Job Discussion Forums

wendykohn · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3

Does anyone know if it is much harder to get an FM3 visa for non-teaching jobs? I'm sure that if I got a job with an American company in Mexico it wouldn't be hard, but what about, say, a job in a restaurant? If I went to Mexico on a tourist card, would a regular kind of business in Mexico be willing to sponsor my work visa?

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

This subject has been touched on here not too long ago. It is difficult to make a living in Mexico which is why so many dream of working elsewhere so the short answer is no, you can't. Basically, unless you are self-employed (setting up your own enterprise, but how's your Spanish?) or possess a skill that a Mexican national does not, then you cannot be hired to work legally. Immigration is constantly on the look-out for foreigners 'free-lancing' or 'working under the table'.

By American company I am guessing you are referring to Walmart or Sam's, etc. These companies are registered in Mexico and they employ Mexicans. The wages are not in line with what the American or Canadian stores pay their staff, and there are long lines of local employee hopefuls when a new store like this opens. Mexicans generally work 6 days a week.

http://www.walmart.com.mx/default.asp
http://www.samsclub.com.mx/
http://www.officedepot.com.mx/
http://homedepot.com.mx/hdmx/esmx/index.shtml

You can get a job as a time-share salesman in a beach area and get a work permit that way, but the majority don't last in this line of work. Best to save money and take a TEFL course if you have your heart set on working in Mexico.

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

Sort of along this line (non-teaching jobs), I am wondering about companies llike Coca-cola, General Motors, Siemens, Motorola. I assume they mostly hire local labor, but does anyone know if they hire non-mexicans for positions such as engineering and project managment?

Polly0607 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 64

Yes, these companies employ Americans and other foreigners, but they usually send them here, not hire them here. They are here to oversee operations and are very highly qualified, usually engineers.

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

Since this a teacher forum, you might have better luck posting this question in a place geared towards more general Mexico topics.

http://forum.mexicoinsider.com is one

http://secure.mexonline.com/ is another with job postings

MELEE · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:28 pm Post subject:

I know some foriegners who have FM3 to work non teaching jobs, but they have other "special" talents. Like a Cuban salsa dancer, An Argentine footballer, a Japanese chef, a Russian gymnastics coach. Right or wrong, they are assumed to be more qualified than a Mexican to do that job. I have also seen people in the immigration office who are spouces of Mexicans, getting permission to work in their father-in-law's family business, no matter what their skills. Like Polly said, the foriegners at Volkswagen and the like don't technically "work" in Mexico, they are sent here for a specified time from home office or somewhere like that and usually get paid in their home country, not here in Mexico. If we do our job well(as English teachers), they train our students to take over for them and go back to their home country!

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

There is a whole clssification system for visas in such specialty jobs...in sports and sciences in particular.

Hey Melee...what do you get when you have a Cuban salsa dancer, an Argentine footballer, a Japanese chef, a Russian gymnastics coach in the same tuna boat lost in the Pacific?

ontoit · Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 99

kitkat1 · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 37

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

QuePadre · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Mexico DF

Extremely hard to get. Pacience+$$$.

Just like in the U.S., the company would have to provide their financial record, detailed job description, proof of their efforts to find someone from within Mexico, but in vain, etc. The employee will have to provide their information, such as resume, awards, professional certificates, (translated in Spanish, if necessary,) etc. and diploma apostilled. Sounds interesting, eh?

In order to get your case moving, you have to provide the "incentives" to the immigration office from time to time.

Some corporate director from a big U.S. company said it took 6 months to get it. He did it only because he wanted to start establishing residence in Mexico for life. Of course, he already started working before then, on a tourist visa.