Job Discussion Forums

[sarliz]

Fantabulous. I'll just be repairing my time travel machine if anyone needs me.

[Phil_K]

Just a point about the 30-day limit to inform about change of employment. Earlier this year I copped a $5000 (pesos) fine for informing about a year late. Apparently the maximum fine. That employer had informed immigration about my baja immediately.

When I went independent, I was lucky, as I hadn't been working for my next employer for about 6 months but they were waiting for me to "officialy" resign, and we both did the tr�mite at the same time. It's rare to find an employer that accommodating, so the moral is, do everything legally.

[sarliz]

Update in progress:
I bit the bullet and went into the Guadalajara immigration office last week. Taking the advice of a wise Dave's sage, I told the super-nice information guy about my situation - that I had moved to GDL to be with my boyfriend, who has lots of contacts chomping at the bit for my teaching skills, and was interested in changing my domicilio from Oaxaca to GDL, and to change my employer from my old school to self-employed, and to renew the FM3 itself.

He said great, and gave me the list of stuff to bring back to give to one of the folks working at the other windows. When I had assembled all of the necessary papers (proof of address and copy, copy of my passport pages, bank statement, copies of TEFL certificates and diplomas and the like), I talked to the next person, also eeriely friendly, who took all of my business, gave my an appointment to come back this Monday and a few sheets of paper saying that immigration took my FM3 to renew it, but that this doesn't guarantee that I actually will be approved.

She also told me that I needed to go register myself at Hacienda, although I wouldn't be able to without a valid FM3. She said that the two processes akwardly go hand in hand - that immigration won't grant you independent status without a Hacienda account, and Hacienda won't give you an account until you have your FM3, but, theoretically, you should be able to shuttle between the two offices with proof of having iniciated the processes, nudging both processes forward.

Having visited Hacienda today, I can confirm that this is vaguely correct, although the guys at Hacienda swear that I should have registered with them a year ago as an employee, but they did grudgingly get me started. I have a form with a number on it that shows that I'm in their system, and I've got an appointment to go back on Jan. 10.

So, there you go. Theoretically all is going along swimmingly, sans deportation or massive multas. Oh, and as I side note, I made it to immigration the day after my FM3 expired, and for that I will have to pay a fine. Luckily, it's a pro-rated fine, and I'll only have to pay a day of it.

Also, as I'm paying to both renew and change my residence and employer, it's running me just under 4000 pesos. Could I have just re-entered the country on a tourist visa and applied for a brand-new FM3 and saved myself 2000 pesos? Ah well. What's passed is past. I'll report back when I've got my visas in my grubby little hands.

[Ruffle the cat]

I worked in Mexico for 2 years with a regular FM3 then changed it to an Independent work visa on the advice of my accountant. It wasn't a big problem for 2 of us who were running our own school in Mexico. But remember there is almost always a few more papers you need to produce to get anything in Mexico. Also never heard of anyone but a retiree and a big business getting an FM 3 outside of Mexico do it when you get there.

[sarliz]

Victory!

I went in yesterday and picked up my renewed FM-3, with changed domicilio, and sweet, sweet independent status. One thing they weaseled in there in the paragraph describing the terms of my independence is that I'll be giving classes in the Guadalajara metropolitan area, which is not technically true, but I'm not going to sweat it.

Now just to deal with Hacienda on Thursday....

[gypsygirl1475]

Can I get an FM3 Independente when I get there with just TEFL cert? I will be moving to Ecatepec de Morelos (Mexico City), wit proof of residency.I'll be working on my BS degree when I get my first job but would like to teach privately without getting into trouble.

[Phil_K]

[GueroPaz]

Hmm, that gives me an idea. It appears that getting my Thai TEFL certificate apostilled requires a painful three step process in Bangkok, which might be a whole lot of trouble and expense. But I can get my BA degree apostilled in Austin, Texas fairly easy (I suppose).

My plan is to teach independiente in Puerto Veracruz. It's obviously up to the local oficiales, si? If the BA is clearly authentic, is it likely that a local office might overlook the Thai TEFL certificate not being verified?

[Samantha]

Phil K wrote:

[Phil_K]

[MELEE]

[Prof.Gringo]

[gypsygirl1475]

Well I love it there... and looks can be deceiving. Our neighborhood may not look that great, but it is not that bad and people are always improving. My sister in law's all have nice houses and they live within blocks from us. Our block is not so bad and over the years it has defently improved, my husband has done most of all the construction around and I even helped on some. You should come check it out some time.

[Guy Courchesne]

An American student of mine lives in Ecatepec and loves it. Fairly cheap place to live, great tiangis-es, and fog. If you like fog.

[Prof.Gringo]