Job Discussion Forums

[daniellelizoc]

Hi any Aussies, (or maybe Brits or Saffies) out there, I'm after a bit of advice. What's the easiest way to get to Mexico? (I'm going very short notice so i don't have any tickets booked yet...) As I won't be able to get my hands on an air ticket from LA to mexico city, but my buddy tells me it's easy to catch a bus down from LA. Anyone ever done this?

And any advice on the whole visa waiver program business upon entering the states? I'm a tad worried because i've read a bunch of warnings about aussies being denied these visas. I've got a return ticket from Taiwan... will it matter if the ticket isn't a return from australia?

cheers
danielle

[Lee_Marrero]

My BF is aussie and has re-entered the US several times this year on visa waiver with no problems. I worked in Mexico for 2 years at several schools I never worked with any Aussies but I did work with several brits and an Irish girl. You should land in LA take a train to San Diego and cross into mexico by foot. In Tijuana you can take a SUPER cheap flight to any destination in Mex.

[lozwich]

Danielle,

I think as long as you have a return to *somewhere* and don't show any signs of being an axe murderer, or fit into the hilarious category of having been arrested for (and I'm not kidding) "moral turpitude" you'll be fine! Any money you have in the bank (and a bank statement to show this) will be helpful too. I've turned up at the US border a number of times with my sweaty backpacker costume on, and while I've received a few funny looks, I've been through every time. I'm Australian, by the way..

As for getting into Mexico, I have also heard that the best way is to zip on over to Tijuana and that way you can get a cheap as one way ticket, which is something that's hard to do from outside Mexico.. That's what I'm planning to do in a few short weeks ( ) myself!

Good luck!

Lozwich.

[Lee_Marrero]

lozwich is sort of right about the one way tix from tijuana being cheap, however they can be bought here in San Diego

[lozwich]

Hmmm... But can they be one way tickets? I want to do two things in San Diego - go to the zoo, and find a cinema showing Finding Nemo, and was then thinking of zipping off southwards. If I can do all that in one place, rather than doing border crossings and then having to find a cheap flight, I would be very happy indeed!

L.

[Lee_Marrero]

I just dont understand why you cant catch a flight from LA or san diego to DF. Mexicana flies from LA to DF several times a day and Aeromexico and America West provide dirt cheap tix from San Diego to DF twice daily. The san diego zoo is ok but expensive as hell, I think 25 USD dollars for a day pass. Finding Nemo is playing in Tijuana at 2.50 per ticket compared to 11.00 per ticket in San Diego, the movies in Tijuana play in English with spanish subtitiles, I always drive the 15 minutes to Tijuana to see movies rather than pay the exorbitant prices here in California.

[thelmadatter]

You might find Nemo with subtitles but in general animated movies and TV shows are mostly dubbed. Little kids cant read subtitles...

[peachy]

I know I'm a little late posting this reply BUT you guys got me thinking....
I'm flying into LA on 10th may, I have a return air ticket to Brisbane OZ for 2 months down the track, the fare was really cheap, I was plannig to spend a week to 10 days in the US then head down to mexico and stay for 7 or 8 months let that ticket expire - it is non refundable not transferable, and just buy a one way ticket to Melbourne when I was ready to come home, is this possible? Once I get into mexico do I need proof of my return journey or should I purchase one B4 my fist ticket expires?
I did this in Cambodia and had no trouble what do you think? I have spoken and emailed the consulate and have had about 5 different answers with no definite replies just guesses....
What should I do?

[lozwich]

Don't worry about it Peachy, you'll be fine.

I entered Guadalajara last year on a one way ticket from the States, but I also had a return ticket back to sunny Brisvegas departing from LA with me. I entered Mexico as a tourist, and didn't have to go through any customs searches (do you know about their random way of choosing who gets searched?) and was completely fine. I think if you do get asked, just say you're backpacking through Central America and aren't sure where you'll be leaving from.

Good luck!

Lozwich.

[peachy]

hey Lozwich!
I'm not that worried wots the worst they can do? tell me to bugger off??!!
Did they check you had a ticket to get back to brisvegas or did they just let you in no ???
Wot's this about random customs checks?
If I can survive Cambodia, in my opinion one of the most corupt places in the world I can survive mexico.

[lozwich]

Hey Peachy,

You can call me Loz if ya like, being a fellow Aussie and all..

I've entered Mexico twice and been searched once, but never been asked for evidence of a return ticket. The first time I entered, I got asked how many days I wanted on my tourist card, and I said 60, because that's about how long I was staying, and there was no problem. The second time, nobody asked me how long I wanted, they just gave me 90, and I was feeling too hammered from the trip to argue. Maybe if I'd asked for longer they might have wanted to know why, but I don't think so. I think they just wanted to process everyone as quickly as possible.

