Job Discussion Forums

MikeyG · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 44 Location: Oaxaca

I have to say I've heard of many people working without a visa here. I was even advised to do so by a Mexican friend. I think it was also the gist of an earlier thread where it said that some employers prefer illegals because they don't have to pay taxes themselves either ( or was that Argentina? ).

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

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

saraswati · Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 200

Here's a true story to add a bit of perspective. About eight years ago the Delegate at Migracion called and asked if I would come in to help with a simultaneous translation. Turns out they had a German - with no work papers - in custody who was refusing to communicate with their translator.

To make a long story short, the German had been working for a few months but had had a few arguements along the way. Someone called Migracion and voila, he's arrested. After signing his deposition, he was escorted back to his home to pack and was put on a plane out of the country.

So...unless you're willing to take the risk, work for a school that expects you to have an FM3 and will help you with the process. BTW, having an FM3 means you have all the legal rights and benefits as any other employee in Mexico.

delacosta · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 325 Location: zipolte beach

Five years ago we had four profs who had to leave the country to Guatemala and back when busted for starting to work before their FM3's were issued. We used to have a normal civilized agreement with the local migra mob that profs could start to work once they had all the papers handed in and the FM3 was in progress, 'en tramite' as they say.

Four lovely young lasses from the UK (one Brit, three Irish) had just arrived from Pozarica where they had endured a short stint with ABC English. They handed in their paparwork to change their employer and migra office status. Paperwork accepted, all in order. Off to work they went, and were put on payroll, per usual. Back then they used to take their time issuing the document as there was no hurry since they knew we were already working. When the ladies went in three months later to pick up the FM3's one of them showed off her university credencial, which of course by the letter of the law shouldn't have been issued til after the FM3.
All of them were given 24 hours to get out of the country. So they had to take a bus to Guatemala and come back and start the whole process over. I think the university was given a hefty fine. The ladies took it all in stride and had a good 'crak' over it all.

Now prospective employees have to wait a month before they can start work, without pay. As well, recently they have been asked to 'volunteer' their time during that period so students don't go without classes.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

delacosta · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 325 Location: zipolte beach

My sentiments exactly Isro! But that's pretty hard to do, don't you think?
You've jsut arrived to start a new job and your boss asks you to 'volunteer for a while', you know so you can get to know the students and the school, etc. AND if you don't the students will miss classes for a month and be behind the rest of the semester. Pretty crap situation to put the teacher in, no?

aroha · Joined: 08 Oct 2004 Posts: 66 Location: Mexico

I've heard one way the school might get around the first few months without a visa, is that the school pays you part of your quincena as cash or cheque. Then when you get your visa, they officially hire you and find a way to back-pay the money they still owe you as part of your quincena!

But if you didnt quite trust the people who you were working for, would you take this risk? Well, it seems better than volunteering!

cwc · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 372

Markinthesol, A great deal of people work illegally. BTW, here in the south, as you should know, the migri doesn�t check anything. I could have given them the title to my �72 Fleetwood instead of my degrees and they wouldn�t have noticed the difference. When you worked at H. Hall didn�t you notice that?

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

One important thing, for Mexico, is to remember that migra isn't a person. Migra is a word to describe a vast department of individuals across a vast country. When you hand your documents over, you hand them to an individual, not to migra. What happens from there depends on the individual.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

PlayadelSoul · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 346 Location: Playa del Carmen

In this part of Mexico, you need a TESOL certificate or better, or they tell you up front not to bother.

cwc · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 372

Mark, I think we have agreed. Any degree is seen as equivalent to a TESOL cert. A native English speaker with any degree can get a job and a work visa in Merida. They prefer British English. The migri office is efficient and cheap. The staff is extremely stable. You will deal with basically the same 2-3 people that have done it for a long time. There is not a big caseload for foreign workers. There are some, but not many. As everybody knows, one has to get a job first and there are not many jobs for foreigners there. It appears that Merida is the capital of the free world for working illegally.

PlayadelSoul · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 346 Location: Playa del Carmen

A degree in chemistry would not qualify you to teach English, according to Immigration, here. You need a degree in education or certification that you have completed TESOL, CELTA, or something equivalent.

MikeyG · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 44 Location: Oaxaca

OH MY GOD UNITED JUST SCORED IN THE LAST MINUTE V LIVERPOOL!!!