Job Discussion Forums

drewteacher · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 62

From what I've read here, there are lots of opportunities for a new arrival to find teaching work in Mexico City, but I'm wondering about other areas, such as Guadalajara, or Mazatlan. Are the prospects good for a teacher with a Bachelor's degree, CELTA certificate and years of experience to just show up and start looking for work? Thanks!

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Guadalajara is the second largest city in Mexico, so plenty of opportunities there. Mazatlan is a small ciity on the beach, so has very few opportunities, by comparison. You will find that in most beach resorts, worthwhile jobs are snapped up by those permanently established there. In Mazatlan, the trend is to hire Mexican teachers for English classes. Most foreign teachers can't tolerate the hot, humid climate for 6 or 7 months of the year and they vanish with no notice. Also, in a resort area, the tendency for newcomers is to live like a tourist, which is way out of a teacher's salary range. It doesn't take long to wipe out a healthy savings account.

I recommend working inland where the pay is better, the jobs are more plentiful, and travelling to the beach on the many holidays that happen in Mexico. Buses are nice, service is good, and it's a great way to get around the country fairly inexpensively. If you like Mazatlan, the pay is good in Culiacan, the State capital, and it's just 2 1/2 hours to the north. (Culichis love Mazatlan. They come for conventions, meetings or to stay in their ocean front time shares!)

I'm not sure when you are coming, but keep your eye on the new Immigration laws as they unfold in the next month or so. Forewarned is forearmed. Smile

drewteacher · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 62

Great info, and yes, I'll keep an eye out here for the new immigration rules. Any clues about what may be changing?

notamiss · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:54 am Post subject:

Yes, just have a look at this thread http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=98491 in this same forum.

drewteacher · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 62

Thanks. Yes, I saw that thread. Unfortunately, the documents they link to are in Spanish.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Maybe this will help a little. He also provides a couple of other links in English.

http://www.sanfelipelife.com/post/Mexico-s-New-Migration-Law

drewteacher · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 62

Very helpful. Thanks. From this, sounds like not a lot of change as far as coming from the U.S., landing a job, then getting a work permit.

Tretyakovskii · Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 462 Location: Cancun, Mexico

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

T wrote:

MotherF · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 9:33 pm Post subject:

drewteacher · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 62

Samantha, I had originally planned on arriving in Mexico City from the U.S. after the first of the year, but I am open to other cities in Mexico that may be less crowded and polluted, yet still offer plentiful work opportunities for someone like me with a CELTA Certificate, Bachelors degree, and years of teaching experience. That was the reason for this post originally. I'd welcome suggestions if you have any. Thanks.

Tretyakovskii · Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 462 Location: Cancun, Mexico

MotherF, did you find my comments about your issue, that of the indefinite duration contract?

drewteacher · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 62

Tretyakovskii · Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 462 Location: Cancun, Mexico

(In reading the following comments, please keep in mind it is nothing more than an opinion, informed by a careful reading of the new law and regulations, nothing more.)

I think what we can say about it is that there is reasonable uncertainty about how this will be handled for those who enter after 9 November. What you are reading is my understanding of what this law says.

Under the current law, it wasn't necessary to declare your intent. Under the new law it appears to me that, if you don't, you will be classified "Visitante," in one of the several categories, and unable to apply for a change of status, afterwards.

On the FMM there are little boxes for the INM official to indicate whether you're entering with a visa for an FM2 or FM3, among other things. The new law speaks of the agent noting, in the case of visa free entry, the intent of the person entering the country.

If it were me who was entering with the plan to teach English, I'd be carrying all my documentation establishing my credentials, and declare it was my intent to seek a teaching position in the D.F., for example, and once I had an offer, to apply, in country, for an FM3 (everyone is still using this terminology, in practice).

Here's the important point, it seems to me: once the official ticks the box for an FM3, you will have just 30 days in which to find a job and get an application for FM3 submitted, or leave the country. Enter as a Visitante, and be given 180 days, you cannot then change status, as the new law reads.