Cruise with foreign friends

[Bublik]

My friends from Russia will be visiting me this May. This is their second trip to the US and this time we are planning to take a vacation together. They already received a visa to come to the US. We are considering a cruise from LA. One of the stops is in Mexico. Does anyone know if they are required to have a Mexican visa or this would qualify under the visa waiver program? I called the cruise line and they told me to call US Immigration, but usually you are on hold for a very long time with them.

[Raoul Fiebig]

Bublik,

I would suggest that your friends contact the Mexican Embassy / their responsible Mexican Consulate in Russia. According to embassyinformation.com, the Mexican Embassy in Moscow has the following e-mail address: embmxru@online.ru

[tncruiseman]

I have many friends from Russia that have cruised and none have ever had a problem. Their sign&sail card is just as valid as yours in the Mexican port because that and photo ID is all that is required for re-entry to ship area. If the cruise line cannot answer, it is because it is not an issue.

[Jim C.]

What tncruiseman said is correct at least for this year. As long as their visa for the US is a multiple entry/exit visa. Because they will basically be leaving the US again and then returning through customs. But, soon even US citizens will need a passport for Mexico. I'm not sure if that will change the "all you need is a sign and sail card" thing. I have not cruised to a non- Caribean/Mexico/Canadian port aside from Belize (which was the same sign and sail card deal)to say how a true foriegn port would handle things. Best to have them contact the Mexican Consulate and ask...

[Bublik]

Just to give everyone an update. My friend and her husband do have a multi-entry visa, so re-entry should not be a problem.

I had my friend contact Mexican embassy in Moscow. Thank you, Raoul Fiebig, for providing me with the info. She indicated that the employees there at first sounded confused, and then called a “symposium.” Finally she was informed that as long as she will be in Mexico less than 24 hours, no visa is needed. She was told that the captain might have to get some sort of special permit for my friend and her husband to go ashore. Just to be 100% sure, I went ahead and sent an email to Mexican Embassy in US.