Job Discussion Forums

tvik · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 371 Location: here

Is it possible to turn up in mexico, find a job and then get a visa.
i'm canadian, three years experience, two in a university and just finished a cambridge in house ICELT course.

do i have to go back to canada first?

whats the procedure?

notamiss · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: getting a work visa

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

Oops, (quick edit) someone beat me to the answer but I will leave it here as another POV. Very Happy

Regarding all the documentation, I'll leave that to others with more knowledge, but the basic answer to your question is YES.

The immigration form you will fill out (in?) on the 'plane (FMT) will serve as your tourist visa, allowing you to stay without working for 180 days.

If you find work within that time, either your employer, or more likely yiou will have to go to an immigration office to apply for an FM3, which needs to be renewed, (and paid for) every year, for at least 5 years.

There is a lot of information of this forum about visas, but if you want guidance along the way, any one of us will be willing to answer you questions.

If you don't find work within 180 days, you better think about leaving the country and coming back again with another FMT.

corporatehuman · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 198 Location: Mexico City

One quick question I couldn't find. Do you have to translate your academic documents to Spanish??

MO39 · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:47 pm Post subject:

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

In Morelia, I was required to have my TESL certificate translated, so this is probably one of those things that varies from office to office. Also, the letter from the school was in Spanish (obviously), but I had to also write my letter requesting the change from FMT to FM3 in very polite Spanish as well.

MO39 · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:32 am Post subject:

notamiss · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:54 am Post subject:

In case it helps anyone:

notamiss · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:02 am Post subject:

Regarding translation, yes in my case (8 years ago) I did have my academic documents translated. If you do find that they require it, the translation will be valid if done by a perito traductor; that is the term for a government-certified translator in Mexico.

CharlieBaloney · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 52 Location: Ciudad de Mexico

I went through a lawyer for the FM3 and they got someone to translate the necessary docs. It was all money well spent, but I hope getting a renewal is easier and that I can do it myself without a lawyer.

Charlie

MO39 · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:47 pm Post subject:

CharlieBaloney · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 52 Location: Ciudad de Mexico

MO39,

I'll try to give you the benefit of my experience (I think mine expires in Oct.).

Charlie

MO39 · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 5:12 am Post subject:

Thanks, Charlie. I look forward to hearing how it goes for you in the fall.

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

notamiss · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:12 am Post subject:

After 5 years of FM3 you can either apply for a new FM3 or an FM2. If you stay with FM3's, you can keep applying for new ones every 5 years as long as you want (provided you are granted the FM3 each time you apply). On the other hand, if you get an FM2, after 5 years (regardless of whether it followed an FM3 or whether you had an FM2 from the start) you can't renew it any more; you have to apply for inmigrado (permanent resident) status. Once you have inmigrado status, there are no more annual renewals or fees.

There's a good summary here: http://www.mexperience.com/liveandwork/immigration.htm.