Job Discussion Forums

[moonraven]

Books are one of the few--if not the only (in my experience of more than 10 years here) safe things to have sent from the US. This is not a country of readers. Several times friends have sent me money in either cash or money order form tucked into books--no problem.

I have never been searched in Customs. And I go in and out of the country fairly frequently (5 times last year.)

In Mexico City, the Immigration agents do not stamp the number of days on your tourist visa. They write in the number of days. Usually they put 90. I turned in my FM-3 in November (because it had expired and I was scheduled to go back to do a couple of projects in South America and didn't want a 30 day FM-3 extension) and I asked for a tourist visa. They asked if I wanted 90 or 180 days....

Mpst of the time I have lived here I have had an FM-3--when I have had a tourist visa Immigration has never asked to see my ticket.

The key to successfully and happily dealing with another culture is to RELAX!

[stu123]

Hi,
I thought that i would liven this thread up as i had a similar question. I am planning to study a CELTA course in IH Playa del Carmen towards the end of January. After completing the course i haven't decided if i want to jump in to teaching in Mexico straight away or spend some time travelling throughout latin-america. Therefore buying a return ticket from the UK to Mex seems like a waste as i definately won't use the return leg.

The question is; is it ok to arrive on a one way ticket from the UK? From reading the previous posts it seems like the only potential problem may be with the airline i travel with, i will obviously discuss that with them before i buy the ticket. But in the meantime, can anyone throw any words of wisdom my way hehe?

I studied at ITESM gda back in 98-99 and i am really looking forward to returning to Mex and meeting up with old friends.

muchas gracias y espero que tengan una feliz navidad!!

[Guy Courchesne]

Definitely check with the airline first..they are usually the gatekeepers on the question of one-way tickets. If you have to plead, insist that you have an open itinerary, intending to visit several countries by bus. Use the same excuse when and if immigration Mexico asks you.

If you are flying into Playa del Carmen, they would expect a return ticket for 7-15 days...standard tourist, so you may get some questions or a tourist visa stamped for only 15 days. You can renew that later anyway.

If the airline won't sell you a one-way ticket, consider another airline

[grahamcito]

From everyone�s posts, it looks like there shouldn�t be too many problems trying to get into Mex with a one-way ticket from the US (as long as you have your story straight, ready for immigration).

But a word of warning for people planning to travel to Mex via the US, for example from Europe or Asia. When I was planning to come out here from the UK, I was thrilled to be buying a one-way ticket for the first time in my life. Not only was I saving money, it seemed very final and exciting!

Then my travel agency helpfully informed me that with only a one-way ticket, US immigration probably wouldn�t even let me into the US, let alone go on to Mex.

I don�t know how true this is - I didn�t want to find out for myself. But this is what I was told by a reputable UK travel agency.

[MixtecaMike]

[thelmadatter]

ROFL Mike...

Seriously, see if you can arrange a direct flight and if not, try transferring in Canada. I know getting an I-94 or any type of US visa is a royal pain in the you-know-what.

[Guy Courchesne]

Most of the UK teachers I've helped come into Mexico flew in from Spain on Iberia. Not sure what the prices are like, but you can fly direct from Madrid (or Barcelona?) to Mexico, thus avoiding Gringolandia or the frozen north.