|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
rayzero
Joined: 18 Feb 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Tennessee
|
 Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:47 pm Post subject: From Tennessee to Oaxaca-need advice... |
 |
|
I am moving to Oaxaca and welcome any advice, replies, comments...
I reside in Tennessee and have a BA degree in Political Science with a minor in Paralegal Studies. I also have an AA degree in General Studies and speak, read and write Spanish.
For the last few years I have worked as an Immigration Paralegal. Through this knowledge and experience, I was able to assist my husband (who is from Oaxaca, MX) in obtaining his Permanent Residency.
We have decided to move to Oaxaca, Mx for a couple of years. I spent 3 months there while we waited on his approval and fell in love- we receive a monthly income that will continue while I am in MX and it is enough to cover all living expenses while we are there. So the job would be for food, entertainment, extras, etc...
I was thinking of taking an online class to receive a certificate for TESOL, but after reading several posts, the online classes do not appear to be worth the money and time spent earning them. Now I am worried that it would be a waste of money that I cannot afford to waste, especially with the cost of us moving...
Additionally, Is it worth the wait for me to obtain permission to work through my marriage to a Mexican before we move? Or, would I be able to find work without it?
A few more Questions:
1) Do you have to have a TESOL or equivalent to get a job in Mexico, or would my BA/AA and Spanish get me in the door?
2) If so, are there any online teaching classes that are worth the time and money spent- meaning, they will be accepted in MX and someone, anyone, here has had success with them?
4) My brother is a musician and is considering taking a breather from the music world to travel around with us. He has no degree but is very knowledgeable of music and his songs are played throughout MX (I heard them all the time when I was there). Would he be able to teach music without a degree?
5) Is there anyone here from the US living and teaching in MX that would mind exchanging emails with me?
All replies and suggestions will be greatly appreciated from us all� |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
notamiss
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Location: El 5o pino del la CDMX
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:12 am Post subject: Re: From Tennessee to Oaxaca-need advice... |
|
|
| rayzero wrote: |
Additionally, Is it worth the wait for me to obtain permission to work through my marriage to a Mexican before we move? Or, would I be able to find work without it? |
You can get permission to work if you get a job offer while in Mexico. While it could theoretically be done before you move, it is virtually impossible for practical purposes. The usual order of things is 1) move to Mexico, 2) find a job, 3) obtain permission to work. As long as you are a foreign resident in Mexico, and not a nationalized Mexican, being married to a Mexican will not facilitate your getting �permission to work� status. It is getting the job offer that is the key to obtaining permission to work. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| being married to a Mexican will not facilitate your getting �permission to work� status. It is getting the job offer that is the key to obtaining permission to work. |
Actually, it does help facilitate it, with the independent FM3 in particular. Not sure if the Oaxaca office is as easy on ind. FM3s as DF, but if going that route you write a letter in Spanish explaining your activities and reasons for being in Mexico. Being married to a Mexican goes a long way in seeking permission to stay and work.
That is all trumped if your get an employer-sponsored visa however. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Samantha
Joined: 25 Oct 2003
Posts: 2038
Location: Mexican Riviera
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
GC wrote:
| Quote: |
| Being married to a Mexican goes a long way in seeking permission to stay and work. |
I have to agree with notamiss 100%, because this had never been my experience, either. As a rule, a foreigner must stand on their own two feet for permission to stay and work, so one should NEVER assume that being married to a national is a short cut. Just like it's not a shortcut going the other direction. There may some "it depends" in here, but never assume it's the case. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:47 am Post subject: Re: From Tennessee to Oaxaca-need advice... |
|
|
| notamiss wrote: |
You can get permission to work if you get a job offer while in Mexico. While it could theoretically be done before you move, it is virtually impossible for practical purposes. The usual order of things is 1) move to Mexico, 2) find a job, 3) obtain permission to work. As long as you are a foreign resident in Mexico, and not a nationalized Mexican, being married to a Mexican will not facilitate your getting �permission to work� status. It is getting the job offer that is the key to obtaining permission to work. |
I womder if this hasn�t changed. I translated for someone last year who got an FM2 through marriage, and was told she could work, she only had to let them know, not ask for permission, I don�t know if she followed it up by working, but I did see the notation in her booklet that stated such. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:48 am Post subject: Re: From Tennessee to Oaxaca-need advice... |
|
|
| notamiss wrote: |
You can get permission to work if you get a job offer while in Mexico. While it could theoretically be done before you move, it is virtually impossible for practical purposes. The usual order of things is 1) move to Mexico, 2) find a job, 3) obtain permission to work. As long as you are a foreign resident in Mexico, and not a nationalized Mexican, being married to a Mexican will not facilitate your getting �permission to work� status. It is getting the job offer that is the key to obtaining permission to work. |
I womder if this hasn�t changed. I translated for someone last year who got an FM2 through marriage, and was told she could work, she only had to let them know, not ask for permission, I don�t know if she followed it up by working, but I did see the notation in her booklet that stated such. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
Probably a difference in migra offices then since this was how my initial visas were done here. There's a form you can complete to complement an application...can't remember the name of it, but it doesn't even have a form number to it. It's used to declare family members in Mexico including spouses and children.
