San Diego to Tijuana for travel photography by foot: WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 พ.ค. 2024
- 🌉 Border Crossing Tips: San Diego to Tijuana Adventure! 🇺🇸🇲🇽
Embark on a border-crossing adventure with Jefferson Graham! Discover the ease of walking from San Diego to Tijuana, but brace yourself for the return journey. Jeff shares crucial insights - tune in now
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00:00 Take pedestrian bridge to Tijuana
01:03 Park in San Ysidro
02:01 Bring passport
02:37 One-way gate
04:49 Lessons learned
💬 Share Your Experience:
Have you crossed the San Diego-Tijuana border? Share your tips in the comments below!
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Website: www.Photowalkstv.com
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📽️ More Tijuana and San Diego Adventures:
Tijuana Photo Tour: • Tijuana Through My Len...
Border Crossing 2024: • 🌉 Border Crossing Tips...
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Hot off the presses: we return to Tijuana with our camera, Passport and cash. Join us! th-cam.com/video/_uLziizly1U/w-d-xo.htmlsi=XmWvRiGWW_5tI2ez
Thanks for sharing Jeff! Glad you made it back!
Next time you come with me, and scream "10 things you need to know before going to Tijuana" in my ear as we cross the border!
@@PhotowalksTV Hah
You don't need a passport to cross the Tijuana border, just a real ID. The one with a star in the top right-hand corner.
No u go to officials and get a FMM form. wronggg
if show my us passport with my driver licenes still nee FMM or not ?
Didn't watch the whole video, eh?
Jefferson, thanks for your cautionary tale - especially all the details!
Thank you--sometimes we do dumb things as humans. But I can't wait to go try again, this time with cash in the pocket!
@@PhotowalksTVplease make more videos of: 1st time to visit Florida, cooking lessons for college students, which dog to buy, finding powdered Eggnog on the internet, how to be a spy without getting killed, do seniors eat pickles before or after playing, what's it like to hang out with Jason Alexander, what does Bill Shatner eat to stay young and what makes Democrats tick.
I use to love crossing the border in the 90s was easy and took about 2 hrs by car to get back Last time we walked over and took us like 4 hrs to get back about 15yrs ago never again and the questioning is so much since I am Hispanic. New subscriber thanks for your appearance on the mark Thompson show. 👍👍
ONG THANKS FOR THIS
Looks like things have changed since the last time I made the same journey. Back in my Navy days (mid 80's) I was stationed in San Diego, there was no one monitoring your entrance to Tijuana, you just walked thru the turnstile. Coming back was a wait but only about an hour. Also, you did not need a passport to go to Tijuana.
Get your azz whooped down there now grandpa
At night, they give no F's still! Unless you are carrying a lot of stuff.
Shit you got military id tho lol but your right I use my California driver license I think if you live in California you can just use your id or license
I’m stationed on Coronado right now, haven’t made it to TJ yet but hopefully will soon
@@aidenpeltier786 They made it so much easier to come and go with the new buildings completed in 2019. El Chapparal to the west pops out by the outlet stores and is only a 1 mile walk to the Blue Line train. I used to go to a 24 hour bakery to buy oily cakes before returning and walk the 2.7 miles to El Chaparral. I guess it depends on which side you feel like going to - both US Customs buildings are new and efficient. I mentioned 'oily' because little patches formed on the brown paper bag by the time I got to the agent at Customs. One time I had to take a bus to Coronado one late night when rain saturated the ground and interrupted the shunt style ground system of the rails/tracks, so buses go over there for sure. The bus went to a station I never disembarked from before and I took any bus going north because getting soaked sucks!
I was in TJ back in 1972. I remember the card board houses that poor people lived in. It was easy to get into TJ and walk back to the US side.
Thank you for sharing this experience. I was wondering what would happen for someone in the same situation as yourself, no passport and cash.
I go without a passport all the time, there’s never been a problem for me
Do you go through tj?
Do you return with an ID or Driver's license?
Good story!! Isn't there a best day and time to wait in the pedestrian line going in either direction just as there is for auto traffic? Thank you!
I've entered the line and gone through the border control check (northbound into the US) in about 1/2 hour at 4:30 a.m. If you wait until later in the morning, there will be a long wait. PedEast is open 24 hours a day, but PedWest has been open for only a varying number of hours, and sometimes not at all, since the pandemic. Check before you go. Also, there's a web site you can check to see how long the wait is: bwt.cbp.gov/details/09250401/PED
I have walked into Tijuana several times and have never had to wait when going in that direction. I have been there when no agent at all seemed to be present. Sometimes the carousel to x-ray luggage is working, and sometimes not. That has been my experience, anyway.
