Job Discussion Forums

[ls650]

I've been offered a job at a Mexican university. The university has asked me to bring about a dozen different documents with me for FM3 work visa paperwork. This includes the legalization of my university degree and my TEFL certificate.

Looking at the Mexican consulate web site http://www.consulmexvan.com/index.html .

If any of my fellow Canadians have stepped through the process recently, I'd appreciate a PM with any helpful comments or advice you can offer....

[lozwich]

Hey ls,

You need an 'apostille' on your documents. There's lots of info right here on this very board from US, Canadian, Australian etc citizens about that, as the process seems to be different for each country. Try doing a search, and I'm sure you'll find the info you're after.

Good luck!
Lozwich.

[delacosta]

Actualy you don't need to apostilize your degrees if your Canadian. Just a stamp from a Mexican embassy.
But then again the immigration rules change form place to place and according to who is working which shift, whether they slept well that night, had a good lunch,etc.

[MELEE]

ls650,

delacosta is right, Canada never signed the Hague convention that created Apostilles You can send or take your degree to either the Mexican Embassy or the Canadian foreign affairs-y people (sorry I always for get what they are called) to get the degree Legalized (a very official form of notarization). (If I'm not mistaken you will be visiting the same immigration office as delacosta, so take his word over mine. )

An interesting note, Last year, I hired a Canadian who was already in Mexico and didn't have that thingy, but did have her original degrees, we talked about her sending them to Canada, and having them sent back and how long it would take and all that, then I said what the heck, let's try this first--we took the originals and a copy to the local Mexican notary. We got him to notarize that the copy was a true copy and he notarized my translation of her degree. Then she went to the immigration office. They took it, no one said anything about it!!

I'm not recommending that you do this since, you are in Canada and can go through the proper channels.

Another fun immigration fact--last week I got my FM3 renewed in FIVE WORKING DAYS!!!! Something good is going on in that place--or the gods are smiling on me.

[schely10]

Congratulations Is!!! For which University and where?

[ls650]

[MELEE]

I think Loz met research apart from on this site. like on the Candian Department of Foreign Affairs website.

[lozwich]

Thanks, Melee, I actually meant both things..

But what I did was contact my local Foreign Affairs (Australian) who told me exactly what to do, how much it would cost and how easy it all was. I'm sure all you'd need to do is get them 'legalised' if Canada doesn't apostille, and everything will be peachy keen..

Are you going to Canada after Indo, ls, or straight to Mexico? If you are coming straight to Mexico, I'd ask the Canadian High Commission (is that what its called? Like an Embassy) for their advice.

Sorry to have been a little obtuse before..

Have a great weekend,
Lozwich.

[ls650]

[amelie]

I just recently sent all of my docs away. DFAIT needs to put a stamp on a notarized copy of the original documents (to certify that the degree comes from a legitimate university). There is no charge for this. The docs then need to be sent to the Mexican Embassy in Canada to be legalized. They charge $35 American (in Canadian funds) per document. I'm still waiting to get them back, so I can't tell you haw long it all takes, but it's already been 2 weeks. Here's the address for DFAIT and the Mexican Embassy in Canada:

Foreign Affairs Canada
Authentication and Service of Documents (JLAC)
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G2
Tel.: 613-995-0119
Fax: 613-944-7078
Web site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/common/contact_us-en.asp?subject=AuthenticationDocuments


Embassy of Mexico
Consular Section
45 O'Connor Suite 1500
Ottawa, ON K1P 1A4
http://www.embamexcan.com/CONSULAR/LegalizationDoctos.shtml

[ls650]

[ls650]

An update for any Canuckians watching this thread:

The DFAIT only needs to stamp the papers for legalization IF you are using the _Embassy_ in Ottawa.

If you go through a _Consulate_ you need a stamp from a public notary - the DFAIT stamp is not acceptable to a Consulate (as I found out after paying $50 to courier my docs to Ottawa )

[inmexico]

Is650 - I just had my documents legalized by the Consulate General of Mexico in Vancouver. It took a total of 1 week including postal time. If only the government offices in Mexico were that efficient.

[leslie]

Bye

[ls650]

I took my docs to a public notary, then dropped them off at the Vancouver Mexican Consulate. They were legalized and ready for pickup two days later.