Heading North

I will need to be travelling to the US in the near future, and it will be my first time doing so as a residente permanente.

I understand there is a "checkout" procedure where you have to visit an immigration office and fill out a form prior to leaving Mexico.

Has anyone been through this recently? Particularly at CBX? The time I've gone through there on FMMs, nobody has ever checked anything on the Mexican side. As I recall, there isn't even a place for a checkpoint for people leaving Mexico. Not sure where I would go to take care of that.

Any information that will help me not screw up and / or not look like a moron is much appreciated.

This is a real thorny issue along the Tijuana/San Diego border. Tens of thousands of people cross back and forth every day. Very few people leaving Tijuana are ever stopped to ask about their Mexican tourist, temporary, or permanent immigration documents. Often, no one is at the Mexican immigration checkpoints. If you fly into Tijuana, the immigration checkpoint is located just after the security gate leaving the airport gate facility and is just before the baggage area. The CBX is at the far end of the baggage area. I don't think there is any immigration checkpoint in the CBX tunnel as you leave the Tijuana airport. If you don't see anyone at the immigration checkpoint as you leave the secured area of the airport, then you best stop and get someone's attention. Buena Suerte!

Idea: Maybe you want to talk to the folks at the Zihua airport before boarding?

We went a week ago from here via air.

There is an immigration closet just past the entrance to the TSA. Show him your card and passport, you will fill out part of a "normal" FMM form. He will take half and give you the other. Fill it out and turn it in when you return. That's it.

Supposedly a new procedure went into place July 31 (we left July 31 and returned August 2) that only requires them to stamp your passport. We received no stamp when we left, and were stamped when we returned. Easy peasy, and they seem to pleased to see us return!

I have been in and out of the country numerous times since becoming a residente permanente some 8 years ago and only have had to keep the FMM bottom form and if I didn't keep it just fill out another. This has included trips from DF to IAH or DFW, GDL to CBX, and recently MCO (orlando to DF) and then the others from our home in QRO to IAH/DFW. Never had a problem at any times.