Today was a big travel day with a border crossing into Mexico. I spent a frustrating several hours last night and this morning trying to complete the immigration paperwork for each member of our family and in the end was only half successful. The Mexican government website kept crashing each time I tried to pay, which was the last step in filling out a cumbersome form, so having to start from scratch countless times was pretty frustrating. In the end, I gave up in hopes that I can do the paperwork in person at the border. 

We stopped at Costco before crossing the border and then headed to Mexicali to make the crossing. There is a lot of conflicting information when it comes to traveling to Mexico. The official story is that only essential travel is allowed at this time, but there is no concrete definition of “essential travel” provided anywhere.

When it comes to flying, there are no restrictions because that would affect airline business, which is just another example of doing what’s best for the almighty dollar! (Insert sarcasm).

I connected with a couple on Instagram who had crossed the border a couple of days before us and got the details of their experience. They said that it was an easy process and gave us some great logistical advice. The only difference was that they were in a van and we have a 40-foot bus plus a tow vehicle.

As we pulled up to the checkpoint, we were ushered into a bus lane that was completely empty. You’d think this was good news, but it also means that there are a bunch of border guards with nothing to do. Sure enough, they brought out their dog and started to give Thelma a very thorough inspection inside and out. I went inside to fill out paperwork and make the appropriate payments. The young immigration officer was extremely pleasant and helpful and while he wouldn’t accept the two applications and payments I was able to finish on the internet, he wasn’t being beligerent about it and it was obvious that he would have accepted them had it been a possibility. To save me time, he even helped me fill out two of the applications, which is unheard of. Usually immigrations officers (of any countries) are very short, direct and unforgiving. This guy was nothing like that. 

The officers searching the bus were also nice, though it was clear that they had a job to do and there weren’t going to be any pleasantries or small talk. Jack and Stellie had to take the puppies off the bus while it was searched, so once I finished the paperwork in the office I waited with them until the search was finished.