U.S. Passport Card Applications Accepted Beginning February 1
U.S. citizens may begin applying in advance for the new U.S. Passport Card beginning February 1, 2008, in anticipation of land border travel document requirements. We expect cards will be available and mailed to applicants in spring 2008.
The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry when arriving from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The card may not be used to travel by air. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the U.S. passport book and will be adjudicated to the exact same standards.
The Department of State is issuing this passport card in response to the needs of border resident communities for a less expensive and more portable alternative to the traditional passport book. The card will have the same validity period as a passport book: 10 years for an adult, five for children 15 and younger.  For adults who already have a passport book, they may apply for the card as a passport renewal and pay only $20. First-time applicants will pay $45 for adult cards and $35 for children.

Passport
The U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana processes applications for U.S. citizens who live in Baja California.
You must make an appointment for your application to be processed.
While you will have your interview at the Consulate in Tijuana, your passport will be printed in New Hampshire. Normally, passports are mailed to the Consulate for delivery two to three weeks after the date of approval.
In an emergency, a consular officer can usually issue a replacement passport within 24 hours. However, the replacement passport will be limited in duration, and you will have to replace it with a full validity passport before traveling again.

Important Information
As of February 1, 2008, all appointments for passports and reports of birth abroad (CRBAs) at U.S. Consulate General Tijuana must be made online. Consulate staff will no longer make appointments by phone or in person. We are making this change in order to make staff available for more appointments each day, which will shorten the time required to process passports and CRBAs.

Register at the U.S. Consulate General
Registration at the U.S. Consulate makes your presence and whereabouts known, in case it is necessary for a consular officer to contact you in an emergency. During a disaster overseas, American consular officers can assist in evacuation were that to become necessary. But they cannot assist you if they do not know where you are. Registration is particularly important for long-term residents. In the extreme, if there is an emergency involving a member of your family in the United States, registering with the Consulate makes it possible for Consular officials to pass this information on to you. However, it is also impossible for the Consulate to pass along even more mundane information such as about absentee voting instructions or changes in the rule governing passport if you have not registered. To register with the United States Consulate in Tijuana please visit:
https://travelregistration.state.
gov/ibrs/home.asp and click on "Register My Trip."

For more information please call the Consulate General  at: (664) 622-7400 in Tijuana.

Changes to U.S. Passport  application procedures  (for u.s. Citizens only)
Several important changes to U.S. passport application procedures take effect on February 1, 2008. They include changes in passport fees, new passport application forms, and regulations extending two parent consent and personal appearance requirements to minors under the age of 16. All U.S. passport applicants coming to the Consulate for their interviews will need to fill out the UPDATED passport application forms. Please refer to the Consulate webpage or visit www.travel.state.gov

Public Services
IRS Information/Income Tax
IRS tax forms and instructions booklets are available in the American Citizen Services section of the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana. Tax information can be obtained from and questions directed to the IRS Web Sites, www.irs.gov and www.irs.ustreas.gov

Emergency services for U.S. Citizens
The American Citizen Services section in the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana can assist U.S. citizens in need in a variety of ways, from visiting incarcerated Americans to replacing stolen passports.  The following section describes some of the services the Consulate can offer.

Emergency Replacement of Passports
In an emergency, a consular officer can usually issue a replacement passport within 24 hours. However, the replacement passport will be limited in duration, and you will have to replace it with a full validity passport before traveling again. If you believe your passport has been stolen, first report the theft to the local police and obtain a copy of that report. Under routine circumstances, you must be a resident of Mexico to obtain a passport at the Consulate General Tijuana.

