Job Discussion Forums

canada_1986 · Joined: 23 Nov 2011 Posts: 44 Location: Canada

I have tried to contact the Mexican Consulate in Toronto and they can't or won't give me a straight answer (I don't think they even read my email), so I hope someone can help me here.

I plan to travel to Ottawa next week to have documents legalized. Aside from having my university degree legalized by the Canadian authorities (as opposed to apostled, which is not offered in Canada), what other documents do I need legalized before going to Mexico and getting hired by a language school?

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

Some recommend having your birth certificate done as well. I've never seen this needed for a job but it could be used for other things you may process down the road, such as marriage paperwork, having kids, insurance claims, etc.

BadBeagleBad · Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 6:15 pm Post subject:

Any bits of paper that make you look educated. Any workshops you took that gave you a certificate, etc. Don�t worry about getting those legalized, of course, but you can show them to prospective employers, they like that sort of thing. As Guy suggested, you might want to bring a legalized birth certificate. Most jobs don�t ask for it, but occasionally they do, and you might need it for other things, and it�s probably a lot easier to do now than to make a trip later.

canada_1986 · Joined: 23 Nov 2011 Posts: 44 Location: Canada

I've now got my university degree legalized, but Canada will not legalize my TEFL certificate unless it is notarized. Considering that the TEFL certificate is not a university degree and that I have something legalized to bring already, I likely won't go through the hassle and expense of notarization.

Tip: If you're in Canada and need documents legalized, if you can get to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa it is a really easy process. I was in and out of the office in less than 15 minutes. It was free of charge. If you can't get to Ottawa, you have to courier the documents in and wait about 8 weeks.

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

Nice to hear it was quick at foreign affairs. Did you follow through at the Mexican embassy in Ottawa as well? If so, how long was that? They claim one working day to authorize docs...

Isla Guapa · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 8:23 pm Post subject:

Tretyakovskii · Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 462 Location: Cancun, Mexico

Others on this forum, myself included, have made a copy of the TEFL certificate, and attached to it a statement sworn before a notary or other official with the power to administer oaths, in which we have indicated the nature of the certificate, what we did to earn it, how we came to be in possession of it, and other facts necessary to establish it's authenticity (understand, you have been the custodian of the original since the date it was awarded to you, and are the only one who can give oath to its being the original document). Once notarized your statement becomes a document which can be legalized, as I understand the processes.

I simplified this just a little, in my case, by making the oath before a U.S. Consular Official, feeling that the "Great Seal of the United States of America" embossed in the paper would carry sufficient weight with the INM, and it did- making further processing of the document unnecessary, though I could have done it, if needed.

Enchilada Potosina · Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Posts: 344 Location: Mexico

canada_1986 · Joined: 23 Nov 2011 Posts: 44 Location: Canada

I'll look at getting it notarized then. That should be a quick process that can be done in my hometown.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 10:15 pm Post subject:

shoey_cufc · Joined: 01 Oct 2010 Posts: 14 Location: Plymouth

I rang the immigration people in my city to check as it varies from state to state how strict they are. I needed:

Birth certificate (apostiled)
CELTA (apostiled)
Letter saying why I wanted to work here.
Letter from my employer proving I have a job with them
My employer�s ID and recent tax payements (copies)

and obviously the passport and all the rest of what you would expect. If you are going to legalise your degree cert you may as well get the birth certificate done as well to be sure. Originally they also wanted copies of all of my university transcripts, High school certificates and all. As I said, have an ask with the immigration guys in the place you intend to live just to be sure.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:09 am Post subject:

shoey_cufc · Joined: 01 Oct 2010 Posts: 14 Location: Plymouth

Yes we had a teacher join us from Ixtapa and she couldn�t believe how much they wanted here (Qro). Most of the Expats hate having to go to immigration here, as they ask for everything under the sun. However, if you know what you need before hand and take it all in, they are very good at just getting it done so it isn�t that bad.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:29 am Post subject:

Did they also require official translations of your transcripts? If they did, that would have cost a pretty penny, oops, I mean, peso Wink

.

shoey_cufc · Joined: 01 Oct 2010 Posts: 14 Location: Plymouth

Hahaha no I have a friend who works down there so I got her to have a word! My pesos stayed in my pocket and the transcripts in my attic!