Job Discussion Forums

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

This can't be done in Mexico. Get it done before you come or it will be a big hassle.

Asi son las cosas · Joined: 14 May 2005 Posts: 7

I'm from the UK and when I went to work in Mexico in 2001 I got a copy of my TEFL certificate 'legalised' by a solicitor and then had to send it (along with the original cert I think) to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London to get the Apostille. I don't remember it being very expensive and it was a lot less complicated than it sounded.

Good luck with it anyway!!! Laughing

rafomania · Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 95 Location: Guadalajara

Thanks for your help guys.
Here is a link to The Legalisation Office on the net.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391440

How much does it cost for a solicitor to sign his name on your document? Can't be too much. I suppose i'll head into town to get my docs legalised now.
By the way, my degree and birth cert should be sufficient enough to take to Mexico right?
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hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

I'm Canadian, with a degree from a school in Ontario. I made the mistake of listening to ITTO when they said I wouldn't need anything apostilled, so now I'm in Mexico without an apostille on my degree. I do have the original with me. Any suggestions on what I should do now?

Thanks for the help.

hlamb

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Canadians don't 'apostille' anything; we have to 'legalize' our documents. The process and terminology are different.

A Canadian teacher at my school was in the same boat as you. She ended up having to courier her originals back to Canada, and then asked her mother to take them to the closest Mexican Consulate in Canada for legalization.

Maybe you can try looking at the Canadian Embassy site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/mexico-city/menu-en.asp

dyak · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 630

A UK lawyer will charge 150+ quid/hour to apostille a document, and they'll charge the full hour. There are many 'apostille while U wait' services on the internet for about half the price; and as someone said, Mexicans like to see stamps but don't actually read them. In fact, i rarely see anyone reading anything in Mexico. The advantage of the while U wait service is that you send off your documents and they send them straight back; you don't have to track down government offices and universities. I'm considering doing it 'while U wait' since I'm already here. I'll let you know if it works out.

aisha · Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:45 am Post subject:

magpie · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 54

The immigration office in Veracruz did not keep either my original or the copy with the apostille. I have both documents. Maybe the policy differs with each office. But, I can't imagine having to get a new apostille for each job--if they keep either the original or a copy it should be in your file.

Magpie

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

reddevil79 · Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:08 am Post subject:

Hi Dyak,

Geez, does it really cost that much!? Someone else on this forum told me that they paid a fiver at a solicitor's office in SE London.

aisha · Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 3:03 pm Post subject:

I'm happy to hear that. It would be so much of a hassle if one had to get a new copy apostilled everytime they changed jobs.

rafomania · Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 95 Location: Guadalajara

Heres my UK experience from yesterday of getting an apostille for my degree and birth cert.

Went to the leg office yeterday-tuesday-. arrive about 11.30am with birth cert and degree. its right by trafalger sq and when you go in take a ticket.

i waited until about 12.45, there were quite a few people. my number got called out so went to counter. a lovely irish girl had a look at my papers and there was a probem with my degree. the solicitor hadnt signed his name! they need a actual signiture of the solicitor, no-one else, and his name printed. they dont accept it otherwise. luckily she told me about a solicitor i could go to now 5 mins down the road in scotland yard road.
i got my photocopy of degree signed again paid �6 and went back straight to the counter as the girl said since i had already been waiting. handed the papers in and about 20 minutes later they were ready!

you need to bring original of your degree even if your getting a copy apostilled. i got my original birth cert signed- I have 2 of them.

Another thing, go before july 1st, charges per document go up from �12 to �19.

hope that saves a few lost souls about to embark on a �150 fee from "rip-off and sons solicitors"

dyak · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 630

Nice one, wish i'd done that before i left! I don't suppose it's possible to have someone do it for you though? I guess you'd have to be there in person.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I have dealt with the following immigration offices here in Mexico: Mexico City, Cuernavaca, Saltillo, Toluca, Huatulco, Puerto Escondido and Oaxaca. In none of those offices did they request anything but a photocopy of my university transcripts (which were official, notarized and sealed by the Mexican Consulate in the US). I only showed them the originals in two offices as a courtesy. Originals are absolutely not required. When in doubt, check the website of Gobernaci�n.

rafomania · Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 95 Location: Guadalajara

Dyak and others, anyone can go to the legislation office on your behalf and get the documents seen to.
So if you find yourself out in Mexico with no documents, someone could get them apostilled for you and forward them to Mexico.

I suppose it's quite easy to miss such things if you have never done it before.