One shouldn't look at a migra here and see a single application for any single status. Time and time again on this forum we've seen how offices differ and how there are numerous ways to file applications. You have to look at the whole process and the variety of ways to strengthen your application. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Samantha wrote: |
GC wrote:
| Quote: |
| Being married to a Mexican goes a long way in seeking permission to stay and work. |
I have to agree with notamiss 100%, because this had never been my experience, either. As a rule, a foreigner must stand on their own two feet for permission to stay and work, so one should NEVER assume that being married to a national is a short cut. Just like it's not a shortcut going the other direction. There may some "it depends" in here, but never assume it's the case. |
It must be different from place to place, as I have seen FM2�s based on marriage being the fastest and easiest to get. at least here in DF. And there are other shortcuts, for example, you can apply to be naturalized after just 2 years, instead of the 5 years other people have to wait. Or maybe an FM3 is different from an FM2 in terms of what you are allowed to do. All I know is they have always told people I took that were married to Mexicans that they should get an FM2, not an FM3, that it gave them more rights. Either way, I think it is far, far easier to immigrate to, and live and work in Mexico than it is to do the same thing in the US. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
4) My brother is a musician and is considering taking a breather from the music world to travel around with us. He has no degree but is very knowledgeable of music and his songs are played throughout MX (I heard them all the time when I was there). Would he be able to teach music without a degree?
|
Does your brother speak Spanish? I would think that would be more important than having a degree if he wants to find work here teaching music. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Samantha
Joined: 25 Oct 2003
Posts: 2038
Location: Mexican Riviera
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
| There are many forms to complete when INAM gets wind you are married to a national. Not kidding. It's no longer a "rubber stamp" application, it seems. I'm not speaking about the "ama de casa" status, where one is granted permission to stay and is supported by a Mexican spouse. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
notamiss
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Location: El 5o pino del la CDMX
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 2:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| being married to a Mexican will not facilitate your getting �permission to work� status. |
| Guy Courchesne wrote: |
Actually, it does help facilitate it, with the independent FM3 in particular. |
Since everyone who's contradicted me on this has been a foreign man with a Mexican wife, I suspect that it depends on whether the foreigner married to the Mexican is a man or a woman. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rayzero
Joined: 18 Feb 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Tennessee
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks you guys... I guess I will go the route of moving and searching for a job before I enter Mexico's Immigration process. I may not need to if I am able to find work.
The biggie for me is, should I get a teaching cert prior to my move? If so, are there any online sites that anyone here has used and been pleased with? There are so many to choose from! Or, would it be possible for me to obtain a job without it with my current BA and Spanish?
The language director at one of the Universities told me to just get an on-line TEFL and to get an apostille after I submitted my resume for a position being offered. Otherwise, "...you will be teaching children in private schools or adults in language schools (usually run by greedy non-educators) where you will be worked to death and paid a whopping 600$ a month..."
as for my brother, no, he does not know Spanish. I suppose that would help- I was thinking more along the lines of volunteering for him and maybe picking up a few private tutoring classes. My husband's niece is 16 and she speaks pretty good English. She said a couple of her friends who know my brother's music are wanting guitar lessons.
He just returned from residing in Cambodia for 2 years where he opened a music studio and recorded bands... maybe he can consider such a venture in Mexico- maybe he will just live off his royalties for awhile... I may be living off them too until I find a job  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 3:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
If your brother is a recording artist whose songs are popular in Mexico--Why doesn't he go on tour here?
If he's the song writer, and not the recording artist, he could still probably get gigs in the small live music venues in Oaxaca City.
He could also hook up with some of the many musicians in Oaxaca City. There's a pretty active live music sceen in Oaxaca City.
As for an online cert--it won't really get you a job you wouldn't be able to get as you are now. But an inperson cert would be beneficial.
Oaxaca City is a hard market to crack for the TEFL teacher. But since you have some other income, you shouldn't have any problem finding part time work at one or more schools in the city. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 3:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| notamiss wrote: |
| Quote: |
| being married to a Mexican will not facilitate your getting �permission to work� status. |
| Guy Courchesne wrote: |
Actually, it does help facilitate it, with the independent FM3 in particular. |
Since everyone who's contradicted me on this has been a foreign man with a Mexican wife, I suspect that it depends on whether the foreigner married to the Mexican is a man or a woman. |
It does.
Men have to have a job--and prove the can support their wife and/or kids.
Women do not have to have a job. (in fact I used to be asked to prove that I was not neglecting my Mexican children by working!  Glad they got rid of that requirement. ) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Samantha
Joined: 25 Oct 2003
Posts: 2038
Location: Mexican Riviera
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| The funny part is, I know of foreign men who have been 'sponsored' in Mexico by their working, Mexican wives. I think that happens more than people care to admit. They seemingly get to hang out on the computer all day or meet up with friends for lunch and drinks while the wife works her butt off. Hopefully they actually at least help with the housework, since "ama de casa" is the visa category. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