@@bonnieebrown Thank you! A good reason to get a Sentri pass!
I went in the 90s. Took some free shuttle bus across the border. On the way back there was no wait just walked right back.
Need to know which bus to take across border back to San Ysidro please
I knew that I did it in summer boy that was mistake I decide to take my husband we are New Yorkers since I been there but what worked going back the wheelchair he disabled I said sick here before I knew we were @ the front of line not even 5 mins. I learned my from my experience what I did I flew from Las Vegas to San Diego and did the second time too. I loved your Video. I never forgot the passport.
I walked through on a bridge. It was in the late 1980s and was a little kid. You didn't need a passport to get in or to get out of Old Mexico, and there wasn't any waiting. Times really have changed.
They changed it so you needed a passport to go to Canada or Mexico after 9/11
Being stranded outside of the USA...a blessing.
I had a very similar experience
I go all the to TJ all the time there is off peak hours to walk across north
I plan on coming back on Sunday around 9 pm . Do you think it will be a long wait at that time ?
How is it end of december? Planning to go
LOVE quick escapes to Tijuana for food and adventure! We actually do a Tijuana Street Food Tour if you're interested.
I am interested, next time I want to go with a group
@@PhotowalksTV Yeah it's a lot of fun, so let me know the next time you're ready for an adventure!:)
website?@@wildfoodietours6702
Great tutorial! I always thought a REAL ID was accepted for the US and Canada. They should have an express line for qualified US Citizens
Thanks Russ. I can't wait to go back and try again, this time with my papers and with fellow photographers!
You can use Global Entry or a SENTRI pass to bypass the long lines.
Real ID doesn't duplicate passport
That's just what they tell you so you get the real ID.
My aunt went to Mexico. When she tried to come back, she realized she had forgotten her documents. She gave them some of her personal information, as best she could, but they still took her into a little room. She said that in there, an officer put her fingernails up her...and she lost her baby (she was pregnant). At least, that's what she told us. So be careful, if you go to Mexico, make sure you take all your documents (that you will need to cross back), like Sentri, US passport or whatever.
It's not mexican officials running things going back into america, it's the US border patrol.
I wonder if going over to Otay Mesa would be faster?
if show my us passport with my driver licenes still need FMM form or not ?
The Otay Mesa crossing is much faster but if you’re going North to L.A. you’ll be wandering a while to get back to I-5. If you’re going toward Phoenix, the best way is take Mexico Route 2 or divided highway 10 East and cross into the U.S. at Tecate. Right away you can get on I-8 freeway. Nothing is near as jammed as crossing at Tijuana onto I-5.
In Piedras Negras/ Eagle Pass you only need a drivers license and birth certificate if you don’t bring your passport or passport card. They have a bridge that’s passport only for cars and a bridge that handles just drivers license and birth certificates. Heard anyone walking can do both and is no problem.
2x that happened to me. Accidentally drive to mexico twice by accident thats why this time im always careful now everytime i go to outlet. 1st i got lucky they let us go back without problem and 2nd time hmnn i will not say yes/no but they did asked us $500 fee for not having our passport 😅.
Hi Jefferson, I have a question that you can answer::::
If you had had your American Passport on you, would it had been stamped by either USA or Mexico Inmigration?
Did you have to fill the Mexican FNM before you go thru the gates.
How long can you stay in Mexico doing it the way you did?
Does the Mexican Inmigration tell you how long you can stay?
You have a max of 180 days if you fly in.
Thank you
Good video
Ive crossed by foot several times and only once was there even someone checking passports or making you fill out the FNM form. Most times I didnt see anyone at all lol. If you are going to stay longer than 7 days I believe you do have to pay for a visitor permit.
I didn't fill out anything, I just sailed right through. I stayed in Mexico for less than an hour. Thanks for reaching out.
I've made the trip 3 times and only once was my passport stamped. I"m a Canadian citizen.
@@Chantel211 Those guys are professionals or what.. Lol at no one being there at all! Longer than 3 days, you'll need to fill out an FMM form ( permit ).
@@Beatbyawhiteboy if show my us passport with my driver licenes still need FMM form or not ?
Where do people go to the bathroom while there waiting in line?
They don’t. Or ask someone to hold your place and run to find a place.
First, the San Ysidro Trolley Station is at the border. America Plaza is in downtown San Diego, you were possibly confused because you parked near the Las Americas Outlet Mall.
Secondly, the pedestrian crossing is rarely over 2 hours. The worst I have heard is 4 hours. I cross twice monthly. This past Sunday it took me 30 minutes at 7:30 am.
