Nogales Border Closing, What's Essential/Non-Essential? (Phoenix, Tucson: insurance, live, friendly)

[tijlover]

I was planning on a trip down there next week to see my friendly Dentist, and isn't requiring dental work essential? And viewing the lobby of Laser Dental, I have noticed mostly American senior citizens there, from where? Green Valley (my cousin lives there and goes there for dental work), Tucson, Phoenix?

[dkryder]

Be interesting to see if they let you go. I'd guess routine visit is not essential. Even in U.S. many surgeries are delayed because they are not life threatening conditions. I think the border is closed to pretty much all tourist passings. and I bet even though you plan a dentist visit they consider it a tourist trip. Good luck.

[tijlover]

If you're only carrying a bottle of water across the Border, do they really think you're going to travel onward with no luggage? A receipt from the Dental Clinic or pharmacia, shouldn't that be proof? I'll give it a try.

[steiconi]

the U.S. and Mexico are suspending “non-essential travel,” not related to trade and commerce, education, and medical purposes, at all ports of entry

it remains open for urgent, necessary business and commercial traffic.

Is your dental work urgent? I doubt the border guards will think so.

[longton52]

From the Homeland Security web site
" “Non-essential” travel includes travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature."

I have Canadian friends who went thru the border yesterday with their RV after wintering near Mazatlán. Said it was the quickest easiest crossing in 15 yrs. It was as if the border agents wanted as little contact as possible.

[recycled]

My dentist is a few offices away from Laser Dental. I've been going to Arizona Dental clinic in Nogales the past few years. I never need anything beyond a routine cleaning, and my clinic does an excellent job. By coincidence, I had an appointment on March 18. I thought about putting it off, but decided to go anyway. At that time, there was no problem in crossing back and forth. It was also one of my quickest return lines to the USA at Nogales as a pedestrian, maybe 10 minutes. No hassles from US CBP.

IMO, a dental visit does not sound like tourism or recreation. It is a medical visit, so it is one of the 3 exceptions that will still be allowed. The 3 exceptions are trade, education and medical purposes.

[RichCapeCod]

I'll bet ya a large cup of coffee and a donut (retired copper) that you can enter Mexico (at least in Nogales) with zero hassle. And they got to let you back to the State's if you're an American citizen, so you should be good to go!!

Rich

[Boompa]

Who will be the first American shot while trying to escape to Mexico?
Gd thing we built that fence?

[Boompa]

Easy, I am essential, you are not

[tijlover]

Laser Dental has an Arizona phone number to use, I called them early afternoon, and they assured me: No Problema! My insurance doesn't give me enough COPD meds, and I supplement it with COPD meds from Nogales.

Just like when they stated that you need a passport to go to Mexico. What a joke! When it was first instituted I asked a guard in Tijuana what would happen if I forgot to bring it along and he laughed in my face and slapped his wrist! Every time I've gone down there I've asked the same question and: No Problema! You really need it if you're flying into Mexico.

I haven't been to an American Dentist in 26 years, and so I got on Yelp last night for Tucson, and looking at the reviews of Dental Clinic's in Tucson it's hard to find one without negative reviews. I used to go to Algodones (from Las Vegas) but that long 5-6 hour drive got to me so I switched to Washington Dental in Tijuana, a one hour flight, and now I'm in Tucson.