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Easiest Border Crossing with Household Goods


John Galt

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I'd love to hear about people's personal experiences (with Permanente or Temporale) in crossing with their household goods. Do you think Laredo or Pharr is easier?

Laredo is a really busy crossing and it would seem to take more time and Customs more picky, but I really don't know.

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We have brought in loads at 3 different crossings (none at Pharr). Laredo was the easiest of our 3 crossings: Use the downtown Laredo crossing - about 4 blocks west - upriver of the interstate highway border crossing.

Show up at 7:00 - 8:30 AM and you'll likely find no lines and easy safe transits through Nuevo Laredo. Both the militars and Aduana officials simply looked inside our load (a 16 ft enclosed trailer), and partially checked the contents of 2 numbered boxes at the back of the load versus the contents listed on our do-it-yourself unofficial Menaje de Casa. The Aduana agent kept a copy of our ersatz Menaje de Casa list, so bring extra copies to show militars or police at retenes inside Mexico.

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I think all crossing points are about the same. It could depend on whether you are coming from a more northern locale or more southern. Pharr is good from the south and smaller crossings like Del Rio or Eagle Pass form the north generally have much less traffic and waiting times.

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We've brought stuff through Pharr crossing three times (all in very early morning). Very fast. Twice they didn't even check. The third time they looked through the trunk for a long time, (but didn't bother with the Thule on top of the car) but either didn't fine the electronics (new in boxes) that we brought, or didn't care, because they thanked us and waved us through.

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  • 5 months later...
On 2/7/2016 at 8:25 AM, snowyco said:

We have brought in loads at 3 different crossings (none at Pharr). Laredo was the easiest of our 3 crossings: Use the downtown Laredo crossing - about 4 blocks west - upriver of the interstate highway border crossing.

Show up at 7:00 - 8:30 AM and you'll likely find no lines and easy safe transits through Nuevo Laredo. Both the militars and Aduana officials simply looked inside our load (a 16 ft enclosed trailer), and partially checked the contents of 2 numbered boxes at the back of the load versus the contents listed on our do-it-yourself unofficial Menaje de Casa. The Aduana agent kept a copy of our ersatz Menaje de Casa list, so bring extra copies to show militars or police at retenes inside Mexico.

When the crossings were made, did you declare a value and did you pay taxes on imported items?

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On ‎2‎/‎8‎/‎2016 at 11:39 AM, congodog said:

We've brought stuff through Pharr crossing three times (all in very early morning). Very fast. Twice they didn't even check. The third time they looked through the trunk for a long time, (but didn't bother with the Thule on top of the car) but either didn't fine the electronics (new in boxes) that we brought, or didn't care, because they thanked us and waved us through.

When was the last time you crossed with a Large load?

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On 7/9/2016 at 1:21 PM, permaguy said:

When the crossings were made, did you declare a value and did you pay taxes on imported items?


Officially.... no.  In practical terms, yes.  but no duties nor IVA taxes paid.

It's wise to make a do-it-yourself ersatz Menaje de Casa style list of everything in your load, to save loads of hassles both at the Mex-US border, and again  at border crossings inside Mexico, at military retenes, and at police retenes.

Make an excel spreadsheet identifying every box,  listing in Spanish the contents of each box (inc. box numbers),  listing the Serial numbers of every single piece of electronics/ computer/ TV/ stereo gear, and listing estimated garage sale prices on all items.  Include your name & address on the list.  Listing groups of items,   "15 CDs "  or "Juego de 6 oilas" is fine.

Print ... 5 copies(?)..   to give to Aduana,  militars,  police   to put in their files...  Bosses like filed copies of things for later CYA.

People who want to anticipate & douse even small fires include printed pages from Ebay documenting the estimated sale prices on key expensive items (so the Aduana guys can quote your $$ value vs. one that they totally make-up).

Be sure that the contents of your most accessible boxes - like those at the back of the load - exactly match the list, because all 3  (militars,  Aduana, & police) tend to open 1 or 2 boxes to verify your list & load.    

Every single time that  we & friends have taken these steps,   the officials  smile...  maybe check 1 or 2 things...  and waive us along,   with no inspections & no Duties nor IVA taxes.

Lots of tools,   or commercial quantities of things (enough to start a small business),   construction materials,  or bottles of prescription meds   can & do cause problems / inquiries.