You WERE lucky without your passport. It all depends on the border agent you get. You also could have just as easily been detained for hours.
You don't know your ATM PIN?
Thank you Mike! I wasn’t there Saturday at 7:30 but instead mid afternoon so quite different. Yes I know I was incredibly lucky. On the ATM, I had $10K drained from a debit card so so stopped using one years ago. I don’t have a Pin for my credit cards. I tried to get one in Tijuana by calling Chase but no such instant luck.
I am with Mike and the others who indicated you had bad timing. The most I have ever taken was 2 hours. The next time you see a six-hour line, go get some lunch, do a little shopping, and come back after the border "rush hour". As a matter of course, I prefer the San Ysidro crossing to Otay. :-) Best of luck on your next trip and might I suggest getting a REAL ID - in NA, most places its as good as a passport; yes, Canada and Mexico are included. Given that it will soon be mandatory to fly, you probably had one, which got you back in trouble-free more than anything.
@@frivlus I have the Real ID: I think that's what saved me!
I agree with Mike. I've crossed at the San Ysidro pedestrian Crossing six times in the past two months and the longest I've waited is an hour. This is midday during the week. It's almost always longer in the auto line than in the Pedestrian line. You're disseminating inaccurate information.
@@frivlus Otay Mesa usually doesn't have a line. Last time I was there a few weeks ago the app said that San Ysidro was a 2 hour wait, with no wait at Otay Mesa. This was on a wed at 2PM. The only drawback is there is no damned cell coverage on the US side of the border. When I started going through US customs on the mexico side and put my phone away I had 5G 3 bars coverage and fast speeds. When I walked out the door into the US I had 1 bar 3G and couldn't connect to uber. I ended up walking up the street to the starbucks a few blocks away.
My worst wait time going back was San Ysidro sunday at 7pm. It was 3 hours, standing in line. Best at San Ysidro was pre-pandemic, pedwest, sunday morning at 7am I just walked through.
Otay Mesa from what I've heard is usually faster on foot. At San Ysidro there is a lot of public transport, whereas at Otay Mesa there is basically nothing.
I went to TJ with my mom and her sisters and my Aunt decided to buy a bunch of tequila in TJ and try to sneak it back into the US. They asked if we had anything to report and I dont know how they knew, but they did. I was pretty young but I can still picture my aunty Wanda pouring bottles of tequila down this big drain in the ground 😆😆😆
I just moved to tijuana and been crossing to san ysidro almost evry day with just my id
Are you yt? I mean no offense. It just helps to know because I’m on the a Latina on the darker side and it can be very different for me
if show my us passport with my driver licenes still need FMM form or not ?
@@stephalvz4941 if im a youtuber ? No im not
@@Unknown_person676 white. Sorry.
When crossing to San Ysidro, do they just glance at your ID, or swipe or type it up?
What's is TJ worth going for?
Red Light District ( Zona Norte ); Hong Kong Gentlemen's Club
Yep. You said it. Geez. People just don’t know
Can you walk to the turnstyles and turn around?
One way in, no way out!
@@PhotowalksTV I wanted to take picture of the Mexico sign, but not go into Mexico. Is that possible?
You can get the freeway sign, but that’s about it
@@PhotowalksTV gracias senior
Yes
Did you ever consider that crossing an international border may require slightly more preparation than a trip to Walmart? KMN
Go between 3 an 5 am, in the morning, 15 to 30 minutes 90 percent of the time less than 15 minutes
Is this the first time you crossed the US-Mexico border? Usually the US CBP will wave you through if you are a gringo with your state ID. I say gringo without malice.
I'm that guy! REAL ID.
Interesting story. I live right next to the Canada Border. There are buses for Canadians who want to go to *NORTH to see Tigers games. It is organized by the Windsor Ontario rapid transit system. Super efficient and they are lined up so when one leaves another bus is right behind it. Canadians probably get home faster than people in SE Michigan who have to park!
*Yes I mean NORTH: There is no "South Detroit" like in the Journey song. It is actually Windsor Ontario that is South of Detroit.
I was in BC this summer and drove right up to the border crossing (in and out) with no cars ahead of us. Worked really well!
