Originally Posted by dunroving

That's one of the things that has made it so difficult for me to ever see the US as more "permanent" (i.e., the bloody complexity of the work permit/visa process). It seems a little ridiculous if you receive an H1 renewal (thus saying you have been given the right to work here for another 3 years), that you have to spend part of your next vacation abroad waiting in line at a US embassy (which you may also have to spend considerable time and money getting to) in order to get a visa allowing you to get back in!

Originally Posted by snowbunny

Don't drive in Mexico. Park and walk over the border.

A car wreck in Mexico can be seen as a criminal offence and if you hit a Mexican national, you may automatically be seen as at fault.

Less to search coming back over too.

The only times my extended family have ever driven in Mexico was back in the 70s when the gas was cheap so everyone drove over to fill up.

Originally Posted by snorkmaiden

If we do it, and it's looking less appealing now we know the hotel is dodgy, we plan to leave the car in Texas. We read something about having to have paperwork and pay some kind of deposit for a temporary importation permit, and along with needing different insurance it sounded like more hassle than it was worth.