Job Discussion Forums

[dfields3]

I have been trying to get my stuff together for a while in order to come teach in Mexico but I was wondering if I should bring my massage table. I have been a licensed massage therapist for years and make good money either full time or on the side during slow season. I was wondering if massage is common in mexico and if it would even be worth my time bringing the table down there (it's rather large but it's portable). Would it be against the law to practice in Mexico without a lisence even if i'm just working out of my home for extra money on the side. I really don't want to have to deal with licensing in Mexico just because I know i'll probably have to get another diploma apostillized and deal with the fees that go along with it. Also having to report that money to the government when i'm there on a FM3 visa for teaching. I work under the table all the time here in Atlanta (if i'm not working as an employee of a spa) out of my home with no problem so I was thinking it wouldn't be to big a deal. What do you guys think?

[throwdownyourcrutches]

[TheLongWayHome]

I imagine, if you wanted to do things properly here in Mexico, that you'd have to get an independent visa as a massage therapist (FM3 Independiente with this activity specified).

I gathered from my last visit to immigration that an independent visa could be for practically anything, you'd just have to prove that it is your profession and that you're legally qualified to do it (for this you'd need apostilled qualifications). Once you have this visa you can register to pay taxes - it's not that complicated a process.

I've seen a lot of ads for massage here but I can never tell whether it's massage or "massage", if you know what I mean.

[dfields3]

would it be a separate visa or would it be on the same visa as the teaching. If it isn't a complicated process I don't care about paying taxes and I am licensed in my country and have not broken any laws (to the guy who suggested I was). I just don't claim the money that I get from people who I massage in my home (I don't do it often enough to feel that I should claim it). My employer taxes my wages and if i massage someone in my home that money is mine.

[throwdownyourcrutches]

[notamiss]

[MELEE]

I think notamiss covered the legistics.
I have had massages here in Mexico--in the part of Mexico where I live I would expect to pay 50 to 150 pesos for a massage, 100 being average. I might pay a bit more if I knew the therapist was licesnced in the US, as here in Mexico, they generally learned either informally or in a brief training session of like a weekend or something. Also if you came to work where I work, you could probably make some good money off the other English teachers! But we work full time so you probably wouldn't have enough free time and energy to give massages on the side. As a side note, we also live several hours from our immigration office, so informal work isn't the same as in big cities. (Out of site, out of mind if you know what I mean).

I was also at a spa in Tezoatlan once and their massage therapist was a European, so there is also spa work available if you'd rather do that then teach English.

[Phil_K]

You should be aware that, technically, it is supposed that to get a working visa, you should be applying for a job that a Mexican can't do. (Native English Teacher falls easily into that category), but in practice, this rule is rarely applied. And in the case of being self-employed, I would imagine it would be easier.

TLWH, I think most of those ads you've seen are for "massages".

[TheLongWayHome]

[Phil_K]

Is that Spanglish? Please correct for me, 'cos I don't see it!

[MO39]

[ontoit]

Do the paperwork:

You won't have to look over your shoulder, and you'll never have to deal with the consequences of having the authorities become involved in your life.

[Phil_K]