Job Discussion Forums

[pattyrose]

Here's whatcha' do -

Email the Registrar of the college or university you graduated from and tell them what you need done.

The Registrar will know exactly what to do, without you needing to send your valuable original diploma anywhere by courier. (I know because I was reluctant to entrust mine to one.) The Registrar of your college can create an official duplicate of your diploma, in fact, and will then forward it on to local officials to complete the process.

You will have to arrange for the notary fee, the apostille fee, and postage, but following these instructions will save you time and worry. I requested mine via email and the process was completed within 4 days, start to finish. . . and it meets immigration requirements to the "t."

Best of luck to you.

PR

[vic101]

Can anybody tell me if you need to have a copy of your Birth Certificate to apply for a FM3 and TEFL work in Mexico?
If so do you need to get this document apostilled?
Thanks

[ls650]

I've read conflicting reports on this. Some folks have written that they were never asked for it, but my local immigration office asked me to show an original letter-size copy (not a laminated wallet-size card) and to give them a photocopy. The copy did NOT have to be notarized or apostilled, however.

I recommend you bring the original with you, just in case.

[pattyrose]

[cwc]

[ls650]

[vic101]

Can anybody clarify for me what constitutes as a apostilled document ? I�m not a guru on this and I know I need to have this done to apply for a FM3 in Mexico but is it anymore than a stamp with the organizations name on?
I`m presently in Guatemala and have received in my time here documents and certificates which all have the `official` school stamp on (which actually only contains the name of the school) , but does this count as the document being apostilled in Mexico (here I think it does)?
I`ve been in contact with the school that I did my TEFL training with any they are telling me that getting an apostil is a formal matter that can be handled by the Embassy.
To finish I guess what I would like to know is if I have a certificate which is `stamped` (with the schools names on) does this count as the document being apostilled in Mexico and is it good enough for the immigration to get your FM3?!

Also on the topic of getting your FM3 I`ve read that that you need to get an `offer`of work in writing from a school first before applying for it, but the larger (more prestigious) schools won`t hire you without a FM3 first........ so it`s a contradiction! So does that mean that firstly you need to work and are limited to working for a `smaller`school that will give you a job offer and letter without an FM3 and then with this letter you apply for your FM3, so you can work in a `better `and more prestigious school with a better paid job?!
Thanks.

[MELEE]

Vic,

An Apostille is a sort of international authentication that governments can affix to documents to let other governments know that the document is authentic. In the US, they are issued by the Sectretary of State of each individual state, there for the US Embassy, as a federal body, cannot issue them. In the UK its done by the national government, and Canada in not a member country in the treaty that brought about Apostilles, so Canadians can't get one and instead have their documents "legalized". The Apostille has to be from the country that issued your degree/TEFL cert/birthcertificate, or what ever it is you want to have Apostilled. So if your teacher training in Guatemala, the Guatemalan government would be the one to issue you an appostille.

About your second question. Once you have a job offer, then you would just "hang around" for the three weeks that it takes to process your FM3 visa. Some schools will let you work during this time, some won't. Some will let you work for no pay and pay you for that time once your visa has come through. Some will ask you to "volunteer" that time! It depends on the school, and the region of Mexico.

FM3s are for a specific job, so if you change jobs, or take on part time work, you have to get those activities added to your FM3, the only lucrative activities you are allowed to have are the ones listed in your FM3.

[Samantha]

Good explanation Melee....

This talk of apostilling caused a question pop into my mind. If someone is taking an online course, and say they live in the US and the company administering the course is based in Europe. What would be the procedure to get an apostille?

[pattyrose]

Samantha,

All diplomas, degrees, transcripts, birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce papers, and powers of attorney must be apostilled in the region and country where the original document was given. If you or I were to take an online TEFL course from a training centre solely based in Madrid, let�s say, then the TEFL certificate would get apostilled in Madrid.

It would probably be a good idea to request that any overseas training organization forward a certificate on to authorities for an apostille upon completion of any program, so that the document is handy any time one would need it down the road.

An individual�s Embassy can notarize and authenticate official federal government documents such as DD 214�s or official copies of civilian passports.

PR

[Samantha]

Yes, thanks.... so if they don't do that sort of thing, who would take the certificate in to be apostilled for the person who is clear across the world with no intention of traveling to the country where the course is being administered? That is probably something that should be an automatic inclusion in an online course, otherwise it could be a useless certificate in any other country, no?

[pattyrose]

College and university registrars in areas under the Hague Convention Agreement all cooperate so far as forwarding a notarized document on to obtain an apostille.

Samantha, if I were to enroll in a course overseas, I`d request in advance that my final certificate be forwarded on to the area's apostillate offical, and I'd send the fee and return envelope to the school or training centre to expedite the process.

And you know, not all countries are under the Hague Convention, so it might be a good idea to enroll in courses only in the countries where we'd be sure to obtain the apostille. Here`s the URL of reference:

http://www.apostilla.com/?OVRAW=Hague%20Convention&OVKEY=hague%20convention&OVMTC=standard

It`s good to finally be here and have this paperwork behind me.

PR[/i]

[ilovebdt1]

[Samantha]

Patty, I am aware of the process but I was curious how well the online course folks would actually follow up and assist with this. You mention the Hague Convention. Canada IS one country that is different but there is no problem getting ones documents legalized there. (I've been down that road myself) In other words taking a course in Canada wouldn't make it a risk for not getting the appropriate paperwork needed for work abroad. (It involves the same pain in the neck as anywhere else. )

[MELEE]

[quote="ilovebdt1]Melee, do you know anyone from the UK who has had their docs appostilled?
I would be interested to know how they went about it as a fellow Brit.[/quote]

Yes, many people. Its done in somewhere misteriously called "the home office". I can get you details on Monday.