He says he was inspired after a show in Detroit, as the song was being recorded, and that lyric sounded the best. Even if its not called South Detroit there, its called Downriver, regardless of Windsors presence across the river, its a giant city with four opposite directions. Northern areas would be Bloomfield, Rochester, Pontiac, etc., and southern areas would be Romulus by the airport and Flat Rock further south, and yes even Southgate, all literally south of what pple would consider Detroit. There's some gritty industrial areas there that maybe Neil Perry was conjuring up and singing about had he been there, which still would be an authentic recollection. l know they've played there many times, l saw them myself in their hey day in a smaller town outside of Detroit, and lm sure he's been in or sang in many Detroit bars, clubs and arenas in Journey to be 'a singer in a smoky room, smell the wine and cheap perfume'. Even if he wasn't 'born and raised in south Detroit' himself, the people who live there were, and could certainly identify with those lyrics as can anyone in a small town.
"Don't Stop Believin'"
Just a small-town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere
A singer in a smokey room
The smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on, and on, and on
Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlights people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin' somewhere in the night
Workin' hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on, and on, and on
Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlights people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin' somewhere in the night
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlight people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on
Streetlight people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlight people
@@michaelg6641try Steve Perry, not Neil
I'm beginning to think PedWest is never going to fully reopen.
Yea. I could have told you that. 30 Mims in. 3 hours out
Looked more like 8 hours to me!
Come back after 9 pm at night
Its the busiest border crossing in the world.
let's say you walked back through that one way spinning gate. Is there border patrol officer on the San Ysidro side observing the gate making sure no one is coming back out of that gate?
Nope!
Nice hairdo pal 😂
it's called a little abner dew ! he's proud to look like a clown ! 🤦♀️🤣🤪😂🤓🤡🥒😯🤠🧐
Today is May 25 2023 I want to go Tijuana this weekend. I am taking my US passport and my real ID just in case. Naci en El Salvador pero ya no he ido a TJ in sometime due covid 19 and stuff.
if show my us passport with my driver licenes still need FMM form or not ?
@@desert1791 I went and all they asked is the U.S passport even when entering because I am not from Mexican. The reason is that if you stay more then one week or so customs 🛃 charges a fee.
@@ronalburgos3855y que tal Tijuana? Es bonito para pasear?
@@ronalburgos3855 Is that the first thing they ask, is how long you are visiting; or present passport first?
@@Beatbyawhiteboy First thing they will ask you is your passport followed by how many days and the purpose of your visit. I think that is you are staying over 21 days they will charge a fee of 30 USD if you are Mexican they won’t.
You don’t need a passport if you have a “real id”
Has this man ever traveled? I'm not trying to be rude, but anyone with enough travel savvy to want to go to Mexico while in San Diego should really be smart enough to check passport requirements and, more importantly, have some cash. "All electronic" doesn't work in so many places in the world, and that shouldn't be a surprise. Also: I've done this many many times and to me a HORRIBLE wait to get back is 2 hours. I've never seen anything remotely close to 6-8 hours.
Geez, everyone knows you need a passport to go to Mexico for the last, I don’t know 5 years. I walk over the border every 3 months and there is zero line after 9 PM or so. Just go to the local taverns or the red light District (Hong Kong) and have some dinner and some cervesas and wait out the traffic. Just like everything in Southern California you have to time it right. Would you drive to LA in the dead of rush hour? Common knowledge, or common sense. And no cash? Really? Just wow!!!
You've got a lot to learn about Tijuana. Normally if you don't have a passport when going into Tijuana they will give you a 7 day permit to be In Tijuana only, for $20. If you have a passport its free and they stamp it.
That's a bloody lie
How about crossing back nowdays? Could you still just use your California drivers license ?
They be lying. I had to pay $20 to get into Mexico lol. He legit told me I’m not letting you in if you give me $20
if show my us passport with my driver licenes still need FMM form or not ?
@@XobeyxQxmanX if show my us passport with my driver licenes still need FMM form or not ?
I never leave Canada without a passport, all travel papers, visa, international drivers license, BC drivers license, vaccine, travel insurance and at least 200 dollars in each currency. Now, the biggest piece of advice...NEVER.........put your credit cards, bank cards or anything into an ATM machine. Why ? Bangkok, ATM, ate my credit card......called my credit card company and they HAD to have a house address to send a new card.
No house address.....call home, get my wife to send me another credit card via FEDEX. 135 dollars and 2 days later, it arrived at Fedex office in Bangkok. If you want cash, go to a bank, any bank, do an over the counter transaction, no ATM to eat your card and you'll get your cash and your credit card back.
I am glad I don’t deal with any of that. Because I cannot stand going there.
CBX 5mins
Any covid questions?
None!
@@PhotowalksTV thank you!!
The privilege strikes again
That's what I thought too.. Easy to get in if you are caucasian.
