to fill up on diesel because it was like 40 cents a gallon in Mexico vs. $1.25 on the Texas side. Which you could do back in the 80s because the whole border crossing took like 10 minutes.
So i’ve wondering here. Supposedly cross travel between the US-MX land border points of entry has been prohibited for a few months now except for “essential travel”.. thus ruling out any leisure trips between. I know upon entry to to both countries you are always questioned as to the purpose of your travel. Did you state a purpose other than leisure?
I said drugs in both directions.
I’ll bite: did they ask if you meant legal drugs?
Honestly, you should have seen the face of the DHS guy:
HIM: Do you have anything to declare?
ME (to Heidi): Show him the drugs.
HIM: (wide-eyed looked of amazement)
ME: Oh no, just prescription drugs…
lol
They don’t care about US citizens crossing over to Mexico and coming back. It’s only Mexicans with visas they don’t allow over. It’s super easy. But be careful parking on lots as some people can get towed.
I grew up and still live in Chula Vista. From my old bedroom I could see the entire TJ hillside from La Mesa to the Bull Ring by the Sea, as well as the Border Patrol headlights on the US side. My wife has family there, and before we got Global Entry, I refused to go unless it was an emergency. Waiting in line for 3 hrs to cross back just didn’t appeal to me (or my bladder). Until Covid, we would visit every couple of months. Longest wait in the SENTRI so far has been 45 min with 20-25 min being average. Just be aware that to use the SENTRI vehicle lanes, everyone must have GE AND the vehicle must be GE registered. Funny thing is Global Entry is much cheaper than SENTRI with more benefits.
Any idea why there’s razor wire around the entrance to Mexico? Presumably if you chicken out on visiting you could just turn around and I’d figure that there were other barriers on the Mexican side to keep people from hopping over.
DHS added razor wire all along the San Diego border during the “migrant caravan hysteria” last year.
@Matthew,
I was thinking I might want to use the Tijuana airport to travel to a Mexican state open for tourism at the moment. (Mexican domestic flights are cheap and convenient!) Do you think I’d be allowed to cross the border for that purpose? Some people in San Diego told me I wouldn’t, because non-essential travel is banned at the land border. Did the individual at Mexican immigration ask you the purpose of your trip or how long you were staying? (I suppose, though, that without a suitcase you clearly didn’t look like you were staying for longer than the day.)
Thanks!
I did declare that the purpose of the trip was for medication. The immigration agent was fine with that response. I think you would be okay.
My sister cross with her husband she was told her husband did not have the same card as her that he was not supposed use the line she was using then she asked him “what do I suppose to do leave my husband behind?” The agent just let her cross. 🙂
You will need a 180 day Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) to fly. They are WAY stricter on the mainland than in Baja California. You will not be allowed to board your flight without your FMM. You can get your FMM by declaring your destination as you cross. Do NOT say you’re only going to Tijuana. It will cost about 570 MXN. Armed with the 180 day FMM, you can fly. Flying without an FMM is just asking for fines and jail time. Don’t risk it.
Test
Matthew, this article is very helpful. My best friend lives in Tijuana, and me in San Diego. We used to meet once a month at least (either he here in San Diego, or me there in Tijuana) for a weekend with both families. We were able to see one another in Cabo, because air transit is not restricted. With restrictions on essential travel in place, If I try to cross to stay with him and his family, will they ask if my travel is essential? Any help on this would be awesome. I just do not know if they will let me cross from San Diego to Tijuana if it is to visit my friend. Also just FYI, we are middle aged and this will not be a tourist trip to party or anything of the likes. Any help on my odds of making it across on foot to see him and his family would be so greatly appreciated.
Gary, consider telling the officer that you need to buy medication. Even if it is Advil (they won’t ask you what it is). If you say you are going to visit a friend, they will not let you in. For the safety of others, it may be best to wait a bit longer to travel. That said, I do understand your desire to visit your friend and am sure you would exercise caution while in Mexico. I hope you can re-unite soon!
Thank you so kindly, and the advice is greatly appreciated. Also to note I did not mention I did have covid-19 here in San Diego in April, and was recently tested with the antibody where I even donate plasma to help others. But I will very cautious and respectful.
Thank you so kindly again.