The random customs checks involve walking up to this thing that looks like a traffic light and pressing a button. If the light is green, you go through, if it is red, you get searched. The first time I did this, the car I was travelling in got searched, but not really thoroughly, but the ute (pickup to all you non-Aussies ) next to us that was packed with boxes was getting searched really thoroughly. It seemed that everyone who pressed the button was getting red, so I'm not sure how random it really is, especially because the second time I went through (at a different place) everyone seemed to be getting green, me included.

If all else fails, just make something up, and look surprised, that's what I plan to do if I ever get asked something I don't have a good answer for!

Good luck,
Lozwich.

[peachy]

Thanks Loz,
Where are you now?
So let me get this straight Tourist cards are free and I can get 1 for up to 90 days?
How many times have you been to Mx and are you teaching now? Are there many jobs at the present?
Sorry bout the ??'s, just curious.... So many people overe here are freaking out coz I'm coming alone and a single white female in Mx is dangerous etc etc etc.
I get the impression there aren't many aussies over there......

I've got 3 weeks til i fly out....

Peachy

[saraswati]

Hi Peachy,
Tourist visas are free (when you initally receive them) and you can be in Mexico for up to 180 days, but at most points of entry you get between 30 and 90 days. Later, you can go to the local Migration office and have your tourist visa extended (for the full 180), for a fee.

I too am a woman who originally traveled to Mexico alone 14 years ago. My worst experiences, and they really weren't that bad, usually entailed having men stand too close to me and stare at my eyes - they are blue. But that's really the extent of it. (Then again, I don't live in Mexico City.)

Any new experience can be a bit daunting but I've met so many amazing people since I've been here. The initial nervousness was worth it.

Enjoy!!

[peachy]

Thanks again Saraswati,

I've heard the blue eye thing can be an annoyance - mine are blue too. Also the blonde hair thing, howvere I have very very dark brown hair so I'm hoping I'll be fine.

Well only 3 weeks to go - I ca't wait!

Safe Travels........

[lozwich]

From my experience, tourist visas are only free if you fly into the country. They form part of the taxes in the ticket. If you fly into Mexico, you get a piece of cardboard kind of tourist card. If you come in overland, you get an incredibly flimsy piece of paper that gets very revolting once its been living in your sweaty money belt for a few months. You have to take this piece of paper to the bank within 7 days and pay, and get it stamped before it is valid. But, then, with both kinds of tourist card you can then extend them at migracion.

Ok, I'm going to just swear a bit now..

Peachy, the garbage that most Australians go on about Mexico with absolutely no experience of the country is complete bleeping bleep bleep. All the stuff people told me about Mexico turned out to be horse apples... Yes, you get stared at, but you get stared at everywhere. I can't remember which city you live in in Oz, but ever walked through West End in Brisburg on a Saturday morning? I got stared at there just as much as I get stared at here, granted for different reasons, but now, depending on the person, I just stare right back.

Unless you are incredibly unlucky (or lucky, depending on your viewpoint) you are unlikely to be held up at gunpoint by Pancho Villa and whisked away on the back of some bloke's horse. If you are careful, and sensible, you will be fine. I don't like to sledge, or generalise, about my homeland, but that stupid kind of ignorance that people kept banging on about before I left, just made me frightened and did nothing to help me on my way with my adventure.

My advice is to accept their concern with grace, but don't take it to heart. They would probably be freaking out if you were going to live anywhere by yourself. Its generally because they love you.

Yeah, there's not many Aussies living here, but go to any youth hostel and you'll find dozens of them (although no-one ever seems to have any vegemite).

To answer your other questions, this is my second time in Mexico. I was here for 2 months Dec '02 - Jan '03 and then came back to live last August. I've got brown hair and hazel eyes, and am of a similar physique to many Mexican women, so sometimes in Mexico City for example people ask me for directions in full speed Spanish, I assume because they think I'm either very clever, or Mexican. But I live in a smallish town, where I'm one of about 20 foreigners. Some times I get stared at more than others, and I think occasionally I get charged more for things than the locals because of the assumption that I'm stinking rich, but that's about the limit of my 'problems' here.

I don't think there's many jobs just now, but I haven't been looking either. I'll be able to tell you more in July when I start trying to find my new home..

Really, I'm sure you'll be fine. And if you're not, let me know. Sometimes hearing a familiar accent is all you need.

Lozwich.