Help Finding Medical Assistance
If you get sick, you can contact a consular officer for a list of local doctors, dentists and medical specialists. We recommend that you obtain private medical insurance before you travel to cover the high cost of a medical evaluation in the event of an emergency.
Help Getting Funds
Should you lose all your money and other financial resources, a consular officer can help you contact your family, bank, or employer to arrange for them to send you funds.
Help In An Emergency
Your family may need to reach you in Baja California because of an emergency at home or because they are worried about your welfare. In such cases, concerned family members should call Tijuana Consulate General at 011-52 (664) 622-7400. After hours or on weekends, one can call the emergency answering service at (619) 692-2154 or, as a last resource, the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the U.S. at 1-888-407-4747 (during business hours) or 202-647-5225 (after hours).
Visit In Jail
If you are arrested, you should ask the authorities to notify the Consulate General. Consular officers cannot get you out of jail. When you are in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. Consular officers can work to protect your legitimate interests and ensure that you are not discriminated against. They can provide you with a list of local attorneys, visit you, inform you generally about local laws, and contact your family and friends. Consular officers can transfer money, food, and clothing to the prison authorities from your family or friends. They can try to get relief if you are held under inhumane or unhealthful conditions.
Arrangements After The Death Of An American
When an American dies abroad, a consular officer notifies the American's family and informs them about options and costs for the disposition of the remains. Costs for preparing and returning a body to the U.S. may be high and must be paid by the family. Often, local laws and procedures make returning a body to the U.S. for burial a lengthy process. A consular officer prepares a Report of Death based on the local death certificate. This is forwarded to the next of kin for use in estate and insurance matters.
Help in a Disaster/Evacuation
If you are caught up in a natural disaster or civil disturbance, you should let your relatives know as soon as possible that you are safe, or contact a consular officer who will pass that message to your family. Be resourceful. U.S. officials will do everything they can to contact you and advise you. However, they must give priority to helping Americans who have been hurt or are in immediate danger. In a disaster, consular officers face the same constraints as you: lack of electricity or fuel, interrupted phone lines, closed airports, etc.

PLEASE OBSERVE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS
·When hiring a service or buying any product, verify the established conditions and require the corresponding invoice or receipt.
·Don't drink and drive.
·Do not bring firearms or narcotics into Baja California.
·Always use your seatbelt.
·Obey all road signs and traffic laws.
·Don't leave valuables visible in your parked car.
·Always carry a valid I.D.
·No police officer is authorized to accept money.
·Traffic fines must be paid at the nearest Police Department Office.
·Be careful in the water. There are strong currents at some beaches. Use life vests, and don't eat or consume alcohol before swimming.
·When buying medication, be sure there is no restriction on its purchase.
·On your trip through Baja California highways, you will find military check points. They are for your own safety.
·It is strongly recommended that during your visit to Baja California you purchase a full coverage insurance policy that includes bail. In case you are involved in an accident, call the insurance company and wait for its representative.
·If you visit Baja California by land for more than 72 hours, you must pay the non-immigrant fee (DNI) at any bank and present the form at the National Immigration Institute. The cost is $170.00 pesos, or its equivalent in U.S. dollars. The permit is valid for 6 months. If you visit Baja California by air, you must pay the fee each time you enter Mexico. If you are a Mexican living abroad, you do not have to pay the fee.
·You do not need to pay any temporary importation fee for your car while visiting Baja California.
·Remember that the laws in Baja California and Mexico are applied both to its nationals and foreigners. Do not forget to respect them.

You can be arrested for:
·Disturbing the peace or being a public nuisance
·Drinking in public
·Fighting
·Nudity or immoral conduct
·Use, production, or sale of false documents
·Possession, introduction, or use of any weapon
·Possession, introduction, or consumption of restricted drugs (Note: Most drugs that are restricted in the U.S. are also restricted in Mexico)
·Drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs
·Causing an auto accident or injuring someone

2009
Holidays on which the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico will be closed:

*In accordance with U.S. Law, American Holidays falling on Saturday will be observed on Friday and those falling on Sunday will be observed on Monday. In keeping with Mexican Labor Law, no such adjustments are made for Mexican holidays falling on weekends.
**In accordance with the amended Mexican Federal Labor Law these Holidays will be observed on Monday. All other Mexican Holidays falling on weekends are not observed on the preceding Friday or subsequent Monday.