Winter of 2014 going to Mexico ( Dec 9 )

Travel Documents: As mentioned earlier we already have our Travel Docs, better known as Temporary  Immigration Permits ( TIP ). You can obtain the TIP after you enter MX, about 20 KM inside the border. However, to save time when we cross into MX on the 11 Dec I suggested that our travel partners get their TIP in St. Luis, so today  I will escort them to St. Luis and hopefully speed up the process.
 We agreed to meet at 9:30 AM in St. Luis, on the USA side at a predetermined parking lot about 1 block from the border. Because of a lot of construction at the entrance to the MX Border,  it may, to some folks appear as if it is the wrong way but since I did it earlier I assure the two couples that it was the right way.
When you walk into MX, nobody seems to care, if fact the barely lift their heads from their cell phones. I believe Reg and Bev ( who have never walked into MX ) where somewhat surprised that it was so Passive.
I ushered both couples into the office to get their Tourist Visa as this is the first step. While they were doing that I skipped into the Immigration office (about 100 ft away )  to check the line up and luckily there was 3 windows open and only 1 person in the line. Incidentally, you can not pay for your Tourist Visa in that office; it must be paid at a bank facility. The Immigration office  is a Bank facility.
Now we moved to the Immigration office and this is not a Speedy operation mainly because the computers are extremely slow. Also Reg got a "Trainee ". We advised Reg and Bev to take 3 copies of every document; ie passports, drivers licenses, Insurance and Vehicle registration. If you do not have  3 copies of these doc you will be sent to a business that does copying but you will lose you spot in line. We did this "Dance" on our first trip to MX so we are always prepared. Ken and Miriam did not have their 3 copies so they got stopped out and had to get copies. It is not a big deal but it adds to the wait time.
After you get the  TIP docs "Stickers" for the vehicles and pay for the Tourist Visa you have to return to the Visa office to the Visa Stamped. You are now officially authorized to enter MX with your vehicles.
Now you have to re-enter the US and it is a bit of a route march and you do not get into the US without clearing customs. There was only about a dozen people ahead of us so it appeared to be simple. Except when Bev got to the customs office something jumped up on the screen which was new to the officer so he ask the lady that was about to replace him, what it mean. She did not know either so Bev was escorted  into another  office to sort it out. Reg was allowed to accompany her but when I walked into the office to see what was going on , I was promptly told to get outside and wait " Discussion Over ". As it turns out it was a computer glitch and it was solve quickly.
Now that we had all our TIPs we returned to the RV site to prepare for a launch date tomorrow. This means we had to pack up since we had to leave at 10 AM on the 10 th at which time we move to State Park near the border for an early crossing on the 11 Dec. This would be our last Happy Hour in Yuma for 2014. cheers