Job Discussion Forums

Oreen Scott · Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 179 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico

Last evening was my last class. I'm done, unless I live long enough to work on a TEFL Masters.

I should have my transcript in a week or so.

Here's what I think I need to do first toward developing my CV and portfolio:

Send my 3 transcripts to Ottawa to be notarize: my University of Manitoba B.A. and CTESL, and my University of Winnipeg Communications Certification.. My actual diploma and Communications certification are hanging on my wall in rather expensive frames. I'm hoping they are not the required documents. A fancy blue CTESL certificate will cost $100. If I need it, I'll buy it.

I don't think I need to get my birth certificate notarized. Although the laminated wallet size would be easy enough to send to Ottawa. I also don't think I need a criminal clearance check. I'm crime free and it can be done, but a bit of a pain driving down to the main police facility, taking a number, waiting , going back in a week or so.

I need to send my CTESL transcript to the national body and then I'll be licensed to teach adults across Canada, we have national standards. However, I don't know if I need to have that document notarized. If so, I'll get the certification then send everything to Ottawa. That would mean a change only to the order in which I do things.

Are my transcripts good enough or do I need my actual "sheep skins" (which really aren't sheep skins Wink

) notarized to satisfy the bureaucrats of Mexico?

notamiss · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:20 pm Post subject:

For my visa, I only had to present the actual apostilled certificates of my degrees (and their translations by a Mexican-certified translator); no one asked to see transcripts. I can't say that a potential employer might not want them, though.

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

Get the TESOL certificate legalized. The schools will want to see the certificate and INAM will require it.

Oreen Scott · Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 179 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico

So, I should spent the $100 for the certificate and take apart the diplmoas and certificates that are framed and hanging on the wall?

If so, I think I'll visit a framer this weekend.

Thanks for your help.

I was hoping the transcripts were what needed to be notarized.

notamiss · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:56 pm Post subject:

Or, if you don't want to take apart your framed degree diplomas, check on the price of getting a duplicate one issued... my alma mater does it for $20.

Oreen Scott · Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 179 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico

Doing that right now - also - it looks like sometimes the transcript will do. Trying to contact Mexican consulate and my Alma Mater. Voice Mail Hell is where I was at.

I'll continue on Monday. Must get back to me day job.

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

Oreen wrote:

notamiss · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject:

Oreen: would this be what you need to get a duplicate of the BA diploma issued: http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/con_ed/mpcp/calendar/forms/req_dup_doc.pdf?

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

Oreen Scott · Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 179 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico

notamiss

Thanks for being of such tremendous help. I've used the form you provide a link to for duplicate transcripts. The actual diploma costs more. I'm hoping I can use the transcript rather than the diplmat.

The Government of Canada didn't know the answer. The honorary Mexican counsulate here in Winnipeg didn't know the answer. I need to call the Mexicna consulate in Toronto.

MELEE · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:30 pm Post subject:

My school has an arrangement with the local immigration office to accept me (and a couple of other professors) as official translators for immigration purposes. I only translate transcripts in an emergancy--degrees are easy (they don't say much and they all say almost the same thing), transcripts are a nightmare (all those abreviations that the school made up and we have to try to decipher!).

Oreen Scott · Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 179 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico

Thanks Melee, what you've written makes sense. I can get duplicates of my diplomas for about $25.

The Canadian Governement web site states it wil notorize photocopies.

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

As MikeySaid said, better to do everything while it is easy and inexpensive because every office is different. I brought my transcripts with me in case an employer wanted to see them, but I did not have them apostilled or translated because from everything I'd read here on Dave's, they weren't going to be needed. Neither the school nor the immigration office (in Morelia) asked to see them. They only wanted something to show that I was qualified to teach English, which was my TESL certificate. I got it translated after I arrived in Mexico. I had my BS apostilled too, just in case, but nobody cared about it because it is in Geological Engineering.

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

LIke an idiot, I didn't read this forum closely enough before I came three years ago. ITTO told me my degree was not requierd and I didn't need to get it stamped in Ottawa. Well, that depends on the immigration office. I luckily thought to bring everything with me, then I had to fedex it to a cousin in Ottawa and she did all the running around and sent it back. Much better to do everything before you go.