Hey there,

So, I'm travelling around America with a 2004 motorcycle. I am an EU citizen and I happen to have a tourist visa for the States. I will be arriving the US in about 20 days. I plan on staying around 10 days in California and then ship the bike back to Europe. I've been reading info regarding the border crossing from Mexico into the US. I read here:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...rist%20vehicle
This says I can stay with the bike puking carbon monoxide in the pristine US atmosphere for a full year, but it doesn't say if I have to politely ask permission for it to the friendly EPA people. Since this isn't the first time I have light problems with the US borders, I'd rather ask you guys: Can I cross the Tijuana border without the EPA thing? Has anybody done it? Just by showing up and filling a form like in most borders in the world?

Thanks a lot.

Lots of travellers getting around the whole of the Americas in all sorts of vehicles and they cross all the borders and compliance with emission laws is not relevant.

Can't take that to mean you won't get pulled over by police for having an roadworthy vehicle putting out a ton of white smoke though.

The document you quoted is written in plain English and doesn't need further checking or clarification.

__________________
Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

You should have a US Visa before you show up in Tijuana. You can probably get it there and they let you pass ... but may take some time. Dunno.


... or they may send you back to a US consulate. Not sure where nearest one is located in Mexico but you can be sure it will take days of waiting on line to apply for Visa. (millions of Mexicans trying to get Visas 24/7)

I would not worry about your bike. It's only YOU they care about, not your bike. I don't believe they do any sort of TVIP for a tourist or their vehicle. Your Spanish or Int. Driving license and Passport are all you need.

Although since the USA/Mexico border is now a fully militarized WAR ZONE ... things are tougher for everyone. Very tense, totally broken situation. Shameful.

In USA there is NO enforcement on the road from EPA or Police unless you are a gross polluter. (unlikely)

You can sell your bike in USA ... but new owner will NOT be able to register it in any state without LOTS Of paperwork/hassle. It's basically impossible.

Shipping it home to Spain should be no problem. But I don't envy the hassle you will have to go through to do it.

So I asked the US government himself and just got a letter from the EPA.
They attached a PDF with the info regarding getting the Nonresident Temporary Importation Approval Letter. I'm attaching it in case someone needs it in the future.
So aparently it will be nice if I apply for it. They didn't say "hey, just show up!"
epa.pdf

If you don't like the EPA/clean air and water, go to Mexico city and choke on the air and drink the water. I'll go with the EPA and its rules.
I've been in Mexico, South Korea, China, etc. I prefer the USA with cleaner air and water I'm not afraid to drink.

Zero issues coming from MX to USA with your bike. They won't even look at it. shipping to Europe from NY is dirt cheap in a shared container but would go to Germany or France for about $400.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...per-bike-82324

When you cross, clean yourself and you bike up, hair cut and beard shaven. Don't appear to be a problem or be carrying any medicinal plants you may have gotten in Mexico, and you should have no problem. Smile, say how you heard good things about the country and how they have a reputation for being friendly, don't appear upset with their delays. Even if you think this all BS, fake sincerity and you will get in. They are checking for Mexicans and Central Americans, not friendly Europeans, Worked for me at every border I ever crossed.

OK, I'm answering myself in case this is useful to someone else in the future.

This information applies ONLY if you plan on leaving the States by air or sea.

Crossing the Tijuana border is a piece of cake if you have a valid visa or your country of origin does not require one. You'll be most likely 20 seconds in the booth, and you are out. HOWEVER:

1.- Do not cross the San Diego border, use Otay instead (see below)
2.- MAKE SURE YOU CLOSE YOUR BIKE IN MEXICO ****BEFORE**** ATTEMPTING TO CROSS THE US BORDER. Ask the officers from customs in the Mexican side. DO NOT stand in line under any circumstances whatsoever before closing your bike in Mexico, as there is no such a thing as customs in the Mexican side crossing towards USA. The paperwork is done in a small building outside of the actual border IN OTAY. Ask for BANJERCITO in Otay. If you miss this point, you'll have to enter the US and then exit it again, and it will take you ages to do so, as you will probably go though US secondary inspection in order to go back to Mexico.
2.- You can jump in front of the line with your bike. Nobody will say a thing.
3.- The US officers in the OTAY side just want you to leave. I was missinfomed several times on the right procedure to cross with my bike, just beacuse they wanted to get rid of me. YOU MUST register your bike in the US IF you want to ship it back to your home country. Look for a big building next to a shopping center at the right of the border, as you enter the States. Officers in the OTAY border are absolute ignorants and only when I got to speak to the highest range officer on duty I could actually get a form stating that my bike had entered that day the country. This document is important because customs will need some proof of entry when you try to ship back your bike out of the country. If they refuse to give you any other entry document -such as a temporary import-, ask for the APPLICATION FOR EXPORTATION OF ARTICLES UNDER SPECIAL BOND and fill it out with your chassis number, license plate, and any piece of information that might be useful to identify your bike.
4.- Nobody cared about the EPA. But I'd do it just in case. It takes 10 minutes of your time to send an email.

There you go.