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jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

I just got information from Austin Texas on what I need to do to get my degree apostilled before I head to Mexico City and that got me thinking if I need to get my certificate apostilled also?

I have a CTEFL from Mexico City when I was living there back in 1997 so I'm sure I won't need to worry about that one, but I'm considering getting another TEFL certificate online even though I have almost three years experience teaching adults here in the States.

That's the one I'm wondering about. Anyone know if it will need to be apostilled like my degree? I figure another TEFL certificate wouldn't hurt. It's the one advertised on Daves website.

We may have someone who will buy our house so we can finally get to DF! Very Happy

Thanks!!! John

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

You can probably save yourself the expense...they'll likely only need your degree apostilled, even if your degree isn't related to teaching. Mexico City migra isn't overly strict in this sense.

Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

What Guy said. Migra may behave differently in different parts of the country, but Oaxaca seems to be particularly strict, and here you only need the apostille on whatever document you are using to get the FM3 (work permit). If you have a degree in ANYTHING, that qualifies you for the work permit, and that's all you need apostilled. Don't sweat it.

jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

Thanks for the info guys. Now if I can only get someone to buy my house whose qualified, that would be great!

Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

It's been brought to my attention that Oaxaca may not be all that strict. After all, I'm comparing it with Oaxaca of almost a decade ago, not any other part of Mexico these days.
Back in the day, when La Migra had its dingy offices above a garage, I was able to bribe them to ignore the lack of the apostille. Maybe. I remember the bribe (50 pesos), I don't remember specifically what it was for (my Spanish sucked so that may have been part of the problem) and I don't remember any mention of an apostille at all.
These days, with its offices in a VERY rich part of town (Colonia Reforma, if you can believe that), you can see immediately that it would be insane to offer these people a bribe.
And yet, I still have no apostille. They grandfathered me in! They found my file from eight years ago (!), saw that they had given me an FM3 then, and said, "Well, THESE don't have an apostille, either!"
"Yeah, well, y'all still gave me an FM3," I pointed out. So they gave me one. So maybe this is one of the SLACKEST areas of Mexico these days.
If so, anyone coming out, you really better have your stuff together. Because no one else is gonna be able to help much if you come out here hoping to "work it out."
And, Canadians - your country doesn't DO apostilles. That doesn't make your life easier, it makes it harder. Contact the Mexican Embassy or a Consulate there in your country. It can be done - I have a couple Canadian teachers on FM3s - but it's a hassle you want taken care of AT HOME.

melisssssa · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:51 pm Post subject: apostille?

What exactly is an apostille?

Also, I'm trying to get my papers in order to apply for the FM3 work visa. I've been told that I need my birth certificate and university degree translated into Spanish, but that's as much as I've got. Anything else? How much does it cost? Thanks!

(The inami.gob.mx hasn't been very useful, there's actually no section on applying for a first FM3.)

Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

http://www.juliaferguson.com/apostille.html

Read this. Can we get this put in a sticky entitled "What is an apostille?? Holy crap, as wildly important as this certification IS in Mexico, NO ONE knows what it means. I certainly didn't when I got here and it's been a HUGE hassle for me and all the teachers I bring out. Please oh please, mods.

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

Melisssa wrote:

MELEE · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:35 pm Post subject:

I've always wondered...

...Why isn't Canada a party to the Hague Convention. I skimmed most of it once years ago--It's on the internet and google is your friend Wink

--I didn't see anything objectionable in it, any reason why Canada would have choosen not to sign.
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Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Hague Convention Article VII

Thou shalt not bash baby seals

Been a national debate for awhile now

MELEE · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:16 pm Post subject:

HMMMM, And I was sure it had something to do with curling!

not seeing any baby seals but Guy this will interest you, the convention of 1 June 1970 has to do with the international recognition of divorces http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.text&cid=80
if Canada was a party, you could get your divorce in Mexico.

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

melisssssa · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:40 pm Post subject: authentication

Samantha and others,
Do birth certif/degree etc. have to be authenticated by both the Mexican and Canadian authorities for FM3 purposes in Mexico?

I just went to the Mexican consulate here in Montreal and they are authenticating my documents. They don't require the CDN authentication, but I'm wondering if Migra authorities in Mexico do.

Thanks!

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

That's great you were able to get your Consulate to go ahead without the other step. That will save you time and that's the way it used to be done when I got my documents done a few years ago. Once it passes Mexican approval in Canada it will be fine here. The authentication by the Canadian Govt tells the Mexican authorities in Canada that is isn't a fake document you presented them with. You must have looked trustworthy or they recognized your document as being real. If your credential is from a major local institution it probably helped. Then again, things in Quebec work a bit differently Wink

The Consulate in Ottawa requires the Foreign Affairs authentication first.

I only needed my passport for ID for my FM3. I think it's a given that the birth certificate was viewed in order to have the passport issued in the first place. I don't recall needing my birth certificate in all the time I have lived in Mexico...it's always been the passport or the FM3.

melisssssa · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:08 pm Post subject:

Hmmm, as far as me looking trustworthy (or perhaps looking Mexican), I don't know...The people at the consulate simply told me that they don't need the authentication from Ottawa, and that they could do it independently. Maybe it helped that the consulado is right across the street from McGill!

As far as birth certificate, it was my employer who told me she needed it to contract me, so now that I'm thinking maybe i didn't need it authenticated for the FM3 itself?, but I had it all done anyway. Money running through my fingers.

So I guess now I'm relatively all set? I just need to stand in line after line...