Taking the Bus to Laredo (2009)
Visas, especially tourist visas, have all sort of rules and regulations, a situation that has only gotten grossly more complicated in the aftermath of September 11, when the western world exchanged Cold War paranoia for a fear of terrorism. Fortunately, Mexico is still one of the more welcoming nations of the world, and grants tourists 180 days without question. Crossing the border into Mexico is generally uneventful and to renew a tourist visa, one only needs to leave Mexico and return. In San Miguel de Allende, one of the more popular and least expensive methods of obtaining a new visa is to take the overnight bus to Laredo , Texas . It is a relatively painless trip, costing between fifty and seventy-five U.S. dollars for the round trip journey, and provides the bonus of a day of shopping in the United States , where one can gather up all those little necessities that are not always easy to find in Mexico . For those who have not taken a bus