Even a 16' trailer of household goods and 'personal items' flew through just fine about 2 years ago

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Make sure you know the date of these recommendations. Many of you know Alex, his business is running around for people, including bringing goods through the border every month or two. He has told his customers that starting in March of this year, there were some big changes at the border, on his last trip he got badly shook down by Aduana for something he had been doing for years. He says the rumor is that Aduana is under pressure to gather revenue to prop up the Peso, against the Canadian and U.S. Dollar

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Well it is going to take more than what Aduana can collect from us....$80.00us for oil would help and $100.00us would fix everything. We just, a month ago, crossed at Pharr...overloaded as usual....got a red light...big question was...did we have canned dog or cat food?...we did but we told them it was only the 30 days that they say is legal...a sneer was given to that response but then a wave on with the load.

 

Fred Habacht

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17 hours ago, CHILLIN said:

Make sure you know the date of these recommendations. Many of you know Alex, his business is running around for people, including bringing goods through the border every month or two. He has told his customers that starting in March of this year, there were some big changes at the border, on his last trip he got badly shook down by Aduana for something he had been doing for years. He says the rumor is that Aduana is under pressure to gather revenue to prop up the Peso, against the Canadian and U.S. Dollar


Chillin's supposed rumor & his point ignores a common truth for the last 35 years.  

If you are coming in as a regular border crosser,   a near-professional,  (like Alex),  hauling lots of stuff many times,   Aduana personnel clearly recognize those regular crossers,   and they get charged duties    and   are not given the courtesies offered to newbies.  

Our friends who started crossing regularly in the 1980's   and again in the 1990's   found that the more they crossed carrying loads of stuff,   they started getting full searches and full duties & taxes.

When  a rookie  - non-professional - 'one-timer'   whomt Aduana has never seen before,   they generally wave them through if their Menaje de Casa list appears honest,    and does not appear to be commercial  (like Alex's commercial activities).  does not have lots of tools or enough stuff to start a business,   and has limited computer/electronic/TV/Stereo stuff,   then they wave us through.

Will this policy change?
possibly.

But  Alex getting stopped simply confirms Aduana's policy since the mid 1980's ...   as  newbies are still being waived through.


 

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47 minutes ago, CHILLIN said:

Once again, 200 lbs of words, in an attempt to imply wisdom, when it is clearly apparent to everyone the poster hasn't a clue.

.
True... Bad advice,    false advice   and rumors    are easily told in short order.    
Describing reality, and all the facts & details that explain reality,  
explaining the details of how to do things well...  takes more than just a few words.  

Short version of reality:  
Alex makes so many trips, hauling stuff, that Aduana knows him and treats him different than how Aduana treats newbies.

Offering facts and describing reality requires details.   Personally criticizing ... and personally attacking others,  
     smearing reputations    is easily done with just a few words.

 

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We came through Laredo in mid-May, and was really surprised by the 3rd degree(and inspection of goods) given us by the person at the Nothing to Declare lane. Things were really hopping there, as all cars were getting a Red Light and none were moving through quickly. Something has definitely changed coming into Mexico. When we returned in June NOB, it was just SLOW on the US side.

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3 hours ago, Ajijic_hiker said:

So, when going in the opposite direction...any suggestions or recommendations for when you are driving FROM Mexico back into the US? What is the best way to get a carload of house-hold belongings back NOB?  thanks for the tips...

To my knowledge the US does not have any problems with you bringing back your household goods into the States. If your car is packed you will most probably get directed to "Secondary" where your car will be 'searched' and 'sniffed' while you are told to 'stand over there'. I've been directed there before when I had a good number of things in my car so a packed one will most certainly get their attention. BUT in my opinion, unless you have certain food stuffs or Mexican 'weed', you will be fine. Just smile and answer questions but offer no more than asked... or at least that's my mantra.

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8 hours ago, Jim Bowie said:

We came through Laredo in mid-May, and was really surprised by the 3rd degree(and inspection of goods) given us by the person at the Nothing to Declare lane. Things were really hopping there, as all cars were getting a Red Light and none were moving through quickly. Something has definitely changed coming into Mexico. When we returned in June NOB, it was just SLOW on the US side.


When you entered Mexico through Laredo in May:  How much did you pay in duties ?    
How much did you pay in taxes ?

How much of the load did you have to unload ?

How many boxes/containers did they inspect ?

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