Job Discussion Forums

ericksgm · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Tapachula

When I came into the country, immigration only gave me five days to stay here and said that my school would have to take it of it. I know I was dumb to tell them that I was here to teach, but what can I say, I�m an honest person. I�ve learned my lesson. The thing is, I have now been here just about a month and while my school is working on my FM3, they aren�t even close and all I have is this card that says I�m allowed to be here for 5 days. If I want to go to Guatemala or even travel around Mexico am I going to have problems? Please help me out. I don�t want to get deported for something like this. Thanks for the help!

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

Ohhhh... What is the hold-up with the school? That doesn't sound right. I would think if they were sincere they would have given you the necessary paperwork right away so that you could get that process started especially in light of your expired tourist card.

What you should do now is run to the nearest immigration office, tell them that you wish to extend your tourist card to the maximum of 180 days. They may give you a little per diem fine from the 5 days until the day you ask for extension. It will be worse if you say you are working. You learned that once already. You are supposed to have the working FM3 in-hand before starting work. Tell them you are exploring and adventuring! That is not far from the truth is it? Let us know how it goes.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Do you have your passport back or does migra have it? Don't go down to migra or try leaving Mexico without it.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

ericksgm · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Tapachula

Yes, I do still have my passport. I wouldn�t have gone anywhere without it, that�s for sure. Do I play the dumb american and act like I didn�t realize what happened? Can I just leave the country and come back in and get the 90-180 days?

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

As I said, you can get it extended by visiting Immigration and asking for an extension. People do that all the time. If I read your initial post correctly, the school hasn't given you appropriate necessary paperwork to submit yet for your work permit so immigration is not aware of any school you might be thinking of working at. So just go down and say you want an extension on the tourist card. Any fine they might levy for expired tourist card is less than the cost of a ticket out of Mexico and back. If you leave the country and return you may still end up with only 30 days (that is at the discretion of the Immigration officer you encounter), so apply for the 180 day in person at the Immigration office, pay the tourist card fee again (about $20.00 USD) and you will be all set.

One of your posts indicated that you are training for Harmon Hall but may be moving on rather than staying to be an employee there, so this is all the more reason to go to the nearest Immigration office and ask for the maximum tourist card allowance. You simply don't talk to Immigration about working. That comes when you have the appropriate paperwork to submit, whether it be there or in your new location.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Yes, good advice there. Don't play dumb gringo. Play informed and respectful gringo. It gets more done.

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

PlayadelSoul · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 346 Location: Playa del Carmen

I imagine they might be waiting to see if she is going to stick around, or not. Wasn't there a thread, recently, expressing some doubt?

MELEE · Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:16 pm Post subject:

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

If the op doesn't have free time to go to Guatemala, could she just go to immigration and say she lost the card? In my various entries and exits of Mexico, they've stamped in my passport, but have never written how long the tourist visa is. The time limit gets written on the flimsy bit of paper (or card, depending on the method of entry) and that is submitted when leaving the country.

In any case, its going to involve a fair bit of flexible truth, and in agreement with the others, I'd suggest she has her story straight and is as respectful and earnest as possible when she goes to sort it out.

Suerte!
Lozwich.

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

Immigration in my area has heard the lost tourist card story quite alot. In this area where people tend to stay on and enjoy the beach, they demand proof of when you entered the country such as your international airline ticket. The proof had best suit them or you will be asked to leave and return.

It is quite common to extend tourist cards (to the allowable limit) inside the country since the time frames given at airports have been reduced to 30, 60, or 90 (5 days is just nasty Evil or Very Mad

, since airport immigration officials also rotate in INAMI offices, at least here, and they know how long it takes to get FM3's)

If it comes down to it and we are coaching creative 'solutions' Embarassed

why not just go for it and change the 5 to a 6 and add a zero. Use the same color pen and it won't be given a second glance and you won't have to visit immigration just yet. (If you botch it up too badly you WILL then have to lose it). Make plans to get work permissions in before the self-granted 60 period has gone by.

MELEE · Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:06 pm Post subject:

tonydicer · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 81 Location: Monterrey, Mexico

How about 2 numb skulls? Are 2 better than 1?
What's with the dog, Melee?

How many of you in this forum are ILLEGAL ALIENS living in Mexico?? This breaking of NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW ....

saraswati · Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 200

The school can't start processing your FM3 if your FMT is expired. You'll need to extend it, get a new one, whatever BEFORE anything else.