Job Discussion Forums

[eclectic]

.....teach privately without a visa FM3. The main reason is--and Im willing to pay the price for it--pure laziness. I just cant be bothered to get all these notarized documents together and photos and applications, etc. I will let everyone know how successful this strategy is as I go along.

Should la migra discover this gringo teaching private english, I look at it as: Ill get a free transport back to yankee-ville. I live in a city in america where there are atleast 25,000 illegal mexicans and guatemalans, some of which I am good friends with, and who are making $15-20 per hour cutting granite or bricklaying or landscaping, etc.

For some reason that gives me the slanted desire to do the same thing in their country. But really, its the laziness that drives me.

[ls650]

You're probably right: you likely won't get caught, and if you do, you'll probably just be deported and fined a few hundred dollars.
Hopefully that's all that will happen to you. Good luck.

[Samantha]

Sorry to disappont you, but deportation out of Mexico for working or being here illegally will not include free transportation unless you are on Americas Most Wanted list! If you are then the USA will pay your way.

And it depends who reports you to Migra and what the accusation is. (Remember Napoleonic law prevails) They will follow up and act on complaints. Such a cavalier attitude (if you are indeed serious and not just yanking our chains) may not sit so well with locals, especially if you work illegally in a smaller center where you will be highly visible. Good luck indeed.

[El Gallo]

My advice then is not to travel into the beach or the countryside - especially in Southern Mexico. The Mexican army, the INM, and the state and federal police routinely set up checkpoints here for illegal immigrants, drugs and arms. Part of the check will include your passport and visa. If you don't have a current visa of some sorts, the Army or the police will turn you over to "la migra" My opinion is that the FM-3 process, although unreasonably bureaucratic and time consuming, is well worth the peace of mind while living here.

[leslie]

Bye

[MELEE]

Be sure to let us know what city you end up in...

[M@tt]

time to learn some mexican: mordida

just bribe your way out of whatever happens. it might be uncomfortable but it will be cheaper than real fines.

[Samantha]

The depth and quality of advice on this forum just keeps getting better, doesn't it?

[corporatehuman]

Just get the FMT and work with that. I'm currently working for the government of Mexico illegally. I won't go into exactly where, and what, but I even asked for a VISA and they just sort of brushed me off. My guess is they don't communicate with the immigration office much.

I also teach private classes illegall, for people that work in the government. I think it really depends on where you are situated. I try not to be blatant about it, and if people ask me what I do, and I do not know them, I tell them I am a tourist. Recently I renewed my tourist card, and when I filled out the application I just acted like I had never been to Chiapas. And the officer, though he had seen me six months before, never questioned me at all about why I was here. I have not been stopped by immigration (though there are millions of revisions here in Chiapas) but if I was, I�d tell them I�m a tourist. I also might act like I can speak only a little spanish too. I dont know until the situation happens, but sometimes pretending not to understand.

I don�t know if this is all just a string of luck. I�d prefer to do it the legitimate way and get an FM3 honestly, and if you can, I think it�s worth it. But with the way things worked out, with my job and the opportunities I�ve had, I�ve just gone along with it.

Also this being said, when I was looking for private classes, I bought a cell phone and put posters around town. I received a few students from that, but more than anything word of mouth is the way it works here. Also it can take awhile to find a serious, dedicated, punctual student. But fortunately they do exist.

Only thing that could possibly hamper you is if you havent lived in the area where you are going long. People like teachers with reputations, or some sort of connection to the area. Also if you get one student, and they like the class, that can easily lead to many, many people. Often more than you can teach. Of course if you get one student and they dont like it...youll find out pretty fast, then it will get harder. So as long as you are prepared, have access to books or internet, and work hard, youll be fine.

I also forgot, I really think in order to find private work you need to be comfortable speaking spanish. In order to get my students I had to meet families and talk to them, reassure them of my qualifications, and appear presentable!

Best of luck,

Corp

[Sgt Killjoy]

[eclectic]

thx 2 all.

[FuzzX]

marry a girl, start a school... easy as that.

[Samantha]

FuzzX wrote: