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DMcK
Joined: 12 Jun 2008
Posts: 111
Location: Madrid
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 Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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| tagastelum wrote: |
2. Make Mexican friends. I know, I know, this is basic, but it's also harder than you might think. In Mexico, I've found that most people stick to the same social circle they established in school. It's not always easy to penetrate these circles. However, if you're friendly, persistent and demonstrate a commitment to speaking Spanish, you'll eventually be welcomed!
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Just been lurking around here and have to reply to this. Hopefully my reply will still be relevant.
I completely disagree that it isn't easy to get into Mexican circles.
I went to DF with no knowledge of Spanish and within a couple of hours made friends with a group of Mexicans and met others who I now refer to as my "familia mexicana". I found Mexico to have the most genuinely nice people of anywhere I've been.
If you find a girlfriend you will most certainly meet the family and most of them won't speak English so you will have to know Spanish to communicate. If it weren't so damn far away from home it would be my home now!
Good luck. |
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globalcitizen1968
Joined: 03 Oct 2011
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 8:12 pm Post subject: Re: Getting Started in Mexico |
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| willpeach85 wrote: |
After much consideration I've settled on Mexico
I'm looking to go mid-Sep and to take around 2K in savings with me. |
I would say you need to take more than 2K with you to Mexico. Due to the fact that a lot of the salaries are VERY LOW. This will cause you to HAVE to use your savings for rent, food, and other necessities. Let me give you an example of why you need to have a big savings with you if you go anywhere in Mexico to teach EFL.
A lot of the schools will not pay you on time. I know someone who is RIGHT NOW working for the SEP teaching kids. This person started in August and still hasn't gotten paid.
This will cause you to have to use your savings obviously and this is something you won't hear many talk about or even mention. Not getting paid on time is a HUGE problem with Mexico and ther is NO EXCUSE for such action.
So, make sure you have a nice chunck of savings with you my friend, you will need it since you're going to Mexico to teach EFL. It's a sad reality.[/b] |
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Gregory.
Joined: 27 Aug 2011
Posts: 39
Location: Mexico City / Tlaquepaque
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 7:01 pm Post subject: Re: Getting Started in Mexico |
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I know someone who is RIGHT NOW working for the SEP teaching kids. This person started in August and still hasn't gotten paid.
You make a very fair comment - but in your example, is it that simple to say that your friend teacher hasn't been paid by the SEP yet?
As we all know, government jobs are notorious for having red tape and paperwork. Just one piece of paper submitted incorrectly causes the whole process to freeze.
I suspect that your friend hasn't been paid yet, not because the institution doesn't have the funds to pay, but more likely because the red-tape has bogged down the process. And, in fairness, your friend should have been aware that this could have very well happened- after all it's the government.
I know it's not right, but my pint is that it's not surprising and that you have to consider that this likely to happen with SEP jobs. |
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Enchilada Potosina
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 344
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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| The SEP, like any and every government institution in this country is deeply corrupt. You need to ask around in these places and above all make sure that you 'caerle bien a' the right people. I've been in this situation. The worst thing you can do is go and shout at people. Ask around and eventually you'll find someone who will do you a favour. |
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globalcitizen1968
Joined: 03 Oct 2011
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Enchilada Potosina wrote: |
| The SEP, like any and every government institution in this country is deeply corrupt. |
I guess that could explain why payments being three months late in a lot of fields in Mexico is common, especially in EFL. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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| globalcitizen1968 wrote: |
| Enchilada Potosina wrote: |
| The SEP, like any and every government institution in this country is deeply corrupt. |
I guess that could explain why payments being three months late in a lot of fields in Mexico is common, especially in EFL. |
Pretty much hit the nail on the head.
I was at one colegio and the director of middle school came to work on a Tuesday morning and was told to go to the main office an hour away. She was fired on the spot and told to not even return to the school to get her stuff, it was dumped into a box and brought to her. She was competent, well-liked by both teachers and students. The sub-director who replaced her was a complete and total $#@!
Only reason I know for the switch was the well known "secret" that the sub-director was having an affair with the married owner of the school. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 3:37 pm Post subject: Re: Getting Started in Mexico |
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| globalcitizen1968 wrote: |
| willpeach85 wrote: |
After much consideration I've settled on Mexico
I'm looking to go mid-Sep and to take around 2K in savings with me. |
I would say you need to take more than 2K with you to Mexico. Due to the fact that a lot of the salaries are VERY LOW. This will cause you to HAVE to use your savings for rent, food, and other necessities. Let me give you an example of why you need to have a big savings with you if you go anywhere in Mexico to teach EFL.
A lot of the schools will not pay you on time. I know someone who is RIGHT NOW working for the SEP teaching kids. This person started in August and still hasn't gotten paid.
This will cause you to have to use your savings obviously and this is something you won't hear many talk about or even mention. Not getting paid on time is a HUGE problem with Mexico and ther is NO EXCUSE for such action.
So, make sure you have a nice chunck of savings with you my friend, you will need it since you're going to Mexico to teach EFL. It's a sad reality.[/b] |
I ran though $5,000USD in 5 months when I first came to Mexico, and I was making almost $9,000 pesos cash in hand each month. But I like to live life and not be in poverty either. I also knew I could go back to the USA at anytime and make more money quickly. |
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canada_1986
Joined: 23 Nov 2011
Posts: 44
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 2:43 am Post subject: |
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Has there been any more news on this?
I am a Canadian planning to go to Mexico in January to find an English teaching job, particularly as others have said it is easier to get a job there by going there and applying in person.