Cross at night. Ok, not the greatest for some people but you will fly. Just make sure there will be a Blue Line train waiting! Or bus. I used both for 1.5 years. 235 and a $5 day pass was my best friend. Ok, it is like $6.50 now.
if show my us passport with my driver licenes still need FMM form or not ?
@@desert1791 They ask how long you will be staying and any old street address. Less than 72 hours supposedly does not require the FMM. Years ago in 2017 at night after 11:30PM the place was almost empty and someone would say just go through. After rebuilding San Ysidro crossing I noted they doubled the agents, but I cannot remember crossing late at night at that point in time. I do not see how it would be detrimental to fill an FMM aside from the extra minutes added to the wait. Thursday mornings at 10AM sucked. There were almost always medium to large sized Chinese tour groups! The agents were so stressed and worked simultaneously in pairs to fill out the forms and stamp the dozen passports for them. The faces trying to understand them if a question was needed was priceless.
Another thing to think about is if you are traveling with a minor you will have to show proof you can take that child out of the US.
San Ysidro is not pronouced your way... ever... by anyone. Also, we don't use passports, we use global entry passes and the sentri return line.
if show my us passport with my driver licenes still need FMM form or not ?
I vote stupid! It can take up to 5 hrs!
I got a better one THE DAY WE GOT KICKED OUT OF MEXICO 🙄 But we didn't give up and left the car in the U.S side and entered Mexico with out a passport. Still got back into the U.S. but we're scolded not to do this again by the Oriental immigration officer. But this happened 10 years ago. Looks like they are more lenient now a days.
Is here someone to help cross border?
I want go to usa
Please contact me
If you’ve made this trip in the past year, you’ll relate to this: th-cam.com/video/FQq4eytmiI8/w-d-xo.html
The walking 500 usd
😂😂😂😂
6-8 hour wait stop it. you're lying. The most i have ever done is 4 hours. And that was on a friday. The only reason it was that bad was because the closed ped west.
Just reporting what officials told me.
I crossed yesterday at San Ysidro using Sentri/Global entry card. You walk past the entire line and straight to the immigration desk. Took 5 minutes to re-enter. I only had to show my Sentri card.
Without Sentri it would have been a horribly long wait. I’d estimate 4-6 hours yesterday.
The reason is because the CBP drags their ass that’s the reason for the long wait!!
Busiest border in the U.S.? busiest border crossing "in the world"
I never had to wait more than 30 minutes at the San Ysidro border and I don’t even have a Sentri or Global Entry pass. I just pretend to be a Sentri member and walk by everyone and then get behind someone (usually women who don’t seem to care) near the front. Nobody has said anything to me.
Are you just telling us how rude you act to others
@@leanonme1065 Pretty much. I use to do this because as a foreigner, you’re seen as an atm machine or they don’t treat tourists with respect. So why should I treat them with respect by waiting long hours in line? If there was an easier way to cross, why pass it up?
@@derekbuxton6626 Appreciate the honesty but it's still an f--g A-hole move. No personal integrity for a complete piece of garbage.
It's harder now for the gaviotas to cut in line, there are separate lanes as you get closer to where the prescreening officials are, and on the Mexican side police or the guardia nacional card you if you try to sneak in on the Sentri lane. It was to combat the people that would get in line and then sell their place.
It’s pronounced tee-who-ANNA
They didn’t ID me when I walked over the border in San ysidro, this must be new
See you in McDonald’s otay San Diego 😂😂😂😂
dudes white ofc he was waved through with just his drivers license lol
dont play games
really lucky guy? correction, WHITE GUY
Yep rookie mistake. For those that don't have Global/Sentri, get the passport card and keep it in your wallet. When you order a new passport, check the box and pay the extra fee for the card. It is so much more convenient than worrying about the passport book.
The passport card won't get you into a faster line or faster vehicle lane. It's just more convenient to carry because it fits in your wallet. For the faster lines, you will need the Sentri pass. See: ttp.dhs.gov/
You literally were not prepared 14j number one you always got to have your passport, number to you gotta carry some cash
Learned my lesson.
I went to law school in the 90's and we used to just walk into TJ. No ID, no inspection, just the gate.
Coming home took 5 or 10 min at the most.
You know while you were there in TJ you should have hit the brothels to the line went down 👍
I was sans cash when I visited, so I don't think I would have gotten very far.
15 Years ago was a nightmare to get out and that Bus ride is a joke, been there done that. Then the security gave this White American a hard time to return.
You are lucky because you are a white man with an american accent. If it was some Latino guy who forgot his passport he probably would not be allowed to get back in.
YOU-DO-NOT-NEED-A-PASSPORT--YOU-DO-NEED-ID.