@chai2,
Here's a view of the border crossing.
The bridge at the top is where I always go into Mexico. Most people take that bigger bridge at the bottom, the lanes going to the left is going South. Mexico on the left side of the Rio Grande, US to the left.
Laredo on US side, Nuevo Laredo on Mexican side.
I take the smaller bridge going in because it's right by that building Aduana de Nuevo Laredo...the customs office which you can physically stop to get your temp visa and vehicle permit.
You might be in there 1/2 an hour, or 3 hours. I'm gonna be honest, this building is one that gives Mexico a bad name. It's hot, no A/C, all you do is stand in lines. It's an old building. Avoid the bathroom.
The lower bridge with all the cars is going back into the US.
Sometimes the gods smile at you, and you sit there 1/2 an hour in that line of cars.
Sometimes....not.
This is the first time I'm going to do the entry thing online, and avoid all that. It wasn't obvious before you can do it online. Maybe you couldn't, maybe you could. It's one of those myteries you learn not to ask about.
Someone I know in the US thought I was exaggerating or crazy when I said that every single time you go to the Aduana, they have someone altered the process, making it utterly confusing. On top of that, the employees look at you like "what do you mean it's different? No it's not." It is the best gas lighting I've ever seen.
Then, that person crossed over twice themselves, and "ohhhhh......yeah, I see what you mean"
Last time I went over, I went to get the vehicle permit. Generally, you have to go to Window 1, then Window 3, then Window 4 (never have figured out what Window 2 is about)
Got to Window 4, and was told I had to take my vehicle to the line outside. Ok.
Get to the head of that line, and the guy asks for a form.
What form?
You need the form.
Where do I get the form?
Window 4.
Go back inside, Window 4 tells me to go outside.
They told me to come back inside to you.
No, outside.
Me:
Really, that's all you can do. If you show
or
God help you.
No. Really, don't react beyond
I have seen other gringos make that mistake. One can just stand looking at them feeling bad for them, but no getting involved because then you will live the rest of your life there.
While you're waiting to get back in the US, you're surrounded by this. I mean, they're just trying to make a few pesos. It's really amazing some of the stuff they are trying to sell.