I live close enough to a Mexican consular office (Toronto). If it is advisable that I get the work permit before I go to Mexico, what do I need? I do plan to get my university degree legalized in Ottawa before then. It seems as though there is a lot of contradictory information floating around on the Internet about the requirements. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 4:31 am Post subject: |
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| canada_1986 wrote: |
I live close enough to a Mexican consular office (Toronto). If it is advisable that I get the work permit before I go to Mexico, what do I need? I do plan to get my university degree legalized in Ottawa before then. It seems as though there is a lot of contradictory information floating around on the Internet about the requirements. |
You can't get a visa that allows you to work till you have a job, and in any event, you can't apply for visa (formerly known as an FM3) until you are in Mexico. |
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canada_1986
Joined: 23 Nov 2011
Posts: 44
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| canada_1986 wrote: |
I live close enough to a Mexican consular office (Toronto). If it is advisable that I get the work permit before I go to Mexico, what do I need? I do plan to get my university degree legalized in Ottawa before then. It seems as though there is a lot of contradictory information floating around on the Internet about the requirements. |
You can't get a visa that allows you to work till you have a job, and in any event, you can't apply for visa (formerly known as an FM3) until you are in Mexico. |
I'm confused now. There was talk that one would not be able to switch a tourist visa to a work visa while in Mexico under the new rules, is this not the case?
That would make life a whole lot easier than having to go to Toronto to apply without having a job. |
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notamiss
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Location: El 5o pino del la CDMX
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| Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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| canada_1986 wrote: |
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| canada_1986 wrote: |
I live close enough to a Mexican consular office (Toronto). If it is advisable that I get the work permit before I go to Mexico, what do I need? I do plan to get my university degree legalized in Ottawa before then. It seems as though there is a lot of contradictory information floating around on the Internet about the requirements. |
You can't get a visa that allows you to work till you have a job, and in any event, you can't apply for visa (formerly known as an FM3) until you are in Mexico. |
I'm confused now. There was talk that one would not be able to switch a tourist visa to a work visa while in Mexico under the new rules, is this not the case?
That would make life a whole lot easier than having to go to Toronto to apply without having a job. |
There was talk, but no further information on this point (and many others) has NOT been forthcoming. Until the new guidelines are published, procedures are going on as before. The safest assumption is probably to proceed as though nothing has changed, until it does.
Edited to add: The sentence changes its meaning like you wouldn't believe when you omit the negative. Now it says what I meant to say.
Last edited by notamiss on Sun Nov 27, 2011 1:23 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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| canada_1986 wrote: |
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| canada_1986 wrote: |
I live close enough to a Mexican consular office (Toronto). If it is advisable that I get the work permit before I go to Mexico, what do I need? I do plan to get my university degree legalized in Ottawa before then. It seems as though there is a lot of contradictory information floating around on the Internet about the requirements. |
You can't get a visa that allows you to work till you have a job, and in any event, you can't apply for visa (formerly known as an FM3) until you are in Mexico. |
I'm confused now. There was talk that one would not be able to switch a tourist visa to a work visa while in Mexico under the new rules, is this not the case?
That would make life a whole lot easier than having to go to Toronto to apply without having a job. |
Yes, you can still switch from a tourist visa to a work visa once you're in Mexico. I can't imagine that changing when the new rules are put into operation, but we'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, don't panic and all will be well.  |
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canada_1986
Joined: 23 Nov 2011
Posts: 44
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| Yes, you can still switch from a tourist visa to a work visa once you're in Mexico. I can't imagine that changing when the new rules are put into operation, but we'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, don't panic and all will be well. |
My concern is that I could book a flight to Mexico for early January, and then just before I get there the rules change and I can't get a work visa processed in time. Changing a flight with Air Canada is $75, which on top of the TOEFL certification I still need to take and travelling to Ottawa to get my university degree legalized (I don't have time to wait 8-9 weeks), it just adds up. |
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canada_1986
Joined: 23 Nov 2011
Posts: 44
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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| tagastelum wrote: |
I went to DF with no knowledge of Spanish and within a couple of hours made friends with a group of Mexicans and met others who I now refer to as my "familia mexicana". I found Mexico to have the most genuinely nice people of anywhere I've been.
If you find a girlfriend you will most certainly meet the family and most of them won't speak English so you will have to know Spanish to communicate. If it weren't so damn far away from home it would be my home now!
Good luck. |
My experience has been similar. I have been to Mexico twice as a tourist, staying in Mexico City and in other interior cities, and I found it MUCH easier to meet people than I ever was able to in my quarter-century growing up and going to university outside of Toronto. I find many Mexicans to be non-judgmental, and very warm and welcoming.
It does help that I knew a little Spanish beforehand, and that now I have an intermediate level of espa�ol. |
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BadBeagleBad
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 1186
Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
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| Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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| canada_1986 wrote: |
My concern is that I could book a flight to Mexico for early January, and then just before I get there the rules change and I can't get a work visa processed in time. Changing a flight with Air Canada is $75, which on top of the TOEFL certification I still need to take and travelling to Ottawa to get my university degree legalized (I don't have time to wait 8-9 weeks), it just adds up. |
A tourist visa is good for 180 days, and the usual processing time for a work visa is 30 days. I went with a friend in June to get his, and it took 10 days. So I don�t think that needs to be a big worry. Also, you don�t need BOTH your degree and your ESL certificate (you didn�t really mean TOEFL, did you, that�s an exam for non-native speakers of English). You only need one for a work visa, and especially if your degree is not related to ESL, your ESL certificate will be what they want to see. Also, if you are getting that here in Mexico, you don�t need to have it apostilled or anything. |
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